Minutes of the Local History Librarians Meeting held at Albury LibraryMuseum on Friday 8 November 2019.
Attendees: Geoffrey Potter, Central Coast; Donna Braye, Mosman; Ellen Forsyth, SLNSW; Sonia Higgs, Wodonga; Yvette Hawkins, Wodonga; Michael Saitti, Wagga Wagga; Victoria Green, Campaspe Library Echuca; Rachel Cody, Leeton; Terry O’Keefe, Leeton; Cathy Lange, Bland; Kate Eastick, Albury; Sandra Endresz, Albury; Simone Taylor, Macquarie Regional Library; Angela Phippen, Ryde Library Service; Jenny Congdon, Berrigan Shire; Susan Shrubb, Kuring-gai. Many other remote attendees were able to join in through Blue Jeans.
Meeting opened 9.15 am.
1. Welcome, acknowledgement of Wiradjuri country, housekeeping Mandy Vaccaro, Information and Library Collections Officer, Albury LibraryMuseum. 2. Beyond Co-location to convergence: the experience of Albury LibraryMuseum. Carina Clement, team leader
In 2007 Albury LibraryMuseum opened. Albury is a centrally located service centre on the NSW/Victoria border. The area is a railway, road transportation and tourism hub. The LibraryMuseum is an integrated community facility which was designed by Ashton Raggett McDougal architects. Aspects of the design were a bit controversial when built. This was an ultra-modern building in the heritage flavoured CBD which had somewhat resisted architectural change to that point. The “X” façade at the Kiewa Street entrance is strikingly modern. Colours used in the building reflect colours in the local environment.
Albury LibraryMuseum is an integrated Public Library/research & technology centre/Museum. A strategic plan in 2000 identified the need to upgrade cultural facilities in Albury. The concept of a cultural precinct was developed around green space in the heart of the City. Ideas around co-location of cultural services and convergence were researched. An example of this approach is Puke Ariki Library in New Plymouth, New Zealand which caters for exhibitions/ library services/ research collections.
The planning, building and opening of the LibraryMuseum was an exciting time but a little chaotic. How has convergence worked? We have a welcoming space with minimal boundaries. It is the living room of the city. Collection management is handled wholistically. The local history and museum collections held are highly synergistic. Technology in the form of Libero management system has helped to bridge and integrate collection access seamlessly. Some early attempts to use technology in the LibraryMuseum were not successful. For example a historical photo kiosk was not efficient, temperamental and became obsolete rather quickly. Customer service in the LibraryMuseum is conducted by all staff.
Exhibitions can be placed in many places around the complex. Apart from more traditional museum display areas used there are also small displays that can be integrated with library shelving. Some exhibitions use loaned objects. Crossing place is an example of a successful aboriginal history and culture exhibition. Inclusive temporary exhibitions highlight various themes. The touring exhibition zone/space hosts touring and local exhibitions. Examples of exhibitions include Write around the Murray Festival, Celebration of Youth Week. Some events such as murder in the Museum were hosted as part of Law Week. The LibraryMuseum has a cultural exchange program and a strong emphasis on working with schools. For a time while other Youth facilities were developed the LibraryMuseum hosted Friday night gigs.
Library loans went up initially but have gradually decreased over the years.
The economic impact of building the LibraryMuseum has been the revitalisation of the Albury city centre. Motels have opened, restaurants have been established. Council gained the confidence to undertake development of new cultural facilities. The LibraryMuseum has been integral to placemaking in central Albury. The Lavington branch library also utilises a convergence model and the lessons learned from Albury. A major refurbishment of Albury LibraryMuseum took place in 2019. [Insert Albury City Community Community and Place structure plan link] Activities in the LibraryMuseum are based on a continual process of Review, reflect and make changes. The LibraryMuseum has had great success as a community hub.
Professional museum staff design exhibitions. Staff work closely with historical societies. The Albury Local History Society gifted their artefact collection to Albury Council. Local Historical Society members volunteer with the Museum to form great partnerships. presentation here
3. Bhutanese Community Farm Albury-Wodonga. Teju Chouhan
The Bhutanese Community Farm is a not-for-profit organisation. From 2008 the Bhutanese Community in Albury-Wodonga grew. Many Bhutanese who came to the area were formerly farmers in their home country. They needed to find connection again to the land within 6-8 months of arrival. A small community garden was started was started. A larger potential location was found on 3 acres of land in Lemke Road Wodonga. Planning commenced in 2013. Onsite work started 2015. A business plan will lead to a sustainable model for growth.
This is a social enterprise with lots of community partnerships. There were advisory group meetings in the beginning. Two members trained in organic farming methods. The farm started from scratch. Few tools, few resources. Partnerships essential to developing concept. Funds from other defunct agencies were donated and this greatly helped. The farm aims to preserve traditional farming methods and skills, connection to the land to promote health and wellbeing of Bhutanese community and local community members. Modern farming methods are also adopted to enhance employment skills. The Farm produces and supplies fresh vegetables to local businesses. There is a training and educational program. Workshops are held into organic food preparation and cooking. The farm provides employment opportunities for migrant and refugee community who have minimal English. Infrastructure has been developed through donations and grants. Contact info@parklands-alburywodonga.org.au
4. Interpreting heritage across borders: Bonegilla Migrant Experience. Diana Johnston & Linda Peacock, Bonegilla Migrant Experience; Emma Williams, Curator, Albury LibraryMuseum.
Bonegilla Migrant reception and Training Centre was a major post-WW2 migrant camp near Wodonga. In 2010 Bonegilla Migrant Experience Heritage Park was reopened in partnership with the City of Wodonga. Tours of remaining buildings on-site help to bring the lives of migrants to life.
Hotel Bonegilla is a 1983 play which tells stories of migrants. It has toured widely and has formed a loose basis for tour information delivered as part of on-site tours at Bonegilla. A tour guide can “channel” migrant experiences, based on material or impressions from the Play, but also incorporating stories passed on to the tour guide by visitors to the site. One-in-20 Australians are believed to be related in some way to the Bonegilla site, either as migrants or earlier Army servicemen. In 1940 land was resumed by the Government for an army base. Hundreds of buildings and dormitories were erected. Standard buildings were 60ft long x 18ft 6 ins wide. These were not the Nissen huts that many might imagine. Only block 19 remains of the much larger complex.
At war’s end displaced Europeans were placed there. As part of the tours human stories are told. 1/3 million people passed through Bonegilla from 1947 to 1971. Huge economic benefits were felt in the district because of the army camp and later migrant camp. 7,000-8,000 people were in camp at any given time. Northern Europeans were selected as it was felt that they would “fit in” to Australian Society relatively easily. These displaced people had had their lives completely upended by war. Many were given only minutes to gather clothes and get to the transport that would take them across the world. On arrival conditions were very spartan, literally the same as the army. Men were separated from women. There was very little privacy. Blankets were renowned as being “Scratchy”. For some this was OK, as they were safe and well fed for the first time in years. Bonegilla was the largest migrant camp in Australia.
The Bonegilla Collection in Albury LibraryMuseum manages objects linked to the site. Works onsite at Bonegilla are supported by Grants. Building restoration, site interpretation, heritage gardens to reflect the types of gardens planted by migrants. Visitors bring stories with them which it is hoped to record in conjunction with Albury LibraryMuseum. The Bonegilla collection consists of 2000 photos, documents, memoirs and items of memorabilia. These items provide evidence and insights into the lives of migrants in the Post WW2 era. The Bonegilla Collection complements and extends official resources available through NAA. An online federated search provides access to the Bonegilla Collection. Original items and later Bonegilla promotional materials are collected. Visitors to the Bonegilla site occasionally offer items for donation. Items are managed by Albury LibraryMuseum. A combined donation form collects information, acknowledges receipt and acts as a gift certificate. Charles Sturt University, AlburyCity Council, Wodonga Council and Bonegilla Migrant Experience have all collaborated to develop a Bonegilla 3D Virtual tour . working on sites means that tour guides are constantly learning. While many of the original migrants have now died, their children and grandchildren come to learn what they experienced. Objects and images bring stories to life. presentation here
5. The Uiver story: a community and local council collaboration. Nicole Thomas, UMCT board member. Emma Williams, Curator Albury LibraryMuseum.
The Uiver a KLM airlines DC-2 airplane became famous when, as a passenger-carrying participant in the 1934 London to Melbourne Air Race, it was involved in an extraordinary emergency landing at Albury. Forced to land at night, the Albury community lit the airfield for the Uiver with numerous car headlights. The Uiver landed safely, and the story was known around the World. Owing to the original Albury landing a strong and enduring bond grew between Holland and Albury. Unfortunately, the original plane crashed in the area around what is now Modern Syria a year later.
Albury’s citizens never forgot the Uiver story. Years later aviation enthusiasts and the Rotary Club decided to create a memorial to the 1934 events. A Douglas DC-2 was purchased. This plane had its own interesting history as one of 10 DC-2’s purchased by the RAAF as a Transport. This plane was stripped out and painted with the original Uiver’s markings and became a surrogate for the original no-longer-existent plane. The plane came to mean many different things to different communities. It was mounted on a pole at the airport. Later a local Dutch man built a brick memorial. Owing to safety concerns, the plane was taken down off the pole. The plane came perilously close to being scrapped several times. After many years and many sale attempts the plane was secured. Because it is not the original Uiver but a surrogate (with its own unique history) the aircraft does not quite fit standard notions of local heritage significance. It is significant as the Uiver Memorial aircraft. A new museum group was formed to preserve, protect and make accessible the memorial plane. There is strong volunteer support for the restoration. The plane will be housed in a restored hangar. It will be restored for static display in an internationally significant attraction.
Albury LibraryMuseum has a collection of Uiver memorabilia. 700 items including photographs, models, a parachute, documents, fuel can etc. tell the story. Surviving archival documentation is critical to the restoration process and LibraryMuseum memorabilia will enhance the interpretation of the Uiver Memorial displays. Possible Uiver Museum
6. Burraja Indigenous Cultural and Environmental Discovery Centre. Brendan Kennedy, Cultural Activities Officer.
Burraja is located on Gateway Island, Wodonga and was established in 2002. It is the result of partnerships between the indigenous community, Council, Albury LibraryMuseum, Government agencies and the Department of Education. Burraja was set up to train Aboriginal people in traditional knowledge skills and tourism. It seeks to give youth a better understanding of community and cultural services, to encourage youth connection to Country and to share cultural knowledge between elders and youth.
The Discovery Centre conducts traditional toolmaking workshops, takes youth to local indigenous sites. In the Cultural Centre are displays such as middens and bark shelters. In recent times Archives were researched for information on canoe construction. Elders on Country started cutting canoes. Events around this were recorded and the first canoe built locally for 100 plus years resulted.
Elders reconnect to Country through fire management. Methods are taught through hands-on methods. Early records relating to firestick management were researched. Events were recorded to provide resources for future use. The Vision of the Cultural Centre is to create employment opportunities, preserve local knowledge, create an environment for succession and educate people about Aboriginal Culture. presentation here
7. Local Studies in a Flash:
You can get it out of your head: a record enrichment sheet. Geoffrey Potter, Local History Librarian, Central Coast Library
Local History specialists carry a lot of information about the collection around in their heads. No one else can easily access it there. When that Librarian leaves the Organisation knowledge is often lost with them. How can other staff access this information? No one idea will help in all situations, but a brief record enrichment sheet can help to get at least some information onto the catalogue. Our record enrichment sheet (devised by our cataloguer Rebecca Jane Fairweather) is designed to facilitate sharing of information about local history items. It informs and greatly enhances catalogue records and unlocks the potential of “hidden” items. An example of a “hidden” item might be a badly named report which gives few clues to the useful content it contains. In our library an “Emergency Fire plan 1983/84” contained full staff and equipment lists (including vehicles), but the original catalogue record gave no indication of what it was about (no subject headings) or what useful information was inside. A record enrichment sheet was filled in by the Local History specialist for the cataloguer to base an enhanced catalogue record on. The benefits of using the record enrichment sheet (shown in the attached Powerpoint presentation) include the better sharing of specialist knowledge, improved access to collection content for staff and researchers, it is a relatively quick process that suits the Local History specialist and cataloguer, and the sheet could be easily adapted for other formats e.g. photographs, maps. presentation here
Record enrichment sheet care of CCCC
Writing the War: personal stories from WW1. Victoria Green, Campaspe Library Echuca.
A travelling SLVIC WW1 display visited 18 Libraries. Libraries hosting the display were expected to enhance the travelling display with local WW1 memorabilia and also to partner with other relevant community groups. Echuca received a magnificent response, with the Library being full of memorabilia. Events included a book launch, a WW1 trivia night, film afternoons, one-on-one WW1 soldier research sessions with librarian and talks on researching Military ancestors. A nice aspect was that the new Echuca Library is located adjacent to the town war Memorial which is easily visible through the Library windows. Local schools were contacted to arrange visits well ahead of time. A Calendar of events was created. There were many and varied events. Some events did go better than others. The Trivia night was a “blast”. Talks one-on-one went well. Heritage walks did not attract many people. Following the Anzac day ceremony those assembled were invited in to a special library opening of the display that was extremely well received (despite initial resistance to the library being located adjacent to the War Memorial)
8. General business
a. A brief discussion of natural disaster collecting was held. Central Coast has been compiling screen grabs during current bushfire emergency. Other libraries save Instagram images relating to disasters at a local level.
b. Promoting and merchandising Local Studies. Pull-up banners to take to talks when given to Probus Clubs etc. are a useful way to identify who you are and where you are from.
c. New Local Studies Wiki The group holds meetings twice a year to discuss relevant issues. Information about forthcoming meetings is available from the NSW public library wiki. Resources and ideas are also shared on this wiki. Please join this wiki and participate in the discussion.
d. Wider Local Studies online group. This group of Local Studies practitioners from around Australia discusses projects and issues across the Nation. Information about how to join the email list, and the videos of previous meetings are here. The meetings are generally held 3 - 4.30pm EST to account for all Australian time zones. Several meetings have been successfully held via Bluejeans.
e. Travel subsidies to attend meetings. Please remember that travel subsidies to help with petrol/train fare costs are available from SLNSW for travel over 100kms Form is available from here
f. Local Studies and Social Media use. Some Libraries are given quite a good level of freedom to post Social Media items, while other Libraries are highly restricted in their ability to post anything. In Councils where restrictions exist, competing to be seen among many other messages can be challenging.
g. The next meeting will be 26 March 2020 at Marrickville, Inner West Libraries.
h. Those present thanked the Mandy Vaccaro and the staff of Albury LibraryMuseum for their hospitality.
Meeting closed 3.25 pm.
Merry Xmas and a safe New Year from the organising committee Donna Braye (Mosman) Ellen Forsyth (SLNSW) and Geoffrey Potter (Central Coast).
Next meeting and agenda local studies
Wider local studies This provides information about the national local studies network.