ALIA Public Libraries Reference Group

Library stars: best of the best

2006 Nominations

A brief description of each nomination received for Library Stars: Best of the Best 2006 is provided below, along with a link to each library service. Information was accurate at the time of nomination in mid-2006. Nominations are listed alphabetically by library service.

The ACT Public Library has been developing innovative services to meet the needs of those who may not use a library, specifically new and emerging communities and Indigenous people in the ACT. This has involved thinking outside the square and revisiting the way library services are delivered, including publishing Tongan readers, developing an oral storytelling program for Horn of Africa communities, developing partnerships with the Migrant Resource Centre and prioritising translations of library information for smaller communities such as Amharic and Mon.

Baby Bounce and Rhyme - Adelaide Hills Council Library Service

Baby Bounce and Rhyme is an early literacy language enrichment program that is fun for both parents and babies. The program has connections to local community services and centres, as well as to early childhood studies at the University of South Australia. The 30-minute sessions are built around action songs, nursery rhymes and lullabies. Parent support materials a program book, book lists and local information and contacts.

Alexandrina Library & Customer Service Centre - Alexandrina Council

Creating a joint Library and Customer Service Centre was a bold move for Alexandrina Council. The resulting Centre is focused on the feeling community. Residents can pay their rates, register their dogs, put in a development application, catch up on news, borrow books and movies, have a chat and a coffee, as well as volunteer some time, all under the one roof. Two separate functions were gradually merged into one and a fully-trained multi-skilled team created.

Multilingual Internet Training for Seniors (MITS) - Auburn Library Service

Providing clients with basic Internet skills in their own language empowers them to complete the simple online tasks that many of us take for granted. By bringing together seniors of similar languages, MITS widens social networks and reduces loneliness. A number of community services also play a part in this program. Training and support documentation is provided in Arabic and Chinese; sessions coincide with Seniors Week.

Baulkham Hills Shire Library Service

Baulkham Hills Shire Library Service combines innovative and creative services and marketing with consistent strategic planning. The library has adopted an RFID self-check loans and return system, developed an award-winning hub library, provides Council one-stop services, established a recognisable 'Connect' brand and created a team-based staff structure. 2004/05 loans increased 64% over those in 1998/99 and visitors were up 208% for the same period.

The Next Chapter - Bega Valley Library Service

Research undertaken by the library explored ways in which the library could better serve an area affected by changing demographics, such as an ageing population and the 'sea change' phenomenon. One program shaped by the research is Grandparents and Books, which fosters valuable civic engagement by enabling an increasingly older population to connect with children through their love of reading.

Cairns Libraries

In 2002, Cairns Libraries was struggling. Branches and funding were under threat, library patrons were disgruntled and staff numbers and morale were low. By 2006 the library was financially sound, innovative and energetic, had more staff, and more creative staff, and patron numbers were increasing rapidly. A new library manager with a proactive approach to team management, the employment of a marketing librarian and a children's librarian, and development of strategic partnerships with local business, cultural, government and community groups all contributed to the transformation.

Leading from the right side of the brain - Caloundra City Libraries

Caloundra City Libraries are exploring the thread of connection between libraries and communities through programs such as Leading Edge (lifelong learning), Finding the Thread (story-based program), SeaChange (exploring how libraries can best respond to demographic change), and Learning from the right side of the brain (community learning). Action research methodologies underpin program development.

Saddleworth Library and Community Centre - Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council Library Services

Strategic partnerships have been used to deliver practical and economic use of resources and services in the redeveloped Saddleworth Branch Library. The new centre incorporates not only the library and council offices, but a doctor's medical suite, professional offices, coffee lounge and community meeting rooms. The community has responded enthusiastically to these new facilities.

Assistive Technologies for People with Disabilities - Darwin City Council Libraries

Darwin City Council Libraries have implemented a specialised computer service dedicated to people with a range of disabilities, including children, youth and the elderly. Careful research and consultation with relevant community groups was the starting point for this program, which also assisted library staff to acquire additional skills in assistive technologies and disability awareness.

Youth Services at Darwin City Council Libraries - Darwin City Council Libraries

The challenge of attracting and keeping the 12+ age group coming into the library forced the library to look at policies and services from every angle. A number of changes (such as enhancing the youth collection, replacing computers with Xboxes and Playstations, offering youth focused events, developing new membership policies, holding 'library lock ins', and widening online resources) have met with welcome success.

Read with Me Baby Book Bag Project - Eastern Regional Libraries

Read with Me encourages new parents to take an active interest in reading to their children and using public libraries by giving new mothers a kit comprised of library bag, board book and library service information. More than 5000 kits were distributed in 2004 - 2005. Eastern Regional Libraries works with community organisations to promote the project; one outcome of this collaboration is an enhanced profile for the library amongst its local government peer agencies.

The Junction Works ATLAS Program: Special needs clients accessing Fairfield Library - Fairfield City Library Service

The Junction Works targets young adults with a diversity of backgrounds (including financial, physical and/or learning constraints) which make mainstream community involvement difficult. Themed material is carefully chosen from across a range of formats - books, magazines, graphic novels, DVDs, internet and word processing. Weekly visits are highly successful with the result that other disability groups have requested a similar program.

The Joondalup Experience - City of Joondalup Libraries

The Joondalup Lbraries has changed its look, feel, focus and even the culture of the staff to ensure that it adds value to the community and its Council. Increased transaction figures, increased building usage and increased event participation are evidence that these changes have been welcomed by the community.

My Library Reward Program - Karratha Community Library

The closure of Roeburne's community swimming pool in summer 2005 resulted in a huge increase in library visits by the town's children. The unique cultures of the local Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi people mean English is a second language for most children, and that libraries are not familiar places. The My Library Reward Program has been a highly effective means of engaging the children with the library in a meaningful way and fostering a sense of library ownership for these young Australians.

Kiama Library Star - Kiama Municipal Library

A galaxy of services are provided by Kiama's 3 full-time, 4 part-time and 5 causal library staff, and on a shoestring budget. Services include a baby kit, baby story time, preschool story time, a Reading Rulz competition for children, Book Week and Library Week activities, TeenLink services to bring the 'cool' back into libraries, a community college drop-in centre, homework help, home library and local history services, and Friends of Kiama Library events and fundraising.

Babies Who Read, Succeed! - Kingston Library (State Library of Tasmania)

A trial early literacy program initiated at Kingston Library proved so successful that the State Library of Tasmania adopted the core of the project and now provides over 600 kits statewide each year. Kits designed for 0 - 12 months, 12 -24 months and 24 - 36 months age groups are available for loan, and contain a selection of recommended books and brochures and reading lists. In collaboration with the Department of Health, packs will soon be given to all newborn babies in Tasmania.

Library Link - Logan City Council Libraries

Library Link provides a regular door-to-door bus service to the library for registered Home Library Service borrowers. The visit includes browsing time, seeing recent acquisitions which have been set aside for each client, access to computers, individual attention and refreshments. A partnership with LANDS Community Transport and the involvement of both paid and volunteer staff ensures the viability of the service.

Manly Youth Expressed - Manly Library

Since 2004 Manly Library has showcased artworks created by local high school students by hanging the art in the library for up to one year. The program has provided motivation for young artists, created enduring links to the community and linked major community cultural facilities. It also makes the library shine!

Innovative Cooperation Solution to Ageing Microfilm - Maroochy Libraries, Caloundra Libraries, State Library of Queensland

The Nambour Chronicle was the only local newspaper for Queensland's Sunshine Coast from 1903 until 1983, and is a major research tool. Extensive use was damaging microfilm, so a digital preservation solution was developed and trialed by the three partner libraries in this project. Ultimately Maroochy and Caloundra Libraries will have their local newspaper archive served from the State Library's website, but with their own branded access.

Marrickville Library Service

Marrickville recently introduced innovative and customer friendly technologies that simplify access to information for both English speaking and CALD communities. RFID and self-check machines are integral to the innovations. Staff now have more time to focus on direct customer service, as well as strategic marketing and promotional activities.

Mount Barker Community Library

With a vision to become a place where the community can engage in variety of cultural, artistic, intellectual, social and community pursuits, Mt Barker Community Library offers a range of programs and activities, including live music, competitions, literary events, cooking demonstrations, activities linked to International Talk like a Pirate Day, UN International Day of Peace, Every Generation Month and arcade games.

Sustainable Libraries - Newcastle Region Library

A major review of Newcastle City Council libraries resulted in a 20 year Library Services Delivery Model which will transform library services in the city. The new Wallsend District Library Newcastle is a showpiece of ecological sustainable design. The impact of the library on the community will be measured by an economic impact study conducted by the Hunter Valley Research Foundation 'before' and 'after'. Results of the research will inform future library developments.

Northern Territory Library's Website Transformation - Northern Territory Library

A customer discovery process in 2004 revealed the library's website was of little use to customers, who include both Territorians and all the public libraries in the NT. The dynamic platform of the new website has a clean, consistent, logical and user format. It has met with great approval from the library's customers, with usage increasing by more than 16 times.

SLQ Ideas Program - State Library of Queensland

When physical redevelopment of the State Library of Queensland's building reduced physical spaces for program delivery, the library sought ways to connect with new audiences in new locations. SLQ Ideas Program incorporated a series of cultural projects that profiled the library, its collections, resources and desire to creatively link people to information knowledge and each other. Inspiration was found in snow domes, love letters, family trees and music trivia.

Better Beginnings for Baby Borrowers - State Library of Western Australia

A holistic, universal, early literacy program delivered by the State Library of Western Australia and local governments is done with partnership with the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund. Modeled on similar programs in the UK and Australia, Better Beginnings is the first of its kind to be offered on a statewide basis. Fifty-two local governments have committed to the program, and as of the end of June 2006, more than 16,000 newborns received their first book from the program. The program has had an significant impact on indigenous and CALD communities.

Thuringowa Library Services

Thuringowa Library Services was named Queensland Public Library of the Year in 2005. This award from its peer libraries focuses on three key factors: service to the community, creativity and innovation in developing specific community programs or a dramatic increase in library usage, and program leadership. Thuringowa Library has its own free online information literacy tutorial, writes a weekly newspaper column with an internet focus, took part in the development of Libraries Australia, is a member of Picture Australia, and has strong partnerships with local schools, the State Library of Queensland and its local indigenous community.

Two into One - Does it Work? - Upper Murray Regional Library and Riverina Regional Library

In 2004, local government boundary changes resulted in the amalgamation of two councils served by Upper Murray Regional Library and two councils served by Riverina Regional Library. An innovative approach of joint service delivery was developed to address the situation. This innovation has led in turn to further innovation: service level agreements for value-added services, joint mobile library service opportunities to ensure better use of three mobile libraries and collaboration in IT and children's and youth services.

Building a New Library Service Delivery Model for the City of West Torrens -West Torrens Library Service

Redevelopment of the West Torrens Library Service has included closing of one library, increasing opening hours at another, increasing the availability of the home library service, establishing a 'library link network' (using community centres for pick-up / drop-off of library resources, initiating a library bus service and reviewing the mobile library schedule) and relocating the toy library.

Children's and Youth Services Department - Wyndham Library Service

Wyndham Library Service's Early Childhood Literacy Framework was developed in response to the City Council's Quality Community Plan. The Framework includes developing literacy and numeracy collections in each library, introducing a Rhyme Time program for children aged 0 - 36 months, increasing weekly storytime sessions to five, and developing active partnerships with community agencies such as Maternal and Child Health, Family Day Care, schools, youth services and training centres.

Keep on Rockin' - Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service

Innovative thinking led Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service to split its service delivery to seniors into an outreach service and a housebound service.. New services developed include senior citizen new books and morning teas in branch libraries, reminiscence mornings, memory boxes, oral histories in partnership with community groups, intergenerational activities in nursing homes, book lists in a larger font, and book reviews from housebound and outreach library users. As a result, the number of institutions visited has doubled, as has the number of days the outreach vehicle is on the road.