READER DEVELOPMENT IN NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

Reader development and advice continue to be regarded as core business for public libraries. This paper reports the findings and conclusions of a survey investigating the veracity of this assumption in public library services throughout New Zealand. It is concluded that New Zealand lacks directed strategic thinking about reader development, and that there should be a focus on it to ensure a consistently high level of service throughout the country's public libraries. Edited version of a paper presented at the Reading Critical conference, State Library of Victoria 11-12 April 2008. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]