General Meeting held on Tuesday, 18 March 2014
MINUTES
1.
Welcome to all and especially to those attending their first PLVN meeting and
to Sally Both in her new role as the CEO of Whitehorse-Manningham Regional
Library Corporation and Astrid Kriening, Wodonga
Attendees:
Bayside Library Service – Karyn Siegmann
Boroondara Library Service – Jenny Ruffy
Brimbank Libraries – Chris Kelly
Campaspe Regional Library – Jenny Mustey, Leah McNulty (am only)
Casey Cardinia Library Corporation – Peter Carter, Pam Vickers
Central Highlands Libraries – Jenny Fink
Corangamite Regional Library Corp - Ros Cousins,
Darebin Libraries – Melanie McCarten
Frankston Library Service – Kim Kearsey, Jasper Singh
Gannawarra Library Service – Nerida Dye
Geelong Regional Library Corporation Patti Manolis
Glenelg Libraries – Yvette Parker
High Country Library Corporation – Jenny Wyllie
Hobsons Bay Libraries – Suzanne Gateley
Hume Libraries – Mieke Mellars
Kingston Library Service – Kristina Purcell
Maribyrnong Library Service – Michael Byrne
Melbourne Library Service – Paula Kelly (am), Shirley Bateman (pm)
Melton Library & Information Service – Michael Scholtes
Moonee Valley Libraries – Troy Watson
Monash Library Service – Janet Salvatore
Moreland City Libraries – Fidelma O’Brien
Stonnington Library Service – Dianne Panjari
Swan Hill Regional Library Service – Camille Cullinan
Vision Australia – Anthea Taylor
Wellington Shire Library – Jeanette Moore
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West Gippsland Regional Library Corp – John Murrell, Janet Aumann
Whitehorse-Manningham Library Corporation – Sally Both
Wimmera Regional Library Corporation – Paula Clarke
Wodonga Library Service – Astrid Kriening
Wyndham City Library Service – Rhonda Rathjen
Yarra Libraries – Margherita Barbante
Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service – Chris Mackenzie
State Library of Victoria – Debra Rosenfeldt, Sue Robters (part), Cr Rod Fyffe (part)
Local Government Victoria – Colin Morrison
CAVAL – Michael Robinson, Robert Bonte, Jaime McGowan
Gale Cengage – Maryce Johnstone, Lynette Lewis
Oxford University Press – Tina Argyros
Apologies:
East Gippsland Shire Library – Anna Cook
Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation – Joseph Cullen
Goldfields Library Corporation - Sue Howard
Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corp – Charles Gentner
Greater Dandenong Libraries – Natalie Brown
Indigo Shire – Mark Florence, Wendy Kerr
Kingston Information & Library Service – Trish Smyth
Mildura Rural City Council Library Service Sue Kelly
Mitchell Shire Information & Library Service – Sue Wilson
Monash Public Library Service – Anne Maree Pfabe
Mornington Peninsula Library Service – Geoff Carson
Murrindindi Library Service – Dell Price
Towong Shire – Penelope Snell
Vision Australia – Tony Iezzi
Wellington Shire Library – Stephen Dempsey
State Library of Victoria – Jo Watson
Local Government Victoria – Dan Harper, Kane Roche
Britannica – Camille Davey
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2.
Minutes of Previous General and Executive Meetings
Minutes of General Meeting of 3 December 2013 and Executive Meetings of 2
December 2013 and 4 February 2014
That the Minutes of the General Meeting held on 3 December 2013 be accepted as
a true record of the meeting
Moved: Karyn Siegmann
Sec: Michael Byrne
Carried
That the Minutes of the Executive Meetings held on 2 December 2013 and 4
February 2014 be noted
Moved: Karyn Siegmann
Sec: Michael Byrne
Carried
3.
Business arising from previous minutes
3.1
PLVN website Update
Members were shown the proposed Members Only section and agreed with
progressing the further development of that aspect.
3.2
Information Services into the Future
As the first stage of the planning, Online resources into the Future: a strategic
Discussion will be held on 7 April with an external facilitator. Vendor partners have
requested the opportunity to talk about future needs.
3.3
Morwell Fires
Life is gradually returning to normal with cleaning a major issue for the libraries.
4.
Correspondence In & Out (includes electronic format)
Moved: Chris Mackenzie
Sec: Chris Kelly
Carried
Financial report
That the Financial Report be noted
Moved: Rhonda Rathjen
Carried
5.
Sec:Chris Kelly
5.1
Invoices for Payment
That the Invoice for the 2013-14 payment for INELI Oceania be approved for
payment
Moved: Rhonda Rathjen
Sec: Chris Kelly
Carried
6
Local Government Performance Reporting Framework, NSLA Annual Public
Library Statistics and PLVN annual data collection
 The revised Local Government Performance Reporting Framework (LGPRF)
will be implemented on 1 July 2014 following a period of consultation, which
included PLVN members, and the piloting of the framework by a number of
local authorities. PLVN members who participated in the consultation have
considered the implications of the LGPRF for the annual statistical survey and
developed 10 key performance indicators (attached) for Victoria’s public library
services to be considered by PLVN.
 NSLA has also undertaken a review of the national annual public library
statistics survey, resulting in the proposed collection of a significant amount of
data, much of which has previously been removed from the current Victorian
annual data set. PLVN advised NSLA in late 2013 that it would not be able to
provide the full data set proposed.
Following feedback from jurisdictions across the nation, NSLA has determined
that it will collect a set of core data which all states and territories will be
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expected to provide based on the data which can be provided by all States and
Territories. The additional data sort will be optional.
Following considerable discussion, the conclusion reached is that Victoria will
advise NSLA that it can provide data elements based on the PLVN 10 Top
Indicators proposal.
In addition PLVN will request that NSLA research how to address the issues
relating to online service measurement
That the PLVN Executive Committee decision of 11 March 2014

to use the data elements identified in the PLVN 10 Top Indicators proposal
(attached), without the retrospective data element, as the data to be provided
to the NSLA Annual Public Library Statistics and

to advise NSLA that these data elements will be available for the 2014-15
and subsequent statistical surveys
to be ratified
Moved: Chris Kelly
Sec:Karyn Siegmann
Carried
7.
State Library of Victoria
Report attached

Budgets being discussed in anticipation of state budget, 2014-15

Shared Leadership Project Charters are being developed, extra person
needed for the MEMORY group to replace Susan Bentley

Cultural Benefit Study and Skills Audit – draft reports May2014
8.
The Victorian Library
Local Government Victoria
Colin Morrison
Impact of fires in Morwell has taken significant LGV resources.
New Minister for Local Government is Tim Bull, National Party member for East
Gippsland, elected in 2010, background in journalism and tourism
David Morris continues as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Local
Government
Letters to new Minister include CC to Colin Morrison – mail being returned
Letters to David Morris, multiple entry points so CC to Colin Morrison
Living Libraries Expressions of Interest close on 28 March 2014
Victorian Library – 2014-15 Budget due first week of May; few submissions have
been received about the Victorian Library and submissions can still be sent.
2014-15 program funding dependent on Budget deliberations
Funding Agreements for 2014-15 and further to be developed
Directory of Victorian Public Libraries 2014 available through website, consideration
to have single page per library service and update ongoing; also review the
contents, especially in relation to the tables of services and programs
Send draft letter to all sitting MPs and Minister for Local Government
Moved: Peter Carter
Sec: :Chris Kelly
Carried
9.
ALIA Conference 2014 Update

Public Libraries Stream – program a couple of slots to be filled – one by
Marie Ostergaard, topic to be decided

Library Tours – nearly finalised

Library Stars 2014: Best of the Best – Marie Ostergaard (Aarhus,
Denmark) is the keynote speaker, nearly 30 nominations received.
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10

Other Business
10.1
ACPL met at Bendigo Library on 25 February 2014 using meeting spaces with the
main business being the State-wide Library development Project Update
10.2
ALIA PLAC
ALIA has confirmed PLAC’s re advisory role to the Board
Funding of national projects formula a key issue of ongoing business
10.3
Love To Read
Decision to keep major national events (Reading Hour) only resulting in cost
reduction from $70K to $32K in 2014.
The key to the future will relate to the Funding of national projects decision
10.4
MoUs signed:
ALIA PLAC
MAV
INELI Oceania
Disability Awareness resource project with SLV and Vision Australia
Newport Library, Hobsons Bay - Library without Books update from Suzi Gateley
Process been underway since 2009 for a hub collocated with Youth Services and to
provide a permanent home with MCH and Seniors
Library size is 186 m2, as always planned, with a digital focus, innovation lab/maker
space
Community Information session attended by fewer than 20 people but 300 signed
the subsequent petition
Council has deferred its consideration and decision on the matter therefore staff
could not respond
Another information session will be held on 2 April with subcommittee on the library
space
Tech Savvy Seniors
Process underway for Minister to approve $200K to fund the delivery of programs
with the target areas being rural and remote.
PLVN Rules have been accepted by Consumer Affairs Victoria
Casey Cardinia LC - Cultural Precinct in Narre Warren to be developed on
Council land adjacent to the current Casey Council building with new 2000m2
library branch
International Librarians Network Update
Round 2 commenced, 700 people in 78 countries
ILN talking about Library Design
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
11.
11.1
Presentations
CAVAL Mike Robinson, Richard Bonte, Jaime McCowan
(LanguagesDirect@CAVAL.edu.au)
LOTE Express:
Has been approved through PA and MAV procurement contracts (meets LG Act
requirements) and restructured to manage the issues raised by customers
New material imported from country of origin to CAVAL
Guaranteed delivery schedule rather than guaranteed turnaround time as not
purchase materials and then send to CAVAL as CAVAL manages the whole
purchase and processing operation
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CAVAL will negotiate turnaround time when set up the arrangement with each
library service.
Provides vendor aided selection – selection policy/profile for each service, including
the branches with the service. Alternatives available include
1.
Listings sent to library service ahead of time to adjust selection
2.
With adjoining libraries can vary selections to reduce duplication between
library services and LGAs, where required.
Trial of the service option
Can work through the detailed checklist of requirements including languages and
commit for one quarter.
Tomorrow’s Library
CAVAL made formal Submission to the Tomorrow’s Library Stage two report for
LOTE and a central repository.
11.2
IFLA Trend Report – presentation here
PLVN Forum to discuss amongst managers within the context of VPL
2030before/after June PLVN General Meeting
11.3
Building Libraries for Tomorrow, Patti Manolis – link to report and presentation
Focus on design for people with flexible spaces for people of all ages and abilities
Absence of single set of standards: people places is an exemplar
Why rethink? The experience for people.
Best practice libraries recommended by mentors 25 selected, 17 agreed to
complete the survey.
Report on 17 libraries on all continents except Africa.
11.4
Pierre Gorman Award 2014 present by Sue Roberts, CEO and State Librarian, to
Campaspe Regional Library and accepted by Jenny Mustey and Leah Mcnulty on
its behalf for the program: Being Connected- Libraries and Autism – details at
http://www.plvn.net.au/node/35.
Meeting Closed at 4.00pm
Dates for Future General Meetings:
17 June 2014
28 October 2014 (preceded by AGM)
2 December 2014 at Beechworth Library
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Item 4:
PLVN Correspondence
Inward:
Number
Date
From
Subject
Action
By
13/064
5/8/2013
Christine Mackenzie
(YPRL)
INELI Oceania Leadership Development Initiative
Proposal for PLVN consideration
For Executive
Discussion and Budget
consideration at AGM
(Sept)
KWS
13/065
13/066
13/067
13/068
13/069
13/070
13/071
13/072
9/10/2013
30/10/2013
10 /11/2013
28/01/2014
30/01/2014
30/01/2014
31/01/2014
31/01/2014
Crowe Horvath
Latrobe CC
Geelong RLC
Telstra
Sue McKerracher (ALIA)
Debra Rosenfeldt
Dept of Justice
J Woverson (Aust
Teacher magazine)
Audit Opinion and Financial Statements
Changes to procurement policy
Annual report 2012-13
Everyone Connected
Conserve Your Mother Language Day
Pierre Gorman Award Recipient Advice
Approval of PLVN Rules 2013
Request to PLVN to provide link to PLVN website or
Library Locator
13/073
3/02/2014
Sue McKerracher
13/074
4/02/2014
Debra Rosenfeldt (SLV)
13/075
4/2/2014
Mick Fortune (UK)
13/076
13/077
3/3/2014
12/3/2013
Debra Rosenfeldt (SLV)
Chris Mackenzie (INELI
Oceania)
ALIA Submission to Australian Productivity
Commission Issues Paper – Childcare and early
Childhood Learning
Advice that VPL 2030 awarded Arts Portfolio
Leadership Award.
Requesting update on Victorian activities relating
RFID related issues
Disability Online Awareness Resource MoU
Update on progress and MoU for signature
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Nil
Sent to Members
Sent to PLVN elist
Added to PLVN website
KWS
KWS
Affirmative response
provided
KWS
Information on PLVN
website
KWS
MoU to be signed
MoU to be signed
JM
JM
Outwards
Number
Date
To
Subject
From
O13/033
O13/034
2/9/2013
2/9/2013
Invitation to join PLVN
Invitation to join PLVN
John Murrell
John Murrell
O13/035
O13/036
O13/037
O13/038
O13/039
2/9/2013
24/9/2013
25/11/2013
25/11/2013
27/11/2014
Brendan McGrath (Indigo)
Patience Hetherington
(Wodonga)
Juliana Phelps (Towong)
Crowe Horvath Melbourne
CAV
CAV
V Little (Love2Read)
Invitation to join PLVN
Response to final audit report
Annual Statement, Associations Reform Act
Application for association change of details (Rules)
Joint PLVN/SLV response to L2R funding request
O13/040
31/1/2014
O13/041
17/3/2014
O13/042
17/3/2014
Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award submission for VPL 2030, prepared by
Steve Tighe in partnership with PLVN
Invitation to provide keynote speech at Library Stars 2014 and present in the public
libraries stream at the ALIA Conference
Conformation of Library Stars 2014 sponsorship ($5,000) to for keynote speaker costs
O13/043
17/03/
Association of Strategic
Planning (US)
Marie Ostergaard (Aarhus
Libraries)
Steve Pal (Peter Pal
Library Supplier)
Jason leDuc (Counting
Opinions)
John Murrell
John Murrell
KWS
KWS
J Murrell/S
Roberts
John Murrell
Formal request for sponsorship of Library Stars 2014 ($4,000) for successful library
service submissions
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John Murrell
Karen WardSmith
Karen WardSmith
Item 5:
Financial Report to 28 February 2014
Bank Balance
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
Opening Balance
Closing Balance
171,596
271,649
271,649
570,351
570,351
340,970
340,970
353,541
353,541
383,105
383,105
481,721
481,721
492,525
492,525
353,928
Profit and Loss
from MYOB
Income
Expenditure
Net Surplus/Deficit
July
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
179,222
16,892
162,330
452,965
112,983
339,982
18,082
319,066
-300,984
5,050
0
5,050
111,333
12,064
99,269
1,514
0
1,514
1,132
200
932
42,346
150,134
-107,788
Quarterly
summary
Income
Expenditure
Net
Q1
650,269
448,941
201,328
BAS
$813
Q2
117,897
12,064
105,833
March
April
May
June
March
April
May
June
0
0
0
Q3
43,478
150,334
106,856
-$11,046
Invoices to be paid
422Invoice
Date
From
26/02/2014 YPRL
17/03/2014 K Ward-Smith
For
Amount
INELI Oceania Grant 2013-14
Reimbursement - cards, wrapping meals for manager/CEO
farewell
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$5,000
$95.40
0
0
0
0
0
0
YTD
0
0
0
Q4
0
0
0
811,644
611,339
200,305
Item 6:
PLVN - Top 10 indicators
Chris Mackenzie, Joseph Cullen
Background:
Local Government Victoria is developing a performance reporting framework (LGPRF) for
local government that will be mandatory from 1 July 2014. The framework includes library
indicators that have been developed with sector input.
At the same time there has been a move to review the statistics gathered by libraries
through NSLA and within PLVN. It is timely to review the statistics reported by Victorian
Public Libraries to ensure that they meet legislative requirements and provide useful
information to practitioners, funders and other stakeholders.
Introduction:
Libraries are very good out counting things. However we have not been so good at capturing
measures that show the performance of libraries.
In an article titled “Overcoming our habits and learning to measure impact, Hosseini-Ara and
Jones (Computers in Libraries June 2013 p 3-7) identify the four aspects to measuring the
value of services.
1. Inputs: the resources used to produce or develop a program or service. Inputs include
funding, staffing, equipment, supplies, anything that is used to create the program or service.
2. Outputs: are produced as a result of using the inputs to create or develop the program or
service. Outputs include creation of training program, number of programs held, number of
program attendees; number of items loaned, number of visitors (show activities not value or
impact)
3. Outcomes: are the changes from the perspective of the participant’s point of view and
include new or deeper skills, know-how, a change in behaviour or attitude, or a change in
status.
4. Impacts: are the changes from the stakeholder’s point of view and is the long term overall
effect of the program/service in the larger community or selected audience.
PLVN’s traditional Annual Survey measures inputs and outputs. The LGPRF indicators
measure outputs and outcomes. The framework that underpins the indicators is based on
providing measure of both effectiveness (meeting user needs and quality standards) and
efficiency (cost efficiency). There is also an outcome indicator which measures overall
service effectiveness.
The LGPRF has 3 indicators:
 Service performance (appropriateness, quality, cost, and service outcome.)
 Financial performance (cost efficiency)
 Sustainability (not used for libraries)
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Libraries:
Definition
Provision of print and digital based resources to the community in a variety of
formats including collection services, e-services, research tools and
interactive learning programs
Objective
To provide free, accessible and well utilised print and digital based resources
Dimension
Appropriateness
Rationale
Indicator of the broad objective that library services should be well utilised.
High or increasing utilisation suggests an improvement in the appropriateness
of library services
Measure
1. (19) Library Collection usage
Definition
Turnover rate – circulation divided by number of items in the collection
Computation Number of loans divided by number of items in the collection
Measure
2. Attendance at programs compared to previous year
Definition
Computation Number of attendances in current period divided by number of attendances in
previous period
Measure
3. Loans per active member
Definition
Active members have used their library card in the past 12 months
Computation The number of loans divided by the number of active members
Dimension
Quality
Rationale
Indicator of the broad objective that libraries should provide a high standard of
resources. High or increasing standard of resources suggest and
improvement in the quality of resources. Increasing number of digital items
and digital loans suggests a collection that is responding to the changing
needs of the community.
Measure
4. (20) Standard of library collection
Definition
The proportion of the library collection that has been purchased in the past 5
years
Computation Number of items purchased in the last 5 years divided by the number of items
in the collection
Measure
Definition
5. Turnover of digital items in collection
Digital items in the collection that are ebooks from an aggregator such as
Overdrive, Bolinda
Computation Number of ebooks in the collection divided by the number of loans of ebooks
Measure
6. Holds as a proportion of all loans
Definition
The number of holds or reservations placed by borrowers in the reporting
period
Computation Number of holds divided by the total number of loans
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Dimension
Cost
Rationale
Indicator of the broad objective that the delivery of library services should be
undertaken in a cost efficient manner. Low or decreasing cost suggests an
improvement in the cost efficiency of library services
Measure
7. (21) Cost of library service
Definition
The direct cost to Council of the library service per visit
Computation Cost of the library service divided by the number of visits
Measure
8. Staff eft per capita
Definition
The number of staff to provide services to the community
Computation Number of eft staff divided by municipal population
Dimension
Service outcome
Rationale
Indicator of the broad objective that print and digital based resources should
be free, accessible and well utilised. High or increased participation suggests
an improvement in the effectiveness of library services.
Measure
Definition
9. (22) Active library members
The percentage of the municipality who are active library members (ie used
the library in the past 12 months)
Computation Number of active members divided by municipal population
Measure
10. Satisfaction rating per Council survey / Nexus survey
Definition
Customer satisfaction with library service
Computation Moderate results to obtain a score out of 10
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To ascertain
Turnover rate
Who
DTPLI
Why
Quality
Number of physical
items purchased
over past 5 years
DTPLI
Quality
Proportion of digital
items in collection
PLVN
Quality
Loans of digital
items as proportion
of all loans
PLVN
Relevance
Turnover rate
DTPLI
Proportion of holds
per loans
PLVN
Utilisation of
library materials
Impact measure
for Victorian
Library
3. Number of physical
items purchased over past
5 years
4. Number of physical
visits to library
Standard of library
collection
DTPLI
Quality
Cost per visit
DTPLI
Cost
5. Direct cost of operating
library (excludes capital
expenditure incl collections
and vehicles and
depreciation)
Cost per visit
DTPLI
Cost
7. Number of active
members (ie used the
library in the last 12
months)
Number of active
members (ie used
the library in the last
12 months) as a
proportion of
members
DTPLI
Effectiveness
8. Population of
municipality
Number of active
members (ie used
the library in the last
12 months) as a
proportion of
members
DTPLI
Effectiveness
Staffing EFT per
capita
PLVN
Cost
1. Number of physical
circulation items in
collection
2. Number of loans of
physical items
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9. Number of attendances
at programs for current
year and previous year
High or increasing
attendance suggests
an improvement in
programs
PLVN
Appropriateness
10. Number of equivalent
full time staff
Staffing per capita
PLVN
Cost
11. Number of holds
placed
Holds as a
proportion of all
loans
PLVN
Impact measure
for Victorian
Library
12. Number of ebook items
(through aggregators eg
Overdrive, Bolinda)
Proportion of digital
items as proportion
of collection
PLVN
Relevance
13. Satisfaction rating
using Council / external
data
Satisfaction rating
out of 10
PLVN
Quality
Measures to be gathered
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Number of physical items in collection
Number of loans of physical items
Number of physical items purchased over past 5 years
Number of physical visits to library
Direct cost of operating library (excludes capital expenditure incl collections and vehicles
and depreciation)
6. Number of active members (ie used the library in the last 12 months)
7. Number of attendances at programs current year
8. Number of attendances at programs previous year
9. Number of equivalent full time staff
10. Number of ebook items (through aggregators eg Overdrive, Bolinda)
11. Satisfaction rating using Council / external data
12. Number of holds
13. Population of municipality
14. Number of ebook loans
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Item 7:
State Library of Victoria: Public Libraries Report
Public Libraries Victoria Network Meeting, 18 March 2014
Key things to note
Staff changes
Harlinah Teoh has been seconded to another role within the State Library until 30 June. As
we are so close to the end of the current triennium of Statewide Public Library Development
Projects (SPLCP) work, we will not be replacing her in the Public Libraries team.
Library Board of Victoria Advisory Committee on Public Libraries
The ACPL met at Bendigo Library on 25 February. The meeting was attended by Jo Watson
and Debra Rosenfeldt (SLV); Michael Byrne, Christine Mackenzie, John Murrell and Jenny
Mustey (PLVN); Rod Fyffe (MAV); Dennis Goldner and Karen Quinlan (LBV). The agenda
covered a presentation on the Frontline online training in reader development, an update on
planning for the 2014-17 Statewide Public Library Development Projects, the selection
panel’s recommendation for the 2013 Barrett Reid Scholarship (to be progressed to the
Board), an update on progress of the current triennium of SPLDP, and updates from ACPL
representatives.
Planning for the 2014-17 Statewide Public Library Development Projects
See attached PowerPoint presentation to the ACPL. Note that the December 2013 meeting
of the Library Board of Victoria approved the revised LBV/PLVN Framework for Collaborative
Action and the high level draft plan for the 2014-17Statewide Public Library Development
Projects, excluding budget, which was not part of the discussion. Next steps are to work
through the State Library’s budget process for 2014/15 (this is happening now) and to
continue planning for each program of work (Read; Memory; Lead and Learn) through
development of full project charters with the workgroups originally convened to develop the
program overviews.
Current Statewide Public Library Development Projects
See attached table showing progress against deliverables. Note the following headlines:
 Victorian Public Libraries 2030: Recognised in the 2013 Victorian Government
Arts Portfolio Leadership Awards, winning in the category of Leadership in
Collaboration. Victorian Public libraries 2030 is also nominated by PLVN for the
prestigious Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award.
 Digitising World War 1 Newspapers: The sixth and final batch of newspapers is
being digitised. The project team is working with the State Library’s Communications
and Marketing team to develop a marketing/promotional plan, with input already
provided by the project workgroup group.
 Cultural Benefits of Victorian Public Libraries study: Draft report delivered by
Project Sisu in January 2014; currently working with the project workgroup on a
revision, to be finalised by end of March for editing/design over April/May and launch
in June.
 Victorian Public Libraries: Our future, our skills: Gillian Hallam delivered a draft
report on the skills audit in February 2014. This is being fine-tuned, with feedback
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from the project workgroup, which is also considering how to present the report to
PLVN for discussion.
Shared Leadership Program: The second module of the current program is
scheduled for 19-12 March. The group’s action learning projects are: Creative
Spaces; Engaging with CALD Communities; Pop-up Libraries; and, Performance
Metrics Towards 2030.
Frontline: An excellent article about the Victorian roll-out of Frontline appeared the
March edition of inCite. Wonderful feedback from participants in the training
continues to trickle in, including the following in an email to Frontline Co-ordinator
Susan McLaine: I enjoyed doing Frontline so much that I've gone back to university,
studying part-time and off-campus. I'm enrolled in the course Bachelor of Information
Studies at Charles Sturt University. Susan is finalising the Frontline reports for each
library service, for distribution with the Opening the Book evaluation in the next few
weeks.
Next Professional Development Seminar and Leadership Learning Forum: The
workgroup has settled on the ‘maker space’ movement as the theme of the day on 4
June; and has agreed to engage Jo Leonard to deliver the Leadership Learning
Forum on 23 May, coinciding with presentation of the Barrett Reid Scholarship.
Summer Read: Remaining funds in the program are being used this year to fund
tours by the Summer Read authors (and Father Bob) to public libraries.
Branching Out
Between 9 September and 18 October 2013, the State Library and 16 Victorian public library
services ran a six week online learning course (Branching Out) that introduced members of
the public to basic concepts and resources in the area of family history. The course was
explicitly designed as a pilot program to test various concepts and approaches to developing
and delivering public online learning courses. Family history was chosen as the course topic
due to strong levels of community demand and the likelihood of being able to recruit course
participants. The participating public libraries have received the report on the Branching Out
pilot, which is now forwarded to all PLVN managers for interest (see attached).
Dates for the diary
22 February – 22 June:
Rome: Piranesi’s vision, in the Keith Murdoch Gallery at the
State Library
23 March:
Children’s Book Festival at the State Library – see also the new Once
Upon a Time exhibition in the Blue Rotunda, the first exhibition drawn
from the Dromkeen Collection
April-June:
79 High Road to Reading events in 18 public library services
April-June:
Summer Read author tour
1-2 May:
Shared Leadership Program, Module 3
23 May:
Leadership Learning Forum for alumni of leadership programs
and PLVN managers
23 May:
Presentation of Barrett Reid Scholarship
29-30 May:
Shared Leadership Program, Module 4
4 June:
Professional Development Seminar – the ‘maker space’
movement
13 June:
Shared Leadership Program, Presentation Day
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June (date tbc):
Libraries
Launch of report on Cultural Benefits Study of Victorian Public
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Item 7 State Library of Victoria Report
Development Projects – excluding funding, which was not part of the discussion. 2011–14 Statewide Public Library Development
Projects – status as at 18 March 2014
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Project key deliverables
Progress/Status
Community Engagement Program
Summer Read
The Summer Read program and competition opened on 18 December 2013 and closed on 16
February 2014 and twenty nine public library services participated. The top twenty recommended
titles will be published on the State Library’s website and thirteen winners will be chosen randomly
and will receive prizes of book packs. The winners and the recommended reading list will be
announced on 12 March 2014 on the State Library’s website www.slv.vic.gov.au/summer-read.
Note: Remaining funds from The Summer Read program have been directed to an author tour for
participating libraries. The tour covers nine days of programming with authors / subject from The
Summer Read book set.
2011/12
Source funding for statewide community engagement
program themed around Victoria: Cities of Literature
 Implement core community engagement program themed
around Victoria: Cities of Literature

Investigate and implement, where practicable, additional
statewide community engagement programs and a website to
promote library events
2012/13
 Source funding for statewide community engagement
program themed around Victoria: Cities of Literature
 Implement core community engagement program themed
around Victoria: Cities of Literature
 Investigate and implement, where practicable, additional
statewide community engagement programs and a website to
promote library events
2013/14
 Source funding for statewide community engagement
program themed around Victoria: Cities of Literature
 Implement core community engagement program themed
around Victoria: Cities of Literature
 Investigate and implement, where practicable, additional
statewide community engagement programs and a website to
promote library events

High Road to Reading
The State Library team is working with 18 public libraries to deliver the 2014 High Road to Reading
program. The first author event will be held on Wednesday 2 April 2014 at Campaspe Regional
Library, with 79 events scheduled over the following three months. Arrangements are currently being
confirmed and promotion by individual libraries will commence in the next few weeks.
Participating library services in 2014 are:
Metropolitan
Regional
Darebin Libraries
Glen Eira Library and Information Service
Hume City Council Library
Melton Library and Information Service
Moonee Valley Library Service
Mornington Peninsula Library
Port Phillip Library Service
Vision Australia Information Library Service
Yarra Libraries
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Campaspe Regional Library
East Gippsland Shire Library
Glenelg Libraries
Goldfields Library Corporation
Indigo Shire Council
Murrindindi Library Service
Swan Hill Regional Library Service
Towong Shire Libraries
Wodonga City Council
Project key deliverables
Progress/Status
Digitising WWI Victorian Newspapers
Scanning and digitisation of Batch 5 titles is complete and almost all titles now online
through Trove.
Batch 6 microfilms are currently being sourced and checked prior to sending for
scanning.
The project team is working with the Project Reference Group and the State Library’s
Communications and Marketing Group to develop a strategy for promoting the digitised
newspapers.
2011/12
 Develop alternative funding model approaches to support the digitisation of
Victorian newspapers of the WWI era
 Digitise and deliver through Trove selected Victorian metropolitan, suburban
and regional newspapers published in the 1914–18 period
2012/13
 Digitise and deliver through Trove selected Victorian metropolitan, suburban
and regional newspapers published in the 1914–18 period
 Develop and deliver promotional materials to communicate the availability of
the selected Victorian newspapers
2013/14
 Digitise and deliver through Trove selected Victorian metropolitan,
suburban and regional newspapers published in the 1914–18 period
 Develop and deliver promotional materials to communicate the
availability of the selected Victorian newspapers
More Knowledge for Library Advocacy
2011/12
 Deliver a snapshot survey and report on internet and PC use in Victorian public
libraries
2012/13
 Deliver a snapshot survey and report on internet and PC use in Victorian public
libraries
 Investigate the cultural benefits of libraries
2013/14
 Investigate the cultural benefits of libraries
Victorian Public Libraries 2030
Cultural benefits study
Statewide consultation for the cultural benefits study has concluded, involving library
managers and staff, members of the public, council representatives and cultural groups
from Boroondara, Yarra Plenty, West Gippsland, Geelong, Goldfields , Wimmera,
Wellington, Corangamite, Central Highlands, Glenelg, Gannawarra, Swan Hill, High
Country, Campaspe, Maribyrnong, Yarra, Melbourne and Monash library services.
Two online surveys, for the public and for public library staff, ran from 16 September to
5 November 2013. The response was extraordinary, with 2,747 public responses and
438 staff responses attesting to strong interest in the topic.
In the final piece of data collection for the project, quantitative data was collated on the
number of cultural programs and events in public libraries over the past two years. The
data collection phase concluded at the end of November 2013, after which Project Sisu
delivered the first draft of the project report on 22 January. Revision of the report is to
occur in February / March with final publication by 30 June 2014.
All deliverables have been completed and reported on.
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Project key deliverables
Progress/Status
2011/12
 Develop and implement a methodology and plan to lead Victorian public library
staff and mangers through a strategic foresight exercise
 Develop and implement a communication strategy to ensure the strategic
planning framework is understand and adopted
2012/13
 Develop and implement a methodology and plan to lead Victorian public library
staff and managers through a strategic foresight exercise
 Develop a strategic planning framework and action plan providing guidance for
public library service managers in their strategic planning activities
 Develop and implement a communication strategy to ensure the strategic
planning framework is understand and adopted
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Project key deliverables
Progress/Status
Workforce Refresh
Skills Audit
Victorian public libraries: Our future, our skills – a project to identify the skills required
for the future public library workforce, conduct a survey to provide a snapshot of current
skills, and propose strategies to address the gaps – is almost finished. Dr Gillian Hallam
presented the draft report analysing the data and making recommendations to the
project Workgroup on 20 February 2014. The final report will be published in May 2014.
Data will also be provided for each library service to enable analysis of local skills gaps.
2011/12
 Promote and deliver 2 professional development seminars
 Promote and award the Pierre Gorman Award
 Deliver 2 Frontline Victoria online training cycles
2012/13
 Promote and deliver 2 professional development seminars
 Develop a framework and conduct a skills audit of Victorian public library staff
 Deliver 2 Frontline Victoria online training cycles
2013/14
 Promote and deliver 2 professional development seminars
 Deliver a planning retreat for Victorian public library managers and senior
State Library managers
 Promote and award the Pierre Gorman Award
 Develop a framework and conduct a skills audit of Victorian public library
staff
 Deliver 1 Frontline Victoria online training cycle
Frontline
The three year state-wide Frontline Victoria reader development training online project
concluded late 2013. The project conclusion was marked by a special ‘Celebrating
Success’ event held at the State Library on Friday 22 November. This event was
attended by public library staff from across the state as well as Rachel Van Riel, director
of Opening the Book, the UK service provider. Rachel said on the day, “I don’t know of
any other course with such good completion rates or such a transformational impact,
online or offline!”
The achievement over the 3 years of the program has been remarkable and the support
of the Victorian public libraries was central to its success. 1002 staff completed the
training achieving the highest completion rate since Opening the Book commenced
online delivery of Frontline in 2005. Over 99 per cent of Victorian public library staff who
began the course completed the full 7 modules.
The State Library is planning to distribute project reporting to libraries including a
summary report to each library and a service provider quality report and a deeper
evaluation. Highlights of the reports and evaluation were presented at the 25 February
ACPL meeting.
2014 Pierre Gorman Award
A function to present the 2014 Pierre Gorman Award to Campaspe Regional Library for
its Being Connected- Libraries and Autism project will be held at the 18 March 2014
Public Libraries Victoria Network meeting .
Professional development seminars
Work is underway to deliver a full-day professional development seminar on the topic of
‘maker spaces’ in libraries. The seminar is planned for 4 June 2014.
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Project key deliverables
Progress/Status
Leadership for the Future
Shared Leadership Program
2011/12
 Promote and award 2011 Barrett Reid Scholarship
 Promote, recruit and prepare for 2012 Shared Leadership Program for
Victorian public library staff
 Promote and deliver a Leadership Learning Forum
2012/13
 Promote and award 2012 Margery C Ramsay Scholarship
 Deliver the 2012 Shared Leadership Program for Victorian public library staff
 Promote and deliver a Leadership Learning Forum
2013/14
 Promote and award 2013 Barrett Reid Scholarship
 Promote, recruit, prepare and deliver the 2014 Shared Leadership Program for
Victorian public library staff
 Promote and deliver a Leadership Learning Forum
The 2014 Shared Leadership Program is running from February to June 2014, with 20
PLVN and State Library participants. Public library managers and staff were invited to
submit ideas for action learning projects by 14 October 2013. Following discussion by
the Workforce Leadership and Learning Workgroup on 1 November, a list of ten ideas
was compiled for consideration by the PLVN Executive. On the 2 December 2013, the
PLVN Executive reviewed the list of ten ideas and shortened it to six. On the first day of
the module 1, participants chose the four projects they will work on during the program.
These four action learning project ideas are as follows:
Project 1: Creative spaces (Project Sponsor: Karyn Siegmann, Bayside Library
Service)
Investigate best practice in creative spaces in libraries, including music recording
rooms and rooms where people can come together to create art or record oral
histories. What are the common factors for success in establishing and managing
creative spaces?
Project 2: Engaging with CALD communities (Project Sponsor: Chris Kelly,
Brimbank Library Service)
Explore how public libraries and the State Library can engage and partner effectively
with CALD community organisations to deliver best practice library services to CALD
community members.
Project 3: Pop-up libraries (Project Sponsor: Jenny Mustey, Campaspe Library
Service)
Mini-libraries are popping up in unusual places across Victoria, from country train
platforms to cargo bikes around the city. How are we bringing our collections and
services to the community through pop-up libraries? Explore what has been done
nationally and internationally, in the physical and digital space, and what works.
Project 4: Performance metrics towards 2030 (Project Sponsor: Rhonda Rathjen,
Wyndham Library Service)
As we work towards our vision of creative and community libraries, with growing
demand for digital collections and community programs, what is the measure of a
good library service? Investigate new ways to measure and report on our activities.
Margery C Ramsay and Barrett Reid Scholarships
Applications for the 2013 Barrett Reid Scholarship closed on 10 December 2013, with
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Project key deliverables
Progress/Status
nine applications received. The selection panel comprising representatives from the
Library Board, the State Library, PLVN and MAV met on 21 January 2014 and
unanimously recommended one application as a worthy winner of the Award (see
separate agenda item). Following endorsement by the ACPL and approval by the
Library Board, the Award will be presented in mid-2014 after the Leadership Learning
Forum.
Update on past recipients
2012: Liz Pidgeon presented her Margery C Ramsay report on identifying effective
services and programs in the provision of family and local history programs at the
Advisory Committee for Public Libraries November 2013 meeting.
Leadership Learning Forum
Planning for the next Leadership Learning Forum has commenced, with Jo Leonard
engaged to run the forum. The forum will be held on 23 May 2014.
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