NSW public library wiki

Note the text was in bold in the email distributed to the older person email list. Looks like text to voice was used.

HOME LIBRARY WORKING GROUP MINUTES

February 23, 2026 – ONLINE VIA TEAMS

HOSTED BY CANADABAY LIBRARY SERVICE

10.00 AM TO 11.35 AM

ATTENDANCE: KYLIE STREETER (CANADABAY), ADAM RAE (CANADABAY), SAQIB MAHMOOD (PENRITH), SCOTT POOKE (INNER WEST), KRISTY NIGHTINGALE (RYDE), JAWED WIJNGEBRAEL (BURWOOD), SUZANNE SPENCER (NORTH SYDNEY), JUDY HANNAH (BURWOOD), CAITLIN CALLINAN (WOOLLAHRA), KATHERINE OWENS (CUMBERLAND), DANI (LANE COVE), ELIZABETH THORNTON (KIAMA), SONYA CAMPION (HORNSBY), THERESA LOCK (BLUE MOUNTAINS), STEPHEN PEACOCK (SUTHERLAND), ROBERTA CARBONE, CHRIS BAKARICH, NICKI FOX (NORTHERN BEACHES), GLENN WARDMAN, Anna (Waverley), ALISON WARD (PENRITH)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY – ADAM RAE

INTRODUCTION TO CANADABAY OUTREACH SERVICE – ADAM RAE

COVERS ADULT SENIORS AND MULTICULTURAL PROGRAMS, HOME LIBRARY SERVICE CREATIVE PROGRAMMING – POTTERY, JEWELLERY, ITALIAN BINGO, BOARD GAMES GROUP. TECH SAVVY SENIORS – ENGLISH AND MULTICULTURAL INFO TALKS – EG, AGED CARE, HEALTHY LIVING, ENERGY SAVING HOME LIBRARY SERVICE: 60 INDIVIDUALS AND 6 NURSING HOMES CURRENTLY 3 VOLUNTEERS DO DELIVERIES ONLY KYLIE DOES 20 HOURS SERVICE DESK AND 15 HOURS FOR HL SELECTION AND OTHER PROGRAMMING DUTIES HOSTS FOR 2026 MEETINGS JUNE 1 - NOVEMBER 2 – HORNSBY LIBRARY

INTRODUCTION OF PARTICIPANTS

SAQIB (PENRITH) + ALISON – PROGRAMS TEAM, HOME LIBRARY 5-6 YEARS
SCOTT (INNER WEST) – BEEN IN POSITION 8 YEARS, CURRENTLY 150 PATRONS AND 10 AGED CARE HOMES
CAITLIN (WOOLLAHRA) – ACTING CURRENTLY 3 MONTHS, 100 PEOPLE AND 8 AGED CARE HOMES.
JAWED (BURWOOD) – OUTREACH OFFICER, 40 INDIVIDUAL PATRONS, 3 AGED CARE/RETIREMENT VILLAGES. HOPING TO EXPAND NUMBERS
KRISTY (RYDE) – ROUGHLY 5 YEARS. 100 PATRONS PLUS 8 INSTITUTIONS. LOST 2 IN LAST YEAR DUE TO REAL ESTATE PRICES. WORKS ALONE, HAS DRIVER WHO DOES DELIVERIES, PRO – GOOD WHEN RAINING, CON – NOT GETTING PATRON FEEDBACK

S * USANNE (NORTH SYDNEY) - 90 INDIVIDUALS -DELIVER EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING ON FOUR-WEEK CYCLE FOR DIFFERENT ROUTES. THREE IN THE TEAM, ALL PART-TIME.

THREE RETIREMENT VILLAGES/NURSING HOMES. DELIVERY THEMSELVES – 2 STAFF PER DELIVERY
JUST ONBOARDED 2 VOLUNTEERS, RESTARTING POST COVID SO HOPING TO GROW THAT SERVICE AS WELL.
KATHERINE (CUMBERLAND) - FAIRLY NEW TO THE ROLE - FILLING IN AT THE MOMENT. LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING FROM US.
DANI (LANE COVE) -BEEN IN THIS ROLE ABOUT 18 MONTHS AND WE HAVE 150 INDIVIDUALS FROM ACROSS HUNTERS HILL AND LANE COVE. WE HAVE THE CONTRACT FOR HUNTERS HILL, SO AS LANE COVE AND WE HAVE ABOUT 7 AGED CARE IN HUNTERS HILL AND 7 IN LANE COVE AND THERE'S THREE OF US. WE ALL WORK PART-TIME. WE HAVE NO VOLUNTEERS AND SO WE DELIVER ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AND WE HAVE I THINK 7 DIFFERENT RUNS, SO WE ALTERNATE THEM MONTHLY.
JUDY – BURWOOD
OUTREACH SERVICES LIBRARIAN. WORKS WITH JAWED. JAWED DOES PRETTY MUCH ALL THE LEGWORK FOR HOME LIBRARY SELECTIONS AND DELIVERY. JUST SORT OF DIPS IN AND OUT OF IT A LITTLE BIT AND IS A BACKUP. UM, BUT I ALSO DO OTHER OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, LUNA LANES. SO IT'S ABOUT PROMOTING THE LIBRARY.
TRYING TO GET OUT TO MORE HOME, NURSING HOMES, AND RETIREMENT VILLAGES. NOT THAT WE'LL PROBABLY PICK PEOPLE UP FROM RETIREMENT VILLAGES WHO WANT HOME LIBRARY, BUT THEY MAY EVENTUALLY.USED TO WORK AT CANADA BAY UP UNTIL LAST YEAR.
ELIZABETH (KIAMA) - THREE DAYS A WEEK. I'M THE ONLY HOME LIBRARY SERVICES OFFICER WE HAVE. I DO HAVE A FEW VOLUNTEERS THOUGH WHO HELP WITH SELECTING AND WITH DELIVERIES. I HAVE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE THAT WE DELIVER TO. AROUND HALF OF THOSE ARE IN OUR NURSING HOMES, WHICH WE HAVE TWO OF IN OUR AREA.
SONYA (HORNSBY) – 6 YEARS IN ROLE. 230 INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS AND 13 NURSING HOMES THAT WE VISIT. THERE'S ME AND TWO OTHER STAFF AND A ASSISTANT PART-TIME AND I'M FULL-TIME AND YEAH. WE DO THE DELIVERY AND THE SELECTION HERE.
THERESA (BLUE MOUNTAINS) - ROLE IS THE OUTREACH AND MARKETING COORDINATOR. SO AMONGST OTHER THINGS, I SUPERVISE THE HOME LIBRARY SERVICE TEAM AS WELL AS CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMMING, CAREER SERVICES LIBRARY.
LOCKERS AND ALL THE EVENTS AND MARKETING. SO WE HAVE ABOUT 67 INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS AND THREE INSTITUTIONAL CLIENTS AT THE MOMENT IN OUR HOME LIBRARY SERVICE. WE'RE ALMOST AT CAPACITY. AND WE'VE ONLY BEEN GOING AS A HOME LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THREE YEARS. THIS GROUP WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US LEARN HOW TO GET OFF THE GROUND.
STEPHEN (SUTHERLAND) - I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS IN HOME LIBRARY. UM, THERE'S THREE OF US. THERE SHOULD BE THREE OF US , TWO FULL TIMERS AND 1 PART TIME (CURRENTLY VACANT). THERE'S ABOUT 340 MEMBERS.
NICKI (NORTHERN BEACHES) - I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 8 YEARS. WE CURRENTLY LOOK AFTER ABOUT 310 INDIVIDUALS.
WE GO TO, IN EXCESS OF 15 AGED CARE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BOOK CLUBS. WE ALSO GO TO THE NORTHERN BEACHES HOSPITAL AND DELIVER TO SOME OF THE WARDS UP THERE.
WE'RE ACTIVELY PROMOTING AT THE MOMENT AND TRYING TO GO MORE TOWARDS THE DISABILITY SECTOR RATHER THAN THE AGED CARE SECTORWE'RE A TEAM OF SIX. THERE ARE FIVE PART-TIMERS AND I'M FULL TIME.
AND WE DELIVER MOST DAYS OF THE WEEK OUT OF THE BRANCH THAT I WORK IN, APART FROM FRIDAYS. OTHER BRANCHES DELIVER SOLELY ON A WEDNESDAY AND THEN ONE BRANCH DELIVERS TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. WE'VE GOT IN EXCESS OF 20 VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER.
WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DELIVERIES DONE WITHOUT THE VOLUNTEERS. IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.
ANNA (WAVERLERY) – IN ROLE 2 YEARS, 28 HOURS PER WEEK, HAS DRIVER. 100 INDIVIDUALS AND 5 NURSING HOME/RETIREMENT VILLAGES.

VISION AUSTRALIA

STEPHEN – WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE VISION AUSTRALIA CATALOG TO MINIMIZE THE TIME SPENT DOWNLOADING. (ABOUT 1 MINUTE VERSUS AVERAGE 3-4 WITH CURRENT SYSTEM) CAN SPEND HOURS SOME DAY. PROBLEM - GETTING COUNCIL TO AGREE - THEY DON'T WANNA DOWNLOAD ANOTHER APP OR PROGRAM ONTO THE THE NETWORK. FOR YOU KNOW, THREE PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY TO USE THIS SPECIFIC PROGRAM. IN ADDITION - MANAGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY PATRON PROFILES, US MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE'S PASSWORD TO USE VISION AUSTRALIA FOR THEM. UM, THE COUNCIL LEGAL PEOPLE SORT OF SAID, OH, THAT'S A BIT OF A GREY AREA, DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH, SO.

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

PHRASE IT AS A DISABILITY DISCRIMATION AND ACCESS ISSUE LOOK AT GETTING THEM ON BOARD AS A TRIAL ISSUES WITH GOVERNANCE RE FORM FOR SIGNUPS – DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS. SELECTIONS - GENERALLY QUITE GOOD, EXTENSIVE AND UP TO DATE, SYSTEM CAN BE CLUNKY BUT EASY TO GET USED TO, CAN BE RUN IN THE BACKGROUND WHILE DOING OTHER THINGS. DELIVERY BAGS – ANNA – WAVERLEY, LOOKING FOR ADVISE ON PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT DELIVERY BAGS INNER WEST – HEAVY DUTY PVC VINYL , COOLER AND SATCHEL BAGS FROM CLAYTONS, CUSTOM ORDER INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS ONLY, BRANDING FADES OVER TIME, WATERPROOF, 2 SIZES – SMALL AND LARGE GOOD FOR PEOPLE WITH WRIST CONDITIONS, HI VIS COLOUR, DISINFECTED AFTER EACH DELIVERY, EASY TO STORE USES PLASTIC CONTAINERS FOR NURSING HOMES

NORTHERN BEACHES – CLAYTONS BAG, USED FOR ALL CLIENTS, 1 LARGER SIZE, ONLY 1 BROKEN IN 10 YEARS OF USE, FITS NICELY IN TROLLEY, DOUBLE STRAPPING AROUND BAG, CLEANS AFTER EVERY USE, HEAVY SMOKERS – PLACE OUTSIDE FOR A FEW DAYS AND SPRAY WITH GLEN 20

PENRITH – USES 6 COLOUR CODED BAGS, STANDARD NON WOVEN SHOPPING BAG LIKE WOOLLIES GREEN BAG, SMALL POCKET ON FRONT, LAST WELL – ONLY REPLACED IF DAMAGED OR DIRTY (MOST OVER 1 YEAR)

SUTHERLAND – STRONG PLASTIC BAG LIKE KIND USED IN SPECIALITY SHOPS PRINT OUT LABEL AND ADD DELIVERY DATE, USE SAME BAG EACH DELIVERY FOR CLIENT UNTIL UNUSEABLE – CAN BE 1 OR 10 USES DEPENDING, EASY TO STORE, FOLDS FLAT NOT SURE HOW FITS IN WITH COUNCIL’S PLASTIC BAG FREE POLICY

KIAMA – USE WOOLLIES STYLE BAG LIKE PENRITH, NOT WATERPROOF, CAN RETAIN SMELLS, UP TO 8 BOOKS – OTHERWISE TOO HEAVY, PRETTY PRACTICAL, RELATIVELY HARDY
CANADABAY – CANVAS TOTE BAG, CURRENTLY RE -DESIGNING TO A MORE HEAVY DUTY CALICO BAG - GREENPAC
SENIORS FESTIVAL EVENTS
CANADABAY – CHAIR YOGA, BINGO, STILL LIFE DRAWING WORKSHOP, AGED CARE TALKS
BLUE MOUNTAINS – 2 INTERGENERATIONAL STORYTIMES, CYBER SECURITY TALK, 2 UNDERSTANDING AGED CARE SEMINARS
WOOLLAHRA – FESTIVAL OF FUN BOOKLET – ALL SENIORS ACTIVITIES NOT JUST SENIORS FESTIVAL
EG. GRANDPARENTS DAY, BRAIN AND AGING DISCUSSION GROUP, FRENCH CONVERSATION
PENRITH – POP UP LIBRARY AT COUNCIL EVENTS, HISTORY WALK, AGED CARE TALK, 3D PRINTING INTRODUCTION, MOVIE MORNING, MORNING TEA PROVIDED AT EACH EVENT, PROGRAM SENT TO AGED CARE HOME IN CASE THEY WANT TO BRING RESIDENTS
SUTHERLAND – HOME LIBRARY CUSTOMERS – BUS TO LIBRARY TO SELECT OWN BOOKS, LIGHT MORNING TEA
LIBRARY IN GENERAL – HEALTHY AGING SEMINARS, AUTHOR TALK, FRAUD AWARENESS, MEMOIR WRITING
BURWOOD – FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP, LEGO BUILDING, STALL AT GALA LUNCH FOCUSING ON DIGITAL LIBRARY AND CYBER SAFETY
NORTH SYDNEY – RUNS BUS TO BOOKS MONTHLY, SOCIAL CONNECTION WITH SOME BORROWING

SPYDUS PROFILING INNER WEST – TAKES TIME TO SETUP, NOT REPLACEMENT FOR STAFF, BASIC SELECTION TOOL.

AI AS SELECTION ASSISTANT

LANE COVE TRIALING WITH HL CLIENTS – LOOKING TO PRESENT FINDINGS AT FUTURE READERS ADVISORY SEMINAR FINDS SELECTING TAKES LONGEST TIME USING CLAUDE- SET UP AS HLS ASSISTANT, TRAINED IN READERS ADVISORY, LITERATURE DATABASES ALLOWED TO SEARCH EG. GOODREADS– TITLES NEED TO MEET NUMBER OF RREVIEWS AND STAR RATINGS THRESHOLD UPLOAD SPREADSHEET WITH CLIENT PREFERENCES,EXCURSIONS, GENRES, AUTHORS, SHORT, SOFT COVERS,NO SWEARING ETC. PUT IN DATE RANGE TO MAXIMISE THE CHANCE OF HOLDING ITEMS SPITS OUT LIST OF TITLES AUTHORS – DOES NOT INTEGRATE WITH LIBRARY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COPY/PASTE INTO LIBRARY CATALOG TO SEE IF HELD CAN GET AURORA SPECIFIC SEARCHES -NARROWS DOWN SELECTION TO COPY/PASTE CAN UPLOAD SHOPPING CART – WILL GO THOUGH READER PROFILES TO CHECK FOR BALANCE. EG. IF COZY MYSTERY 25% WILL TELL IF TOO MUCH/NOT ENOUGH

SUTHERLAND – LIMITED USE , EG.TITLES IS THERE SWEARING

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT - DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS REGARDING DEATH AND DYING USE ACTIVE LISTENING MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE – WESLEY MISSION, ST JOHNS DEATH DOULA TRAINING PALLATIVE CARE ORGANISATIONS COUNCIL EAP LIFELINE – ACCIDENTAL COUNSELLOR COURSE

BOOKS FOR CLIENTS WITH COGNITIVE DECLINE

- DISCUSS WITH FAMILY ONGOING NEEDS DAMAGING ITEMS — GIVE WITHDRAWN BOOKS, DONATIONS, OLDER AUTHORS/TITLES NOT IN HIGH DEMAND EARLY DEMENTIA – GIVE TITLES PREVIOUSLY GIVEN 2-3 YEARS AGO, CHILDRENS PICTURE BOOKS (CAN BE THEMED), JUNIOR NON-FICTION (LARGE PICTURE, LIGHT TO HOLD), MAGAZINES, LINFORD MYSTERIES, WESTERNS AND ROMANCES (TIMELESS,LIGHT IN WEIGHT, NOT TOO GRAPHIC OR GRUESOME) BOOK HOLDERS

-PERSPEX RECIPE BOOK HOLDER SOFT TABLET HOLDER BOOK CUSHION BOOK PILLOW BOOK BEAN BAG