Join EPIC
Information about joining EPIC including: who is able to join EPIC, information for schools, membership benefits and charges.
Who can join EPIC?
EPIC is open to New Zealand-based organisations that provide a library or information service. If an organisation’s status is not clear the EPIC Governance Group (EGG) will evaluate their application and determine eligibility.
Find out more about the EPIC Governance Group (EGG).
If a library/information provider services more than one organisation, the EPIC Governance Group will consider its network structure, funding and governance arrangements and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
EPIC membership for schools
The Ministry of Education has paid for all New Zealand registered schools to access a range of EPIC resources until 31 March 2011 through Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) website.
Information about EPIC for Schools on TKI
Contact TKI by emailing epic@tki.org.nz to see if your school is registered. If not, your principal will be sent a Letter of Agreement to sign. Once this is processed, login and password details will be emailed to your school.
Home-schools are not eligible to join but can freely access EPIC resources at their local public library. Most New Zealand public libraries are EPIC members.
Membership benefits
EPIC enables members to provide their customers full-text access to thousands of quality journals, magazines, reference books and other media that is not freely available elsewhere. This access expands libraries’ resources well beyond what could be physically held or affordably purchased. These resources allow the development of new services and raise the profile of the library within its institution and/or community.
EPIC membership charges
Aside from the Ministry of Education funding for schools, EPIC is self-funded by its member libraries.
There is a fair and affordable pricing model based on bands, ranging from charitable trust libraries to large tertiary libraries. Cost allocation factors vary according to sector (for example, population size for public libraries and collection budget for special libraries). The current pricing model includes a contribution towards administration costs.
You can join EPIC at any time. Costs are prorated according to the subscription year.
When your subscription expires, you will be given the opportunity to sign up for another year.
To get a quote for subscription cost, contact the EPIC Manager by emailing epic@epic.org.nz
Existing member libraries can request a review of their cost allocation by contacting the EPIC Manager. The EPIC Governance Group will consider applications and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
Read more about the EPIC cost allocation model
Page last updated: 30 April 2010.