Library Self-Check Machines and Security Gates Upgrade

We are pleased to let all library users know that the self-check machines at both the Mt Albert and Waitākere libraries have been upgraded.

The new self-check machines are faster, easier to use, and provide a smoother borrowing experience. You can now issue your own library books using your student ID, without needing to wait for assistance at the Ask Me Desk. This service is available whenever the library is open, including times when staff may not be available.

Security Gate Upgrades

We have also upgraded the security gates at:

Building 180, Mt Albert Library
B520, Waitākere Library

If the security gate alarm sounds when you pass through, please do not ignore it. 

Please, check that all library books have been issued correctly at a self-check machine. Visit the Ask Me Desk at Mt Albert Library or speak to library staff at Waitākere Library.
Contact the library team if you need assistance 

The alarm usually means that an item has not been issued properly, and our staff will be happy to help resolve the issue.

Thank you and we hope you enjoy using our upgraded library services.

Library 

Pacific Collection Resources Are Now Available to Borrow

 Bula vinaka and warm Pacific greetings,

From the start of Semester 2 this year, the Pacific collection has transitioned from a reference-only collection to a lending collection. This means that all physical items, including Pacific books, DVDs, and other collection materials, are now available for loan.

The Pacific collection is a separate collection located at the Unitec Waitākere campus Library. Whether you're working on an assignment, undertaking Pacific research, or enhancing your knowledge of Pacific cultures and communities, you can now borrow Pacific collection resources and access them at your convenience. This change reflects the Library's commitment to supporting Pacific student success and improving access to our library users at Unitec.

                         Our Pacific collection is located at Waitākere Unitec Library in Building 520 (Level 3) 

Supporting your teaching, learning and research needs:

•         Use the Unitec LibrarySearch to find and request Pacific collection resources
•          The Pacific collection at Waitākere Library includes general Pacific books, Pacific health, nursing and social practice, foundational and bridging education subject areas taught at Waitākere campus. Please see the table for Pacific topics covered within the Pacific collection here: https://guides.unitec.ac.nz/pasifika/pacificcollection 
•         At the Te Puna Library, Pacific related books are selected and purchased to support the subject areas taught at Mt Albert campus. The books are interfiled in the general collection with the teaching subjects and are loanable.  Please see the table for Pacific related books – Te Puna Library here: https://guides.unitec.ac.nz/pasifika/Pacificrelatedbooks 

New P sticker for easy identification

Pacific collection resources are now easier to spot and locate on the shelves at Waitākere Library.

All physical items in the Pacific collection feature a new P sticker and will be labelled with PACIFIC in the call number 919.611 SIE PACIFIC.

Unitec Library books with Pacific content have a frangipani label on their spines too.

 

 

If you have any questions, please contact Sana Saleem (Pacific Librarian) on email: ssaleem@unitec.ac.nz or visit the Pacific subject guide here: https://guides.unitec.ac.nz/pasifika

 

 

Special Shelves for Large Books at Te Puna

We’re pleased to share that our Special Shelves for Large Books is now fully set-up and ready for staff and students to explore at Te Puna Library (B180). Bringing together beautifully illustrated, large-format books that showcase visual content across Art, Architecture, Natural Sciences, Photography, and Design.

These large print books have now been grouped into dedicated, easy‑to‑find locations across Levels 1–3.

Here’s where you can find them:

•          Level 1 – One white tambour located near north end of printers
• Level 2 – Two wooden shelves near printer in middle of mezzanine floor (for Creative Industries and Architecture respectively)
• Level 3 – One white tambour near printer at west end of mezzanine floor

To support safe handling, two small browsing tables have been added on Level 2 - one on each side of the shelving areas.

New L sticker for easy identification

Large-format books can now be easily recognised by a new L sticker. This initiative helps ensure they are shelved correctly, returned to the appropriate locations, and handled with care.

The large books kept on these shelves in Dewey decimal order and have a L sticker on them and will have a note in the item record description “ Note: Large book – may be on display table or shelves” and LARGE in the call number 720.92 PAL MIT LARGE

Improvements to ProQuest Central Ebooks

Unitec Library is excited to announce upcoming improvements to our ProQuest Ebook Central e-books, making them more accessible and easier to use. (ProQuest Ebook Central supplies the majority of Unitec Library’s e-books.) These changes include:

Enhanced accessibility features, including:

• Navigating using just a keyboard or speech recognition software
• Navigating using a screen reader
• Going directly to main content areas on the page using skip links (web)
• Listening to an ebook using a screen reader with Text Only Mode enabled
• Zooming in up to 200% using browser tools without text spilling off the screen

(These changes meet Level AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2))

An easier way to download whole e-books or chapters of e-books

Adobe Digital Editions will no longer be needed. Instead, users will be able to download content through the new ProQuest Ebook Central App. 

We are expecting this change to go live by 27 July 2026, and we will update the library’s ‘Ebooks at Unitec Library’ guide with new, clear instructions.

 Ngā mihi nui,

 The Unitec Library team

Library building access for Easter and Anzac

During Easter Week and Anzac Day, study spaces opening hours may vary.  Please check below.

Anzac Day observed on Monday

Day	Te Puna Library	Waitakere Library	Waitakere Rangimarie
Good Friday 3 April	Closed	Closed	Closed
Easter Saturday 4 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Easter Sunday 5 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Easter Monday 6 April	Closed	Closed	Closed
Easter Tuesday 7 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Friday  24 April	7am - 9pm	8am - 5pm	6:30am - 9pm
Saturday (Anzac Day) 25 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	8am - 4pm
Sunday 26 April	7am - 6pm	Closed	Closed
Monday (Anzac Day Observed) 27 April	Closed	Closed	Closed

 For full information link to the Library Hours

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Level 3 study spaces

Good news! In early February, the Architecture lab moved back to Building 48 as planned to create more study spaces. Student asked for more study areas in the library based on Student NPS survey 2025. 

To address the need for more study spaces, we added 30 desks with power connections and have tables with whiteboards for group study in an open space on level 3. The whiteboard markers available at the Ask Me desk to borrow. 

Recreational Reading - We moved a Recreational collection from level 1 upto level 3

Chill Zone - There is a chill-out zone on West side on level 3

                                                                                              

Printer - Each level has printer with instructions for staff and students on how to 

 

Self-Check machine

Quiet learning space on level 3 if you are looking for a quiet space. Also, the DVD collection is in the quiet learning space as well.

Changes to our print, copy and scan system

 

Last week we replaced all our old Konica Minolta Multi-Functional printers (MFDs) with Canon MFDs. The new MFDs are located across all campuses for your printing, scanning and copying needs.

To print, copy or scan from the new Canon MFD you will need to download a new printer driver. See this guide for more information and instruction on how to print, copy and scan.

If you have any questions, please email IT support itsupport@unitec.ac.nz or phone 0800 275 467 (0800 ASKIMS) during normal business hours. 

Summer Hours for 2025 -2026

Summer Holiday hours from Friday 21 November 2025 - 23 February, 2026

Te Puna (B180)
Mon - Sun: 7am - 6pm
Public Holidays: CLOSED

Waitakere library (B520)
Mon - Fri: 8pm - 5pm
Sat - Sun: CLOSED
Public Holidays: CLOSED

All library will be closed from 17 December 2025(12 noon) - 6 January 2026

From Monday 23 February 2026, the building hours will return to normal hours 

See full details for Waitākere Rangimarie (B510) and Library Hours on Library hours.

Have a great summer break from the Library Team 

Introducing colour coding signage at Te Puna Library

Navigating a library should be as enjoyable as reading a great book. We are excited to introduce our new color-coding signage system designed to help our library patrons find what they need on the shelves.

You Said, We Did: A Smarter Way to Navigate the Library 

This improvement was initiated after Subject Librarian Sana Saleem attended a design student presentation in March 2024, where a student suggested we consider a “colour coding system” to make it easier to find print materials on the library shelves, relevant to their subject area 

 Students said : 
“ It’s hard to know sometimes which section of the library starts and ends when looking for print books”

We did: 
We heard our student voice —and we initiated a project  to improve access to our print collection for all library users (in particular visual spatial learners) by introducing subject area colour coding in accordance with the Unitec’s  brand wayfinding palette that match the colours of Schools and show how our collection is closely aligned with Unitec’s teaching and research. 

Our new colour-coded signage system is now live across the library. 

Some examples of how our students have responded to this initiative:  

• “Easier to find the colour for my subject area” 
• “I love the design you're going with. It is simple, straight to the point and the colour is well thought out, making it well uniformed with the unitec colours”. 

Library project team  

This project was led by Sana Saleem, project members Anna Wheeler and Stephen Brebner worked together to successfully implement the project by improving signage to replace the current bay end signage on all three levels at Te Puna Library. The project was delivered in two parts : Level 2 and 3 at the end of 2024 and Level 1 earlier this year. 

The project team partnered with the Copy Centre to ensure the signage was professionally designed  in accordance with Unitec’s brand. 

How it works 

Here’s an example of the new colour-coding for one section of the library: 

Level 1 Te Puna                                   

ECE - one colour that represents the Teaching Area (Early Childhood Learning) that aligns with majority of the subject headings listed on the bay end sign

Bridgepoint and NZ/Pacific - two colours that represent the Teaching Areas/Schools that align with the  subject headings listred on the bay end sign.

Why it matters 

• Relevance to student's learning: The alignment of the Library's physical collection to our teaching areas is highlighted
• Branded wayfinding: Easier to find the book collections aligned the Schools
• Accessibility: Prominent colours and headings support users who struggle with reading
• Efficiency: our library users can locate resources quickly.  

Post implementation feedback after project completion in September 2025 showed that our initiative has enhanced user experience and had a positive impact on Unitec Library space, print collections and our diverse learner's confidence in wayfinding. 

Study space increased based on student feedback

Update - 27-02-2026

We have added more study space on level 3 in Te Puna library.

In first semester 2025 Student NPS survey, 33 students who use the Te Puna Library asked for more study areas in the library, for example one construction student said:

" Would like to see more sitting areas in the library as it’s hard to find a spot to study, especially during busy times. “

To address the need for more study spaces, we are piloting some study space in the north-east corner by the grey wall on level 1 of Te Puna. We logged jobs with FM to provide electrical power to each desk, fix broken tiles and move existing wooden partitions to make it more inviting and welcoming for our students.

We asked students what they think of the individual desks/study area:

“Very convenient to study here and is closer to my classroom”



How these changes have impacted our student’s user experience
We are observing that more students are utilising the new space that has resulted to increased student usage

Next steps
We will continue to engage with students about study space and innovate to create a library environment that continuously adapts to support learning.

Building Hours for the rest of this year + summer break

 Study & Exam weeks hours - Monday 4 November - Thursday 20 November, 2025

Te Puna (B180) will be open longer hours over the study and exam weeks period
Mon - Thurs: 7am - 10pm
Fri - Sun: 7am - 7pm
Public Holidays: CLOSED

Waitakere library hours will remain the same as during semester time

Summer Holiday hours Friday 21 November 2025 - 23 February, 2026

Te Puna (B180)
Mon - Sun: 7am - 6pm
Public Holidays: CLOSED

Waitakere library (B520)
Mon - Fri: 8pm - 5pm
Sat - Sun: CLOSED
Public Holidays: CLOSED

From Monday 23 February 2026, the building hours will return to normal hours 

See full details for Waitākere Rangimarie (B510) and Library Hours on Library hours.

Safetyhub upgrade

Unitec Library subscribes to a database of safety videos called SafetyHub (click link to access).

Here is a message from the SafetyHub provider:

Safetyhub will be unavailable:

• Offline: Friday 31 October, 9:00am (AEDT)
• New, upgraded Safetyhub Available: Tuesday 4 November, 12:00pm (AEDT)

More information

The Safety Hub Team are on track for the Safetyhub upgrade on the 4th of November. In the lead up, we wanted to share some more information around what you can expect.

What are some of the new features I can expect to see?
•    Ability to set recurring training
•    The ability to create course bundles
•    More intuitive custom course creation
•    Better participant training experience
•    Interactive mode on Safetycare training
•    Creating custom certificates
•    Ability to set custom pass marks for all Safetycare courses
•    Enhanced reporting functionalities
•    And more! 

FAQs

Can I take a look at the new platform?
At this stage we have nothing to show you. A few weeks out we will get some walkthrough demos out to you.

What will happen to historical training records when the new Safetyhub platform is activated?
All existing participant information and training history will be migrated to the new Safetyhub platform, ensuring you can access historical data.

What will happen with all Custom Courses when the new Safetyhub platform is activated?
All existing Custom Courses created by your organisation will be migrated to the new Safetyhub platform, including accompanying resources.

I use Safetycare SCORM files. Does anything change for me?
No, any SCORM File packages you may have utilised will remain accessible via the same links.

Being a Single Sign-On (SSO) client, will the authentication automatically rollover to the new Safetyhub platform?
No, they will not automatically rollover as Metadata cannot be migrated (due to security reasons). Please follow the simple steps outlined in the SSO Migration email that was sent to our SSO clients alongside the announcement email to complete this process.

I use Safetycare embedded video links, or direct video URLs. Does anything change for me?
No, any Safetycare video link you may have utilised will remain accessible via the same links.

Will there be any downtime where we cannot access the current Safetyhub platform?
Yes, Safetyhub will be entirely offline at this time as the new platform is made live:
•    Offline: Friday 31 October, 9:00am (AEST)
•    New, upgraded Safetyhub available: Tuesday 4 November, 12:00pm (AEST) 

A further reminder to complete any ‘In-Progress’ training by October 30th.

The Team at Safetyhub

Study space with power sockets on Level 1

 

Te Puna Library has added new study space with power sockets on Level 1.

 We appreciate your patience as we continue to improve our facilities to better support your learning experience. 

We welcome your feedback on the new study spaces and other aspects of the library — please use this form to share your thoughts.

AI and Unitec Library

If you have used Unitec Library’s databases or eBooks recently, you may have noticed some new AI features. Several of our databases now have GenAI integrations.

For example, the AI Insights feature (available in the EBSCO databases) and the ProQuest Research Assistant (ProQuest databases) help you to assess the usefulness of a full-text article, by generating and highlighting 2-5 key points per document. You can use this AI feature, alongside the article abstracts, to help you select the most relevant articles from a list of search results. Some of the library’s eBooks also provide AI-generated key concepts and chapter-level takeaways.

Related sources are also sometimes suggested by these AI tools - these suggestions may help you to broaden your research. For example, ProQuest's Research Assistant (eg in the ABI Inform database) will offer some suggested sources to explore, and the Ebook Central Research Assistant suggests related eBooks from the collection.

These features use Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) models, which means that the generated content comes from within the database collections only. This helps with accuracy and reliability of the content generated, but even so, the quality of the content generated from these features can vary. 

Please use our feedback form to let us know any experiences you have with the features. For example, do you find the AI generated content useful and accurate?

You can access the databases via the Subject Guides or via our Databases A-Z. 

If you would like more information please contact your Subject Librarian.

Library lucky draw - International Orientation

 🎉 Congratulations to Gopika Raju! 🎉

We’re delighted to announce that Gopika Raju, a Master of Applied Business student, is the winner of the Library’s Lucky Draw held during International Student Orientation on 16^th July!

Gopika has received a $10 printing voucher, which can be used at any printer in Te Puna Library—a perfect way to get started with printing study materials, assignments, or notes.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the draw and helped make our international orientation event a warm and welcoming experience, particularly to Sana and Nora for coordinating the lucky draw. We’re so excited to have you all here and look forward to supporting your academic journey.

(Photo of Nora and Gopika)

Get help with using Unitec library's e-books with the updated 'Ebooks at Unitec Library' guide

Due to recent changes in the interfaces of three of our e-book providers, the library team has recently updated our 'Ebooks at Unitec Library' guide. 

The three e-book interfaces to change are:

ProQuest Ebook Central e-books

EBSCO e-books

Taylor & Francis e-books

This guide covers all of the basics of using e-books from our five most common suppliers (including reading the e-book, reading a particular chapter/section, printing, saving and downloading). It also includes guidance for lecturers on embedding e-books into Moodle.

The most-common questions about e-books are covered by the guide, but for more help, please contact your Subject Librarian. 

Library website design changes

The library website design changed on Monday 7 July to provide a simpler interface for students to access library services and resources online. 

Currently there is a redirect from the previous homepage to the beta page while we carry our final testing in the live environment. 

We plan to pilot the new design for semester 2, then refine the design over the summer and launch a further fine tuned new look beginning 2026.

We welcome your feedback about the new homepage design and any other aspects of our website - please use this form to share your thoughts.

Reminder for academic staff preparing for Semester 2

Course reserve (short loan)

Are there any library books/items you would like your students to have ready access to in the Library? Both Waitākere and Te Puna (Mt Albert) libraries have short loan options of 2 hours, 24 hours and 72 hours (3 days). 

Please fill in this form by Friday 11 July 2025 to ensure the items are on Course Reserve (short loan) for your students when Semester 2 starts. 

Information Literacy 

The library team has Subject Librarians who are available to arrange with you, tailored information literacy sessions for your students. 

Click here to find the Subject Librarian for your subject area / School.

Ebsco databases improved user interface is live now

The user interface of our EBSCO databases was updated today, with a clean, user-friendly design along with several functional improvements. 

Highlights include:

• AI-Powered Insights (Beta): A new feature called Generate AI Insights is now available. It uses artificial intelligence to provide summaries and insights based on the content of the source document.

• Expanded Search Filters: Users can now refine their searches more effectively with an expanded set of filters. Click on ‘All Filters’ to explore the full range of options.

• Redesigned Tool Icons: Core tools like Cite, Share, and Save are still available, but they now appear with a refreshed look for a more intuitive experience.

Please be encouraged to contact your Subject Librarian for more information and assistance regarding our Ebsco databases.

Mt Albert Student Hub building hours change for mid year break

The Te Puna / Mt Albert Student Hub building hours have changed for mid year break

During the break from 30 June to 20 July we will close the building at 6pm each night