Frequently Asked Questions

Membership

Q. Who can belong to the New Zealand Book Council?

A. Anyone can join the Book Council. Membership categories include individual/family, student, school, small companies/library/associate organisation and corporate.

Q. How long does my membership last?

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

Q. Who can attend Book Council events?

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

Q. Who are Book Council members?

• Schools 39 %
• Individuals 56 %
• Organisations 3 %
• Corporates .05 %
• Students 1.5 %

Governance

Q. How is the Book Council governed and managed?

A. The New Zealand Book Council is governed by a Council. The Council is elected annually, from a list of nominees, at the Annual General Meeting. The Council meets five times a year. The current Chair of the Board is Maggie Barry. Owen Marshall is the Deputy Chair.

Q. Who does the Book Council represent?

A. The Book Council is not a representative organisation. Book Council members are people with an interest in books and reading. We serve our membership and the reading public through quality programmes and services. While some of our members may work in the literature sector, most do not, and membership in 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

Q. Who funds the Book Council?

• Grants 25.9%
• Membership 12.5%
• CNZ 25.2%
• Contracts 13.5%
• Programme income 16.0%
• Cultural partnerships 1.8%
• Sundry .8%
• Partnership in kind 4.4%

Q. How are the funds allocated?

• Writers in Schools 30.12%
• Meet the Author 9.0 %
• The sky is the limit when you read 9.5 %
• Words on Wheels 4.0 %
• Booknotes 2.0 %
• Website 3.6 %
• Contracts 3.6%
• International 4.0 %
• Member services 10.38%
• Services 8.3 %
• Administration, Finance and Governance 15.5 %

Q. Is the Book Council a funding agency?

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

Q. When does the Book Council’s financial year start and finish?

A. 1 January to 31 December.

Q. How are finances and programmes monitored?

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

Q. How do schools get a writer visit to their school?

A. Member schools can apply for a half-day sponsored writer visit. Member schools can also apply for additional unsubsidised visits. Costs for additional visits are the responsibility of the member school. Email education@bookcouncil.org.nz for more information.

Q. How can a writer join the Writers in Schools programme?

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

Q. Should the Book Council seek to lobby for curricular changes?

A. No. Our role is not to act on behalf of other agencies or organisations, nor are we willing to advise on matters outside our areas of expertise.

Website

Q. How does a writer get a web entry?

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.

Q. What other information does the website accept?

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

Writer Participation in Book Council Programmes

Q. Does a writer have to be a Book Council member to participate in a Book Council programme?

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

Q. Do you pay writers who participate in your programmes?

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.

Any other questions you have that are not answered above, please email to admin@bookcouncil.org.nz