Public Libraries NSW North East Zone
Library Managers Meeting
Thursday-Friday 13/14 March 2014
12 p.m. lunch: White Bull Hotel, 117 Marsh St, Armidale
1 p.m. Meeting commences: Armidale Dumaresq Council war Memorial Library,
122 Faulkner St, Armidale
Attending:
Chris Jones
Margie Wallis
Gary Ellem
Ian Greenhalgh
Jo Carmody
Enzo Accadia
Tracey Ross
Jim Maguire
Angie Meers
Jenny Stoker
Chris Birkett
Leanne Perry
Kay Delahunt
Kathryn Breward
Clare Swinton
Jenny Campbell (Day 2)
Guests:
Kirsten Thorpe
Vicki Edmunds
1.
Apologies:
Sonya Lange
Kerry Byrne
2.
Great Lakes Library Service
Greater Taree City Libraries
Richmond-Upper Clarence Regional Library
Armidale Dumaresq Library
Richmond Tweed Regional Library
Coffs Harbour City Library
Nambucca Shire Library
Port Macquarie – Hastings Library
Kempsey Shire Library
Tenterfield Public Library
Gunnedah Shire Library
State Library of NSW
Central Northern Regional Library
Clarence Regional Library
Guyra Shire Library
Narrabri Library
Coordinator, Indigenous Unit, State Library of NSW
Manager, Library and Customer Service, Blue Mountains
City Library
Inverell Shire Public Library
Glen Innes Severn Public Library
Confirmation of Previous Minutes: Confirmed (E. Accadia/M. Kirkness)
3.
Matters Arising from Previous Minutes:
L. Perry to seek clarity on definition of an eBook, from a financial perspective, and how
this may impact on the current reporting form.
Response: As it stands it is an operating expense. The financial report form will
contain more detail on income.
C Jones to speak to L Perry about a State Library presenter, with a particular emphasis
on digitisation for the next meeting.
Response: Opted for Kirsten Thorpe regarding Indigenous Unit
That the secretary contact both James Bennett and Bolinda regarding indicative pricing
for a Zone-wide model for eResources.
Response: This has not occurred. Preliminary discussions indicated complexity
and it appears library systems are already making their own arrangements.
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J. Carmody to put relevant collated information on leadership on the wiki.
Response: Done. Thanks to people for putting more information on the wiki.
Jo Carmody to find details on “Demystifying mental health”.
Response: Done. Highly recommended workshop.
Leanne Perry to provide details on the metropolitan libraries course on dealing with
difficult customers.
Response: Done.
4.
Correspondence in:
A range of emails that were distributed to the Zone.
Correspondence out:
Email sent to Library Project coordinators to thank them for morning tea.
5.
State Library Report
Forwarded to Zone members.
Actioned: That J. Maguire prepare a proposal for the PLCC regarding the Reading
Well program and the potential for it be rolled out statewide.
6.
Library news
Clarence Regional Library
Grafton Library to be receiving handover today. Various stages of the move to follow in
the next two weeks.
New logo developed for Clarence Regional Library. Undertook a marketing exercise in
2013. Now have new CRL shirts and badges.
Have developed a branded book-carrying bag. These were given away on Library
Lovers Day.
As part of the marketing they developed a style guide.
There will be sample bags for the opening of the new library, containing variety of
giveaways.
Creating DL advertising fliers that aim to address any concerns of the new library
creating a Grafton-focus for the regional library.
Graphic design work involved CRL staff and the Library Project.
Will also make advertising space available to other sections of Council (e.g. art
galleries).
Have recently purchased Find My Past, World Book, Ebsco Hobbies and Craft
Reference Centre and Naxos music online resources.
Increased Zinio titles from 60 to 102 and they are very popular.
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1100 Wheelers titles.
Increased recognition with partnerships with Rotary. Long term relationship with Maclean
Rotary – formalised with an MOU – now done the same with Grafton Rotary. Also have
secondhand book items on trolleys around their branches.
Produced a young people survey report, using surveymonkey. Next survey is a general
collections survey. Key findings were discussed.
Council has a Plunge Cultural Festival – the library is doing a plunge into memoires.
Holding preservation workshops.
Guyra
Browen is on Service Leave until June and Clare is filling in for her.
In December and early January the library hosted the travelling panel display from State
Library of the “Crossing the Blue Mountains”, which contains graphic reproductions of
the colonial artworks by John William Lewin of Governor Macquarie’s journey to Bathurst
Plains.
An informal Family History group commenced meeting in the library on Wednesday
mornings in November 2013. There are 4-5 regulars attending most weeks with other
interested persons coming as well. The discussions are lively and interesting with some
disturbing revelations to some members from the digitized newspapers accessed
through Trove.
Knitting Group has returned after the Christmas break and are still very enthusiastic.
Some customers are surprised they knit all year round but that is the beauty of the air
conditioned library.
Have ordered the free Telstra Connected Training DVDs.
Tim Leha (Producer) of ABC Open is running a free Digital Photography workshop using
the library as base on 17th March for 2 hours.
There has been an increase in people asking about E books and accessing this service
using their library membership card.
I made a poster for Library Lover’s Day and during the week leading up to the 14th
borrowers placed a heart on the poster, their name was noted down and there was a
draw on the day for a box of chocolates.
Coffs Harbour
Programs & Events highlights:
Author talks: Highlight was Under a Sudanese star by Yai Atem.
Summer Reading Club had 174 registrations.
Created our first book Xmas tree which received lots of positive comments!
LLD - great media coverage from our visit to children's ward at the hospital with book
gifts and balloons ... Prime TV story plus front page of local paper.
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Busy preparing for the library's 50th anniversary on Tuesday 15 April: public morning tea
event attended by mayor and SLNSW reps; launching our 50 stories project and blog;
library memorabilia display; and an evening staff reunion cocktail party.
Technology:
Migrated to Spydus Managed Services and upgraded to Spydus 9, included updating all
staff PCs to Win7 and Office 2010. Major improvements to OPAC, with improved search
and discover functionality. This project has been a lot of work!
In process of ordering a second ADSL2 Internet connection for our Woolgoolga branch
library via NSW.net using Soul Australia ISP. Expecting this will fix network performance
issues, especially with heavy wifi usage at this branch.
RFID Implementation - now that Spydus 9 is completed, this project is next.
Collections:
Been doing some heavy weeding in preparation for RFID tagging.
Implementing RDA into our cataloging processes.
Other News:
Council is applying for a special rate variation and has also engaged a consultant to
conduct a business diagnostic on the organisation ... Report expected in April.
Ellen Forsyth has contacted us about hosting a state RISG meeting later in the year.
Central Northern
The digital hub at Tamworth has been very busy – moved to new programs such as
scanning and digitising sound recordings.
Held virtual robot tours of the National Museum.
Nundle Library has opened. They have also established a seed library at Nundle.
3-D printer – starting to do demonstrations.
Just started with Zinio.
Bolinda contacted them to tell them they had the highest usage of eAudio books in
Australia.
Gunnedah
General:
Now have a new shirt.
Two staff redeployed to the library from Tourist information (which is going to be
relocated, not closed!) Both untrained, and both wanting to do the Library Technicians
course. Doing lots of in service training with them.
Web site:
Amazing amount of work to get information to the webmistress to
populate the site includes a) 26 frequently asked questions + photos b) Special interest
lists – gardening, drawing and painting, fabric crafts, childhood literacy - problems with
the links carrying over - CWA country of study, LIAC list, ESL: three lists - beginners,
intermediate and advanced level. All my own photos and plenty of them to be used on
the site
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From 01October to December 2013
 Magic of reading display, including an almost 2 metre high haunted house.
Decorated the library with the Magic of reading and Books/Halloween theme
 Award presentation for the Children’s book week programme with Gunny the Koala
and Councillor Rebecca Ryan – 33 people attending
 Started weeding nonfiction, which finished a couple of weeks later
 Changed Story time to Toddler Time to account for the age group of the children –
more and simpler stories and handicrafts
 Training new staff in storytelling techniques/other staff also cross training
 Special interest book list for the Embroidery guild
 15 new chairs for the library, plus a red reading chair for mothers – local artist to
paint a picture for the library – she has a red reading chair theme going !
 Reorganised the junior library to make more space /also reorganised some adult
fiction shelves, now more people are checking out science fiction and YAF
 Prepare grant submission to state library – applying for a grant for a pop up trailer
 Author visit – blotch the dog – not that successful
 Library tour and talk for the Embroidery guild – very successful – eight new members
 SWITCH conference in November
 Armed robbery response course
 Aussie nibbles, bites and fairy books into baskets for ease of finding – loans
increased
 One of my staff got the Staff excellence award from the council; the whole library
team got the team excellence award
January 2014
 Summer reading programme - theme investigation – paper, food, touch, sound – not
that successful due to holidays, and extremely hot weather, but we are recycling all
programmes
 Had a youth services event in the library
 Started 1,000 books before school – now 36 members
 Started shop bound services – now 14 members
 Toddler time Tuesday 17 children and carers – photo in the paper
 Working together with Cultural manager – Magna magic in May – children to produce
a book that will be added to the collection
 Summer reading programme awards in February – not very well attended –
swimming carnival on at the same time!
February 2014
 Blind date with a book
 What you love about your library – 2 and a half hearts full of comments
 Submitted 1,000 books before school and Shop Bound services for Local
Government Excellence awards; we are one of the finalists in the community
services section
 Finished my merit selection panel training
 Submitted nominations for 1,000 books before school and Shop bound service
for Best of the best awards
Multicultural March 2014
 Decorated the library with flags, toddler time stories from different countries, display
of CWA country of study books and costume dolls
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Senior’s week – two events – library tour and books repairs and covering –
programme into all house bound bags
Working up to our 5,000th member – have a library gift bag and much publicity
planned for the lucky client!
If our loan figures keep stable, we will be doing approx 5,000 more loans for
2013/2014 than for 2012/2013
April 2014
 Youth Week : three programmes planned: make up, simple car maintenance,
embroidery ladies to demonstrate/teach knitting and crochet in the library
Actioned: C. Birkett to distribute information on the 1,000 books before school
program
Port Macquarie-Hastings
As part of Council’s Move, Eat, Live Well program the Library now lends exercise
equipment. Also received $2,000 for collection resources to promote healthy living.
Now have a community garden out the front of Port Macquarie Library.
Launching their own seed library on 7 April by Costa from SBS.
Running a number of ipad and android sessions, concentrating on how to access library
services. They have been well attended. Still running Tech Tuesdays.
Hosting the Yarning our Country for a month, available through Gloucester Gallery. Can
accommodate whatever space you have.
Using Revitalising Library grant to develop a children’s playground area.
Recently purchased a blue ray collection.
Held another successful Second Tuesday bookclub. This in an annual event. They get a
panel together to discuss one book. Free event. ABC person.
Extended their parenting day to two days a year. Get local agencies to come in a set up
tables to promote what they do/offer.
New GM and conducting service level review.
Port Macquarie is busy Christmas and New Year.
Kempsey
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Sept. 2013 – Nicole Alexander author visit – successful.
ABC Open – digital photography workshop
TARS Aged Care Rights Service Inc.. – legal advice workshops.
Don Tate – Vietnam veteran author talk – “Anzacs Betrayed” - October
Author talk “Will to Wonder” – Annemarie De Seriere – November
Switch Conference – November
Story- times
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Baby Bounce – West Kempsey Primary School teacher volunteers her time to host
these sessions.
Tech Savvy Seniors sessions extremely popular with library users in late 2013.
Skills link in Port Macquarie could not secure funding to run sessions in early 2014.
The library will pursue other options to deliver these sessions for our patrons.
Summer Reading Club Dec/Jan ’14 – FOLK – Friends of Kempsey Library donate
prizes for the children.
The Benevolent Society Storytelling project is completed. During the project’s
duration, 180 storytimes were presented to 18 different groups in seven townships
throughout the shire: Kempsey, Willawarrin, Bellbrook, Frederickton, Smithtown,
Stuart’s Point and South West Rocks. Some of these groups were visited once and
others on a regular basis, up to twenty times. The groups were comprised mainly of
assisted playgroups, but also included two Aboriginal preschools, a local preschool
and specific children’s groups. Final report and evaluation sent to the Benevolent
Society 31st January 2014.
The library has a new manager – he is responsible for Community Services including
the library.
Recruitment – after twelve months the new manager attempted to recruit for Angie’s
previous position with little success. We have restructured internally and will
advertise to fill our Aged Services/ Marketing position which is now vacant.
The library refurbishment is the major project for the library team since late 2013.
Angie and Deb Mills are the project managers in the absence of any able bodied
volunteers. We are liaising with council’s Building Maintenance team leader to assist
us as required.
The progress so far is as follows –
Each collection has been measured and the new layout has been measured so it will
fit on the floor. Angie will prepare the new floor plan with measurements for the
draftsman to complete in AUTOCAD.
The shelving requirements have been finalised with Cheryl from RAECO on the 12th
March.
The library will be closed from Monday 26th May till Wednesday 18th June.
Angie and Jim have had preliminary discussions on Co-operative operational issues
during the closure.
The carpet has been ordered from a local supplier.
Furniture has been ordered from JR Richards in Melbourne.
We are working with council’s IT department on all IT matters and upgrading of
public access PC’s.
Williamson Brothers Removalists will be working with the library team to pack the
stock which will take approximately four days.
The carpet people will commence removing the old carpet and then the painter can
make a start on his areas.
We are spending a lot of time speaking to contractors and have developed a solid
time frame for the project.
The shelving will be installed by Cheryl’s team from RAECO as I feel Deb and I will
be exhausted by that time!
February – author visit by Maggie Counihan – Sunshine coast author and
backpacker. This was an outstanding success with an audience of 40 which is
excellent.
International Women’s Day – March 8th : Angie promoted the library at a TAFE Open
day / film festival event.
Great Lakes
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Knitting group is now a regular user of the library.
Doing good business with ABC Open.
Seniors Week – Monday morning hosting Council event – expecting 70 people.
Also in Seniors Week, on the same day, we will be hosting a U3A book launch
celebrating their 20th anniversary. Expecting around 50 people to that. Very tight
transition times.
For LLD, did blind date with a book. Also did a “Why I Love My Library” competition. Got
plenty of responses. Hope to get a number of them published in the local paper.
Trying to set up a relationship with disadvantage youth to be assistants with using
technology. Stole this idea from Newcastle. Hoping it will be coordinated by Centrelink.
Having mobile devices User Group on a fortnightly basis.
Greater Taree and Great Lakes launched a joint ebook collection in December. Vendor
is Bolinda. Now have 886 titles. Loans have been very strong. Also started doing
eAudio.
Loans down (expected as we went from 2 week to 3 week loan) but visitor numbers still
strong.
Digitisation project – digitising photographic content from local historical society. This will
be made available online through the library catalogue. Building this from the ground up.
Also using social media – running a blog in wordpress and putting content into facebook.
To find the facebook page go to clickhistory great lakes. Using this to encourage people
to comment on the photos. Suggest people chat with Peter Flemming about this if you’re
interested. Content will be harvested and uploaded to Trove.
Literacy going well. Training of literacy tutors (through the PAtCE) had first intake
completed last year, second intake finishes in March. Courses are full houses. Good
interest from the schools for the tutors, harder to find adults who want help. Working on
this. Also now held a gather of like-minded individuals (good mix from the community
and community organisations to brainstorm – around 12 people) and all agreed we
needed to have more meetings to consider how literacy could be championed. Going to
talk about what next. Calling it Better Reading Better Communities to avoid an stigma.
Now doing a fortnightly radio slot Statewide Afternoons reading poetry.
Greater Taree
 eBook demand high and the joint Bolinda collection with Great Lakes going well.
Small eAudio collection but very popular and will look to buying more.
 Our words our stories – the first 14 books by 12 Aboriginal authors written to help
connect local children with local stories were published and launched in December.
100 copies were printed of each title and distributed to local schools & preschools –
as well as our libraries. The launch was very moving – full of pride and emotion. We
are continuing the project with a local high school and the next target group is the
residents of a local Aboriginal aged care service.
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Technology devices – community college closed – picked up a couple of trainers and
adopted into the library . Pay for trainers but charge $15 per person. Currently
running 18 per month - 6 courses per month in 3 libraries Basic, Intermediate and
Advanced for both Android and iPad. Uptake is high. Plan to continue while demand
remains high.
Pop-up library – the components have been ordered (from the US). The pop-up
library outreach program will commence in July going out to community
events/shopping centres, etc.
Seniors Week events – multiple events including young at heart short film festival,
music by the book (afternoon of dancing); grandparents storytime and a family
history workshop.
Harmony Day – This is being conducted in partnership with the Migrant Resources
Centre. A living library is being conducted during the week of Harmony Day. Eight
living books featuring local people with different cultural backgrounds will be featured
over 3 days of conversation. A Japanese Saori weaving interaction will be also in the
library during the week – with members of the community invited to learn Saori
weaving and help weave community banners – one will be donated to the Library,
one to the Migrant Resource Centre.
Redesign front of library Greater Taree is about to commence a re-design of the
customer service area at the front of Taree Library. The plan is to remove the large
circulation desk and replace with two small help desks – positioned closer to the selfserve.
Richmond Tweed
 The rollout of the automated EnvisionWare PC Booking System is complete already
impacting staff and customers positively. Over 18,000 people used the system during
the first 3 months.
 Kingscliff Library will be closed for 2 weeks in April to be reroofed, hopefully
contributing to an end to our snake visitations.
 Two new outreach programs in Tweed - Words on Wheel (WOW) for retirement
homes and Library on the Move for preschools are proving very popular.
 RTRL will not make any decisions regarding the Governance Model until further
information comes from the Local Government Review.
 RTRL Admin Team have started creating and distributing promotion materials for
displays to the branches across the region using a new concept ‘Events in a Box’ –
Library Lovers Day was our first event. Events in a Box has the basic banners,
pamphlets, giveaways etc. which branches can either use to ‘personalise’ for their
branch displays/events or simply leave as is in the smaller branches. This is sending
a more professional and consistent message and has had a positive effect with staff
seeing it as a catalyst to start planning their displays or events. There will be
approximately 10 events in a box being distributed throughout the year.
 The RTRL Strategic Plan was adopted by the committee in February; our business
papers for reporting to Council will now be redesigned to reflect the Strategic Plan.
 The RTRL Website design is complete it will now move to the next stage for
construction.
Tenterfield
No definite word from Robin Riley about when she will be returning from long service
leave or what her long term plans are. Either way my time as Acting Senior Librarian will
be coming to a close soon, it has been challenging but rewarding.
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Loans in the last quarter of 2013 have increased by 7% compared to the same period in
2012 (figure does not include downloaded Ebooks and Eaudiobooks as their use was
practically non-existent in 2012).
WiFi use continues to rise, an amazing 69% increase in the last quarter of 2013
compared to the same period in 2012 – a noticeable increase in locals’ use of WiFi
younger people tend to use smartphones, older people tablets and laptops.
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Plan to increase the use of Library space by small community groups this year such as
book club, scrabble group, chess group etc. – all helps to get people in the library.
Already have continuing use by Distance Education, Tenterfield Pre-school, the Family
History group and Tenterfield Knitting Group.
Have a new leased printer/photocopier/scanner (with USB port) installed.
An ongoing project is compiling a Library Procedures manual/file that will be stored
electronically so that it can be easily updated. An important part of the project is
constructing a hardcopy folder that will be a quick reference guide for casual staff.
Another project in the pipeline is to compile and publish a list of library resources that
would support mental health. The foundation for this will be a collection of books,
pamphlets, music and DVD’s that have been donated to the Library by the local mental
health awareness/support group.
Richmond Upper Clarence
Promotion and Branding
1. Tech Savvy for seniors training started in September 2013 at 3 of our libraries – had
324 people attend training so far
2. Had some author visits with Katherine Howell, Marie Bean – Lazy Runner and Lazy
loser’. Children’s writing workshops with Amanda Doran
Governance
1. We have been busy working on a 5 year management plan which with the hopeful
outcome of increased funding resulting in increased programming and staffing.
2. All staff were given new PD’s and have gone through a new annual review process
which is all about having the discussion.
3. Staff at the Evans Head Branch have undergone training in Council administration
and customer service preparing for the new Customer Service branch commencing
31 March 2014. The Evans Head Library’s opening hours will increase from 15 hours
to 42.5 hours
4. Conducted a Customer survey in January 2014
Partnerships
1. Writers group continues though some interest is dropping off
2. ABC Open writing workshops well received
3. Community Groups giving demonstrations continues – recently had spinners and
weavers, men’s shed plus others
4. Final spending of the Revitalising Regional Libraries funding is being completed
Information technology
1. Yet to officially launch our e-books – but the eBooks are beings borrowed. Still a
couple of bugs to sort out.
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2. Commenced with NSW.net for wifi Hotspot for Casino, Kyogle and Evans Head
Libraries in December 2013 and have recorded 3,774 logons in that time.
Professional issues
1. We have advertised, interviewed and re-advertised for a Library Technician
2. Council adopted a new reviews system – PARMS
3. Staff have attended RDA catalogue training, LIAC Forum, QSE Integrated
Management System, PARMS and I have attended psychological injury prevention
training, Tech one
In praise of the mobile library
During 2013 my 17 year old grandson came to live me. He’d left school two years
before and had been bumming around the streets and getting into all kinds of
trouble.
He came to the mobile library with me one day and Bill recommended a book for
him, ‘The Hunger Games’. Once he got started reading, he couldn’t put it down. His
mother couldn’t believe it. She had been trying to get him to read all of his life. This
was followed by a talking book ‘Zoo’ by James Patterson. Next, a Matthew Reilly, a
very thick small print adult book. He had to have a couple of extensions, but he made
it. He is now back at School and studying for the HSC. He does all of his
assignments plus extras to catch up with his late start. Bill and the mobile library are
totally responsible for this amazing turn around. Bill is so in tune with the books and
his customers’ tastes in reading matter. He recommended all three books, and who
would have guessed that such a life changing effect that it would have on my
grandson.
With deepest gratitude,
On ABC1 there is a new mini-series being aired in April, Gods of Wheat Street (???).
The Coraki Library has been used as the goal in the series.
Nambucca Heads
At the moment Nambucca Shire Libraries are thinking ‘all things e’. We have just this
week signed up for Zinio Magazines.
We are continuing our evaluation and assessment of e-book and e-audio suppliers with
a view to signing a contract in the next month.
At the same time we are also working with a web designer to update our website.
As part of this process we are considering how best to deliver tutorials in how to access
this e-material. We will need to rely heavily on volunteers to do this, any advice would be
much appreciated.
We have finished the ‘revitalisation’ of our Nambucca Heads branch. The library has
been painted throughout, we have a new PC area, new shelving and the creation of
open areas with comfy tub chairs and a lounge to facilitate ‘reading spaces’ within the
library. There has been some refurbishment also at our Macksville Branch where we
have new a new PC area and a new Service Desk. We have received very positive
feedback from our library patrons.
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The problem of off-site storage has been solved by the purchase of a huge shipping
container now located at the back of the Macksville Library. This has proven to be an
effective and economical solution.
We have implemented a program of author visits and have managed one author per
month since December. Two of our popular events have been Trevor Lynch with his
Nambucca Anzacs and Monica Joseph with Keep Moving: Tokyo to Capetown by
Motorbike. We had 35 people attend these events, which is just about capacity for us.
We have author visits arranged through to August at this stage.
We are hosting a series of ABC Open Workshops at Macksville Library, since January a
group of about 10 people have met every three weeks for writing workshops, they will
continue with photography and video workshops in coming months.
Our Summer Reading Club participation was OK, a little disappointing compared to
previous years…. although we were competing with a great summer for the beach!
Armidale Dumaresq
Loans almost holding steady.
Made a meeting room accessible from inside and people are coming to the library to
book the room, as long as the function of the group aligns with the role the library plays.
Rooms being booked for knitting and crocheting, an individual who is holding
conversation classes in English and Hunter New England Health (who provide their
clients with ipads to access their wireless services whilst in appointments at the library).
The rooms also hold stack collections.
Have thrown out over 90% of the Australiana collection. They did ensure that every
single item that was culled was already held by the State Library.
7.
eSmart Libraries
There was discussion on the level of engagement with the eSmart project. Appears to be
fairly low level across the Zone.
Actioned: L. Perry to speak to Kathleen Alexander about the eSmart Libraries
program to determine what the benefits are to public libraries.
8. Performance measure & Measuring the value or impact of the library service
Discussion on what people are using to record the performance of the library and trying
to look beyond the traditional statistics.
Good use of the Living Learning Libraries standards as a benchmark.
Coffs Harbour have come up with a new format that has been more engaging with the
councilors.
How do you measure the “value” of a library service? One option is to conduct a survey
but they are resource-intensive. Also consider an infographic approach (Eli Neiberger
was quoted as an example) and the use of traffic lights.
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The State Library will produce an infographs for Statewide data. The State Library has
done a value-of-public-libraries study but this hasn’t been released at this stage because
it had such a differing methodology to earlier research on value. There may be elements
of this that can be extracted and used.
Port Macquarie reports monthly again the operational plan. This is generally a limited
range of specific statistics.
There may be an option to bring in more qualitative outcomes in operational plan
reporting.
Richmond Tweed now reporting against goals from focus groups used in their Strategic
Plan.
Picton Library on their website have a changing display which contains “Why I Love My
Library”.
Actioned: E. Accadia will put up a KPI example on the wiki
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De-accessioning
Problem with having so many items on the shelves but it is inappropriate to weed them
just on the basis of lack of space.
How do people choose what they have to throw out when the items are generally in
good condition and relevant?
There was discussion on how many items an individual can borrow and balance
between stock borrowed and the potential problem of loss of items.
J. Carmody about to implement HQ Collection.
There was recognition that the issue is likely to be more about buildings being too small
rather than there being a need to cull.
Consideration was given to mechanisms to increase lending rates, though it was also
acknowledged that many of the libraries in the Zone already have very high turnover
rates.
The question was asked of what has happening with the Marketing Working Group
regarding a strategy to promote public libraries.
The State Library is starting to do some strong analysis with non-fiction. At this stage
there is no strong correlation between the size of a non-fiction collection and the demand
placed on it. It may be an issue of how the non-fiction is displayed. It may also be about
the nature of the non-fiction collection e.g. browsing/general purpose rather than find-afact.
Consider face-out options, but this has space implications.
Weeding stock off the shelves to create space may well generate more usage and
enable people to find new stock.
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Actioned: J. Carmody to report back on HQ Collection
L. Perry to find out the outcomes of the Marketing Working Group project
10.
Library Mentoring
It was proposed that the Zone should consider more options for mentoring people who
are either new to the Zone or seeking career development. Lismore Council is
considering mentoring training.
It could be that the learning and development framework being developed by the State
Library could incorporate mentoring.
Consider a list of: names, their libraries, their LMS and their strengths.
Mentoring was raised as an issue at the Regional Library managers meeting.
The North East Zone does use its e-List very well.
Library managers should consider contacting new managers when they are appointed to
the Zone.
Actioned: J. Carmody to report back on the mentoring training from Lismore
Council.
L. Perry to investigate options through the State Library’s learning and
development framework.
C. Birkett to speak with other new library managers to determine a list for library
strengths etc to be provided to new managers.
C. Jones to circulate an offer to the Zone library managers to join the wiki.
11.
Public computer bookings and non-members
General discussion about different options. It was acknowledged that different booking
systems have different functionalities. Envisionware enables the creation of temporary
visitor numbers.
Other options, including using pre-printed cards do have problems with people learning
the numbers. It is feasible to change these but it is time-consuming. Alternatively you
could make cards inactive until people ask for them, but this also time-consuming. You
can use very complicated passwords and change these passwords regularly.
There is a problem with juniors accessing databases through “false” numbers.
It is legal to join members without paper membership forms.
You could create a new member type that expires after a short period of time.
Greater Taree ask for postcodes when visitors ask for membership. If it’s a local person
they can offer joining of the library, if a visitor from outside the area it could provide some
useful user information.
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End of Day 1 (5.30 p.m.)
Day 2 – Friday 6 September (9.05 a.m.)
12.
Presentation from Kirsten Thorpe, Coordinator - Indigenous Unit of the
State Library of NSW
The presentation was shifted from agenda item 12 to accommodate the presenters and
13.
Presentation by Vicki Edmunds, Manager Libraries and Family Day Care
Services – Blue Mountains City Library
14.
eResources (standing item)
The question was asked “Has anybody yet set a limit as to how far you go with helping a
person?” This arose from a potential problem with a person’s mobile device as a result of
help being offered by library staff.
There was no simple answer on this matter and nobody has yet developed a disclaimer.
It is important to have staff who are familiar with smart technologies.
It was pointed out the Adobe are moving to a different version that may not be able to
operate on older eReaders. This is expected around June.
Loaning of pre-loaded eReaders is losing its popularity, though there was good interest
at the start. Some have found them time-consuming to manage.
An observation that streaming is likely to take over from DVD loans. Netflix does not
operate in Australia at this stage – Quickflix is the Australian equivalent. Spotify is also
looking at overtaking CDs.
15.
Leadership tips
M. Wallis went to a good course called “The Art of Deliberate Success” (David Keane).
Also has a book of the same name and a website. Does have an ongoing coaching
option.
16.
Funding campaign
Details of the forthcoming funding campaign for the joint organisations was discussed
and draft material was tabled.
It will be a grassroots campaign – featuring petitions and lobbying of state
representatives.
A request was made for more information on the “Reforming Public Libraries” proposal
lodged by the State Library. It was noted that aspects of this may still be in confidence.
Actioned: Secretary to seek more information on the Reforming Public Libraries
proposal and to distribute this to the Zone managers.
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17.
Saturday staffing
Discussion on how people pay their staff for Saturday work. The bulk of libraries
appeared to operate using a combination of penalty rates and time in lieu, but there were
a variety of different models in operation, which largely had a historical basis.
18.
General Business
A request was made to the Zone to seek access to the draft constitution of the proposed
joint organisation with sufficient time before adoption so that adequate discussion could
occur.
An enquiry was made of the trial access to the State Library eResources. The response
was that patron access is very easy, through the direct use of their library card. The
issue is that it’s not that easy for patrons to actually find what they are looking for.
Motion of thanks to Ian Greenhalgh and the Armidale Dumaresq Library staff for hosting
the Zone meeting was passed by acclamation.
Thanks were also extended to Vicki Edmunds and Kirsten Thorpe for attending.
Vicki Edmunds will investigate willingness from her Zone for a sister Zone arrangement
between the North East Zone and the West South West Zone.
Action: That the Zone Secretary approach the PLNSW Secretary regarding access
to a draft of the constitution of the joint organisation prior to the Full Zone
meeting on 15 May.
Next Manager’s Meeting:
Ballina, 31 July – 1 August, 2014
Meeting closed: 12.00 p.m.
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