Connecting Librarian

I was happy to again be attending the ETF, which is a collaborative training event organised by Deakin University, Geelong Regional Libraries and Gordon TAFE. With a new format and new location and with a theme of “Using technology well”, it was an amazingly insightful day. Here’s my amazingly detailed notes from the day – created on my new Asus Transformer – which worked a treat!

 Tom Chatfield – How to become a digital gourmet

“How to thrive in the digital age” – his new book.

 Digital as a word is becoming less and less meaningful. More mobile phones in the world today than there were people when he was born. Everything is being blown away – the boundaries are being broken down. More interestingly, its about time. Tech is good at consuming time, a finite resource, but is not good at saving it.

 We are the limiting factor. The computer inside my head has less capacity than the tech we use. Book “Thinking fast, slow” by Daniel Kahneman. Tom told us about a study of judges reviewing parole applications. Those who were reviewed straight after lunch had a 60% success rate, anyone reviewed longer than 5 hours since lunch had a 0% Judges study – elaborate. It tells us that willpower is a finite resource, but that chocolate is good to get the endorphins going again if you can’t have a meal.

 The energy that we can put into things is limited. If you wish to be as gourmet of tech, you need to pick and choose wisely.

 1. What works best. Plugged and unplugged

It’s a legitimate question to ask and worry about but the wrong question to ask. Both are good and not good, but we have to have both in our lives. It is also increasingly difficult to be unplugged. Being plugged in is now the default. We now spend hours consuming digital media. It’s not bad, it is one time of quality of time. We are different when we use digital media. We need to ensure that we are using time for our better selves.

Important not to let the power of technology distract us from the power of being there and being able to make decisions, instead of them being made for us.

 He told the story of the assassination of Osama Bin Laden. Despite all their training and preparation, the team going in had a helicopter malfunction just outside the compound, which gave them away. They had to make a decision whether to go ahead or abort. They could have used the digital technology to ask the chain of command, including the president, but the decision to go ahead was made by those on the ground.

 Jaron Lanier quote in response to people tweeting extensively during a talk he was giving. “The most important reason to stop multitasking so much isn’t to make me feel respected, but to make you exist. If you listen first, and write later, then whatever you write will have had time to filter through your brain, and you’ll be in what you say. This is what makes you exist. If you are only a reflector of information, are you actually there?”

 When it comes to thinking, our thoughts, reflection, a better quality of engagement, it is best done away from multi-skilling and digital immersion. Tom discovered that on flights. He got good quality work done, because he couldn’t use his phone. Our brains have been trained to feel messages arriving on phone via our pockets. We need to make ourselves go into airplane mode during work time and use the tech appropriately.

 2. Multitasking

Tom talked about this image being a good representation of multi-tasking. The term was originally created for computers and although we use it for people, it is not really appropriate. We are more continuous partial attention – which is a really bad form of mono attention.

 When writing his recent book, he did some work with paper and pen, because it gave him the opportunity to focus without distraction.

 Pen and paper used to be tech and now are just stuff, computers are becoming furniture. Having different tech helps me to engage in different ways. But not at the same time.

 3. What does tech want me to do?

Tech encourages us to act in particular ways. For example, email wants me to be available instantly and to respond via email and use email increasingly. For some people, if it doesn’t happen via email it doesn’t exist in the world in which they live. Unintentionally, email has become a monster. What it wants is instant response, which is very different to what most people want. But what do I want? And how can we tame the beast? We can change to things like shared docs, phone calls and face to face encounters.

 Computer says no. What the computer wants is more important than what we want and that has to change.

 iPad wants us to auction off our attention to the highest bidder – it uses noise and scandal to entice us.

 Hopefully we are at the beginning of a more literate society, who is able to better use, their time and energy, rather than going with the flow as directed by our tech.

 Think strategically about our attention and get help from peers in doing so.

It’s not finding the time, it should be why do we lack time. We need to be more discriminatory about which tools we adopt and choose those that suit our purposes. Accept then reject, otherwise it becomes toxic and you can’t really use the tools well if you adopt too many.

 Tom’s website: http://theschooloflife.com

 The Australian Mediatheque – Nick Richardson

ACMI collection started in 1946 as State Film Centre. As tech has changed, a lot of content has become prisoner to its format. They aim to ensure that content is accessible to all users and do so through projects such as the Mediatheque at Federation Square. It now includes content from the National Archive, as well as other sources.

 They have been able to legally digitise content they own until the format is no longer usable. Centre is staff mediated – around 100 visitors a day. http://www.acmi.net.au/australian_mediatheque.htm

 They cater to both research and entertainment use of the material, with 11 booths. They have curated content, canned searches, tag clouds and more, with the intention that users will be able to starting viewing content within a few clicks. Have staff picks online now instead of newsletter – in the same way that JB HiFi and other retail outlets do.

 ACMI runs outreach programs in the community, to create content that is then available through Mediatheque. About 1000 items in view on demand, but rights needed to be renegotiated to enable that.

 Peter Macauley – Skills needed in the technological age

There are differing tensions between employees, accrediting bodies, students and universities. It’s about hard and soft skills. Employers tend to hire on hard, fire on the soft.

 The mental software is a vital requirement.

 Employers want hard skills – e-everything, m-everything, f-everything. (f=future)

Accreditors want a lot, the same but different, continual program renewal, documentation and designated meeting attendance, compliance and flexibility/rigidity and promotion of the body.

 Students want a job, skills reflecting employers’ requirements, value for money, accredited programs, quality teaching, real world experience.

 Unis want quality programs, work ready programs, satisfying conflicting demands, get bums on seats.

 Emerging areas include mobile tech, interoperability and connectivity, evernet, sustainability, changing pedagogues and teaching spaces. Others include health information management, collaboration and isolation, the cloud, security, usability, NBN.

He referred to the great work of Helen Partridge and her team on the LIS Education 2.0 Project. http://liseducation.wordpress.com/about/project-team/

 Robin Wright – Copyright in the digital world: issues for librarians

Copyright is changing everything and will be paramount in the next 3-5 years. Physical container is very different, once it is owned you can do what you want with it. Libraries have certain exceptions, but once it goes digital, its all bets off.

 Digital = licensed use. Need a license to share, read, terms are controlled by contract and DRM, contract may override exceptions, additional access limitations, revocable, may allow owner to replace, edit or modify….

 Robin looked at the issues and the agreements that are out there and being signed by libraries and found the following issues around lending, research and preservation.

 Lending – should libraries lend ebooks, one copy-one user, checkout limits, some publishers refuse to supply, device incompatibility, kindle owners lending library, UK Society of Authors argument over remote lending of ebooks

 Researchers – ILL, educational use, fair dealing - couldn’t generally be made available via ILL or vendors offered commercial alternative; educational use only refer to US law, own limits, forbade use in course packs or ereserves; fair dealing referred to US law, access limits by DRM etc.

 Preservation – orphan works issues – can’t digitise as can’t contact owner, no exception for getting it online, so materials remain unused. Legislation on orphan works has great opposition from publishers and photographers. Eg. Hathi Trust case.

 Who will run the digital library of the future? Copyright skills needed for the digital library include licence interpretation, negotiating agreements, fair dealing exceptions etc.

 Panel with Tom, Robin and Nick

Digital platforms are places you go to, to interact. Libraries can help bring people to rich digital experiences, using personal presence and expertise. Need to integrate our expertise with these digital experiences.

 Analogy of copyright, not like stealing a car – stealing a car denies access to it, stealing a digital copy does not deny anyone access to it. Libraries need to have a big role in determining future policy on digital content and copyright. Copyright is a government granted monopoly. Content should be the most important thing, because that is what is most important and that’s what people want.

 Mediatheque is cautiously moving towards using these cloud sources such as YouTube.. Will transform within a generation – may replace on campus with online. Digital works are best in academia when they work together with class contact, otherwise will lead to disintegration of these institutions. Copyright law implications when cloud services are in one or more international countries, each having their own laws.

 Technological determinism – tech is always an enabler of change, but all the tech that we are enmeshed with today is making it a forceful driver, like never before. We can push against those forces and should. Problems with tech is not new, though the speed at which the change happens is much faster. The good thing is that everyone is now involved in the discussion. Tech has been forced to change in copyright, so at least in law, tech is a driver. Our thinking is lagging behind our actions, due to tech. We are platform agnostic and forget often that it is even there. Content and experience are the key and are what people are seeking. Regardless of this, our user`s priorities – whatever they may be, are what is important.

 With copyright, everyone has their own moral compass. The Peer to peer sharing services are efficient and attractive and people will continue to use them. If we don’t do something to protect the smaller content producers, they will disappear.

 Socially responsible way is to educate rather than filter the internet for children. However, given special circumstances, an exception may be applied, as in Mediatheque and their display of Aboriginal films from the 50s..

Should protect copyright exceptions, filtering can endanger that.

 Hamish Curry – Putting technology on trial

His presentation is available on Slideshare.

 The GLAM sector is a slow moving beast because we carry the human story.

 We are about apophenia – “Making connections where none previously existed”- Danah Boyd. Need to think about what we are seeing in the short term as well as the long term.

 Patterns – always had issues with physical vs digital storage, always been about efficiency – both libraries and tech. But now we can go broader – so how exactly do we get beyond the local?

 Tech can sometimes create rods for our backs – we have to see it through – there can be resistance. GLAM has survived all the tech changes because its always been about the object, it has known what tech is and what it is not, plus we have our users in mind.

 Library is an individual pursuit, helps people to experience the medium, books are technology, but they are people to people. He then showed a TED video from Sherry Turkle – “Connected, but alone?”- http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html

 He showed a video from The Onion, exploring a new museum – a walk into the past into a Blockbuster Video Store. http://onion.com/bK9hxC

 Tech is servant to info, but it has created new challenges. Libraries should be a fusion point and getting content from as many sources as possible. However, we can be too focused on consumption. There are great challenges in communicating all we do. Information is complex and sometimes we make it more complex. Another video.

 What is the commodity that libraries can offer? Out of interest, he posted the question on Quora. Overwhelmingly the response was information, not books. Libraries need to consider the experience they are providing – it’s not just about information.

 Sagacity – intelligent application of knowledge acquired from years of learning and experience, its applied wisdom and that’s what libraries can bring to our users.

 GLAMification – people are core, visuals matter, libraries can be the new GLAM, we are the intersection of digital and physical. Examples of where this GLAM is already happening are through projects including:

•  Geek Library

• Biblion

• Historypin

• Street Museum

• Powerhouse Museum using Layar – augmented reality product

• Broadcastr

• Libraryhack

• Data Hacks with Open Government

• Data Camp

• Flinklabs – data visualisation

• Google Ngram – infographics

He then showed an ABS video where users could interact with census data on the big screen and in public. http://www.youtube.com/user/CensusAustralia

 This sort of thing clashes directly with what is expected from libraries. Need to meet a lot of those expectations, but also need to turn expectations on their head. Building new expectations will surprise people, make them curious, help them to discover and experience.

 Pull onsite for community, then push online for independence. Examples here include: Europeana, Culture Victoria, National Archives digital vault (US), Monet Sketchbooks, Panasonic Online Design Museum, Imperial War Museum (UK).

 We also need to keep in mind that these online resources need archiving as we don’t know how long they will be around for.

 Virtual experiences examples included: 360 cities, Smithsonian, Photosynth, Flickr SLV, Hive Learning Network, Childrens’ Creativity Museum, QR codes, Google Goggles and Aurasma.

 Diversity is important.

 Fword is fun and libraries can be. Leap 3 d tracker for pcs ? 70 dollars put it with developers and our data and wow. https://live.leapmotion.com/

 Social media is a space where we can all engage.

 Games in GLAM gives a safe environment which can give you an experience that you can’t get elsewhere.

On Thursday 22nd March, I was convener of the Public Libraries Victoria Network, ICT Special Interest Group Unconference in Melbourne.

Forty-seven enthusiastic library staff attended, from a wide range of public libraries from across Victoria. After a quick introduction and some guidelines, people put down their topics of interest on presentation paper. Astoundingly, after a big of juggling with the program for the day, we managed to find a place in the schedule for all 15 topics – with three concurrent sessions over 5 time periods.

As organiser, I tended to float around the different sessions, putting in my two cents worth and picking up gems of wisdom from the amazing people who work with ICT and the Internet in libraries.

You can see our final program at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tang02/7009523295/

In the first concurrent session, the Library Design for Tech sessions discussed new building design and the things we hope to try and plan for the future (difficult when we don’t know what they will be) ,as well modifying our existing buildings for things that weren’t even imagined when they were first built. Thinking revolutionary challenged us to think outside the box. To leave aside our preconceived ideas of everything and to consider ideas that we wouldn’t normally associate with libraries. Staff training explored how we keep our staff up-to-date with new technologies and more.

In the second concurrent session the Mobile web design and apps session discovered that there are some apps already around suitable for our public libraries that we didn’t already know about. Lending e-readers and iPads discovered what Geelong is doing with their program and explored issues around this and Internet speed/NBN discussed what type of speeds should be considered standard and just what we will be wanting and able to do once we have the NBN in our libraries and our neighbourhoods.

A lunch break, where most of the attendees ate and then stuck around and networked and then it was back into the program.

The third concurrent session explored what we would like in a Digital Media Lab – everything from creative software suites, to tech staff and 3D printers.  Responsive web design talked a bit about options for making our library websites the way we want, from choosing the platform to getting in with Council’s IT on choosing same. RFID Devices and Returns was the largest session by far and the queries of those who are planning to or embarking on the RFID path, were well-answered by those who have been there and done that.

We then all came together for our next session, which was supposed to be two guest speakers, but which fell through. Taking the idea from Library Camp Oz, we ended up with a bunch of wonderful volunteers, who each gave 2 minute lightning talks on innovative things that were happening at their library. I thought this ended up being one of the highlights of the day!

The topics covered were: lending iPads, using Pinterest in the library, iPad program for toddlers, automated suggestion for purchase system, next phase Learning 2.0 program for staff, library apps, touch screens for kids, Yammer group for Library IT communication and more……

The fourth concurrent session explored the IT Department and Vendor relationships – how to improve them and get the best out of them for the library, eBooks which are on everyone’s agenda for this year and Statistics and how we can get some useful data from those resources we use that don’t give it to us.

The final concurrent session expanded on iPads as tools, using Tech for local history and I finally sat down for an entire session, which was on Social integration. In Social integration, we discussed how to amalgamate our web presences, how to get more users to those same presences, using tricks and tools that are readily available, but not necessarily well known.

So finally, what did I learn as an organiser of the event.  I learned that:

• the day truly does belong to those who attend. We had great feedback and from that alone, I would like to run another unconference. Not everyone had been to an unconference before, but almost all of the 47 attendees so it was perfect for IT and libraries.  
• that you can’t run it alone. I had great organisation skill and arrangements from Elisabeth Jackson at PLVN, who took all the bookings, handled all the payments and organised all the food.
• that you can’t run it alone, part 2. The PLVN ICT Committee, which was responsible for this event, not only were invaluable in the organisation of the day, but also in convening concurrent sessions and sharing their expertise and in stepping up and giving lightning talks with virtually no notice.
• that you can learn a lot from others doing the same thing – so thanks to Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries and Library Camp Australia who both gave me wonderful examples of library unconferences to learn from.
• that you can either organise or attend, but can’t really do both to any level of satisfaction – I was really only able to attend the lightning talks (where I was time keeper) and the last concurrent session, as I was too busy organising and then keeping an eye on the sessions the rest of the day.  Still, it was absolutely worth it.  Even with only being able to attend those few sessions and picking up bits and pieces as I checked, I still got a lot out of the day, as an attendee as well as an organiser.

If you haven’t attended an unconference, then you must add it to your list of things to do. And if you ever get the chance to organise one, do it – its a fantastic experience all of its own.

I know how tough it can be to give a presentation/talk/speech/seminar etc. Even after having done quite a few over the years, I still get nervous beforehand, but have learned now that I can handle them and it will all be OK once I have started.

However, there are many people who never get there.  I know that I was terrified at my first conference presentation, but because I survived it intact and because I got good feedback, it gave me the courage(?) to go back and try again.

So anyway, I’m looking at my son the other day, who was getting all excited about his own presentation (he’s 9). The differences between his and mine? He’s a child and his presentation is called ‘Show and Tell’.

We all remember ‘Show and Tell’ at school. How we would get excited, particularly after Christmas, birthdays and holidays, at being able to tell our classmates all about the wonderful new thing we got from said occasion. We would extol its virtues and proudly show it off without fear of judgement or ridicule.

What happened to the excitement we used to have when presenting “Show and Tell”?

Are we more concerned about the opinions of our audience than we were then? Maybe, but if we got a bad review then, we shrugged it off and either dished it back to the bad reviewer when it was their turn, or came up with something even grander at next “Show and Tell”.

Are we less excited about the subject of our presentation than we were at “Show and Tell”? Could be, but if we aren’t excited, then why aren’t we? We do really great stuff in libraries and we get the chance to present on these things, because other people think they’re great too.

What else is there? Can we step back to our childhood and recapture that confidence and excitement we had for “Show and Tell” and bring them into our presentations today? Can you imagine if every presenter at a conference had that? It would make for an amazing conference – over the top maybe, but I imagine you wouldn’t be able to help but get excited about what they were presenting on.

So can we get past the adult blocks that stop us from presenting or presenting well? A little bit of childhood magic might just be the trick. I’ll have to try using that mindset next time I present – I’ll let you know what happens.

Not only have the conference presentations been good, as will the papers Im sure, but I have to post about the social side as well. The networking opportunties have been great.

It started on Tuesday night with a welcome reception and the opening of the trade exhibit. Drinks and horses doovers met everyone who had mostly arrived on librarian full planes from all Australian capitals on Monday and Tuesday. We were entertained by Drums Atemwe – a group of young indigenous girls who captured our attention with their beats and smooth moves.

On Wednesday morning I attended the first-timers breakfast – with lovely food and new faces. Met some lovely people from around the country and across library sectors. I even met up with an old friend, who I last saw at our shared workplace 18 years earlier. For everyone who remembers who, Marita Thompson sends her greetings to all who used to be at DVRLS.

Wednesday night was Happy Hour followed by the Australian Premiee of the Hollywood Librarian documentary movie. Even though I had read reports and seen snippets from it I didnt know what to expect. Appropriately armed with popcorn, I was pleasantly surprised, it was an enjoyable, insightful and emotional look into the public library scene in the USA at present. Ann Seidl, the producer, director etc here and shared both with us on the night and with individuals at the trade exhibit the next morning. It will be screening in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide in coming months, so check it out if you can.

Thursday morning I attended the ALS Breakfast, which I have already blogged about separately. Thursday night was the awesome conference dinner. About 600 people were bused 30 minutes out of Alice Springs to Ooraminna Homestead – most of that way on corrugated dirt roads. We arrived to find an open arena, with beautifully laid out tables out in the open resting on that amazing red sandy soil. We found out during the course of the evening that the buildings surrounding us were built as a movie set for a film which never eventuated. Our MC, the son-in-law of the owners, was friendly, irreverent and hilarious. The food was BBQ style with the option of steak or barramundi – the steak was mmmmmmmm! We did some star gazing which was amazingly easy in the middle of nowhere, led by an amateur astronomer, learnt some line dancing and boogied away to live music. It was a great night.

Friday morning was a late start fortunately. We finished the day with farewell drinks and a visit from some of our reptilian natives. It wa very amusing to watch as several people bolted as the handler brought out the python for a look see. A large group of Victorian public and other librarians went out for dinner in Alice to finish off a great social time.

I was fortunate to spend most of my conference time with two good friends, inspirational to me in their own ways. Thanks Melissa and Glenn for helping to make it such a good time.

ALA and the intersection of indigenous library services and values – Dr Loriene Roy – University of Texas

As ALA president, you get money for assigned tasks, an assistant etc ($250,000) and then $100,000 for programs. Routine duties include communications ie. presidential message quarterly reports and much more such as greetings, blogs, messages, cards/greetings. It also involved talking to media – she gave 150 interviews and did a media day amongst other things. Did 60 presentations worldwide and innumberable national presentations,including state and national organisations, as well as selected local events.

Chairing the executive board, the executive council, ALA council, ALA-APA executive board, ALA-APA council. Made more appointments than the speaker of the house – 250 in all. Appointments to ALA committees as members and chairs and task forces. Then there were ALA Presidential initiatives which included an Indigenous project.

Workplace wellness included a website, a wellness passport, workplace wellness inventory, tips for health conference travel and a workplace wellness fair with a wellness pavilion where they taught seated exercises.

Supporting LIS Education through practice include education forums, a book – Service learning and meetings with relevant organisations.

CIrcle of Literacy – Gathering of readers with schools from around the world in April 13-19 2008.

Indigenous writings were highlighted through writers, teen graphic novels, many voices-many nations performance event at the ALA conference.

Demonstration projects included National Library Camps – got grant info to develop this, Capturing our stories – developing a national oral history program of retiring librarians, Meeting effectiveness – tip sheets and podcasts on how to improve your meetings – also has a website.

Fun stuff included handing out gaming awards, gave out citations on innovation in international librarianship, had a theme of celebrating community, collaboration and culture.

It was a year of gifts – the dance of Honor, the Inauguration event, tribal community connections, renewing friendships.

Now – member of ALA Council, Executive Board and Committee. Chair of some committees and liason between ALA and other organisations. She is doing work for IFLA and will return to teaching at UT. Gets to be past-president forever! Check her out on Facebook.

Not been easy to stand in front of rooms, but it has been well worth it , both personally and professionally.

I was fortunate enough to be invited by Patricia Genat to attend the ALS Breakfast during the ALIA Dreaming 08 conference. Over a lovely pancake breakfast we had a casual conversation with Margie Seale from Random House on publishing trends and the scene in the Australian industry.

Margie began by saying that she was impressed by our library websites and what we do with them, that they are not just about information.

The retail market for books has 3 major segments: discount department
stores like Kmart and BIg W, with 22% of the market, chain bookstores like Dymocks, Borders and A&R with 50% of the market and independent bookstores with 25%. The latter is a fast disappearing breed in the US, due to price competition, which has also resulted in a lack of diversity. In Australia, our markets is very vibrant, generally successful and still very diverse.

The Book Scan service has helped suppliers and publishers to recognise
trends and ajdust their business strategy on the fly as the trends are revealed.

The 2008 top sellers in Australia so far are: Ingredients, Underbelly, Change of heart by Piccoult and Breath by Winton. Last year it was The Secret, ahead of the adult edition of Harry Potter and the deathly hallows. For childrens books, this year so far has been Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyers and last year was Harry Potter. Interestingly, many of the attendees
were not aware of many of these titles, because they were mainly managerial staff.

At present, the big sellers in each of the markets are; Breaking Dawn in the chain bookstores, Very hungry caterpillar in the discount department stores and Gallup in the independents. The US top titles at present are New Earth – a republishing of Eckhardt Tolls book an the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. The same titles will follow here as our markket is similar to the US. In the UK, the top titles are A thousand splendid suns and the latest Delia Smith cookbook.

Across all 3 markets there are only 3 books in common in the top 10 bestsellers – Atonement, Kite runner and A thousand splendid suns. Australia and UK have 5 titles in common, Australia and US have 8 in common and the US and UK only have those 3.

The Australian market leans slightly towards the US in trends. If a title is going to work here though, it does so quickly. However, UK covers and formats work better here. Why? Margie believes because it is better quality, more stylish, more anglo is design. Our covers are more subtle, not so blatant.

An issue of interest to the book industry at present is the 30/90 rule, which is under review. The rule was introduced in the 1990s to allow certainty of copyright and to provide consumers with titles in a timely manner. Publishers buy rights for a territory so only they can bring the title in. This means that publishers had to publish that title within 30 days of it being
published in English anywhere else in the world. If it goes out of stock, publishers have 90 days to restock. If neither of these conditions is met the copyright is lost and the title goes back to the open market.

The government is reviewing this and looking at making Australia a totally open market, where anyone can bring in titles from anywhere at any time. The UK and US markets are not considering doing this at present.

Booksellers say that it will bring book prices down. Publishers are concerned that they will not be able to invest in new authors, because they wont have the certainty of their protected business to support the risk. It may also put Australian book printers out of business.

Drivers for this change? US currency makes US book prices look cheap. The
Australian Booksellers Association is in support of the change, although not necessarily all of its members. As for the book printing business, although colour printing is done overseas, 50-60% of Random Houses black and white printing is done in Australia. The rule has been reviewed several times over the years, so this is only the lastest in a series. It will be interesting to see what develops.

Margie Seale was an engaging speaker. It was interesting to hear the publishing perspective and see how it matched with the borrowing behaviours we see in our libraries.

Changing library types – the journey from joint use to public library – Kimberley Hargrave

In SA, community libraries were established in the 70s and 80s. Of the 142 public libraries in SA, just over 1/3 are joint use. There is an agreement in place outlining the responsibilities, funding etc.

The Two Wells library operated at the Primary School since 1983. In July 2006 the Council opted to have their own library, which was launched in 2007. It opened in the Two Wells Institute. Such a split is a rare occurence in SA.

In 2004-2005 a new joint use agreement was being negotiated and that was the time for reassessment. A new agreement was finalised in 2006, but was reviewed in May 2006 and a statistical snapshot was conducted. In July 2006, Mallala Council opted not to renew the agreement. August the library staff visited their future home and vision for the library was defined.

September 2006 they developed change management tools, purchased the Spydus system. October 2006 they reviewed magazines coordinated the asset division and received donated shelving.

November 2006 they undertook training, management committee had last meeting, resources reviewed. December 2006 – joint library closed, moved resources and had broadband installed. Jan 2007 – the move, but without a phone for 2 weeks.

Feb 2007 – opened to the public, promoted and worked without computers. March 2007 – trained on Spydus, which finally went live in May – when the library was officially launched.

Library open 28.5 hours per week, with other branches open very short hours. Slight reduction from the joint use library, but open longer on school holidays. Good reception to the hours opened.

Challenges – design and fitout of the library was limited due to preexisting bookings of the facility, the heritage nature of the building and budget. Donations assisted with the budge restrictions, with more than half the shelving and the circulation desk being donated.

Higher loan figures in many collections, reference requests, internet access, access to Council services and more. Very positive feedback on the new library.

Review the change process regularly, celebrate achievements, list all tasks and network with local colleagues. Dont implement a new ILMS, dont be afraid to ask for help, dont paint laminate, keep participating in your profession. Remember to maintain a good work life balance, take more photos, provide recognition, include everyone in the journey.

The future: increase and improve marketing, stocktake, development of the local history collection, review library policies and procedures.

Question: what was the schools response to the change. Mostly positive as they were happy to get the extra space, have the security of school attendees only and they were able to take their library in a new direction, not problem free, but handled well.

Question: how using volunteers. In move, packing and unpacking. Now general circulation and currently writing job descriptions for them.

Libraries to 2025: turning dreams for new public libraries into reality – Carolyn Robertson

Greater Christchurch area is expected to grow by 50,000 in the next 20 years. They have 18 community libraries an 2 joint use libraries, with 70% membership. Over 1.1 million items, 6 million loans, 3.8 million visits.

The plan began in 2005, at the completion of a 10 year library development plan, but no new libraries were identified and no capital funding assigned for the next 10 years. In early 2006, surburban libraries and a mobile were identified for potential closure due to budget restrictions – was overturned.

Library planning proper didnt restart until 2007. It is not an asset management or refurbishment plan or facility plan. Built within the framework of local government, educational and national strategies, both government and library.

Collaboration and consultation with local governments, the public and staff. Partnership was a guiding principle. Used an external working party which gave them a cross section of representation, included key stakeholders and gave them Council and community buy-in at an early stage in the process.

The plan – criteria for future library planning (effectiveness, efficiency, affordability, equity), size-function and range of services, options development, identify priority areas. They modified their hierarchy of libraries to metropolitan, suburban, neighbourhood and rural outreach and other. Priority areas were identified, by looking at growth, community need, asset condition, resulting in the 51 options reducing to 28.

Stakeholder engagement also undertaken through meetings, newsletters, market research, online surveys, targetted community events survey and staff workshops. Asked the same questions of all groups.

Public participation included public forums, public participations, one on one and group invitations, public hearings and feedback, which ended in the final plan.

Plan supports options for a new central library, recommends 3 new libraries (1 a larger replacement), replace a current library due to poor condition. More projects other than the capital developments are also outlined, which include 7 day opening, a library cafe, review of services in smaller libraries and volunteer library arrangements. Partnerships will also be reviewed in line with criteria established.

Adoption of the plan is no guarantee of funding – which is being developed at present along other Council budget reviews. Final sign off will be in June 2009.

Have learned that the Working Party was a successful model, lots of work to support this though, use of language is important (dont use closure), repeat key images continuously, make connections. Overall has been a very rewarding experience.

Redevelopment and reinvention: rethinking reference services at SLQ – Vicki McDonald and Sandra Duffield

Planning framework was service delivery groups – had to rethink current services,how they were delivered and how they could be delivered in future. This included client empowerment and encompassed service delivery and building design.

The Info Zone was developed and is distinctive in its lack of shelving. Staff rove and provide assistance at point of need. Talking and eating in this space are allowed here. Clients are able to access the catalogue and the internet without authentication in stand up and sit down system and uses a queueing rather than the booking system which is used throughout the rest of the library.

One of the most successful services offered was wireless – which is available 24/7 without authentication. It will extend to the whole building soon and will comprise a separate network for staff and clients.

e-services card is available for clients to book a PC on upper library levels, call slip an item, access databases- both done remotely and locally, copy, print and more.

Once in the new library, the review continued but moved away from building considerations. They undertook a value management study and surveys. The study reviewed teh delivery of reference services to individual clients. The study recommendations confirmed earlier study as well as NSLAs strategic plan. The survey was client exit from upper levels only and mystery shopper and onsite only. Survey found that staff skills, behaviour, knowledge an experience and clients satisfaction was based on the entire experience of the library and resulted in a 80% satisfaction rate.

Latte Librarian was trialled at the Library Cafe – with a coffee and a laptop – highly desired slot, but finished early due to the low uptake of service and the instability of the wireless access. Once wireless is expanded, the trial will be continued.

IM reference is being trialled during business hours, using Meebo from the Ask Now page and no results page on the catalogue. They have been very happy with the response so far to this offering.

Convict Transportation Registers database is now available to all web users – the result of 12 years of volunteer work. Much international recognition for this. Can be accessed via Google.

Re-imagining library services: a new collaborative vision by Alan Smith – NSLA

NSLA comprises the Australian state, territory, national libraries and the national library of New Zealand. They are working to build the next stage of libraries for our users. The 4 key points and 10 projects are making way and getting librarians out of the way.

One library, transforming our culture and accessible content are the core of what they are trying to achieve. 5 year plan with a central office to help push it forward.

Do it now – SLV – opening up services
Access now – NLA and NLNZ – one library card
Virtual reference – SLV – next generation of online reference – not looking at the next version of Ask Now
Delivery – SLWA – being able to deliver content into peoples hands, wherever they are
Community created content – SLQ and NLNZ – communities of geographic and interest, being able to create their own digital libraries
Creating culture – SLSA – organising and storing
Collaborative collections – SLNSW and SLQ – trying to limit duplication and improve resource sharing – consortial arrangements
Flexible cataloguing – improving access to content – reengineering cataloguing
Scaling up digitisation – industrialise it, working on business case for significant national investment
Connecting and discovering content – NLA – improve coverage and quality of data, partnerships to improve discovery – a common catalogue interface and a national metadata store.