Working Group on Multicultural Services (NSW) 9:30 am Thursday 16th May, 2019 Green Square Library
Minutes
Apologies: Laurence McDonnell (Blacktown), Oriana Acevedo (SLNSW), Sarah Wild (Canada Bay), Vanessa Maino (Ryde), Nada Antoun (Parramatta), Mary Gissing (Newcastle), Wendy Ford (Northern Beaches), Vivien Chung (Willoughby).
Attendees: Katherine Zhu (Randwick),Sofia Silvestri (Cumberland), Pauline Chan (Parramatta), Eugenia Ng (Burwood), Hwiwan Yang (Ryde), Irena Tichackova (Hornsby), Vicki O’Rourke (Wollongong), Shauna Miller (SLNSW), Kathy Yang (Inner West), Kira Paznikov (Central Coast), Ayse Ersay (Waverley), Ponnery Toch (Inner West), Vanessa Ong (Ashfield), Sharlene Louey (City of Sydney), Martyn Han (City of Sydney), Sandra Jammal (SLNSW), Jadwiga Krejza (Liverpool), Kirsty Plumridge (Cumberland).
Confirmation of previous minutes The previous minutes were accepted.
Strategic Plan Review The group reviewed the plan and in particular the key results area and the actions still to be completed – 1. Standing Agenda Item – count number of programs & participants 2. To develop and hold an information seminar aimed at Multicultural Librarians and public library staff in 2020 3. Encourage members to present at conferences and seminars 4. Identify and submit a marketing project suitable for a grant application in 2019-2021 At the next meeting the group will describe how best to collect the data on the number of programs & participants; what the theme should be for the seminar and nominate who will be on the sub-committee to organise it; how we can capture the number of people presenting at conferences and seminars; and thinking of ideas for the ‘marketing project’ grant submission.
Presentation – Tania Krasinski – Randwick Council’s ‘Youth & Multicultural Community Projects Officer’ Tania encouraged us all to network with other groups that service Multicultural communities. She is part of the Local Government Migrant Multicultural Network who meet quarterly. She is also part of the Inner East Migrant Inter-Agency – this group encourages advocacy, shares ideas and information, and fosters partnerships. There are groups at all levels – local, state and federal – and even if you don’t attend meetings, it is very beneficial to be added to mailing lists. Appendix 1 is a list of organisations involved in her inter-agency that might be helpful contacts for us to.
Katherine shared her positive experience of being part of the inter-agency: • Tania has great ideas and we help each and share resources. It makes my job easier. • I build a great network of contacts who are serving the same clientele, get to know them. • It is great for promoting your services, share information. • You become aware of community needs and can focus your services to community needs. • You get inspired with ideas and learn things to improve your services. • There is great opportunities for collaborations and partnerships.
Tania also shared a ‘Stakeholder Matrix’ that she uses often. This tool assists you in identifying different factors when you are establishing partnerships including who you are working with, risks/barriers, what contributions they bring, inputs, activities, outputs, risks/assumptions. This tool is very helpful for funding reporting because it explains with the data, the value in what you do and can assist you in communicating this to different stakeholders – data is the new currency for grant funding.
The stakeholder matrix can be found: http://www.tools4dev.org/resources/stakeholder-analysis-matrix-template/ An example of the ‘Inputs/Outputs Template is attached as Appendix 2.
Shauna suggested we invite the Refugee Advice and Case Work Services to speak at the next meeting.
Co-operative – Shauna Miller (SLNSW) The State Library is currently waiting for word on the budget for 2019/2020 but it is estimated to be $160,000. Discussion ensued about the languages that are to be prioritised for purchasing including more books in French, German, Spanish and Japanese. The group also suggested more junior collections including picture books. If anyone has suggestions for languages to be purchased – fiction, non-fiction in what languages, send them through to Shauna.
Shauna has asked if Libraries have big bulk loans to send them back quickly when they are finished with them.
Docuwiki – Shauna Miller (SLNSW) Shauna explained that all working groups are now uploading their minutes, agendas and other important information to the State Library working groups’ wiki. Shauna demonstrated the website and explained that anyone can access and add content as required. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/wikis-and-blogs Shauna has created a procedure for us all to add content and it is attached as Appendix 3. Jadwiga and Kirsty will add relevant content from this meeting.
Tech Savvy for Seniors – Shauna Miller (SLNSW) This program is running once again and Cameron Morley sent information on how to apply out to all libraries. Applications close on 14th June. Telstra will provide $243 per session for English classes, but please be mindful that your Council will be required to send the SLNSW an invoice for these funds. The Ethnic Community Council are funded for LOTE classes, however some languages are currently not supported. The SLNSW are looking for alternatives so do not be discouraged from applying in languages relevant to your community. The funding is used purely to cover the cost of running a class so the cost of marketing and promotion is up to each Library. Discussion ensued about the survey that each participant must undertake, so each class will now run for an extra 15 minutes to allow time for people to complete the survey.
Selection of ESL resources with an online access code – Katherine Zhu (Randwick) Katherine pointed out that a lot of new publications in learning English now offer audio or video components online via a one user access code. This causes a complication when we lend this type of material out, as it is only the first person to use it that gains the full-access. Has anyone had experience with this, as there is a definite trend towards this instead of a CD or DVD insert? In the future perhaps we can negotiate with the book publishers? Parramatta avoids purchasing these types of materials but this certainly restricts the variety of collections. Other Libraries have investigated online subscriptions as an alternative, including Mango Languages and Biky. If anyone has other suggestions, please let Kirsty know so that she can add them to the wiki.
Tools for promoting Community Languages from SLNSW Jadwiga reminded us of the SLNSW website https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/public-library-services/services/multicultural-services-public-libraries/tools-and-promotional The site includes Tools and Promotional Resources - Includes a link to the ‘Community Languages Directory; the Multicultural Glossary; Signage – promotional signage that can be printed to promote the Library; Multicultural Pamphlets in different languages that can be printed; Ordering Promotional Resources form; and Banners with information about the banners that were created (please note these are currently not available)
Donations of Community Languages for SLNSW The SLNSW will accept LOTE donations that are no more than 3 years old but no text books, no items with movable parts, no loose-leaf pages, and no erotic materials. Please do not try to offload materials discarded from your own collections – unless it fits this criteria. Whenever you accept donations on behalf of the SLNSW please explain that their LOTE collection is not a permanent collection – it gets weeded every 5 years – they make keep it but they may not. The Correctional Services will accept some Hindi items but Shauna is going to check if there is any other language requirements they may have, as is a very small library with a very small budget. Other people suggested community language schools are often keen to accept junior materials.
Other Business The group had a general discussion about what types of materials are popular with different CALD groups – Arabic speakers love magazines and AV, Hindi speakers love Bollywood films but prefer to read in English, Tamil & Gujariti readers love all books, Filipino speakers love DVDS.
Jadwiga shared a Multicultural Performers Directory produced in her local LGA and this will be added to the Docuwiki.
Vicki has volunteered to collate a list of LOTE magazines and newspapers that we currently subscribed to. She will develop a survey and share the results with the group.
The group discussed the use of online ‘Learning English’ subscriptions like AMES and IELTS. The general consensus is that it is difficult to promote this to people learning English so the usage statistics can drop easily. Many commented that when they run a course the stats increase.
Parramatta are working with TAFE to run volunteer training sessions. Students will receive 5 free sessions, each with an assignment. Once students have completed the five sessions, they receive a certificate and may continue further training at a cost. Parramatta will begin this pilot program soon and will share the progress at the next meeting.
Form Filling Assistance is becoming an issue across all Library services. Common requests are passport applications, police checks, working with children checks and citizenship applications. Staff are challenged by time constraints, and protecting people’s privacy and providing correct information. Cumberland Council currently have ‘Form Filling’ volunteers that come in and assist their community. This program is run through their ‘Community Development’ team in partnership with TAFE NSW. Kirsty will get more details about this program and bring it to the next meeting.
Blacktown Medieval Fayre is on this weekend at Nurrangingy Reserve. There is a shuttlebus running from Blacktown Station.
Unclassified DVDs – Oriana and Laurence are still working on this project and will resume their advocacy for a resolution after the elections.
Multicultural Excellence Awards – Shauna, Oriana and Lawrence have been meeting to discuss the awards and may be making small amendments to the eligibility requirements but managers will be informed of any changes.
Dulwich Hill bookshop closed but after some investigations is still open online as the ‘Greek Bi-Lingual Book Store’ – https://bilingualbookshop.com.au
Next Meeting 15th August – Concord Library, 9.30am