Overcoming the Tyranny of Distance Jan Richards Central West Libraries Australia Jan Richards Central West Libraries Australia

A sparsely settled country 7, 617,930 sq kilometres Population 22.7 million Highly urbanised nation Most of the population in two widely separated coastal regions

The Models Standalone Regional Cooperative Library Models in NSW (2007) John Liddle Standalone Regional Cooperative Library Models in NSW (2007) John Liddle

Definition The provision of library services regionally, that is across more than one council area.

Regional Libraries Regional Libraries are enabled under S 12 of the Library Act Currently 70 councils (68 in country NSW) are party to s12 agreements for regional library services (ie 46%) Range from 2 to 9 councils Regional Libraries are enabled under S 12 of the Library Act Currently 70 councils (68 in country NSW) are party to s12 agreements for regional library services (ie 46%) Range from 2 to 9 councils

Almost half the state

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. 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 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 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

Our Footprint 5 councils, 7 libraries –Orange - 38,685 –Cowra – 12,479 –Cabonne – 12, 396 –Forbes – 9,361 –Blayney Key industries include agriculture, mining, health services, hospitality and tourism, public sector administration, retail and education 5 councils, 7 libraries –Orange - 38,685 –Cowra – 12,479 –Cabonne – 12, 396 –Forbes – 9,361 –Blayney Key industries include agriculture, mining, health services, hospitality and tourism, public sector administration, retail and education

Large, small and in-between Orange (pop 38,685) Manildra (pop 500)

Our Libraries It’s a safe house where children can wait for parents who live out of town or can change for sport or a ballet class (Forbes) You meet other mums during storytime and you form friendships (Blayney) I go and use the internet to help me learn the road rules (Sudanese woman Orange) When my grandchildren visit they always ask to go to the Library (Molong) Without the Library’s support I don’t think we would have continued (book club member) It’s a safe house where children can wait for parents who live out of town or can change for sport or a ballet class (Forbes) You meet other mums during storytime and you form friendships (Blayney) I go and use the internet to help me learn the road rules (Sudanese woman Orange) When my grandchildren visit they always ask to go to the Library (Molong) Without the Library’s support I don’t think we would have continued (book club member)

World War I Newspaper Project Digitisation of CWL footprint newspapers /7 online access High value resources for researchers Value adds to CWL collections Future proofs the resource Supports cultural tourism Digitisation of CWL footprint newspapers /7 online access High value resources for researchers Value adds to CWL collections Future proofs the resource Supports cultural tourism

Manildra memories

Books on Prescription Books on mental health which are ‘prescribed’ by GPs and other health professionals. An Australian pilot Positions public libraries as a key contributor to trusted health information Reinforces the concept of the library as a ‘safe place’ and supports social inclusion Develops of new partnerships between the public library and health sector Demonstrates the value of reading Books on mental health which are ‘prescribed’ by GPs and other health professionals. An Australian pilot Positions public libraries as a key contributor to trusted health information Reinforces the concept of the library as a ‘safe place’ and supports social inclusion Develops of new partnerships between the public library and health sector Demonstrates the value of reading

National Year of Reading

Words from the Dust

Words from the Dust Series of 12 workshops Six locations – Condobolin, Forbes, Grenfell, Cowra, Blayney, Orange 3 hours each Over 2 consecutive days Led to establishment of reading groups Series of 12 workshops Six locations – Condobolin, Forbes, Grenfell, Cowra, Blayney, Orange 3 hours each Over 2 consecutive days Led to establishment of reading groups

Feedback ‘ ‘Olive is my grandmother – what a wonderful time she had in Forbes. Words from the Dust is a fantastic initiative – to capture life from the past and celebrate the experiences and give individuals such a sense of pride. Thank you so much.’ ‘ ‘Olive is my grandmother – what a wonderful time she had in Forbes. Words from the Dust is a fantastic initiative – to capture life from the past and celebrate the experiences and give individuals such a sense of pride. Thank you so much.’

Poetry Slam On the banks of the Lachlan

interActive Zone wide professional development activity Reader development program developed in UK and used interationally Participants supported by trained ‘mentors’ in larger libraries Offered on-line Exemplar of collaboration across library services Zone wide professional development activity Reader development program developed in UK and used interationally Participants supported by trained ‘mentors’ in larger libraries Offered on-line Exemplar of collaboration across library services

Contact details Jan Richards Manager Central West Libraries Jan Richards Manager Central West Libraries