Presentation Libraries Building Communities

1. Presentation Libraries Building Communities Dr. Charles R. Lane Executive Director Community Strengthening & Volunteering Monday 13 December 2004

2. Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) • Our Aim • Active, Confident, Resilient Communities • Our Focus • Community Strengthening • Linking Up Services • People and Place

3. The structure of DVC • DVC Ministerial Portfolios: • Local Government • Sport and Recreation (inc Commonwealth Games) • Youth Affairs • Multicultural Affairs • Women’s Affairs • Aboriginal Affairs • Employment Programs • Senior Victorians • Community Strengthening

4. Features of successful community strengthening: • Leadership by local social entrepreneurs • Involvement of a wide range of stakeholders • Sustainable local institutions • Meeting places and spaces • Knowing local data and what is valued • Encouragement of volunteer involvement

5. Social capital is positively correlated with: • Lower crime rates • Improved health • Higher educational attainment • Increased governmental efficacy • Higher individual income • Improved economic performance • (Productivity Commission, Social Capital, 2003, Ch. 3)

6. Community strengthening interventions drive a wedge in the cycle of disadvantage High school drop out rates (0.55) Low social cohesion with Disadvantaged postcodes with high levels of low birth weight High social cohesion Much lower drop out rates (0.12) with Source: Community Adversity and Resilience, Tony Vinson, March 2004 (Jesuit Social Services) Ch 5

7. Community strengthening interventions drive a wedge in the cycle of disadvantage Strong correlation with imprisonment (0.46) Low social cohesion with Disadvantaged postcodes with high levels of early school leaving High social cohesion Very low correlation with imprisonment (0.11) with Source : Community Adversity and Resilience, Tony Vinson, March 2004 (Jesuit Social Services) Ch 5

8. Evidence is growing that community strengthening works • Greater sense of safety • Improved health status • Improved sense of control over one’s life • Feeling more valued • More involvement in civic life The Victorian Population Health Survey (2003) demonstrates that strong social networks lead to:

9. Community strengthening trends are generally positive Source: Department of Human Services 2004 and DVC analysis

10. However, we don’t know what drives different community strengthening outcomes at the level of people and place (including the role of government interventions) Source: DVC 2004

11. Policy implications profound • Community strengthening can buffer the impact of poverty & disadvantage for many • Solutions are not complicated • Volunteering • Being active (sport, recreation, arts) • People to turn to for support • Community, Business and Government Partnerships • Government working together • A ‘new’ form of prevention / early intervention – touches all departments • Reduces demand on statutory services – child protection / prison system • Close to being able to quantify cost effectiveness • Basis for a new approach to social policy

12. DVC’s Outcomes focus

13. Libraries as community asset • Confirmed by LBC research • Locus of community strengthening activities • Focal point for social, learning & cultural engagement • Meeting place • Linking with government – grants • Place for redressing • Social exclusion • Equity & justice issues • Communities of disadvantage • New & emerging communities • Digital divide

14. Government investing in libraries • VCSG funding for community infrastructure • Support of ‘community hubs’ including libraries • Range of community needs and activities accommodated • Generally, library component funded by Council • Supported by Living Libraries grants (CSF through LGV) • $12m program, up to 50% final eligible cost, max of $500,000 • Purposes: • Extend & improve library services • Increase facilities available for library services • Support innovation, flexibility & creativity • Provide modern, life-long building infrastructure