RISG Meeting 12 November 2008 at Concord Library, Canada Bay

Welcome by Philip Edney

Canada Bay is looking at new services and new collections for community promotion, developing. They are developing a reference training manual for staff so that all staff will be kept up to date with resources.

1. Information Guides Jo Hennock and Dinah Millar

• · one to many service delivery module
• · using the opportunities presented by technology
• · online service guidelines based on the knowledge of clients, tailored around client needs and expectations and strengthened by research and usability studies
• · example of HSC English guide http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/navigators/hsc_english/index.html
• · consistent, high quality service based on best practice
• · asking people to test out the HSC guides and provide feedback
• · other guides available include convicts http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/navigators/convicts/index.html and business http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/navigators/business/index.html

2 Planning for HSC changes in 2009

• · ordering books – some of the new titles are hard to obtain
• · HSC students have started borrowing already
• · Hornsby Library has developed a good HSC guide http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/index.cfm?NavigationID=911
• · Inside break – northern beaches collaboration http://www.insidebreak.org.au/
• · State Library – HSC service team, provides tours for HSC students and database information – students will need to register for a readers card for off site access to databases
• · Hornsby – trying to evaluate the different help guides that are coming around
• · Canada Bay asked a question about your tutor and essay writing skills courses in Hornsby and Fairfield lecture series
• · Canada Bay, City of Sydney, Auburn, Marrickville using your tutor for essay writing skills for HSC students

3 Slam the boards

• · From discussion this is worth continuing to be involved in as a professional development tool, and to promote reference and information services in public libraries.
• · Fairfield – tried staff on it for training - useful for teaching staff to do a reference question line
• · Good to use as a training tool

4 Roving reference – what are people doing?

• · Auburn “floor walkers” when it is busy – proactively approach people to offer assistance – good response
• · Wollongong – 11-1, 3-5 (busy times) person roves between the two floors – find that people would rather approach while shelving rather than being approached.
• · Newcastle – 1 staff rostered on desk, 1 out back with phone, desk staff now doing desk work not own work. Desk staff now do reference shelving so are approachable for questions.
• · Campsie – intermittent issues around access to computer for searching - need the right staff with the right attitude
• · Canada Bay – more browseable reference collection with improved signage – upstairs desk staffed 3-5 only staff encouraged to walk around.
• · Ref-ex team to add to relevant part of module on reference excellence
• · roving reference mixed responses – some very positive – encouraging people to walk all around the library to provide help.
• · Lane Cove – small space so no need to rove at present - staff developing skills.
• · Fairfield provided training for roving reference, giving staff hints about for body language to watch for.
• · Wollongong rover carries a mobile phone so can be called to help someone else.
• · Smaller reference desks seen as a model to follow.

5 ref-ex wiki update

• The ref-ex wiki is available from http://wikitest.libraries.nsw.gov.au/index.php/Reference_excellence
• Feedback requested
• Permanent URL will be available in January.
• Libraries asked to contribute photographs of their reference collections or reference areas – thanks to the libraries who have already contributed photographs.

6 Following up from the ALIA Conference – report from any attendees See attachments 1 and 2 and end of minutes – this is highlights only

7 General business Discussion about number of non-fiction items on one topic which can be borrowed, no perfect system exists to manage this. Discussion about disrupting the pattern for more challenging borrowers – aim for an individual solution.

Gabrielle was thanked for all her work in hosting the meeting. A tour of the library followed.

8 Next meeting. The next RISG meeting will be at Lithgow 24 February 2009.

Name Organisation Signature

• Philip Edney (welcome address)City of Canada Bay Library
• David Sansome City of Canada Bay Library
• Claude Broomhead City of Canada Bay Library Apology, replace-ment Lim Godarzi
• Gabriele Winter City of Canada Bay Library
• Ellen Forsyth State Library of NSW
• Jo Hennock State Library of NSW
• Dinah Millar State Library of NSW
• Michelle Sibthorpe Newcastle Region Library
• Jennifer Wilson Fairfield Library
• David Griffith Fairfield Library
• Helen Perry North Sydney Library
• Philip Williamson City of Canterbury Library
• Ruth McJannett Wollongong City Library
• Jane Broadbere Mosman Library
• Andrea Pakchung Liverpool City Library
• Geraldine Walshe Castle Hill Library
• Ion Sloggett Kogarah Council Library
• Lydie Bacot City of Sydney Library
• Will Coombe Lane Cove Library
• Marion Saw Leichhardt Library Service
• Cynthia Methven Hornsby Shire Library
• Jennifer Blume Newcastle City Library apology,
• Ken Klippel Marrickville Library
• Annetta Kucharska Auburn Library
• Kerry Counsell Willoughby City Library
• Kathy Maltby Ryde Library
• Ross Balharrie Manly Library apology

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