Regional Libraries the NSW experience Jan Richards, Manager, Central West Libraries.
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Transcript of Regional Libraries the NSW experience Jan Richards, Manager, Central West Libraries.
Regional Libraries
the NSW experience
Jan Richards, Manager, Central West Libraries
NSW Public Library Network
97 library services 363 service points 3,301,072 members (46% population) across all demographics 37,008,871 visits per annum 50,585,814 loans per annum many more people use libraries on a
“needs” basis 100% internet access
Governance Framework
Public libraries in NSW operate under: Library Act 1939 Library Regulation 2010 Local Government Act 1993 …plus other relevant legislation (EEO, Privacy,
OH&S, Copyright) and ALIA policies and standards
Funding
Local Government: At least 91% State Government subsidy: $1.85 per
capita plus disability and geographical adjustments
Library Development Grants:$1,190,119 plus Country Public Libraries fund
Public Libraries/SLNSW
Public Library Services: Specialist advice and support to all local
councils Facilitates grants and subsidies program Identifies and researches industry-wide
issues Collects and disseminating data on NSW
public libraries
PLS cont …
Develops standards and guidelines for library services and buildings
Supports professional development Multicultural collections NSW.net Provides expert advice to Government
The Models
Standalone Regional Cooperative
Library Models in NSW (2007) John Liddle
http://www.plnsw.org.au/reports.htm
Regional Libraries
Regional Libraries are enabled under S 12 of the Library Act
New legislation S12A provides greater flexibility
Currently 70 councils (68 in country NSW) are party to s12 agreements for regional library services (ie 46%)
Regional Library Services
19 Regional and Joint Use Library Services
18 country, 1 metropolitan No 2 are the same!
Characteristics
Member Councils represented through a committee
Executive Council employs ‘shared’ staff. Other staff can be employed by Executive Council or individual councils
Regional Library Managers report through their Committee and through the Executive Council.
Characteristics cont …
Executive Councils perform a range of services which can include library administration, collection development and management, IT and communications, information and reference services, program development and support, marketing and promotion, grant applications and capital works support
Perceived Benefits
Economy of scale Regional responsibility Compensates for small council's
diseconomies of scale Employment of specialist staff Builds unity between staff Provision of mobile services IT and communications capabilities
Perceived Concerns
Small councils lack options Loss of local identity Loss of autonomy Lack of common or minimum service
delivery standards Threat of withdrawal Buildings and fittings
Central West Libraries
Established 1956 Population 81,800 Area 15,700 sq km
Orange Cabonne Blayney Forbes Cowra
CWL
5 councils, 7 libraries Executive Council = Orange City CWL Committee meets twice a year Established funding formula and
service standards All staff employed by Executive
Council Single LMS
CWL
Centralised collection development
Library wide policies and procedures
Set processes with in-built flexibility
Branding with local flavour
Shared and individual programs
CWL
Specialist staff Commercial
Couriers Strong inter-council
team
North Western Library
Established 1984 Population 14,811 Area 40 241sq km
Warren Bogan Coonamble Gilgandra
NWL
4 councils, 4 libraries Executive Council = Warren Shire NWL Committee meets once a year Simple funding formula All staff employed by Member Councils Single LMS
NWL
Centralised collection development
Limited policies and procedures
Set processes No shared
branding Individual programs
NWL
Limited specialist staff Strong working relationship
Richmond Tweed Regional Library
Established 1971 Population 209,196 Area 3,651 sq km
Lismore Ballina Byron Tweed
RTRL – a case study in change
4 councils, 11 libraries, 1 mobile Executive Council = Lismore City
Lismore 45,645 Ballina 42,432 Byron 32,126 Tweed 88,993
Riverina Regional Library
Established 1978 Population 105,832 Area sq km 25,000
Wagga Wagga Coolamon Cootamundra Gundagai Junee Lockhart Temora Tumut
RRL
9 councils, 13 libraries, 1 mobile Executive Council = Wagga Wagga Established funding formula and service
standards Shared specialist staff employed by
Executive Council, other staff by individual councils
A new direction in collection development
The ideal model
Involve some form of cooperative arrangement
Be flexible and adaptive to change Be driven by community demand Maintain a local identity Be cost effective and have economies
of scale
The ideal model cont …
Adopt a strategic planning focus Pursue effective IT and
communications strategies Have good stakeholder
communications Have adequate staffing and resource
levels.