Transforming Te Tumu Herenga: A Library's journey toward inclusivity, equity, and indigenous empowerment.

In the dynamic landscape of university libraries, continual reflection and re-evaluation of traditions and services are paramount to fostering an environment that genuinely welcomes, includes, represents, and serves all community members. This paper presents the transformative journey of the University of Auckland Library (Aotearoa New Zealand), shifting from a traditional repository of physical materials to a vibrant learning space prioritising the needs of indigenous students.

Guided by its Vision and Strategy (2017-2021), Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services embarked on a trajectory to evolve from multiple physical locations, stand-alone services and just-in-case collection building to collections reflecting the unique place of the University and Aotearoa New Zealand in the Pacific, cohesive services and high-quality spaces catering to the diverse needs of indigenous and varied communities. Within five years, key accomplishments include the right-sizing of physical collections, consolidation of libraries, adoption of a service delivery model focused on diverse communities, restructuring of subject librarian roles and adopting functional teams employing staff from multiple professional backgrounds, leadership, cultural and indigenous development initiatives, and prioritisation of Māori and Pacific undergraduate students in service design and academic support programs.

Central to this transformation is the library's commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi), aiming to eliminate barriers, promote equity, and instil a sense of belonging and empowerment for all individuals engaging with the library. By placing people at the forefront and collaborating with indigenous students, the library endeavours to visually represent cultural elements in its redeveloped physical spaces, embodying the mantra: "He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata - What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people." This paper explores the strategies, challenges, and outcomes of this transformation, providing valuable insights for university libraries seeking to enhance inclusivity and equity.