Caloundra City
Libraries
Creative Libraries
Connecting Communities
Snapshot
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Community partnerships: investment in community
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The dynamics of partnerships
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Partnership in action: Caloundra City Libraries
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Community outcomes
Caloundra City…
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Population 88,000
Rural and coastal lifestyle
communities
Rapid demographic
growth
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Caloundra City Libraries
– 5 service points
1.5m loans per annum
(18.6 per capita)
Visits per annum(9.8)
The Zen of libraries in communities
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Library as resource
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information stewardship, local collections,
global access, equity
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Library people
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expertise to help unlock the gateway
The Zen of libraries in communities
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Library as place
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inclusive, flexible,
welcoming community
spaces
Library as symbol
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core civic values,
community wellbeing
Author: Harris, Kevin and Dudley, Martin: Public Libraries and
Community Cohesion UK 2005
http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/id1410rep.pdf
Who are our community partners?
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People
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community groups, individuals, volunteers
Organisations
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education providers, cultural and community
organisations, government agencies
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Corporate partners
funding bodies, sponsorship,
state and local government
Why partner?
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Seek collaborative community outcomes
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Validate programs and actively engage with communities
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Contribute to framework for growing social capital and
community capacities
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Libraries as neutral ground – linking diverse partners across
communities
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Add dimension and reach to library programs – embed social
cohesion aims
Pathways to partnering
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Developing community trust
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Patience – trust develops with time
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Demonstrate community leadership
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Active communication with community
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Work locally to support community networks
The benefits of partnerships
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Translates library vision into action and outcomes
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Maximises take up of library services in community
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Enables engagement with community to develop organically
Partnerships in action
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Finding the Thread
Walpara Youth
Leadership Group
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Partnerships in action
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Ole
(Older Learners Expo)
Strategic partnerships Telstra Countrywide 2004
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Bookstart for babies
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Participative early literacy program for
babies, parents and carers
Embedded as core library service
Funded by community sponsorship
Links to wider community networks with
alternate delivery models - trust
Finding the Thread
Qld Stories Program
Libraries –
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catalysts to social capital
“more than a building”
community interconnections
creative community presence
action research (act, learn, reflect, plan)
Partners
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Caloundra Embroiderers Group
Glass House Country Care Day Care Respite Service
Walpara Young Mothers Group
Busy Needles Knitting Group, Maleny
Fred Fletcher, Aboriginal Elder, Birra Gubba people
Youthlinx program
Fantastic storytellers!
Outcomes
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Collection of community stories
Growing sustainable community partnerships
Library as linking body
Products - Storytelling Café, project journal, artworks
Getting mobile………….
Key partners
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Telstra Countrywide – sponsorship for satellite data
communications
State Library of Queensland – subsidy for mobile library project
Caloundra City Council Units
Friends of the Library
Community partnership in action
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Satellite technology – freestanding service
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Highly visible community partnership
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Strategic alliance with corporate player
Growing a partnership - Walpara
youth leadership group
Wheels within wheels (2003)
Words speak louder (2004)
Leading Edge (2005)
Walpara!!!
Walpara Indigenous Youth
Leadership program
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Multiple and diverse partnerships
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Positive collaborations between libraries
and indigenous communities
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Sustainable partnerships
for growing
community capacities
What was Words Speak Louder?
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An indigenous community
engagement program.
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Community outcomes – accessible
libraries, resources, spaces,
partnerships.
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Key drivers - Indigenous Advisory
committee
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Sustainability!
Words Speak Louder
Participants and Partners
 City Librarian – Louise Bauer
 Project Facilitator – Gail Robinson
Library Staff
 Local Studies Officer – Amanda Wilson
 Adult Literacy Coordinator – Vicki Belcher
 Leon Appo
 Fred and Christina Fletcher
 Mary-Rose Adkins
Steering Committee
 Michael Mace
 Representatives – SC Reconciliation Committee
 Alison Cassell (SUNNET)
 Kabbarli – Darren Manns
 State Library of Qld Indigenous Libraries Unit
 ASSPA committees
 University of the Sunshine Coast – Indigenous Liaison Officer
Partners
Walpara Indigenous Youth
Leadership program partners
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Kabbarli HACC
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Caloundra City Libraries’ Indigenous Advisory Committee.
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Representatives of Gubbi Gubbi and Undumbi peoples.
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Nungeena Aboriginal Corporation for Women’s Business,
Beerwah
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Qld Indigenous Health Program
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Dept of Communities – Regional Communities program
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University of Sunshine Coast Indigenous Liaison Unit.
OLE´!
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Component of Leading Edge
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An expo of learning opportunities tailored for the older
learner, showcasing what is available in our community
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Community partnerships between cultural business and
welfare organisations
Olé – Why?
Libraries……
 Are community hubs –
places to learn, share, meet,
interact and access
 Facilitate community
partnerships
 Are enablers to lifelong
learning and community
capacity
 Are community leaders
Olé – On the day
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50 active displays from
community and
government
representatives
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8 performance groups
bring the stage to life!
Over 40 performers!
The heart of the matter
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Community partnerships!
OLE` Community Steering Committee
Energetic, dedicated, and innovative volunteers
Community Advisory Groups
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Targeted community groups,
individuals
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Program design and delivery
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Participative community
engagement
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Action research (act, reflect,
learn, plan)
Community Partners - Outcomes
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Community trust and wellbeing
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Contribution to wider social cohesion outcomes
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Growing community and organisational capacity
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Validation of library activity and role
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Enhanced community programming