Statewide Public library Development projects Where are they now? John Murrell

1. Statewide Public library Development projects Where are they now? John Murrell

2. History – Statewide projects one of the strengths of the industry • Victoria Specific (Library Board of Victoria and the Public Library sector) • Nation leading • Collaborative in nature and purpose

3. Massive load of projects! • Since 1997/98 – 135 projects funded and delivered. • Many of these projects were in themselves made up of up to 10 separate mini projects!

4. Early Priorities • Statewide Marketing • LOTE • Childrens Services (Summer Reading Club, Jolly Jumbuck) • Disability projects (Awareness and mainstreaming) • Statewide funded training

5. Joint Planning • Joint planning was facilitated between the public library sector and the State Library • Like any relationship it needed to be worked on! • Strategic Planning seminar – Marysville 1999/2000 • Library Odyssey - 2001 Kalorama • Planning Retreat – Glen Erin 2002/3 • Planning retreat – Lancemore 2007/8

6. Scholarships • Continued through the entire period 97 – 09 • Pierre Gorman Award • Ramsey and Reid Scholarships • Integrated into workforce Sustainability and leadership 07/8 • Collaborative selection process • Enabled continuing development of individuals • Kept Victoria abreast of international best practice. • Influenced services on the ground.

7. Leadership through Training • Focus on statewide training in the early part of the program • Subsidised training • Subsidised travel and accommodation for country members • Changed responsibilities to now expect Libraries to budget for training • Training still a component of individual projects • Professional Development Seminars highly valued.

8. Service infrastructure support • Statewide projects funded the DX courier service annually • The backbone of interlibrary loans • Moved to DPCD in 08/9 in recognition of the development of LibraryLink Victoria. • Additional funds now available • Opportunity to review inter an intra library delivery service

9. Business case • Collaborative Library Management system ( 02/3) • The development of a sound case to launch the SWIFT project. • Resulted in significant $$ from the Minister for Local Government to establish the project. • Little support for recommendations concerning the broadband or technology infrastructure required.

10. SWIFT • Ibistro Access - 1,683,008 visits elctroniclayy since July last year • 20 million loans achieved early this year. • Vast movement of material between library now evident • Opened up catalogues across the state • International acclaim for the consortia model • NSW on Board June 2009

12. Libraries Building Communities • Undoubtedly a “flagship” Statewide project • Commenced in 2002/3 • Communication strategy in 2003/4 • 10,000 Victorians surveyed • Research launched in 2004/5

13. LBC • Four separate reports • Report One - Setting the Scene • Report Two - Logging the Benefits • Report Three - Bridging the Gaps • Report Four - Showcasing the Best

14. LBC Demonstration projects • Between 2005 and 2008, there were ten of these projects involving 14 Victorian public library services and many other community partners receiving a total of $600,000 from the Library Board of Victoria.

15. Demonstration projects - • Each project had the potential for replication by other public libraries. • Also improved a library’s engagement with disadvantaged groups identified in the first Libraries Building Communities research. • Funding for projects targeting Indigenous people, people living in remote areas, people with low literacy skills, people with vision impairments, and young people experiencing extreme disadvantage.

16. LBC - Role of Libraries • Crucial role in overcoming the ‘digital divide’; • Creating well informed communities, • Enhancing learning and literacy skills, • Building social capital

17. LBC Challenged the image of public libraries – • How we promote its services • How we present to the public • How we provide up to date technology • How we provide fast access to information • How we become more tolerant of differences

18. LBC Provides Direction • The LBC research has directly contributed to the development of Library Plans for services including Geelong, Greater Dandenong and Mildura. • The striving to improve collections and facilities has led to such projects as the Collection Audit and Audit of Public library Buildings. • The research has also informed many a Living Libraries project application to DPCD.

19. Framework for Collaboration • Developed and guides our activities • Reviewed regularly by ACPL and the Library Board • Participants recognised a smaller number of projects should be the new direction • 3 year program - professionally managed • Project management supported by dedicated SLV staff and sector representatives • The envy of colleagues in other states.

20. Summary • What has the community received? • Improved level of skills in Library staff • Opening up of Access to resources across the state • Service enhancements from overseas study • Improved collection management and standards • Tech savvy library 2.0 trained staff • Digitised resources • A sector collaborating and always seeking to improve