When she took up a role as school librarian at Wellington Girls’ College, Vita’s employer asked her to undertake an industry specific qualification.
Studying online with Open Polytechnic meant she could maintain a good balance between work and learning while progressing her career.
Studying online with Open Polytechnic meant she could maintain a good balance between work and learning while progressing her career.
Now having completed her New Zealand Diploma in Library and Information Studies (Level 5), she is continuing her study journey so she can become more upskilled in the industry she loves, and in a time where she says perceptions of libraries and librarians are changing for the better.
Having worked in bookshops and libraries for a number of years after completing a Bachelor of Arts, Vita was looking for a career shift when the school librarian opportunity was presented.
“I had been working as a Library Assistant for two years and I was craving more responsibility and growth when the Wellington Girls’ College job came up. Part of the agreement for getting the role was that I would undertake study towards a library information qualification.”
Vita says she had options open to her as to which education institution she could study with but wanted the flexibility of making her study schedule work for her.
“The Open Polytechnic diploma was a better fit for my lifestyle and the balance I was wanting to achieve between work and study. Also, it gave me flexibility around the length of time I could complete it in.”
Between that and a recommendation from a colleague who had studied with Open Polytechnic before, Vita undertook the diploma part-time, completing it over two years.
Vita says that compared to her previous on-campus learning experience, she found Open Polytechnic put more effort into directly communicating with students.
“What really helped me hugely is the communication between me and the academic and student mentor staff. As a result, I felt more personally connected to doing this course of study.”
Also, she says having the flexibility to take a step back from studying and take some time off when needed was invaluable.
“I started out by wanting to do the diploma in three trimesters while working and for me it just didn’t work that way – it wasn’t healthy, I didn’t have any downtime and I ended up changing that. I’m really glad that I took a longer amount of time to be able to get through my diploma.
“I have felt supported every step of the way with the Open Polytechnic and the people I have been in contact with. So that has been a huge boost to me achieving my study goals and being able to relax and learn – which is how it should be.”
Vita is passionate about what libraries can offer students and the community and sees her role as a guardian of the space.
“The way I see my role is as kaitiaki – a guardian for both the energy and also the wellbeing of a space and the people who use it.”
Studying for the diploma, says Vita, has helped in every aspect of her career.
“Studying has given me practical skills and really formed a foundation for me to be able to work as a librarian to the best of my ability. It has really built on my critical thinking skills and helped me learn how to work with information in different forms and respond to different enquiries.”
Another unexpected upside of studying, which Vita says has been “life-changing” is exposure to a bicultural way of thinking.
“Through studying certain courses and in my assignments, I have been opened up to a Te Ao Māori worldview in a way that I haven’t had before and that’s been incredible. I have been able to learn to put a bicultural lens on my work as a librarian which has effectively carried over into my life as well. It’s about being aware of people who may have a different need, not just from a Māori perspective, and how we can cater to that.”
In 2021, Vita began working at the Open Polytechnic as a Library and Learning Support Liaison. As part of her role she now supports learners with any queries they have about using the Open Polytechnic online library, research, providing advice on assignments and referencing guidance.
Having finished her diploma, Vita already has plans to continue with further education at Open Polytechnic and is looking at doing the New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5) as this aligns with her future career path.
Vita says it’s an exciting time for the industry and believes perceptions of libraries are changing for the better.
“I think for so long there has been a stereotype of what libraries and librarians are, but it is so much more dynamic than that. There is now a freshness, a playfulness even with different formats of information and the way people interact with it and learn that has totally changed. Being in a space where you can be responsive to those changes and not resistant is exciting.”
Another important aspect for Vita is to continue advocating for libraries as an inclusive space in the future.
“I absolutely love encouraging inclusivity where I can. The library is a neutral space where people of different backgrounds and perspectives can come together to learn – it embraces everyone.”
Vita’s advice to those who are studying while working is to be kind to yourself.
“If you are working at the same time, be kind to yourself, consider your limits and be realistic. Don’t be too ambitious to the point that it will burn you out because it does require a lot of mental focus and your own motivation.”
Vita also encourages students to reach out to Open Polytechnic academic staff or student mentors as “they are really open to helping people on their study journey.”
I have felt supported every step of the way with the Open Polytechnic and the people I have been in contact with. So that has been a huge boost to me achieving my study goals and being able to relax and learn – which is how it should be.