Rachel Esson

Rachel Margaret Esson (born 1965) is the National Librarian Te Pouhuaki of New Zealand. Before moving into that role in 2020, she served in several positions at the Victoria University of Wellington library and the National Library of New Zealand, including Director of Content Services. Esson also served as the president of LIANZA, New Zealand's national library association, from 2019 to 2020.

Rachel Esson
Esson in 2020
9th National librarian of New Zealand
Assumed office
17 December 2020
Preceded byBill Macnaught
Personal details
Born1965 (age 57–58)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington
University of Otago
ProfessionLibrarian

Early life and education

Esson was born in 1965 in Palmerston North.[1][2] She spent much of her childhood in Palmerston North, where her father was a scientist studying cicadas at nearby research stations.[2]

Esson studied to become a physiotherapist as well as an economist before finding her place in librarianship.[3] She attended library school at the Victoria University of Wellington and earned a Master of Library and Information Science degree in 2009, with a thesis on survey design in medical libraries.[4][1] She also has a Certificate in Tertiary Teaching from the University of Otago.[5]

Career

Esson began her library career in 1986 as a library assistant in the photographic archive at the National Library of New Zealand's Alexander Turnbull Library.[3][1]

Between 2008 and 2012, she worked at the library of the Victoria University of Wellington; her titles there included Head of Research and Learning Services as well as Associate Director Library Academic Services.[1]

In 2013, she returned to the Alexander Turnbull Library, taking on a role as the Assistant Chief Librarian Research Collections.[1] She became the Director of Content Services for the National Library of New Zealand in October 2016.[1] She was the 2019–2020 president of LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.[6]

On 17 December 2020, Esson became New Zealand's National Librarian, following the retirement of Bill Macnaught.[5] In her role as the National Librarian, she holds the Māori title Te Pouhuaki.[2]

References
  1. "Esson, Rachel Margaret, 1965–". National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1965. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  2. "National Librarian visits Papaioea". Libraries Aotearoa. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. "News". New Zealand Book Awards Trust. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. Esson, Rachel (2009). How Good Is Survey Design in Medical Libraries? A Systematic Review of User Surveys (Masters thesis). Open Access Repository Victoria University of Wellington, Victoria University of Wellington. doi:10.26686/wgtn.16969858.
  5. "National Library announces new National Librarian — Te Pouhuaki". National Library of New Zealand. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  6. "LIANZA Past Presidents". LIANZA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
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