Sharing leadership skills and playing a pivotal role in a range of initiatives has earned Richard Joseph the Dunedin Public Libraries Citation for 2025.
Cr Christine Garey formally presented the citation during the Libraries’ annual Christmas morning tea on Wednesday 3 December. The event also provided an opportunity to thank volunteers and others who have helped the Libraries during the year.
The citation is awarded annually to a local resident who has made an outstanding contribution to the Libraries’ collections, services or programmes.
Richard has been involved with the City Library for many years and made a tangible and meaningful impact via a number of ventures.
Initially, the connection was formed through the intensive leadership and personal development training provided to staff through the Turning Point Programme.
Through his association as president of the Cedars of Lebanon, Richard became a champion for the Library’s digitisation programme. By working with the Cedars, Richard helped secure funding to establish Scattered Seeds – He Purapura Marara, the Libraries’ Recollect site.
This digital platform was created to give the city a place to store the memories, mementos and stories of the people – individuals, whānau/hapu, cultural groups and heritages who have landed here, taken root and come to call Ōtepoti Dunedin home.
As a trustee for the newly-formed Dunedin Public Libraries Heritage Foundation, Richard has already secured external funding for the digitisation of the Downie Stewart Archive.
Cr Garey says, “Outside of these activities Richard also gives up his own free time to mentor and support senior Libraries staff.”