How libraries help to change the world...

1. How libraries help to change the world... Ross Duncan Chair, Public Libraries Australia

2. “We are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfection. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process, we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good” - Vince Lombardi

3. About us...

4. Our role.... Australia’s most sustainable region: vibrant, green and diverse Current practices, Existing attitudes and behaviours CHANGE THROUGH LEARNING & EDUCATION THE FUTURE NOW

5. Historical levels of visitations

6. Why are people visiting?

7. Comparison of library members by age and background population (June 2008, includes non-active members) 30,000 Total library members Total population 25,000 20,000 15,000 Number of people in age group 10,000 5,000 0 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90-94 95-99 100-104 Age group Who is our audience?

8. Growing Virtual service

9. Where do people listen to us

10. How Libraries change the world We can positively impact on all aspects of the “Quadruple bottom-line”. Sustainability in 4 areas: • The environment • Social development • Cultural development • Economic growth and stability

11. Environmental Sustainability • Contributing to Environmental Sustainability through activities, workshops and events. • Worm farming and Composting – 1000 people • Growing your own veggies – 800 people • Keeping chickens – 600 people • Solar Panel information sessions – 200 people • Efficiency programs for pool owners • Energy reduction and efficiency sessions

12. Social Sustainability • Contributing to Social Sustainability through activities, workshops and events. • Adult Literacy programs • Healthy Today, Here tomorrow (health talks) • Eat Well, be active (encouraging active and healthy lifestyles) • Changing face of adoption, legal sessions • Asperger’s sessions • Developing “Bibliotherapy” approach in conjunction with local GP’s • Linking with partners for Stress, Depression and Anxiety workshops

13. Cultural Development • Contributing to Cultural Development through activities, workshops and events. • NeoGeography • Stimulation of local creative industries • Sales and display of work of local ‘creatives’ in libraries • Major channel for communication and engagement with the community on topics such as the Community Plan, Social Plan, Cultural Plan and other strategies and approaches • Connection gained by participants through 4500 workshops, activities and sessions annually

14. Economic growth and sustainability • Contributing to Economic growth and sustainability through activities, workshops and events. • Small business skills (Let’s get digital workshops, How to work in your PJ’s) • Electronic publishing/distribution info sessions • FIFO-DIDO worker intelligence gathering • Collaborations to improve skills in tourism operators • Sales of products from local authors, artists and others in online store • ‘Digital Economy’ skills development

15. Our partners.... • Actively increasing our partnerships • Medicare Local • Apple Australia • Telstra • SunCoast Community Legal Services • Local businesses and education providers • Commonwealth Govt –support for deaf residents • Building templates for other libraries to follow

16. Some challenges... • Perceived decrease in relevance of libraries • Increasing availability of electronic books, and paper books at cheaper prices • Increasing population and increasing expectations of residents and visitors • Restricted financial resources

17. Future plans... • Increased membership and increased number of visits • Increased understanding of our community and our customers • Freeing librarians to be librarians • Introduction of e-books and e-audio books for loan • Better technology and more public courses on emerging technologies • Improved marketing and promotion for libraries • Improved leadership position at the state level on important issues including mentoring of smaller library services • Staff attraction and retention strategy

18. Future plans (continued)... To change the world! Help our communities to become: • More understanding • More accepting • More inclusive • More prepared for challenges • More resilient to change • More enjoyable, welcoming and inclusive for all

19. How libraries can help Councils... • Implementation of Council’s strategies • Community Engagement • Consultation venues • Community information displays • Public education • Surveys and questionnaires • Limited only by your imagination!

20. Digital Marketing • Build it and they will come? Or • True Democracy?

21. What business are we in? • Education • Inclusion • Awareness • Information • “Experiences” • Connecting people with information

22. What Telstra says… • “The future will see all the world’s information available at all times to all people wherever they are”……Michael Ossipoff • We need to make our services tech savvy, easier to use, and easier to access…. Step 1, connecting virtually with our members

23. Facebook From 722 to almost 6000 in 7 months

24. Electronic newsletter • 63,000 emails and growing. • Surveys to design next educational workshops etc. • Surveys on performance of service, and expectations for the future. • Promotion of events and educational workshops. • Promotion of initiatives from other areas of Council.

26. Automated events booking • Links from facebook and enewsletter encourage people to Online store….

27. Our responsibility…. • If not now, then when, if not by us, then by whom? • Lead, innovate, experiment, explore, adapt, overcome, convince, persuade, entice, modify. • The customers have the answers……