Minutes Working Group on Multicultural Library Services (NSW) Minutes of Multicultural Working Group Wednesday 27th August 2008 at Burwood Library
Present Mirjana Djukic (Chairperson],Wendy Ford [Secretary], Joelman Zungar, Pauline Chan, Jane Greville, Vivien Chung, Katherine Zhu, Noel Willis, Wendy Gindi, Kemal Serdar, Christine Judd, Jann Debenham, , Kasia Malicka, Wanda Swierczynska, Vicki Smith, Shauna Miller, Oriana Acevedo, Stephanie Lee, Jo Lloyd.
Visitors Celeste Link [Burwood], To Nu Tiet [Burwood]
Apologies Danju Wong, Roman Ciereszko, Belinda Bourke, Angie Wong, Anne Hall, Jacinta Craine
Welcome Phillip Edney, Burwood Library Manager welcomed the group to the Burwood Library
Minutes of Previous Meeting The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted by Kasia Malicka and seconded by Pauline Chan
1. Guest Speaker: Chris Ramage Managing Director Global Language Books. Chris demonstrated The “Talking Pen” in conjunction with bilingual books. For further information see www.globallanguagae.com.au where an online demonstration is available
2. Multicultural Seminar 2008 – Report from the Organizing Committee The Seminar arrangements are finalised to take place October 21st at SLNSW with welcome to country at 9.30am. Regina Sutton will open the seminar; Anne Hall will act as MC. Joelman and Shauna will organise registration and ushering. Wendy Ford will act as time keeper.
3. Community languages collections – starting and maintaining a new language collection : guidelines and benchmarks (Stephanie Lee) Stephanie thanked the group for their input and discussion took place on appropriate criteria to decide when to start a new language collection. Her inquiry was sparked by a recent instruction from the State Library that the existing ILL language box deliveries system is overstretched and that the expectations and orders from individual libraries should be limited. The conclusion was that in face of budgetary restrictions in public libraries and fluctuating language needs the best way to provide acceptable level of service for linguistically diverse population is still sharing resources and State Library’s language collection support . The Group decided to send a letter (Mirjana to make a draft and send to the group for approval) to the State Librarian and request that the level of ILL language boxes service be maintained. Also to appeal for greater funds for purchasing resources in community languages for the State Library collection and in this way to strengthen the support to public libraries.
4. Cooperative purchasing and cataloguing [Shauna] Shauna ensured the group that the selections were made by language experts and that she endeavours to avoid multi volume sets and duplications. Feedback is always appreciated in order to improve the service, however, the majority library rule is in place. Shauna also mentioned the success of book purchasing at the Marrickville Library, and is attempting to organize further days at this large venue with several booksellers and languages on the same day.
5. Multicultural training [Oriana] Oriana spoke saying the previous multicultural training was a success and fully booked. Another will run before Easter next year and will include basic level training and cultural competency training for multicultural workers in the industry for over 5 years.
6. Literacy working group update [Vicki Smith] Vicki attended the Literacy working group and reported that a survey would be forwarded to libraries regarding an ESL core collection. The minutes from the literacy meeting are to be forward to all members of the multicultural librarians working group.
7. MyLanguage Youtube video-recordings (Oriana) An interesting demonstration was given through my language with many languages utilizing the YouTube facility describing access and resources
8. Multicultural Excellence Award [Mirjana] Applications must be presented by 19th September for inclusion. Please send through projects immediately. It is an opportunity to present and promote your work.
9. Next round of Grants [Oriana] It was suggested that in the next round of grants the committee should look at the provision of audio materials to the ageing multicultural community.
10. IFLA 2010 IFLA 2010 is in the organization stages. Welcome drinks will be held at SLNSW with the opening at Parliament House. Satellite events will be held in time for attendees to reach Brisbane for this event.
11. Story telling workshops [Pauline Chan] This is a ½ day workshop at SLNSW 10th November. Expressions of interest and bookings should be sent to Pauline as soon as possible.
12. Call for nominations for office bearers The annual general meeting will be held at SLNSW in November. The current office bearers have been in their positions for 2 years, and are unable, under the constitution, to remains in these positions. Please forward nominations to wendy.ford@manly.nsw.gov.au before the November meeting.
Meeting closed at 1.45pm followed by lunch provided by Burwood Library
Next Meeting Annual General Meeting SLNSW November 20th.