Archive for the ‘Public Libraries’ Category

Another Bouquet

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Working backwards on the congratulations front we have another star in our midst in the form of Cathryn Harris from Mt Gambier Public Library who won the Nokia Business Innovation Award at the Telstra Business women’s SA awards lunch on 16 September.

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Cathryn, her council and her team have put in a huge effort to make the Mt Gambier library service (not just the building) a great success story. This ABC Radio interview will give you an word picture of this project (and of Cathryn’s passion.

Congratulations Cathryn, that’s wonderful news.

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee

Posted in ALIA, Mt Gambier Public Library, Public Libraries | No Comments »

A sure contender!

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Steve Baldwin, Tourism Development Officer at Coonamble Shire Council is determined to prove that Quambone in Coonamble Shire has the smallest operating library in NSW. He assures us that before erecting a plaque to this effect he wants to make sure that his claim is accurate. The building measures 3m x 3m, making a total of 9 sq metres. Steve says he doesn’t consider mobiles to be libraries; obviously he’s not a librarian :-) !

Quambone Library
Quambone Library

This is the final call in the smallest/biggest competition. Entries do really close this Friday 19 November. 

 

Cheers

 

Jan

 

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA PLAC

Posted in Library Buildings, Public Libraries | No Comments »

Three Cheers for Joondalup

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Even though I said we’d close this competition a few weeks ago there have been a couple of more entries I couldn’t resist so with elastic conditions our competition continues a little longer (especially as a couple have been in my inbox for a bit too long!).

 

Lynley Stapleton, Library Services Coordinator at the City of Joondaulup tells us that upon opening in 1997, Joondalup Library became the largest public library in WA, both in size and stock. Built with limestone to reflect the natural surrounding environment, the library has 3000sqm of floor space, meeting rooms for hire, a bright spacious children’s area and a youth zone. Joondalup also houses a specialised reference and local history area which is buzzing at exam times and well utilized by those who are addicted to the pursuit of tracing their family history. 

Enhanced with bookshop layout and subject groupings, the library received a fresh makeover in 2004, celebrated its 10th birthday in 2007 and today has RFID, integrated patron self serve, wifi and free internet. The Library even has its own Book Barron “The Spirit of Joondalup”. Lynley urges all readers to call ahead and come up for a visit if you’re visiting WA.

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA PLAC

Posted in Library Buildings, Public Libraries | No Comments »

Beat this one!

Friday, October 15th, 2010

As we near the tail end of our ‘big and little’ competition we have a spectacular entry from Manly Library who have submitted details of their MANLY AFLOAT mobile library service (in the smallest library category!).  The MANLY AFLOAT vehicle has been servicing the commuters on Manly Wharf between 7:15am and 9:15am Monday to Friday since 2007. The vehicle measures 1.15m wide and 3.35m long. It has 5.72 linear metres of face out display shelving, which can take up to 4 books deep.  The service has its own stock, just like a physical branch library.  Library users can return the main Library stock through this service, and order/reserve the main Library stock as well.  A handheld PDA is used to issue and return books, it’s an offline system which is loaded daily into the Library circulation system.

 

Richard Barclay the Library Assistant who manages the service also regularly answers Community Information questions, tourist questions, bus & transport questions… and he knows all the answers!

The MANLY AFLOAT vehicle at Manly Wharf with Manly Library staff member Richard Barclay

The MANLY AFLOAT vehicle at Manly Wharf with Manly Library staff member Richard Barclay

 

 

 

A big thanks to Louise McMorland, Youth Librarian at Manly for sending this entry in.

 

Cheers

 

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA PLAC

 
 

Posted in ALIA PLAC, Library Buildings, Public Libraries | No Comments »

Getting Smaller!

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Rosina Ainsworth from Bolgart Public Library in the Shire of Victoria Plains WA confirms that her Library is 9.48 square metres. It might be small Rosina but I bet it’s the heart of the community. 

 

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It makes my smallest branch at Manildra (which I thought was in with a chance!) look positively palatial at 61.6 sq metres. Similarly the entry from Dianne Cranson Shellharbour City Libraries  of Shellharbour Branch Library, a re-purposed baby health centre 65 square metres is also going to be an ‘also ran’!

 

A bit over a week to go, keep those entries rolling in.

 

Jan

 

Jan Richards

Chair, ALIA PLAC

 

Posted in Library Buildings, Public Libraries | No Comments »

Review of ‘People Places’

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

While we’re on the topic of library buildings (as in big and small!) many of you will be familiar with People Places as,although it is subtitled A guide for public library buildings in New South Wales, it is used as a planning tool for public libraries nationally and internationally. 

As part of the NSW Public Library Network Research Program a review of People Places is currently being undertaken and feedback from colleagues outside of NSW is being sought. A discussion paper  is available on the SLNSW web site . As a starter you might like to consider  ideas around additional information, usability or format.   You can  comment using the online survey until Monday 11 October or alternatively  contact project coordinator Leanne Perry at lperry@slnsw.gov.au or 02 92731523.

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair, ALIA PLAC

Posted in Library Buildings, Public Libraries | No Comments »

You know what they say …

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

Good things come in small packages. Must be true as everyone is very keen to tell me about their ’small’ library (and they all look gorgeous).

Kate Hithersay, Library Manager at Derby Public Library  was the first person to respond when I sent out my appeal with a question, did a ‘temporary’ site count? Needless to say I was intrigued and demanded more details. Kate explains:

Fitzroy Crossing is in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia.  It is located 2686 km north of Perth, 258 km east of Derby. Among other facilities the town once boasted the Tarunda Shopping Centre (where the Post Office lived), a dedicated Public Library and a dedicated Tourist Centre.

 

Then in July 2009 disaster struck!! The shopping centre burnt down. The Post Office had no where to go and apparently as a Post Office takes precedence over a Public Library (???), the PO moved into the library space. The library resources were packed up and put in the storeroom for the time being.  However, the library members revolted at this insult and the library was forced to reopen in December 2009, sharing space with the Tourist Centre (temporarily).This once proud library has know been reduced to a space of 20.2 sq metres.

 

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 Good news though, the new improved Fitzroy Crossing Public Library is to re open towards the end of this year.

We’ll make sure Kate keeps us updated on that! Keep your stories coming in.

Cheers

 

Jan

 

Jan Richards, Chair, ALIA PLAC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in ALIA PLAC, Library Buildings, Public Libraries | No Comments »

Mine is bigger/smaller than yours!

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
The ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee has been asked to identify Australia’s biggest and smallest library - and so the search begins. Does your Library qualify for one of these titles? I know we should trust you but if you want to be involved you’ll have to get the tape measure out and supply us with sq metreage so we can confirm to confirm a definite winner in each category. Oh, and a photo would be great. All entries should be with  me by COB Friday 15th October jrichards@orange.nsw.gov.au. Will there be a prize? Yes indeed there will be a certificate, some lovely (yet to be arranged) publicity and maybe something else. We’ll be progressively posting your stories here.
 
To get your creative juices started you might want to look at this story about a library in a phone box in North Yorkshire. It takes the term ‘re-purposing’ to a totally new level.
 
Have a great day
 
Jan
Jan Richards, Chair,  ALIA PLAC

Posted in ALIA PLAC, Public Libraries | No Comments »

The Stars are Shining Bright

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Back in cold and wet Orange after a few days in glorious Brisbane at the ALIA Access 2010 Conference and more importantly (!) the public library stream A suprise on every page.

Building on the momentum and direction of the 2009 ALIA Public Libraries Summit the focus of the day was on advocay and how we can gain support using the innovative and engaging programs and activities we offer. Participants  were spellbound by some fantastic case studies which focussed on the themes developed as part of the  Summit; ie children and early literacy, digital citizenship, social inclusion and health and ageing. I found myself scribbling madly, lots of ‘note to self’ shameless stealing of concepts and ideas.

Speakers Shirley Shepherd (L), Bernie McSwain (R) and Jan Richards pose for the camera.

Speakers Shirley Shepherd (L), Bernie McSwain (R) and Jan Richards pose for the camera.

At the end of the day our special guest, Grant Millington, a Director of Publicis Mojo, drew together the themes which had been discussed and talked us through how an advertisng agency would build on the strengths.

A definte highlight was the announcement of the 2010 Library Stars Awards which showcased some of the fantastic projects our collegaues across the nation are engaged in.Every 2 years ALIA recognises new, exciting and inspirational programs that are taking place in Australian Public Libraries. The accolade of ‘Library Star’ is given to those libraries that have developed outstanding programs and activities in various categories. We received nearly 60 entries which were scored by an independent panel of judges to produce the 12 finalists and from these the 4 winning entries. 

And the winners are (drum roll please!)

Category: Children and Early Literacy.

City of Greater Dandenong Libraries, Victoria for its early literacy outreach program which was awarded a Victorian Premier’s Multicultural award for Excellence in 2009.

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 for the MyLanguage national collaboration creating online access to information in mor than 60 languages.

Category:Social Inclusion

Logan City Council Libraries, Queensland for 171 Club Circling the Globe in Logan - the club is named after the number of ethnic groups in Logan. 

Category: Health and Ageing

The Hills Shire Library Service , New South Wales for its festival of Active Living at the Castle Hill Library. 

The 12 finalists will receive certificates and a letter of commendation from ALIA and their entries have been posted on the ALIA web site .  A huge ‘Congratulations’ to them all (I feel a Cliff Richards moment coming on)

The program was convened by ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee and it was great to have some of our members in the audience. It was also fun to know that so many other public library collegaues were participating in a virtual way through the web straeming option. We were very chuffed that 2 of our sessions were honoured in this way. As Program Chairperson it was challenging to monitor questions from the floor, from web stream participants and from the tweets which were being generated.

Time now to begin thinking about Library Stars 2012 which will focus on Reading (remember National Year of Reading!) - ever onwards.

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards

Chair ALIA PLAC

Posted in ALIA, Library Stars, Public Libraries | 1 Comment »

Back on Deck!

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

After a year ‘resting’, worn out by the excitement of the first ever ALIA Public Library Summit in July 2009, we’ve revived the public libraries blog, making it a place where public library bodies from across Australia can post thoughts, requests and calls to action. 

We’re eagerly awaiting the results of the federal election (!) and to find out what the new government has in store for the roll out of the NBN (will it still be called the National Broadband Network?), ISP-level internet filtering, school libraries and all those other political topics so close to our hearts.

Keep coming back for discussion about these and other hot potatoes.

 

Cheers

Jan Richards

Chair ALIA PLAC

Posted in ALIA, Public Libraries | No Comments »