Library stars: best of the best 2010
SUMMARY OF THE WINNING ENTRIES
Category: Children and early literacy
City of Greater Dandenong Libraries, Victoria
The City of Greater Dandenong is the most culturally diverse municipality in Australia with nearly 60% of residents speaking languages other than English at home and many have limited fluency in English. The library outreach program has adopted an early childhood literacy focus, going out to visit groups of young families and ethnic groups in the community who have not previously used the library service. It supports parents or carers from refugee or low literacy backgrounds, building their confidence and encouraging them to read regularly with their children in an effort to improve literacy and school readiness levels.
Regular visits are made to playgroups, kindergartens, schools, community centres and local health services, family day care providers, and disability support and residential groups. Library outreach staff deliver age appropriate bilingual materials, stories and songs, promoting the enjoyment of story, rhyme and rhythm, and delivering services that support early childhood initiatives and literacy programs. Baby Bounce and story telling sessions are provided to a range of multicultural parenting groups.
Community response has been overwhelming, with over 5,000 participants in 2008 and a 60% increase in loans for Let's Read materials from 2007/2008 to 2008/2009. In 2009 the outreach program was awarded a Victorian Premier's Multicultural Award for Excellence.
http://www.greaterdandenong.com/
Category: Digital citizenship
ACT Library and Information Service, the Northern Territory Library and the State Libraries of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia
Seven state and territory libraries partnered to create MyLanguage, an internet portal enabling access to information in more than 60 languages, with over six-million links to search engines, web directories, government websites, digital library projects and news. The website supports libraries in providing information to culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) that is not possible via print collections alone.
MyLanguage evolved as a response to three ideas:
- The information society is dependent on fostering access to, and publication of, multilingual and multicultural information;
- Development and enhancement of multilingual and multicultural internet and electronic services is crucial to libraries as gateways to resources; and
- Digital inclusion requires access to technology and the internet in order to develop access to information resources for new and emergent communities.
A new vision and objectives are being developed for MyLanguage that will see information technology used to enable libraries to empower CALD communities to achieve greater social inclusion and maintain and enrich cultural and linguistic identity. The project will be more responsive to community needs, foster the growth of community content, and support the social inclusion agenda of governments, especially with new technologies and Web 2.0 opportunities.
http://www.mylanguage.gov.au
Category: Social inclusion
Logan City Council Libraries, Queensland
Logan City is the most diverse community in Queensland with 50,000 of its 250,000 residents from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The 171 Club, named after the number of ethnic groups in Logan, demonstrates a partnership between the library and Assisting Collaborative Community Employment Support Services (ACCES) and brings together different ethnic groups. The objectives of the club are to celebrate cultural differences, to support and encourage social cohesion between different ethnic communities in Logan, and to promote respect, fairness and a sense of belonging.
Each month, at the Beenleigh Library a different country is explored, including the culture, food and people. Nine different cultures from African, the Pacific, Europe and Asia have been celebrated and genuine interest has been generated, with between 60 and 120 people attending each event. As a result of the program's success, the 171 Club will be extended to other Logan libraries.
www.loganlibraries.org
Category: Health and ageing
The Hills Shire Library Service, New South Wales
Council's Positive Ageing Strategy 2008-2010 indicates that 8.8% of the Shire population is currently aged 65+ and predicts this will grow annually by 0.38%. Two actions contained in the strategy were to "continue support for innovative senior focused activities" and "support continuing education and training opportunities". As a result, a partnership was formed between the library and community development teams to plan and implement the Festival of Active Living.
The three-day Festival included hobbies, health and wellbeing and lifestyle options and talks by gardening guru Sandra Ross, meditation expert Kevin Hume, media personality Ita Buttrose and author Mary Moody. Stalls were provided by community groups such as artists, knitters, yoga instructors and chiropractors. The Rock n Soul Choir brought the library down and really showed just how loud and vibrant libraries can be! Objectives of the festival were: to change perceptions about libraries and increase awareness and usage; open opportunities for seniors to remain active and enhance their quality of life; to help build a vibrant, healthy and active community; and to provide avenues for seniors to connect and be part of their community.
The Festival of Active Living was very successful, with significant opportunities for attendees to enhance their life with new skills and connect with other community members. The large number of attendees indicates the objectives to increase usage and awareness were met at the same time as helping to build a vibrant, healthy and active community.
www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/library
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