On Wednesday, 30 April 2025, Jan Richards delivered the IFLA Training: Measurement, Evaluation and Demonstrating Impact training in Rotorua, New Zealand, ahead of the Public Libraries of New Zealand (PLNZ) annual forum. The session brought together 24 participants from across Aotearoa, representing a diverse range of public libraries.

This practical workshop focused on how to evaluate and measure the impact of library services and, crucially, how to use that data to tell powerful stories that resonate with stakeholders and communities. The training is part of a global IFLA initiative to build capacity among public library staff to better articulate their value and outcomes. Jan Richards, one of IFLA’s certified Impact Trainers for the Asia-Oceania region, facilitated the session.

Jan Richards, facilitator for the session posing a question to participants

The event was especially timely given PLNZ’s strong commitment to data-driven advocacy. PLNZ regularly undertakes a national data collection project that captures both usage metrics and community stories from member libraries across the country. Their recently launched Community Impact Survey explores the social, cultural, economic, and environmental contributions of public libraries—creating an ideal environment for this impact-focused training.

Participants shared positive feedback about the IFLA Impact Training session. Dany Miller-Kareko, Auckland Libraries Lead and Coach, highlighted how the training provided information on strategic tools for meaningful advocacy and impact reporting in libraries.

Trina Schuster, Head of Arts, Culture and Lifelong Learning at Selwyn District Council, who attended the session with a new staff member, found the session valuable for introducing the importance of storytelling in library work. She noted that the tools would help ensure their services remain relevant to community needs.

Kim Taunga, Head of Community Delivery South at Auckland City Council, acknowledged that the training provided practical resources for community library managers to develop and evaluate programs effectively and was appreciative for the session which highlighted the common challenges faced by public libraries across the region and the various approaches to addressing them.

Group photo with participants of the session

Contributed by Jan Richards, Trainer, Measurement Evaluation and Demonstrating Library Impact, IFLA