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WIS Programme

Feature Title

Landfall 222

by David Eggleton (Ed.)
Christchurch and Beyond: this issue of Landfall includes post-earthquake writing from a number of Christchurch...

Feature Author

Tracy Duncan is a writer and illustrator of children’s books. Many of her books are published in...

Open Book

Frequently asked questions

Objectives of the New Zealand Book Council

A. The New Zealand Book Council was founded in 1972 to pursue the following objectives:

• To encourage the wider use, ownership and enjoyment of books in New Zealand and of New Zealand books overseas
• To promote and encourage research into all aspects of book publication, distribution and reading
• To promote and encourage the best use of books throughout the community, especially through their wider use and adequate provision in libraries, schools and other public institutions
• To provide programmes which support the advancement of education in New Zealand and are beneficial to the community of New Zealand
• To further these aims by co-operation with all relevant institutions and societies

Membership

A. Anyone can who agrees with the above objectives and agrees to its rules can become a member.
 

A. School membership runs a single calendar year beginning in January. Invoices are sent to schools at the end of the preceding November. All other membership categories run from the date of joining, for a single calendar year.
 

A. Anyone can attend a public event hosted by the Book Council, but Book Council members receive advance notice and discounted prices.

Governance

A. The New Zealand Book Council is governed by a Board. The Board is elected annually, from a list of nominees, at the Annual General Meeting. The Board meets on a quarterly basis. The current Board can be seen here.

The Council is managed by a Chief Executive and a small staff at its offices in Wellington. The current team can be seen here.
 

A. The Book Council is an independent organisation not a representative body. Book Council members are people with an interest in books and reading. We aim to further the cause of books and reading in New Zealand and while some of our members may work in the literature sector, most do not. Membership of the Book Council does not require a professional affiliation.

There are a host of other organisations that cater to literary professionals, including:

• Booksellers New Zealand, whose members are booksellers and publishers
• New Zealand Society of Authors, whose members are writers
• LIANZA, whose members are librarians
• BPANZ, whose members are publishers

Funding

A. The Book Council is a registered charity funded principally by Creative New Zealand, charitable grants, contracted programmes, membership fees and donations.
 

A. No, but the Book Council does use a portion of our resources to assist organisations we work in partnership with. For more information, or to see if your organisation could work with the Book Council, contact director@bookcouncil.org.nz.
 

A. 1 January to 31 December.

A. The Book Council has a full and thorough annual audit of both its finances and programmes. In addition, every visit, event and tour undergoes an evaluation process. Audience figures and web statistics are also recorded.

Programmes:
Writers in Schools

A. For full details of the programme go to the Writers in Schools or email education@bookcouncil.org.nz for more information.
 

A. To take part in Writers in Schools, writers need to complete an application process. The Book Council accepts applications from New Zealand writers living in New Zealand who have an established publishing record. Publications can include a book (or books) published with a mainstream publisher, or regular publication elsewhere in the educational publishing market e.g. Learning Media or Wendy Pye Ltd. All applicants must provide professional and personal referees. The Writers in Schools programme works with strict attention to the health and safety, as well as the risk management, policies of member schools. Applications are available from director@bookcouncil.org.nz

Website

A. Initially writers for the website were those included in the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature. Today, writers are included once they meet the criteria established by the Book Council Web Committee Group. Applications are accepted from New Zealand writers who have published at least one book with a mainstream publisher or whose work regularly appears in education journals. Currently the site includes fiction writers, poets, writers who write literary non-fiction and playwrights. The entries themselves are written in the house style and are not advertorial.
 

A. The Book Council website accepts listings for arts and literary organisations, literary awards, arts festivals and upcoming literary events. The site also carries information about competitions, writer residencies and literary tourism. Information for inclusion on the website should be sent to web@bookcouncil.org.nz
 

A. We cannot give out contact details for any author listed on our website. Please look to the top of the authors' Writers' files for contact details for rights and publicity in the 'Profile' box. Where these don't exist, in most instances we are able to forward emails on your behalf. If you would like to mail a letter or parcel to any author on our website and you choose to do so through us, please include a pre-paid envelope for us to forward it to the author. Please note we don't commit to forwarding any item which does not meet this condition.

Writer Participation in Book Council Programmes

A. No. Writers are invited to participate in a programme because we value the contribution they will make to the programme.
 

A. Yes, everyone who works for the Book Council gets paid. Participation fees are paid for school visits, events and touring. Fees are not negotiable, nor are they intended to operate as a writer's sole income.

If you have a question we have not answered above, please email to admin@bookcouncil.org.nz