Working Group on Multicultural Services (NSW) 9:30 am Thursday the 31st May 2017 State Library of NSW Minutes
Apologies: Irena Tichackova (Hornsby) –Sharon Lee in attendance instead, Pauline Chan (Parramatta), Kemal Serdar (Cumberland), Danju Wong (City of Sydney)
Confirmation of previous minutes
The previous minutes were accepted unchanged by Sujatha Thadakamella and seconded by Joelmon Zungar.
Business arising from previous minutes Nil
Changes to Bulk Loans Collection (Oriana) Oriana distributed an email previously sent to the PL Managers explaining the changes to the bulk loans service to the NSW public Libraries. The State Library is to implement a new model for the provision of bulk loans from July 2017, aiming at phasing out the current on-demand model and replacing it with collections being available on long term loans to interested NSW public libraries. The new formula has been met with a great concern by the public libraries staff as the operational aspects appear unclear and it is felt that the local communities, especially in country NSW, will be greatly disadvantaged. Philippa Scarf, representing Public Libraries and Engagement Division of the State Library, encouraged the members of the Group and Libraries they represent, to formulate questions in relation to this matter by the end of the week. These questions, and answers produced by the State Library, will be discussed in a meeting with PL Managers next month. Action: Members of the Group to formulate and send questions prior to the Meeting of PL Managers
Guest Speaker – Pino Migliorino – Research into multicultural library services in NSW public libraries 2017- Pino informed the Group that DiverseWerks, part of Cultural Perspectives Group is awaiting a final request to go ahead with a research into multicultural services in NSW public libraries 2017. The project is aimed at determining the extent of the readiness of the NSW libraries’ network to deal with the needs of the ever changing non-English speaking community while operating in the constantly evolving technological environment. The focus of this project is both on the clients and public library staff. While considering the findings of the previous research undertaken in 2000, 2003 and the 2015 “Living Learning Libraries: Standards and Guidelines for NSW Public Libraries” the researches will aim at the following: • Identifying clients’ needs • Canvassing opinions • Identifying gaps in the current service provision • Identifying possible new future services This research is to employ a wide range of techniques including: surveys, focus groups, qualitative work with individuals in an attempt to achieve the necessary depth and multifaceted approach.
Guest Speaker – Matthew Hedrick – PressReader demonstration Matthew Hedrick, delivered a demonstration of the latest version of the PressReader, one day before a major launch of the newest version of this product was to take place. PressReader provides access to over 6000 publications from 120 countries in 60 languages. The newspapers and magazines on offer cover a wide range of subjects: technology, music, sport, lifestyle business, science and much more. In the coming months 8500 Chinese titles will be added to the platform catering greatly to the needs of the ever growing Chinese diaspora. The access can be facilitated through the public libraries and taken advantage of for the wide range of on-line promotion of the library services. The platform instantly translates articles into 18 languages, allows listening to articles on the go, supports social media sharing, commenting, posting videos and photos. All news can be accessed on the device of choice – smartphone, tablet or laptop using the same PressReader account. The content of the PressReader is constantly expanding. The Australian and Pacific content are growing. Action: Abbey to forward the link to Matthew’s presentation to the members of the Group
Commitment to purchase LOTE 2017/2018 (Oriana) Libraries need to specify the amount of money intended to be spent on the materials in community languages. The Coop is ready to assist in these purchases. After Zenith’s closure new cataloguing/end processing companies have emerged and are prepared to offer their services in this area. Purchasing of the ESL material will be offered as a part of the Literacy Seminar scheduled by the NSW Literacy Working Group for the 11th of September 2017.
Update on unclassified DVDs (Oriana) Oriana and Laurence met with the reps of the Federal Office of Classification. They were helpful in advising that their role was to oversee policy in this area not the enforcement of it. Seeking “cultural exemption” for supplying the overseas and unclassified DVDs is probably the possible option. Engaging the Attorney General in the problem at hand appears to be the way to go. The message to pass on should inform that this situation affects mostly the economically underprivileged population of immigrants. This group has not only a limited command of English and varied literacy issues but also cannot afford paid TV or purchasing of DVDs. They also do not have good enough command of English to express their point of view. The trial of NSWnet Canopy video streaming appears to be a very promising alternative in the provision of free movies in community languages. It has to be established if the films available through this channel have been classified and whether they have to be classified to be offered in this manner. Action: Oriana and Laurence to await further correspondence in this matter
Tech Savvy Seniors (Oriana) The TSS has been progressing as planned. There is another $50 000 committed and available to spend on further training in this area.
Guest Speaker – Jeannie Wang – ASEAN-China Business Services ASEAN has been present on the NSW market supplying Chinese material since 2001. From 2005 they have been offering LOTE cataloguing and end processing. They have specialised in the monitoring of the circulation of particular items, genres and languages to enable the libraries to entrust them with a budget and have it spent on the most popular items in an efficient manner. The company has been small but is ready to expand and offer additional services attuned to the specific needs expressed by their clients. Currently they are in the process of acquiring a bigger building to be able to absorb the former members of staff from Zenith. The company would like to talk to the interested parties about the services required and the possible size of engagement.
Other Business
Vicky Thanked Abbey for her excellent service in the area of bulk loans.
Oriana informed the Group about the availability of a DVD containing a series of short form documentary stories about highly successful First Nations’ role models. Each story is a positive representation of members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Purchase of this DVD would enhance public libraries Indigenous collections. The DVD is an excellent resource for NAIDOC Week and other culturally significant celebrations.
Chris Ramage Global Language Books offers an Aboriginal Resource Pack, produced by the indigenous artists, which can be used in the celebrations of NAIDOC Week or Harmony Day. He also informed the Group that the range of the services offered by the Global Language Books had been expanded. The company is now able to catalogue and process all of their materials at the same prices as Zenith five years ago.
Next meeting was supposed to take place at Manly Library It is now to be hosted by the Canterbury-Bankstown Library Service at: CAMPSIE LIBRARY ON THURSDAY THE 17TH OF AUGUST 2017