Unitec librarian honoured with award for professional excellence

Sana Saleem, Pacific Librarian at Unitec, has been recognised with an Award for Professional Excellence 2024 by the Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa Library and Information Association of New Zealand (LIANZA).

The award is in recognition and celebration of her long-standing commitment to Pacific communities and students at Unitec.

Sana will be presented with her award at the LIANZA conference ceremony to be held in Wellington next September.

In their citation, the awarding judges said, “Sana has made an inspiring commitment to her own outreach and engagement activities, making herself available to support all Pacific learners at Unitec, at times, in places, and ways, that best complement learner needs. Her ability to forge and nurture ongoing relationships is commendable, and deeply appreciated by the students and staff with whom she partners and connects.

“Sana is always ready to step up to any challenge, and share back for the benefit of all, when opportunities come her way. Her dedication, service and commitment are significant, valued and appreciated.”

Born and raised in Nadi, Fiji; Sana and her family moved to Aotearoa in 1999 and settled in Auckland when she was 11 years old.

She has connections to Saunaka village from her father’s side and maternal ties to Sabeto, Nadi.

She started at Unitec’s Waitākere Library in 2014 as a library assistant and progressed to the Subject Librarian (Pacific) role in 2019.

She received a Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Studies from the University of Auckland in 2012 and graduated with a Master of Information Studies from Victoria University of Wellington in 2017.

Sana is the Subject Librarian for the School of Creative Industries and is currently studying for a Graduate Diploma in Library Leadership through Open Polytechnic.

She says she’s seen a lot of change in the library and information sector over the past decade and understands the importance of continuous learning in academic and indigenous librarianship.

“The introduction of AI into the information space is already bringing transformation,” she says.

“Like any other sector, things are evolving in the GLAMR (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums & Records) sector, we need to understand the different needs of our students and acquire those knowledge bases to help meet those needs.”

She says what’s most important in her role as an academic librarian is enabling access to appropriate Pacific resources and ensuring that equitable services are available to Pacific students who use the library and space.

“In Fijian culture, the concept of solesolevaki is vital to our way of life – the practice of working together for the collective.”

“My dream is to establish a library in one of the outer islands in Fiji. It could be in the next five to ten years when I get an opportunity to return home and give something back to my people and community.

“I would like to explore how libraries are focusing on sustainability and climate change; also addressing the local needs of preserving our cultural heritage in a built environment.”

Sana has been actively involved in initiatives to raise the profile of librarianship and library services for Pacific peoples. She is featured on the Careers NZ website, on a career pathway interview with LIANZA, and in a promotional video to raise awareness about the Tertiary Grants initiative for library and information study.

She co-runs the Unitec Book Club which is open to both staff and students as part of the Unitec Sustainability Club and is also an avid traveller, having visited more than 20 islands across the South Pacific.