Auburn City Library 18th August 2015

Ellen Forsyth (State Library), John Taggart (Manly), Eric Dodson (Lane Cove), Cat Thomas (Campbelltown), Natalie Grey (Rockdale), Samson Leung (Canada Bay), Shiralee Franks (Tamworth), Krupali Tevar (Parramatta), Andre Gee (Wollongong), Sharon Drenth (Ku-Ring-Gai), Annie Hyde (Ashfield), Melinda Hammer (Willoughby) Margaret Pavincich (Willoughby), Kylie Dobbie (Castle Hills), Alvin Leung (Kogarah), David Botros (Bankstown), Katy Malby (Ryde), Annetta Kucharska (Auburn)

Kerry-Anne Prideaux (Burwood), Michelle Goldsmith (Wyong)

none

• Moving from a focus of books in general to more specialized collections. HSC collections for example - once was reference but now a loan collection for 3 days, no renewals. Now have statistics to backup collection usage, other than in house measures.
• Need a strong presence of staff to promote collection awareness.
• Interfiling of Reference collections.
• Co-location of reference items, not interfiled but located nearNon-fictioncollections.
• Considering partial Interfiling,e.g.starting at 500’s 600s etc and file items there.
• Staff emails – letting team know what items are available for patrons can assist with enquiries.
• Have staff attend webinars, selling resources to staff to onsell, part of everyone’s job.
• Training staff – covering how to use online resources & digital lending platforms. Often done before opening hours. Can be difficult when training branch members.
• Presentations on databases to staff, as well as to patents and students.
• Going out to schools to promote online resources, this includes demonstrating to school library staff as well. Have questions from students ready to demonstrate answers to. Issue is EBSCO is blocked in many schools.
• Setting up drop in Tech-booths to show how patrons can access resources.
• ESL reference – Auburn working with local Navitas to promote learning English resources. Promoted learning IELTS. Tumblebooks also promoted as a great learning English resource, listen to pronunciation and read at the same time.
• Holding morning tech sessions, then having quiz questions during staff meetings.
• Promoting databases via social media – resource of the week.
• Promoting State Library Resources to staff to on-sell to the public.
• Once issue is proficiency – staff need to keep learning as resources change, keep up to date. The ALA technology reports (available through EBSCO) are a good tool for this.
• Hmework help in libraries – tutors often promoting resources to pupils, promote to friends.
• Examples from Ku-ring-gai about how their HSC collection and services are promoted. Image 1,Image 2.

see http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/public_libraries/statistics/ECR.htmlLooking at the definitions but also the point (or not) to doing this survey. What you can do with this data, how it helps (or hinders) the development of a responsive library service – discussion

• ECR was restructured in 2015 as library participation was declining. Still seen as relevant, and still part of the Library Act.
• Primary use if for collecting libraries as a way to assist in planning – targeted results are available.
• Over 8 years of data collection by the SLNSW saw enquiries increase from 3 million to 3.5. Interesting for libraries to see where these increases have been.
• Benefits of statistics – Dispel myths, demonstrates public need, assists in strategic decisions based on evidence.
• Issues – collecting statistics from branches difficult as staff may fear low enquires may mean closure, resulting in inflated numbers.
• Training staff in statistical keeping – make sure they know how to correctly allocate questions.
• Questions – do libraries have survey sheets at all workstations & service points?
• The could not answer column – are most of these just referred? Still useful for the most difficult enquiries that cannot be answered.
• Any suggestions for improvement can be sent to the State Library
• Question on roving statistical counts – has anyone come across an easy way to tally on-line?

• Being used for statistical collecting, as well as financial data.
• Benefits will include being able to combine datasets, ABS, bulk loans, financial data.
• Not going to be used for 2015/2016 data, but will start at a later date. Content collected will be the same for next year.
• Currently migrating data across from Bibliostat, will still be available for now.
• Printed statistical publications will still be available.

(does there need to be one about eBook support - based on the data obtained earlier in the year)

• Last big edit was three years ago, and modules will need reworking to cover any gaps.
• Modules 1-6 are based on Ohio Reference Excellence, other have been added and updated by volunteer staff from around NSW.
• What are some of the possible areas that could be added?
• PC assistance – how to approach patrons. Moving from a stationary service point to roving model. How do we know when to approach and offer assistance? This promotes the idea of improving customer service. Difficulties lie in assisting patrons with low-tech skills but need help accessing personal information. Many may struggle but never seek assistance.
• Special user group assistance – how do libraries offer assistance?
• Readers Advisory – often this is part of the reference interview so can look at how to combine / deliminate this.
• Copyright in libraries – legislation and ethics. Can include Creative Commons licensing.
• Steering Committee is asking for volunteers to edit, will need a 1 day face to face meeting followed by on-line editing and a final group edit to complete. Seeking to finish this by the end of the year
• There is a page on the RISG wiki to make suggestions http://referenceandinformationservices.wikifoundry.com/page/Ideas+to+share// * Emails can be sent to any of the members listed here http://referenceandinformationservices.wikifoundry.com/page/Contacts//

http://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2015/Presentations.aspx exploring A301, A302 and B303 from an information perspective.

• A301 - Looked at Workshops, looked at what ‘stuff’ libraries are adding, how do they relate to reference enquiries, reference interviews? Anything we do can be seen as reference and Information services, including creator spaces. We are a place of informal learning.
• A302 – good examples of how to use social media, and the different expressions each platform can take.
• B303 – Information a service via a Technology service station offering free 3D printing

(points 8 to 13) unable to be discussed due to time constraints.

– 24th November Hawkesbury Library, Deerubbin Centre 300 George Street Windsor.

will be held in February 2016 and August 2016.

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