Powering our partnerships: learning through libraries

The Australian Library and Information Association Children's Youth Services and Libraries for Lifelong Learning group and the School Library Association of Queensland Brisbane subcommittee, combined to present a seminar on Wednesday, 8 June 2005 at the Brisbane School of Distance Education West End titled 'Powering our partnerships: learning through libraries'. Librarians from state, university and public libraries, tertiary students and teacher librarians from primary and secondary schools attended.

The keynote speaker was Peter Browning, executive manager, public programs, State Library of Queensland, who gave a most entertaining and instructive address entitled 'Developing partnerships - who, how and why'. He focused on the way in which partnerships among organisations worked, likening them to partnerships in personal life, from the 'honeymoon' period to the time when deeper understanding of company culture may mean readjustment. He emphasized the importance of building trust and formalising partnerships, as well being prepared to take risks to get the full benefit from the union. For more information contact Peter (please remove '.nospam' from address).

Claire Grandcourt from Mackay City Libraries and Margaret Spillman and Lorraine Todd from Mackay West State School spoke on 'Productive partnerships'. This programme is a co-operative venture between the school library and the city library to encourage school students and their families to use both library services. The school library formally selects and trains 20 monitors from grade seven and the city librarian presents their badges at school assemblies. This programme raises the profile of both libraries in the school community and provides leadership and skills opportunities for the students. The teacher librarian and city librarian have engaged in work shadowing. This gives both professionals an understanding of the opportunities and constraints inherent in both spheres. The two libraries run grade ones at the library (GOAL) - where each grade one child takes home the city library application form for parents to complete, receives the library card at school and takes the family to visit the city library. The Mackay West State School operates a website where these activities are publicised. Productive partnerships is the recipient of the International Association of School Librarianship/Softlink Award for Excellence for 2005. Congratulations to a powerful partnership.

Louise Bauer, the city librarian from Caloundra City Libraries, spoke about the dynamics and outcomes of community partnerships and gave some examples in connecting communities. She looked at libraries as a resource for information stewardship, local collections, global access and equity, at the expertise of library people, at the library as an inclusive, flexible and welcoming place and as a symbol of core civic values and community well being. Community partners can include groups, individuals and volunteers and organisations such as education providers and corporations. Partnerships are collaborative and validate programmes and engage social capital and 'Community capacities'. Caloundra City Libraries have engaged in very successful partnering programmes including Bookstart, The Walpara Youth Leadership Group and the Mobile Library in partnership with Telstra Countrywide. See website for more info.

Carolyn Keighley, from the Learning Place and the State Library of Queensland described 'Promoting partnerships: public libraries and schools', a partnership between State Library of Queensland and Education Queensland. The state library is keen to increase its involvement with young people and children and has combined with the Learning Place to engage a broad audience of young people through from early childhood to year twelve with curriculum relevant, real, practical activities and events. These projects include- the Nestle write around Australia competition, the State Library Gift of Presence reconciliation project, the Artists Books Digitisation Project, the Online Literature Festival and Travel Buddy. For more information visit their website.

Kerrie Smith from Edna gave a short history of the Edna project and pointed out some of the features of the Edna site such as the calendar for Australian schools, newsletters, links to 22 000 websites relevant to the Australian curriculum k to grave, 15 000 of these which are relevant to schools. The audience for Edna is teachers, therefore the Edna website is adult looking. She highlighted the Edna search box and theme pages, related sites like Oz Projects, MyFuture and the Learning Federation. Edna also hosts collaborative spaces for groups like the teacher librarian community. Edna workshops are being held in Brisbane on 29 June at the QSITE conference, on 6 September at the O'Shea Centre in Brisbane, 7 September at Coorparoo, 8 September at Caboolture, 3 October in Rockhampton and 5 October in Cairns.

Displays from the Children's Book Council, the School Library Association of Queensland, the UQL Cyberschool, Productive partnerships and a bookstand vendor were available for viewing at morning tea and lunch, deliciously catered for by AbFab. Maureen O'Shea, the convenor of CYS/ALIA/LLL requested feedback from the participants on the type of activities the group would like to participate in. She thanked the Brisbane School of Distance Education for providing the venue and all the people from the different groups, including Denise O'Connor, Gail Clarke, Gaye Geldard, Jenni King, Kay Bowden, Liz Blumson and Loris Phair, who put together a partnership to make the day such a success.

Liz Blumson, secretary, ALIA CYS

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