Partnering Public Libraries in Queensland Our Framework and Model

1. Partnering Public Libraries in Queensland Our Framework and Model

2. Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.Groucho Marx

3. Libraries in Queensland • 73 local governments • 346 libraries • Funded by local government with State grant support

5. History of regional services Began to disaggregate in the 80s Last region dissolved in 1995 Regionalisation - history

6. Regionalisation - reform • Amalgamations in 2008: • 73 local government areas • 30 of these are regional councils • 69 CLS libraries • in 29 local governments • Total CLS pop. < 100,000 (was 380,000) • Total CLS grant – $500,000 (was $2M)

7. Governance • Partnership between state and local governments • Sound governance framework • Protocols • SLAs • Standards • Advisory mechanisms

8. Governance - protocols • Roles and responsibilities of: • State and local government in Queensland • Developed jointly by Qld Govt and the LGAQ in 2006 • Queensland and local government in managing public libraries • Developed jointly by SLQ and LGAQ in 1997

9. Governance – service level agreements • Triennial Service Level Agreements • List obligations in providing library services • Current SLA term is 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014 • Council reports required to receive SLQ funding

10. Queensland Public Library Standards and Guidelines Robust standards for all kinds of libraries Developed collaboratively (PLSSG) Ensure consistency Provide performance criteria Governance - standards

11. Public Libraries Advisory Group Advises Library Board Represents public libraries and local government Members from: Large and small libraries Local governments Queensland Public Libraries Association Local Government Association of Qld Governance - PLAG

12. Governance – Expanding Horizons

17. Local (88%) and state governments (12%) State Library funding includes: Cash grants Book stock and support services Support for IKCs Specialist resources and databases. Funding

18. $17.462 million Up to 30% discretionary 66% per capita 30% population growth 4% based on indigenous population Location and dispersion Indexed for population growth Independent libraries

20. $ 584,503 Council allocations use same methodology Shelf-ready library materials Small annual cash grant CLS libraries

22. $ 1.539 million Services for IKCs Shelf-ready materials, library management, program support Staffing costs State Library / Indigenous local governments Indigenous Knowledge Centres

23. Hope Vale Indigenous Knowledge Centre with Shirley Costello

25. $ 944,000 Language, literacy, audio books (economies of scale) Free access to 9 databases Centralised collections

26. $ 600,000 Queensland web content Information-rich communities Queensland heritage content, information, and learning opportunities OPAL funding

28. $ 250,000 State-wide Expanding Horizons projects OR to local governments for initiatives in specified areas 2010/11 – 8 family literacy projects. Expanding Horizons grants

29. Late 2008 by Synergies Rowland State-wide consultation No major change for next 3 years* Grants methodology review

30. Outcomes-based by 2014/15 Demonstrate tangible benefits Performance measurement Advocacy skills Grants methodology review

31. State Library will: Review Expanding Horizons Develop measures Study of the value of public libraries Support remodeled CLS Grants methodology review 2014-2017

32. In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties and teach us how to swim. Linton Weeks

33. Minimum 1 item/capita in core collections Populations <1000 min. of 1000 items 1000 items for each additional branch Quarterly stock exchanges Sliding scale by population Stand-alone Aurora LMS (most) Union catalogue (some) Country Lending Service – current stock provision

34. Mostly untrained staff Limited opening hours Some co-located with other services State Library support: Learning opportunities and forums Brisbane Regional online Country Lending Service – training

35. New service delivery model

36. Multi-branch CLS services • Manage internal stock rotation • Support from State Library: • Transitional financial package • Training and logistics assistance • Upgrade of LMS to web-based catalogue* • Collection analysis • Boutique collections

37. Targeted services Digital resources Community / library capacity building Lifelong learning Resource sharing (Aurora 1) Advocacy skills development Benefits - general

38. Benefits – remote libraries My childhood library was small enough not to be intimidating. And yet I felt the whole world was contained in those two rooms. I could walk any aisle and smell wisdom. Rita Dove

39. Benefits – remote libraries

40. Staffing issues Short opening hours Bandwidth limitations in some places Small councils most difficult to regionalise Reduced CLS funding High travel & freight costs Limitations and challenges

41. Diverse range of needs Geographic / social disadvantage Distances / decreasing populations Embrace digital Grow capacity of librarians Consultation with government Advocacy for libraries Strategic planning Conclusion