1. “Drill Halls, Mechanics Institutes & Public Libraries: the struggle for relevance” Brendan Fitzgerald & Frances Savage Online projects VICNET, State Library of Victoria

2. “but mainly she told the truth” Mark Twain 1835-1910

3. Public Libraries: the 3 C’s current projects & issues, the challenge of relevance and, changing roles

4. Global ICT Context: Peoples network New library Australian ICT Context: Regional Telecommunications Policy NOIE Connecting Victoria Libraries 21

5. VICNET Online Projects Background: Libraries Online: 1998 - 2001. $2.4M provided by MMV for content and infrastructure projects for libraries. Rural Libraries Online: 1999 - 2002. $3.47M provided by Networking the Nation for library network infrastructure in rural Victoria.

6. Other Projects: $114k - rural public libraries printers $145k- 2 way satellite Mobile Libraries(UMRLS) $20k - e- gaps funding ( Glenelg RLS) $800k - Internet and IT local priorities ( DoI) $1.6 M - SNIP (Arts Victoria) $230k - Urban Libraries (MMV)

7. Infrastructure Projects: Last Guys- 33 final branches Workstations- 400 public access PC’s Geelong/Corangamite Satellite pilot Metro Bandwidth- 18 libraries 2Mbps RLOL 19 satellite sites/WAN Printers For Public access

8. Content Projects: Gulliver- consortium Victoria’s Virtual Library-gateway (www.libraries.vic.gov.au) Open Road (www.openroad.vic.gov.au)

9. Skills Projects: Adaptive technology- Jaws, EIA, Trackballs, Magic Open Road - User administration - Multilingual Surfing Web Developers Forum

10. “but mainly he told the truth” Samuel Clemens 1835-1910

11. “ The first thing to have in a library is a shelf. Frm time to time this can be decorated with lithrachure. But th’ shelf is the main thing.” F P Dunne 1867- 1936 “Mr Dooley Says” 1910

12. Partnerships Infrastructure Social Capital Continuity and change Relevance: the issues

13. Partnerships: Consortia Collaborative Relationships Government Funding

14. Infrastructure: Bandwidth Interoperability Telecommunications and traffic Buildings

15. Social Capital: Professional Development/Workforce Information Society Investment Community & Social engagement

16. Continuity and change: Sustainability Accessibility Expectations

17. Critical Success factors Social inclusion Education, literacy and LL learning e-government community regeneration Local cultural strategies “Building Better Library Services” Audit Commission 2002

18. Foundations to build on Value of information & service Meeting needs Geographic network

19. “ I think that in too many libraries the librarians have made it quite clear that they know everything and we know b*****r all!” Library Non user views - AC report 2002

20. “ …. the Internet comes on computers now!!!” Homer The Greek 1997

21. Contact details: brendanf@vicnet.net.au francess@vicnet.net.au