ALIA Public Libraries Summit

Keeping Safe

Jan — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:34:31 +0000

Australian Public libraries are the beneficiaries of an ALIA and Safer Internet Group initiative that will provide information on cybersafety for staff and the public.

The information sessions are being provided by the members of the Safer Internet Group and facilitated by project partner, the Alannah and Madeline Foundation with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) providing information brochures and resources.

Sponsorship of the sessions is being provided by SIG members Yahoo!, Google and ALIA with the support of other SIG members.

The first session will be at Gungahlin Library (ACT) on Wednesday 2^nd November at 6.00pm.

Content of the sessions includes:

what young people are doing online – a snapshot based on the latest research;
identifing both the risks (cybersafety, cyberbullying and other e-security issues) and positives (engagement, socialisation, empowerment, education) to young people when engaging with the Internet and mobile technology; and
Strategies and tools – top tips for parents to help keep young people safe online. Showcase several best-practice resources.

For further information please contact Lynne Makin, Secretariat Safer Internet Group and Project Manager Q&A Nights on 02 6056 0400 or email lynne@lcmsolutions.net.au.

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee

An early start to NYR in Victoria

Jan — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:57:06 +0000

Only a few months until the launch of the National Year of Reading on 14 February 2012 … hasn’t the time since it was announced gone fast! Our colleagues at Libmark (a PLVN Special Interest Group) are well ahead of the game with this years Libmark Promotion Marketing Awards focussing on the National Year of Reading.

They were announced in Melbourne on Friday 14th October at the Libmark Extreme Marketing seminar. 17 creative and innovative entries were received from public libraries around Victoria.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TWO WINNERS…

Hume Libraries: Stories on Show

A library outreach extravaganza showcasing and celebrating the Story in all its forms, held at the Broadmeadows shopping centre.

Yarra Libraries: The Library Bike

Lifting the profile of the library service and of the NYOR through outreach activities aided by a cargo bike carrying promotional and sample materials relevant to the event being attended.

All entries to the Libmark Awards showcased a wealth of ideas for NYOR initiatives.

Other entries included:

Boroondara Libraries: Book Bazaar

Staff introduce online readers’ advisory tools, and select 15 of their favourite titles in a specific genre to promote to attendees.

Brimbank Libraries: First Book Program

Library staff visit playgroups and community events and help parents and pre-schoolers create a small book they can take home.

Casey Cardinia Library Corporation: One Book – Bringing Readers Together

Casey Cardinia residents to read One Book over one month, and discuss the book on a dedicated blog.

Eastern Regional Libraries: Follow the Reading Road!

A children’s festival featuring guest authors, writing and illustrating workshops and music activities.

Goldfields Library Corporation: eBook Expo

eBook users are invited to share their e-reader experiences with others in the community.

Frankston City Libraries: Literacy Course

Meeting the literacy needs of Frankston City residents by running a 10 week literacy course.

Hobsons Bay Libraries: Readers Picnic and Reading Trail

Children can follow a reading trail through the Williamstown Botanic Gardens, meeting local authors, illustrators and oral storytellers along the way.

Kingston Information & Library Service: Love 2 Read live broadcast Actress Maggie Miller to read excerpts from eight books on the NYOR list to an audience of 50 attendees. The event will be broadcast live on Southern FM 88.3 community radio.

Maribyrnong Library Service: Literacy Development Talks

Author Hazel Edwards will engage Grade 3 and 4 students in the joys of reading and, in a separate session, help their parents with tips on raising a reader.

Monash Public Library Service: WordFest 2012 – The NYOR Edition

To encourage younger, ESL and basic literacy Monash residents to enter the WordFest 2012 Short Story Competition.

Moonee Valley Libraries: Taking it to the Streets

An advertising campaign aimed at increasing library memberships and providing visual reminders of Moonee Valley’s libraries and the NYOR.

Moreland Libraries: Reading – How Easy Is That?

A series of workshops showing ESL and low literacy adults how to read stories to the children they care for.

Stonnington Libraries & Information Service: Adult Storytimes

Adult customers are read books in instalments by an author or performer.

Whitehorse Manningham Regional Library Corporation: ‘Are We There Yet?’workshop with Alison Lester

Promote family and adult literacy through a shared storytime and illustration workshop with author/illustrator Alison Lester.

Wimmera Regional Library Corporation: Lovin’ Life at the Library

A week of events beginning on Library Lovers Day, promoting libraries, books and reading.

Yarra Plenty Regional Library: Reading Flash Mob

A book from the One Country Reading list is chosen and copies released into a public space, to be read aloud by people occupying that space at the time.

Lots of inspiration in that list!

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, ALIA PLAC Chair

Fancy a trip to Sydney?

Jan — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:13:37 +0000

Bet that subject line caught your attention! .. read on

The ALIA Biennial will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney between 10-13 July 2012.

The Organising Committee has borrowed the theme Discover from the National Year of Reading (also in 2012) and this offers a wealth of opportunities for thought provoking presentations. There will be an engaging and relevant theme for public libraries throughout the program which you can contribute to.

The Conference Organising Committee is now inviting abstract submissions relating to the conference themes. Check out the website for further details about the ‘hows’ and remember the abstract submission deadline – Wednesday 30 November 2011

Start planning now!

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA Public Libraries Advisory Committee

Another Bouquet

Jan — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:26:34 +0000

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.

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

Will the Cats make it a trifecta?

Jan — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:29:59 +0000

A day out from the 2011 AFL Grand Final many will associate the Victorian city of Geelong with the hopefully victorious Cats (that’s of course unless you’re a Collingwood supporter). But Geelong has another reason to celebrate this week.

Geelong Regional Library CEO, Patti Manolis has been selected as the only Australian participant to join the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s inaugural International Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI). The program will be launched at the LIANZA Conference in October. Patti will join 19 others from around the world who represent the UK, Kenya, Netherlands, Chile, Botswana, Germany, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Egypt, China, South Africa and New Zealand.

Congratulations Patti, this is fantastic news!

Geelong was also successful in the first round of Regional Development Australia Grant Funding with its application for the new Geelong Library and Heritage Centre announced earlier this month which will be a project to watch.

Come on Cats, do your city proud, make it a trifecta

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA PLAC

A sure contender!

Jan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:43:51 +0000

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

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

Three Cheers for Joondalup

Jan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 03:23:56 +0000

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 10^th 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

Beat this one!

Jan — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:18:57 +0000

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

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

Cheers

Jan

Jan Richards, Chair ALIA PLAC

Getting Smaller!

Jan — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:45:43 +0000

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.

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

Review of ‘People Places’

Jan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:18:59 +0000

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