Minutes of the Local Studies Special Interest Group held on Thursday November 13, 2014 - Emerald Hill Library, South Melbourne Port Phillip
Library
Item
1. Attendance &
Apologies
Minutes
Liz Pidgeon
Kay Rowan
Lina Favrin
Elaine Craig
Jordana Lowry
Ann Burrows
Glenn Greening
Judith Oke
Lina Favrin
Jane Baker
Janine Smith
Edith Fry
Apologies
Heather McKay
Karen Seckold
Vicki Court
Ros Ryan
Kathy Smalley
Action
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Port Phillip Library Service
Yarra Libraries
Whitehorse Manningham
Bendigo Library
State Library of Victoria
Darebin Libraries
Geelong Library
Fitzroy Library – Yarra Libraries
Greater Dandenong
Moreland Library Service
City of Ballarat
Melbourne Library Service
Wyndham Library
Whitehorse Manningham
Wimmera
Eastern Regional Library
By
2. Confirmation of
Minutes.
3. Tour of Emerald
Hill Library
4. Reports
Last Meeting was Thursday September 11 2014 at Library at the Dock, Melbourne
The Library is situated in the former Post Office built in 1913. An annex was added in 1917.
The Post Office closed in 1985. The Library is in the front of the building. Save Albert Park
group used to have its base here. The Library has been open a year. The Heritage Centre is
a partnership between Port Phillip Library and the Arts and Culture department. The Centre
contains about 7000 paper based maps, plans, documents, printed objects. The Art
Collection includes photos, paintings and prints from the 1890s. Also includes a
contemporary art collection started by the St Kilda Council. Work must have a local
connection either by artist or location. Rupert Bunny collection
City of Ballarat – Edith Fry
As part of the Library’s WW1 commemorations we’ve been writing a blog each week –
http://ballarat19141918.blogspot.com.au - its time consuming and I am determined to get the
whole library writing, not just me and Simon. We’ve assigned various soldiers and nurses to
different staff, to research over time, as well as trying to keep across various events in
Ballarat during the war years
5000 poppies project – 50,000? – have the ones we’ve received pinned to a black piece of
fabric and hung in the library. It looks spectacular.
Having trouble with Ancestry on public access terminals – Telstra needs to provide a new IP
number? Or something? – still not fixed after 2 months. The interesting thing is that we’ve
discovered just how much Ancestry is in demand, with all the complaints we’ve been fielding.
Our ScanPro 3000 is finally operational, this probably doesn’t seem like a big achievement,
but I assure you it is. We are so happy with it, clarity of image, all the adjustments that can be
made, the ability to create files instantly, it’s just fabulous. Ambition now to “retire” all the old
machines and get another ScanPro!
We received a PROV grant in the last round, to digitise the street directories of Ballarat.
During the preparations we’re finding that a number of street directories are already available
– two are on CDs, and one is a Google book! – That’s both a good thing as the grant is only
smallish, but also disappointing as the directories will not all be “in one place”.
We’ve been delivering lots of talks on various family history subjects, but I also want to bring a
bit more focus onto the special things in our collection. Next year we will be using the
Library’s Digital Hub to provide introductions to all the online stuff, running 6 week programs
of talks on Friday afternoons, each week looking at a different theme or site – e.g. military,
newspapers. In the 6 weeks “off” we’ll have different speakers on a wider range of subjects,
Vicki Court will be coming to talk in February about blogs, and we are so looking forward to
that!
As a matter of fact, the Local Studies Group is invited to Ballarat next year, and looks like this
will be November. At this stage I am thinking of visiting the POW memorial at the Lake,
M.A.D.E. (Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka) and possibly the Mechanics Institute
which is now restored (last time you saw it, it was still an unrenovated mess).
I still haven’t had time to look at the WW1 Link site, but here is a copy of the email they sent
me after I registered. http://worldwaronelink.com.au/
Thank you for getting in contact with the WWI Link team.
As you may already be aware, WWI Link is an initiative of Inside History magazine and is an
online register of WWI projects happening throughout Australia during the centenary years.
The website is due to launch on Remembrance Day 2014, and once launched it will help
people find and share information about WWI commemorative projects. Over the course of
the centenary of the First World War, we will be profiling and promoting the projects
registered on WWI Link.
We would love to include a profile of Ballarat Library's work on WWI Link! Basically, the
entries on WWI Link are comprised of 'Project Owner' profiles (authors, museums,
committees - whoever is behind the project) and 'Project' profiles, an outline of a project.
Project Owners can have multiple projects registered.
I have attached two submission forms, one so that we can create a ‘Project Owner’ profile
about the library, and another form that will help us create a profile for Ballarat Library's
project/s on WWI Link.
Don’t worry if you can’t fill out all the fields, we basically need a blurb for your organisation
and a blurb for your project, some contact details and a couple of good images.
We have included a paragraph about copyright so that once the website is launched; we can
use the images & text you submitted to promote your project through our channels.
I've included a screenshot of a completed Project Owner and a Project profile to give you
some idea of what the site looks like. If you have any questions or require any further
information please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.
City of Greater Dandenong Libraries – Jane Baker
Appraisal of History and Genealogy collection now complete and new signage being sourced.
Dedicated PC (Windows 7) will shortly be installed complete with all CD-ROMs loaded for use
by patrons
Microfiche collection has also been assessed as to which we will need to keep and this will be
available for patrons as soon as appropriate furniture arrives.
Great Dandenong now has a new website called The Vault
http://swft.cgdl.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/cgdl
with a Local & Family History page which we will grow.
Alison Key our History Librarian will be the guest presenter at the next meeting Thurs. 12th
March 2015 1-4.30pm.
Alison will talk about her experiences touring the Western Front in France and Belgium during
2012 as well as Gallipoli. Alison visited the major Australian battlefields and stood in the
exact spot her Great Grandfather fought and won his Distinguished Conduct Medal. She has
many great photos and replicas to show along with her presentation including a few short
videos taken of the battlefields, including the Last Post recorded at the Menin Gate.
Darebin Libraries – Glen Greening
During October we celebrated the 100 year anniversary of Northcote being proclaimed a city
with a display/exhibition at Northcote library and a smaller version of the display at the
Northcote Town Hall. The highlight of the display was the original copy of the Leader
newspaper from May 1914 announcing the proclamation with a special extra-large edition
printed in purple ink. It also included articles and images from the time as well as a timeline of
the history leading up to proclamation. We held a book sale in the exhibition space which got
a lot of people in that wouldn’t have normally seen it and there was a lot of positive feedback.
Most popular were the photos of places that still exist in some ways and were recognisable by
the public. We also had a small poster promoting wikinorthia as part of the exhibition.
Our review of our local history catalogue is continuing and it looks like we will be on the same
system as Bundoora Homestead. Will take some organising but it looks like we’ll be going
with Maxus but IT and management are still looking into it. Meetings to continue next year.
Upcoming events include local history talk by someone from PHA - still to be confirmed. Also
have other thoughts for Anzac related events including a band playing music from the time,
an exhibition of photographs at Fairfield library, an actor reading letters from the Whalley
Brothers (page 7 of this document:
http://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au/Assets/Files/Part%201%20%20Darebin's%20Great%20War.pdf ). We will also be having a speaker to talk about the
history of food culture in the area.
Our genealogy PCs are to be upgraded. We are worried about losing our digger access but I
have since discovered http://www.peppermintfence.com/BDMRevival.htm which looks worth
checking out. Otherwise I will ask IT if we can try compatibility mode on those PCs.
We applied for a PROV grant to purchase Graeme Butlers photo collection from the 80s of
significant houses and places in Darebin.
We used to have British Newspaper Archives but don’t seem to have access through FMP
anymore so we are looking into getting the subscription for that back onto our system.
Geelong Library – Judith Oke
Geelong Regional Library Corporation continues to work towards the development of the new
Geelong Library and Heritage Centre. The building is progressing well as it starts to dominate
the landscape in historic Johnstone Park.
The Geelong Heritage Centre will be integrated with the library service. There is to be a
Heritage floor with state of the art repository in the new building
For progress report with photographs follow the ‘New Library’ button on GRLC website:
http://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/
This will also link you with City of Greater Geelong website which also features updates.
Current link to GHC: http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/heritage/
GRLC regularly offers ‘Discover your Ancestry’ sessions which introduce attendees to the
library’s family history resources. Plus ‘Where’s the news’ sessions which present current
and historical newspapers. Information Librarians, some with particular interest in family
history, lead these sessions.
GRLC subscribes to Ancestry Library Edition; Find my Past and British Newspaper Archives.
5,000 Poppies project. GRLC branches will continue to collect poppies for this project, up
until 30th November.
After that we will encourage people to donate to the National Wool Museum poppies project
which continues until 31st January 2015:
http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/nwm/calendar/item/8d17a101201df7b.aspx
Tech Savvy Seniors. GRLC has been funded, along with other library services, by Victorian
Seniors Card Age Program in partnership with Telstra to offer a series of free digital literacy
workshops especially for seniors. These will be happening over Dec, Jan, and Feb.
Hopefully after learning these new skills those seniors with an interest in local and family will
go on to explore online resources in these areas.
Goldfields Library (Bendigo) – Jordana Lory
The Historic Rates Database should be up on the Goldfields Library website before
Christmas.
This index will cover the years 1856 – 1901 (and will continue to be added too once the
volunteers are back on board).
The index will be searchable by Rate Payer, Owner, Occupation, Location etc.
The original rate books are available via the Bendigo Regional Archives Centre
(www.brac.vic.gov.au).
Two World War I help sheets for staff and the community were created. One for general topic
of WWI and the second to specifically cover the Bendigo area.
These will be uploaded to the Yahoo Group.
Goldfields Library will upgrade to Spydus 9 beginning the week Monday 17th November.
This upgrade includes a major change to the public catalogue, and will include an Archives
and Digital Assets module.
Moreland Library Service – Janine Smith
Brunswick Library reopened at the end of August following renovations. As part of the
renovations they now also have a computer training room.
We have been continuing to add new content to our Local History Database (which is
part of our LMS Libero) http://moreland.hosting.libero.com.au/libhist/WebOpac.cls
Including the Coburg State School Soldiers Book and Football Records from the Coburg
Football Club.
A scrapbook of Brunswick in the hungry 1890s: edited by local historians Laurie
Cunningham and Laura Donati was launched at the Brunswick Town Hall by the Mayor in
August.
See: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north/historians-create-book-commemoratingbrunswick-soldiers-who-served-during-world-war-i/story-fnglenug-1226757153865
Moreland Council has provided an internal grant to commemorate the WWI centenary.
The working title of the project is ‘Moreland remembers World War I’. It will focus on the
experience of Moreland residents and service people. The format will be an exhibition based
on banners, in the style of the PROV exhibitions the Lucy Pepper story and ‘We saw the
Queen’. A professional historian will be contracted to write text and recommend images.
There will be associated memorabilia displays, talks/workshops and presentations, and online
content. We are hoping to launch in April 2015 at Brunswick Library and then tour the banners
to other library branches, and community spaces
Port Phillip Library – Kay Rowan
Trialling My Heritage.
A study is being made of Ghost Signs in partnership with University of Melbourne – images
will be attached to HistoryPin
https://www.historypin.org/channels/view/56388#!photos/list/
See http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/september-2014-media_5635.htm
State Library of Victoria – Ann Burrows
See separate document – SLV Digitising update
1.
Eleventh annual Family History Feast
The eleventh Feast was held on Monday 25 August 2014 during National Family History
Month and was once again hosted by the Library. The theme was “multicultural genealogy”.
More than 190 people attended and feedback was very positive. The twelfth Feast is
scheduled for August 2015 on the theme “World War 1”. Videocasts and podcasts of the talks
given in 2014 will begin appearing shortly on the Library website. The 2015 event on the
theme of World War 1 will be held on Monday 10 August.
2.
New Family History online research guide
To coincide with the 2014 Feast Ann Copeland from the Family History Team published a
new guide Researching your overseas ancestors which focuses on researching ancestors
that immigrated to Australia from countries other than the UK. A Researching your British
ancestor guide will be published by the end of this year.
3.
Finding Families public training session
Following the completion of the review of all Library public training the first session of Finding
Families (the Library’s in person family history training program) for the year was held on
Tuesday 9 September. The October and November sessions were booked out.
4.
Family History & Newspaper Room
The Room has now been operating for six months and continues to work well. Public
feedback on the whole has generally been positive.
SLV is also trialling My Heritage.
Branching Out may be re-developed as a staff development opportunity
SLV current free exhibition – Bohemian Melbourne
VAFFHO 2015 may be set for Seymour.
Whitehorse Manningham – Doncaster Library – Elaine Craig
•
New website has been finalised, waiting for IT to load
•
Entire network is very slow as WML, and Doncaster in particular has the highest Wi-Fi
usage in the state. The planned upgrade will hopefully resolve all of the issues. After the
recent OPAC upgrade, and the installation of touch screens, customer dissatisfaction was
very high, and IT have now retro fitted keyboards and mice
•
Been organising occasional guest speakers for Genie Matters monthly meeting, which
has been very successful
•
Neil Smith ‘Mostly Unsung’ http://mostlyunsung.com.au/ has been booked to do a
talk in April 2015 ($200)
•
Doncaster Library is an official drop-off point for the 5000 poppies project, and
Nunawading Library is also displaying poppies
•
Leader Newspapers are conducting a review of the locations and number of papers
dropped off, and libraries have been affected by this. To ask that your library be returned to
the previous number, rink Kathy, Manager Customer Service on 9875 8554
•
My application to attend the AFFHO Canberra conference I 2015 has been declined
due to lack of funds
•
Manningham Council has received a small grant to investigate the East Doncaster
Avenue of Honour, which was removed in 1993. The aim is to attempt to locate a list of the
names on the plaques placed at the foot of the trees
Wyndham Libraries – APOLOGY
Working on a Poppies Project for Anzac centenary
Yarra Libraries – Fitzroy Library
Local History•
Planning of a WW1 exhibition at Fitzroy Library for April 2015 is underway. This will be
curated and draw upon both the local history collection at Fitzroy plus items from City of
Yarra.
I found a “Certificate of Honour” from 1915 that was issued by City of Fitzroy to men who
volunteered from the local area. Here’s a link to an article explaining what the certificates
were about
http://www.awm.gov.au/journal/J31/willis/
•
I recently located and obtained a copy of an 1853 map of Fitzroy from PROV, the
Fitzroy History Society then planned a walk and had 20 attendees.
•
Currently working with the Arts & Culture section at City of Yarra on an 8 panel
historical display showing the development of Fitzroy. Due to be completed December 2014.
•
Fitzroy History Society is in the planning stages of an oral history project and has
asked the library for input regarding how we can help them.
General Library•
RFID training and tagging is about to commence.
Yarra Plenty Regional Library – Liz Pidgeon
Region – Lalor Library closed for an upgrade, Watsonia Library about to. Looking at
including maker spaces, Watsonia’s will be about self- publishing
Website getting major over haul. Involved in updating content relevant to my area.
Local and Family History November is local history month at YPRL. 17 events across
region. Highlights and popular events included Stories form Mont Park at Rosanna Library,
the first City of Whittlesea tour with twenty participants in partnership with the City of
Whittlesea Cultural Heritage Program at Mill Park Library and a WW1 military memorabilia
display and associated talk Boots and all at Eltham Library. Items included a gas mask and
sword, personal letters and photographs. We also have had poppy displays and good
partnerships with community groups for this.
Local History month will move to October in the future.
History Week we had a tour of Donnybrook Cemetery
Attended Victorian Community History Awards
Connecting primary schools with Westminster Archives in London with some WW1 centenary
projects for 2015 – result of scholarship tour.
Undertaking review of local history and genealogy collections at Ivanhoe Library. Many items
not catalogued. Considering changing over to a REF GEN not for loan collection here.
Undertaking project to collect local Anzac Stories. Still waiting for funding applications to be
confirmed. Fantastic connections being made with researchers and community.
6.General Business
Planning speakers for 2015.
Memory Project. The Memory program will build the capacity of public libraries to collect,
manage and share local history collections in the digital environment, and it will bring State
Library collections to Victorian communities through exhibitions and public programs. The
program will include 2 Projects. EOI for Writing the War; travelling exhibition will be sent
shortly to libraries. Successful applications will need to include local content / programs such
as displays / book launches to accent the exhibition
AFHO Canberra Congress March 2015 includes a librarians day
http://www.congress2015.org.au/
7. Future Meetings
12 March 2015, Dandenong Library – Host (organiser) – Jane Baker
Guest speaker Alison Key will talk about her experiences touring the Western Front in France
and Belgium during 2012 as well as Gallipoli. Alison visited the major Australian battlefields.
Her presentation will include short videos taken of the battlefields, including the Last Post
recorded at the Menin Gate.
Tuesday June 16 – PROV TBC – Organiser Liz
Wed Sept 16 – Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, Carlton – City of
Melbourne – organiser Liz / Linda Longley TBC
Thurs Nov 18 Ballarat – MADE, POW memorial, Mechanics Institute - _ Organiser Edith
November – Ballarat
2016 March – Geelong – organiser Judith