Making news around Australia

Selected reprints from newspapers and magazines in recent months

Family's war task becomes a state treasure

Mike Bingham, The Hobart Mercury, 1 July 1998

During World War II Diana Elson's family kept a priceless and irreplaceable collection of books, works of art and historical materials under the kitchen table of their the South Hobart home.

The collection, which belonged to Mrs Elson's uncle, Sir William Crowther, included Rudyard Kipling first editions bound in white kid, early whaling fleet logs, and a collection of scrimshaw.

Mrs Elson has donated the collection to the newly refurbished Tasmaniana and WL Crowther Libraries in the State Library building. During the war, when residents of Hobart feared bombing by the Japanese, Sir William Crowther dispersed part of his collection to his sister's house in South Hobart, in hopes that this would ensure the survival of at least half of the collection.

Fortunately, the bombers got no closer than Broome or Darwin and the extraordinary collection survived to become a major gift to the State Library.

Diana Elson is now writing her memoirs of these and other times a journal which might one day join the journals of other members of Diana Elson's family, beginning with her great grandfather early last century.

Library's random survey

Portland Observer, 24 June 1998

The Glenelg Regional Library is surveying Glenelg Shire residents about community needs. Four hundred randomly selected residents will soon receive forms asking them to give their opinions regarding library services and opening hours. A $150 prize draw will hopefully encourage residents to respond.

Glenelg Regional Library chief executive officer Adele Kenneally says, 'Community opinions are very important to us and we believe the results of this survey will assist us in providing an even better service.'

$1 million for library system

The Wanneroo Times, 23 June 1998

The City of Wanneroo's computerised library management system is expected to be obsolete when the year 2000 dawns and it is estimated that it will cost approximately $1 million to replace it.

The City Council says that the mainframe-based library management software, which has been in place for fourteen years, is no longer efficient, does not allow for provision of modern electronic services, does provide in-depth management information and is not Year 2000 compliant.

It has been recommended that the City Council fund a replacement system over two years ($500 000 in the 1998-99 budget and the balance in the 1999-2000 budget).

TAFE library system in $5m boost

Courier Mail, 27 June 1998

TAFE Queensland has just replaced its ageing library computer system under $5.6 million upgrade which links all of TAFE Queensland's libraries in a single catalogue and gives students and staff access to the institute's combined resources from home or work.

Fujitsu Australia won the tender to supply the library system from a shortlist of five competitors. So far, fourteen of the sixteen institutes have been linked, with the remaining two scheduled for completion by the end of June.

TAFE general manager John Swete Kelly said that libraries play a core role in the learning process and that it is therefore essential that students have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information possible.

'The new system will enable students to acquire the information-gathering skills that are essential n our knowledge-dependent age. Libraries form a core component of TAFE Queensland's ability to deliver vocational education and training. Computerised information systems are essential in providing the technical platform to allow these libraries to function effectively', he said.

Aboriginal texts top awards

Jane Richardson, The Australian, 1 July 1998

Last week at the Australian Book Fair The Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing was announced. The winner was a series of four primary school texts that illustrate the geography, ecology and cultural history of disparate regions of Australia through the stories of four Aboriginal peoples.

Canberra barrister and Aboriginal studies researcher Alex Barlow travelled across Australia from the Gold Coast to Arnhem Land and from the Murrumbidgee to the Simpson Desert to work with four co-authors on the Heinemann Library's Aboriginal Peoples Series.

The four books are: Komburnerri Saltwater People, with Ysola Best; Wiradfuri of the Rivers and the Plains, with Iris Clayton; Yoingu of the Island Galtwin'ku with Elizabeth Djandilnga; and Wangkangurru of the Desert, with Judy Lucas.

A warning re 'that redhead from Ipswich'

'In the know', The Australian, 26 June 1998

The author of 'ITK' heard that when Pauline Hanson was a city councillor in her hometown of Ipswich, a city with an unemployment of almost nine per cent, she tried to halt the construction of a $10 million library. Elected as independent in April 1994 after campaigning against the construction of a new municipal library, she then backed a motion excluding the public from future council meetings on the library issue.

Councillor Paul Tully says that Ms Hanson claimed that work on the library had been speeded up before the election to ensure that it was too far advanced to be halted by an incoming council.

'At one stage during the meeting she asked if the workers on the library could be fined for working too fast', he said.

The library officially opened in November 1994.

Energy wins award

Northern Times, 26 June 1998

Gannawarra Library Service librarians were recognised this week with the presentation of a Local Government and Arts Leadership Award.

The shire-based service was recognised for its innovative involvement in children's programs and holiday activities. Chief librarian, Mrs Julie Smith, says that the staff are constantly dreaming up new ways to engage children's interest in reading, with activities such as campfire stories, ghost stories in a cemetery and a witch's evening. The service is also involved in this year's Nestle Write Around Australia short story competition.

'Being the smallest independent library service in the state, you can imagine how pleased we are to receive this award', says Mrs Smith, adding that the award is a tribute to the energy, enthusiasm and dedication of the library staff.

Library expands Greek collection

Moonee Valley Gazette, 29 June 1998

The Sam Merrifield Library in Moonee Ponds has increased its range of Greek books, videos and newspapers to cope with increased demand from its clients.

'These new titles will be a great asset to the Moonee Valley community', said Moonee Valley Council's resident services director June Dugina.

'According to the latest demographic profile, 4.1 per cent of the population stated Greek as the language spoken at home', Ms Dugina said.

Work for the dole job complete

Bendigo Advertiser, 1 July 1998

Bendigo's first Work for the Dole project, Gold 'n Links, will be completed on 3 July. the project, sponsored by the City of Greater Bendigo and funded by the Federal Government, had forty participants enter the first ten years of Bendigo rate records onto a computerised database.

More than 40 000 records were entered, covering the period from 1855 to 1865.

Sixteen of the original forty participants found paid employment while participating in the project, which is the first stage of a plan to build the North Central Goldfields Regional Library as a major archive centre in Victoria. Once the rate records are completed, it is planned to computerise mining, cemetery, hospital and school records as well.