Everyone recognises Central Hawke's Bay librarian Sue Fargher, now she's been nationally recognised

CHB Libraries manager Sue Farhger in amongst the books she loves.

If you've been in the Waipawa Library at all over the last 27 years you will recognise Sue Fargher.

Now she's also been recognised by Lianza- the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa - which has awarded her with the highest award for librarians in New Zealand, the Lianza Fellowship.

Fargher, CHB District Council's CHB Libraries manager, received the award on Friday as part of the Lianza 2021 Professional Recognition Awards.

The association has been recognising professional excellence and honouring the contributions made to the library and information profession in New Zealand for 71 years and a fellowship is the highest level of professional attainment, awarded for outstanding leadership, teaching or research qualities for at least 10 years.

Farhger says she feels honoured and humbled by the award.

"I have always looked up to the fellowship recipients in our organisation. This has been an overwhelming experience for me, but lovely."

Fargher started her career in libraries after leaving school, although her intention has been to go fruit picking.

"My mother said 'there's a job going at the library' and I applied, doing my training at the Hastings Library.

"It was a different world back then. I went home and told my mother it was like a retirement home."

Fargher then went overseas for five years and on her return the Hastings Library phoned her and asked her to resume working there.

Sue Fargher is known for her passion for Central Hawke's Bay's libraries.

"I was looking forward to a bit of a break but off I went."

For the last 27 years Fargher has been the face of the Waipawa Library, taking on the management of both Waipawa and Waipukurau libraries when they amalgamated.

"We've provided some wonderful services over the years that I a proud to have been a part of. I've always said how lucky I am to have a job I love.

"My family has been a huge support through the hard work and long hours. My husband Tom has been to every library function we've had and my daughters claim to have grown up in a library. They are avid readers."

Lianza Credentials Committee chair Laurinda Thomas says, "It's always wonderful to be able to review the nominations and read about the fabulous work people in our profession are doing. It's an inspiring process to be a part of.

"In addition to the challenges of leading a smaller rural library service where management is constantly balanced with day-to-day service delivery, Sue has demonstrated an exceptional level of dedication and commitment to her local community and to the library profession."

Fargher has been a driving force in the development of the successful ECREADn Summer reading programme, also introducing Winter Reading and IREAD.

She has been a strong advocate for small and medium sized public libraries, being elected to the inaugural committee of the Association of Public Library Managers.

In 2013, Fargher was awarded the Lianza Ada Fache Scholarship which enabled her to travel to Sydney to attend the By Design: Public Library Places and Spaces in Australia and New Zealand Conference, which provided insights after the Waipukurau Library was seriously damaged by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the East Coast and assisted her with the rebuilding and community consultation.

Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker says "Libraries are so important to us and Sue is amazing. We are very proud of her."