LSLSIG meeting 17 September 2013 at State Library of Victoria
Present:
Anne Burrows
Ann Copland
Carmen Quick
Liz Pidgeon
Lina Favrin
Karen Seckold
Vicki Court
Glenn Greening
Kay Rowan
Judith Oke
Jordana Lory
Karen Reiter
Cathy Milward-Bason
Julia Marshall
Janet Palmer
Genealogy Centre- State Library of Victoria
Genealogy Centre- State Library of Victoria
Genealogy Centre- State Library of Victoria
Yarra Plenty
Fitzroy Library, Yarra
Wyndham
Nunawading Library, Whitehorse Manningham
Darebin
Port Phillip
Geelong
Goldfields
Kingston Libraries
Kingston Libraries
Moonee Valley
East Gippsland
Apologies:
Elaine Craig
Kathy Smalley
Katherine Foster
Amanda Peckham
Doncaster Library, Whitehorse Manningham
Eastern Regional
Port Phillip
Hobsons Bay
Liz Pidgeon spoke about her Margery C Ramsay Scholarship tour in February and March this year
investigating Local and Family History Services in the UK & USA. During this time Liz attended the
Who Do You Think You Are Live conference in the UK and the Rootstech conference in the USA as
well as visiting many libraries and archives.
A list of websites for a selection of the places Liz visited :
Who Do You Think You are Live
http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/
Rootstech
https://rootstech.org/
The Westminster City Archives: People’s Record Project
http://www.peoplesrecord.org.uk/items/show/3090
GeneaBloggers
http://geneabloggers.com/
PictureNorfolk
http://norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_001_Search.aspx?searchType=97
Old BaileyOnline
http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/
Open Library
http://openlibrary.org/
The Cookbook of Unknown Ladies: curious recipes and hidden histories from the Westminster City
Archives
http://lostcookbook.wordpress.com/
FamilySearch research communities on Facebook (links)
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Research_Communities_on_Facebook
Covent Garden Memories
http://www.coventgardenmemories.org.uk
FamilySearch community indexing https://familysearch.org/volunteer/indexing
Liz kept a detailed record of the institutions and collections she visited in her blog, Infolass, http://infolass.wordpress.com/
Liz was particularly interested in how overseas institutions used Story Telling, Partnerships,
Crowdsourcing, Digitisation and Content Curation within their collections. She concluded that public
libraries in Victoria can learn from some of the projects being carried out overseas and incorporate
some aspects into our own projects to promote local and family history.
Many thanks to Liz for sharing her experiences and ideas with us. I strongly suggest that we should
have a look at the links Liz has provided to find out more about the projects and organisations.
Anne Burrows then spoke about the pilot online family history program being trialled in 16 public
libraries in Victoria – Branching Out. The first of six modules went live on 9 September and the
program will continue until mid-October. It is designed for those starting out on their family history
research. A WordPress blog is used for delivering content and four web conferences will be used to
deliver content. Apparently there had been problems with sound during the first web conference
but generally feedback, so far, has been good. A Facebook group has also been set up. It was
suggested that in the future maybe consideration could be made to use Branching Out as a training
module for library staff. Anne requested that any feedback on the branching Out project should be
forwarded to her.
Reports:
Kay Rowan Port Phillip libraries
 The new Emerald Hill Library and Heritage Centre will open in October and working towards
this is taking up most of Kaye’s time http://heritage.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Emerald_Hill_Library_Heritage_Centre
 Hopefully we can hold a meeting there next year
Karen Seckold Wyndham libraries
 After hearing about Kathy and Elaine’s ANZAC project at the last meeting, we have decided
to do this also, for our local area. We will start with the WW1 service men and women who
passed away and work our way through all those who enlisted. Progressing into the other
conflicts after that. This will be added to our Local History website that will be launched
later this year and in time for the ANZAC 100th Anniversary. We are working with the RSL on
this project. After the launch, interested people can add content and stories to the website,
which will be fully searchable and indexed.
 After recording Wyndham shires participation in the Wars we hope to progress into other
areas like Schools, clubs (sport, scouts etc.), pubs, historical houses etc. including the
histories and photos whenever possible.
 The Indigenous Family History sessions are due to start later this month and thank you Liz
for the site to add to my list of useful websites.
 We will be hosting a GSV display for History Week 20th to 27th of October and adding to it
with our own resources.
Anne Burrows State Library
 Anne has been working on the content preparation for Branching Out
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The SLV now subscribes to Discovery (National Archives UK) – currently 5% of records can be
downloaded as pdfs
New research guide launched – Victorian Sheriff’s Office warrants 1838-1919 (There is a link
to the index of names indexed in the guide)
Jordana Lory Bendigo Library
 Bendigo Rates database is to be converted to a SQL interface, hopefully before Christmas
 Moving back into the new library early next year
 RFID tagging of special collections in progress
 Local history collection is stored offsite providing an opportunity to look at it closely
 Bendigo Archives Petitions of the People index with links to the petitions is now online http://www.brac.vic.gov.au/
 New website is being created for Bendigo Archives Centre
 Not happy with Find My Past – ads now appearing on screen
 The library now provides online access to British newspapers and Discovery (National
Archives UK)
Glenn Greening Darebin Libraries
 Website launched successfully. Still work to do on it but it’s mostly finished. Can be found at
http://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au/
 Have started the Branching Out program though have not had many participants and there
have been some technology issues. It seems some people interested in course are yet to
learn Facebook or setting up email so it might be good to run a course in that sort of thing
previous to this course starting in the future…
 History week - we plan to have a display across our four branches of local land sale posters
during the week to promote our local history collection and website.
 We will be nominating a local member of the community for the Order of Australia award
due to his huge and ongoing contributions to the Darebin Heritage website. He has done an
enormous amount of research and freely given it to us for the site which we appreciate a
great deal.
Julia Marshall Moonee Valley libraries
 Changes to organisation of family history and local history at the library
 Many of the local history items being made available for loan
 Setting up a Genie group once a month
 Research guides for family local history research now available
 Digitising local history photographs and discovering that information has been lost about
some of the items over time. An album showing some of these images has been produced
for each branch in case members of the public can supply information. The albums also help
promote the collection.
Cathy Milward-Bason & Karen Reiter Kingston Libraries
 A branch used for storage including local history is about to close so an audit of the local
history collection is being undertaken
 Newspapers need to be stored
 Looking at ways to provide more prominence for local history
 Participating in Branching Out
Liz Pidgeon Yarra Plenty Regional Library
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Busy and successful family history month in August
Attended family history feast day at SLV and Josh Taylor FMP talks – his presentations are
online
Local History month program for November now being printed
Heritage Forum at Mill Park Library NBN digital hub
Guest judge for year 6 history speeches at Yarrambat Primary School
Attended launch of new local history site for Darebin Libraries
Piloting Branching Out program with four participants meeting weekly at Eltham Library
Writer currently writing a history of Whittlesea and Darebin for Love Real Estate
Subscribed to Gale News Vault Package
Digitisation project with EDHS
New book on Greensborough and a DVD on Black Saturday
Rosanna Library turned 40 in August
Diamond Valley Library about to turn 40 in December
Elaine Craig Doncaster Library Whitehorse Manningham
 Doncaster continues to become busier, is at times the busiest branch in the region
 Warrandyte Library reopened in its new location, and has been accepted by the local
community with open arms. It is very busy at opening, and also after school. Apparently
there are many family history questions being asked there, so I plan to arrange to do a talk
there.
 I attended The SLV Family History Feast and the findmypast talk at the Celtic Club
 I ran a talk on Ancestry Library edition during Family History Month which attracted 24.
 Liz and I attended the Subcommittee meeting of PLVN where I passed the position of
Convener of this group to Liz Pidgeon.
 Doncaster is one of the libraries selected to be part of the Branching Out pilot program being
run by the SLV. I had my first meeting on Wednesday 11th September, and 3 of the 6
participants attended for the first webconference, one bringing her own laptop.
Unfortunately, we could not get the audio to work.
Lina Favrin, Yarra Libraries- Fitzroy Library
 Exhibition “ Little Elvie”, born Elvie Watson in 1924. She started her stage career at the age
of 4 and became a popular child performer of the Vaudeville era of Melbourne. The
Exhibition will be curated by Eliza Greenhatch and feature original photographs, programs
and newspaper clippings an exhibition of Elvie’s career between 1918 and 1929 against a
backdrop of Fitzroy and the flourishing Melbourne Theatre scene from the end of the Great
War and the start of the Depression.
Opens 3-30 October, Fitzroy Library, 128 Moor Street, Fitzroy.
 Acacia Fitzroy Creche, Celebrating 100 Years, October 19, 3.30pm at 187 Napier Street,
Fitzroy.
 I attended the ANZSI (Australia & New Zealand Society of Indexes) presentation of a new
index titled “Index to imagery in colonial Australian illustrated newspapers by Peter A.
Dowling. This two-volume publication indexes the approximate 12,000 images in nearly all
colonial Australian illustrated newspapers, including those in the four major papers:
Illustrated Australian News (1861-96), Illustrated Melbourne Post (1862-68), Illustrated
Sydney News (1864-94) and Australasian Sketcher (1873-89). The index is only available at
the SLV, in hard copy.
Judith Oke, Geelong Regional Library Corporation
 GRLC does not have a special Local Studies collection, due to our unique position of having
the Geelong Heritage Centre, funded by City of Greater Geelong, in our city. Over the years
this has been run separately, but was conveniently located above the Geelong City
Library. However in the new GLHC building the Library and the Heritage Centre will be
rehoused into one complex. GRLC has however always endeavoured to represent the
interests of the local community in our collection with inclusion of published local histories,
and a collection covering Australian history, family history, etc.
Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
Keep up to date with the building of this exciting new complex via City of Greater Geelong
website. When GLHC opens there will be one floor dedicated to the Heritage Centre, with
state of the art storage facilities - http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/glhc/
Geelong Branch Library moved from its previous location, Lt Malop Street, Geelong, to the
State Government Offices (upside down building), across the road. Our temporary library is
open Monday – Friday, 8.30- 5pm. The Geelong West Library, Pakington Street, has opened
longer hours to compensate for loss of hours in the city - www.grlc.vic.gov.au
Geelong Heritage Centre moved from its old site above the Geelong Library, Lt Malop Street,
Geelong, to a new temporary location in the National Wool Museum and is now open M-F,
10 – 5pm. 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong - http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/heritage/
 GRLC run various activities and events. Authors cover various subjects, including historic.
 Eg. Rod Charles: a whirr of many wheels. 8 Oct 2013. He will be exploring the history of
bicycles in Geelong.
 The library also holds regular introductory sessions to ‘Ancestry Library Edition’.
 GRLC is participating in the Branching Out, SLV online training course, and it has been well
received by the people participating.
Janet Palmer East Gippsland Shire Libraries
 Emphasis on local history rather than genealogy
 Heritage Chat in April
 Don Love is speaking about Secrets of the Sea during Victorian History Week
 Debra Parry, Melbourne Conservation Services, ran a looking after collections session
 The library is part of the East Gippsland Heritage Network
 Genealogy enquiries are referred to family history centres in the region
Vicki Court, Nunawading Library Whitehorse Manningham
 Attended Family History Feast at the SLV on 5 August
 Attended sessions run by Josh Taylor from Find My Past on 8 August
 During Whitehorse Heritage Week running a session – Unlocking Family Stories on 18
September at Nunawading Library. Some of the notes used, and not used, have been
recorded in my blog, Family Connections - http://connectingthefamily.blogspot.com.au/
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Vermont Library will host a session, Drought Tolerant gardens on 19 September – speaker
from the Royal Botanic Gardens. There was also a display at Nunawading Library on
Blackburn Lake.
The local history databases can now be accessed via the library catalogue http://catalogue.wev.vic.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/OPAC/BSEARCH Scroll down
the column on the left for Local history database to find the four databases including Diggers
of Whitehorse & Manningham (The name option is the best way to search this database)
General Business
Local History Grants Program – applications now open. See www.prov.vic.gov.au
Research in the digital age – free seminar at SLV – October 5 – Flyer on Yahoo Group
PROV want to promote services to libraries
Kathy Smalley has enquired about indigenous studies sessions at PROV for librarians
Letter to AFFHO and VAFHO re Digger software compatibility
To be confirmed at November meeting
Next LSLSIG meeting will be at Plaza Library, Werribee Plaza, Hoppers Crossing (corner of Derrimut
& Heaths Road) on Thursday 7 November – further details later
Proposed 2014 Meetings
Hosts:
Public Records Office – March – Liz to organise
Port Phillip – Kay Rowan
Bainsdale – Janet Palmer
Bendigo – Jordana Lory
Also PD day at Koorie Heritage Unit – PROV - Kathy