Minutes
Young Peoples Libraries Group (YPLG)
Date and Time: 27 August 2014 - 9:30am – 2:00pm
Venue: State Library of Queensland
Attendees
Natasha Pugh
Michelle Swales
Dan Georgeson
Trish Elford
Jenny Hall
Liz Derouet
Melissa Walker
Kelly Berg
Sian O’Shea
Catherine Waalder
Rosalie Stafford
Krystal Kathage
Kerry Griffith
Michelle Felton
Claire Grandcourt
Karen Gawen
Lisa Austin
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland
Logan City Libraries
Toowoomba Regional Libraries
Gold Coast Libraries
Gold Coast Libraries
Brisbane City Council Libraries
Scenic Rim Regional Council Libraries
Ipswich Libraries
Ipswich Libraries
Moreton Bay Regional Library service
Redland Libraries
Mackay Regional Council Libraries
Sunshine Coast Libraries
Sunshine Coast Libraries
Apologies
Shelly Walker
Dayna Smith
Shan Boller
Lynne Alsop
Sonia Parker
Michael Marks
Maureen O’Shea
June Horn
Mick Byrne
Lockyer Valley Libraries
Moreton Bay Regional Library Service
Townsville Regional Libraries
Gympie Regional Libraries
Brisbane City Council Libraries
Redland Libraries
Noosa Library Service
Goondiwindi Regional Council
The Edge, SLQ
Welcome & Introductions
Previous minutes
Accepted: Natasha Pugh and seconded: Rosalie Stafford
Previous Actions
Action – It was proposed that the title of the group will now be known as “Young Peoples
Libraries Group” – this will be sent to the list for approval. Completed
Action - Michelle will send link to wiki space to all members to trial and update TOR text.
Completed
Action - Michelle will amend draft TOR with amended points and new draft will be circulated
via the list. Completed
Welcome
Dan Georgeson, Executive Manager, Literacy and Young Peoples Service, SLQ
Dan welcomed the group and emphasised the importance for young peoples staff to be
strategic within their organisations and their communities, and ensuing that they have a
voice.
Dan congratulated the group on the development of the YPLG terms of reference and
recommended that the TOR be used in conjunction with other advocacy documents such as
The Next Horizon Vision 2017 to position services for young people within current significant
trends in libraries such as:

Increasing programming and outreach

Partnering, with other organisations and community groups

Social inclusion

Family literacy development and support
The growing realisation of the importance of early literacy, and early childhood support is
now being reflected in changes in the Department of Education as restructures place more
resources into the early years. Libraries need to move in a similar direction.
Local Government is also critical in this shift and libraries need to formalise the link with early
literacy and childhood development in council libraries to meet the needs of new parents, in
addition supporting aspects of early child development that parents don’t realise are
required.
SLQ are keen to support public libraries in this regard and all feedback is welcomed.
Action: If libraries would like State Library staff to come and meet with the strategic decision
makers in their council to discuss why the early years are crucial to the community and
opportunities to increase their capacity in this area, please contact Michelle Swales to
discuss.
New and Innovative programming in public libraries
Digital Literacy Program in public libraries
Jenny Hall – Young People's Librarian, Logan City Council Libraries
Logan Libraries still runs its ‘traditional’ computer classes but now has branched out into
more creative technology sessions for all age groups.
Partnerships are key. Thanks to guidance from BCC libraries, Logan are now a CoderDojo
location.
Also through partnering with SLQ, Marsden State High School and QUT’s Crossing
Boundaries with Reading, Logan delivered Scratching the Surface using the Scratch
package to work with students who have critically low literacy.
Running robotics classes in small groups bonds people and creates teams. Products are
also used in developing literacy skills e.g. Storytelling and forming logical progressions in the
codes that create the movements or actions required by the robot.
Products/Programs used include:

Lego EV3

Lego WeDo

Scratch and Scratch Jr

Lego Story starter

RoboGals

Code.org
Introduction to SPEAK
Stephanie Crick, School Development Officer, Department of Education, Training and
Employment
SPEAK stands for Speaking Promotes Education And Knowledge. It is a program developed
by DETE to support the new political will that is recognising the need for early literacy
development and an awareness of the importance of oral language.
There is a need to educate the parents regarding the importance of early literacy, and
libraries have a significant role in supporting families to develop the skills and awareness to
best help their children.
To assist in this strategy a new Speak App will be released in September 2014. It will be
available free through the Apple Store and Google Play. The App will provide activities,
practical advice and idea for building the development of oral language into daily routines.
Summer Reading Club – a public library perspective
Liz Derouet, Young Peoples Librarian, Toowoomba Regional Libraries
Liz outlined how she needed to maintain hard copy and online versions of instructions and
registration forms as the SRC works across 12 library sites with a combination of casuals,
new and part time staff.
Toowoomba is currently investigating registration online using a generic email address for
the young peoples staff. However this needs to be weighed against the importance of
encouraging participants to come into the library.
Liz led a discussion of strategies and ideas for activities that activate children and encourage
them to be outside as well as using their imagination but still are based in literacy.
Professional Development for Young Peoples Services Staff
YPLG Terms of Reference
Michelle Swales, State Library of Queensland
Michelle Swales outlined the value that a TOR can bring to the value of the work in the
YPLG space and the requirement for YP staff to think more strategically to advocate the
value of programing to managers. YP services and programs should not be perceived as
“nice to have” and required for holidays only. Instead councils are learning that their role is
critical in supporting parents to develop the next community generation and libraries are the
methodology for making that happen.
Future YPLG meeting agendas will reflect the TOR to ensure that professional development
is supported.
Discussion on issues, and trends relating to children, young people, parents
and carers in libraries.
Strategic networking and ideas – facilitated round table discussion
Mackay Libraries

Currently partnering with SLQ to install and deliver The Corner at Mackay as a
response to the demand for increased services and programming for the under
eights.

The Corner at Mackay will initially have themes installed from Brisbane, then new
Corner themes will start to be developed locally.

The Corner will activate more staff to become skilled in the YP area as the space
needs constant staffing.

Top Secret Storytellers Clubhouse performance and PD in partnership with SLQ
running in Mackay in September.
Brisbane City Council Libraries

Holiday program is based around the theme of ‘Bringing it back to the books’ as the
library’s core business is literacy and learning. Therefore all programming must have
this component included into the design and cannot just be run to “entertain”

Programs include makerspaces (not necessarily tech) fan fiction trivia nights, and the
“love YA” Literary festival in September as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival
Scenic Rim Libraries

Working towards a digital literacy and storytelling focus

Programing around the Cardboard Challenge concept – cardboard constructions are
embraced by entire families and work with children of all ages as the complexity
increases with the age of the child.
Sunshine Coast Libraries

Audited the branches – there is a YP staff person in each branch.

No physical room for makerspaces so investigating bending, folding and shaping
paper in themes that are on trend eg. Minecraft.

Any activity connected with Minecraft has been extremely popular and people travel
from branch to branch for availability in holiday sessions.

Papercraft models are then used for stop go animation.

Instagram product recommended for animation is a new app available on iOS called
Hyperlapse. It’s quick, easy and the results are great.
http://blog.instagram.com/post/95829278497/hyperlapse-from-instagram

Sunshine Coast continuing to partner with Epic Diem http://epicdiem.com/
Redlands Libraries

Working with DETE on the SPEAK project

Created “craftbar” where all the last bits of varied craft activities are added to a table
and children can work with whatever is there.

Working with SLQ on Scratch sessions.
Gold Coast
Individual branches do a lot of their own programming so currently they are working on:

Lego Club

Apps for Kids

Dr Seuss’s birthday

Ikids – promoting online resources

Online safety

Zootober – themed animal month

Teen Techweek (8-12s)

League of Legends online multiplayer challenges

Also across Gold Coast Libraries more connection with community health nurses and
early intervention training and development aspects to look for.
Ipswich Libraries

Maker Spaces are held at 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday – all materials on a
trolley

Usually activities are themed (eg Science , Frozen, Retro – board games, weaving,
crochet, Lego)

Microphotography challenges are popular – an extreme close up shot is taken in the
library and children have to identify the image through searching the library for the
image.
Toowoomba

Adventure Time trivia quiz for teams

Pirate theme
Logan

Digital programming

Working on strategic networks, rebuilding partnerships including working with the
Child Friendly Consortium

Looking to work in more outreach areas – Books in waiting rooms and more with the
SPEAK program

Trialling membership forms as part of the prep package in pilot hubs.
Moreton Bay Libraries

Children’s programs are set through the branches. Each branch picks two. The
themes reflect the council departments so council can contribute to the themes (eg
science, environment)

Theme craft tables, trivia challenges, colouring in – budgets are shared internally in
council.

Currently working on interactive activities with YA to find out what they want.

Summer Reading Club now moving away from purely digital. Now gone back to the
passport model – promoted through the website. For teens a “loyalty” card model is
being considered as it has been discovered that there are more 13-17s participating
in SRC than previously realised.
General Discussion: Life Skills programming
The group discussed the growing apparent need for life skills programming targeted at
approximately 15 year olds. Libraries are increasingly answering questions around
Medicare/doctors, go cards, how to post a letter, apply for a license etc.
Families are increasingly moving to regional Queensland without Community support and
with families where adults are unavailable through long working hours or disengagement.
Suggested that a “First Job Survival Guide” for the casual job seeker would be valuable.
Containing how to open a bank account, what a signature was etc. The guide would link
back into services and be a great opportunity for partnering with local organisations such as
Mens’ Sheds etc.
It was agreed to add this issue to a future meeting agenda
General Discussion: Minecraft
With the massive popularity of Minecraft, the group discussed options that libraries could use
to leverage the popularity of the game into attendance at library sessions. Minecraft
papercraft is popular and freely available online with permissions. Also making Creeper
Heads out of boxes and coloured paper and pick axes from cardboard.
For those libraries that can host a server and run Minecraft sessions, support is required for
literacy based outcomes or ways of utilising the process orientated gameplay of Minecraft to
build digital literacy in addition to teamwork and problem solving skills.
Action: Libraries are requested to send their Minecraft related experiences and learnings to
the list and this can been added to a future meeting.
Next meeting due Mid November
Please contact Michelle Swales if interested in hosting a meeting.
Michelle.swales@slq.qld.gov.au
Meeting closed at 2:30pm