MISSION
WestLit Libraries (WLL) leads and encourages collaboration between Western Sydney Libraries to transform our respective communities through life-long learning, innovation, networking, resource sharing, and access to literature-related programs and events.
PURPOSE
Purpose of committee/group
• Coordinating traveling exhibitions, author talks, and training.
• Evaluating/benchmarking literature programs, resources, and services in Western Sydney.
• Developing partnerships and new programs relating to writing/literature.
• Seeking funding and other opportunities for the zone to improve literature development.
• Developing Writers Groups/Resident Authors for Library Services.
• Increasing the presence of local authors in Library collections in Western Sydney.
• Promotions and advocacy of libraries to the richness of the arts and culture of Western Sydney.
ROLE OF GROUP MEMBERS
• The committee is an activators committee, a working group with support from the Library managers.
• The role of committee members is to report back to their managers what is happening at the meeting.
• The Library managers will raise the committee at the next managers meeting to bring on the other library services
Our initial priorities were 1. Brand recognition 2. Webpage 3. Joint programming
What have we achieved?
• Development of a logo and commitment in the group to use it on library promotional material for literature events
• Sharing of what other libraries are doing and inspiring as we all work on the smell of an oily rag
• Audit of literature events at the libraries
• WestWords has WestLit Libraries listed as partners and records information about our events https://www.westwords.com.au/projects/westlit-libraries/ as a result of the audit
• When WestWords won the Commonwealth Bank Excellence in Arts & Culture in the 2020 Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence! Michael Campbell thanked the public libraries of WestLit for their support
• Living Stories writing competition in partnership with WestWords and WestLit Libraries and CreateNSW
• WestWords was successful in getting funding for CreateNSW “Making Places” due to connection with Libraries and finding suitable spaces in particular local government places such as Webberburn in Campbelltown and Dennis Johnson Library, Stanhope Gardens (Blacktown)
• Working with an array of organisations o WestWords o BAD festival o Paint the Town REaD o This is not limited. Any organisation can and will be approached to be involved in this group that supports literature and literacy in Western Sydney.
Other organisations to follow up are: Sweatshop SLNSW with IndyReads regarding a curated collection of Western Sydney books and authors
• Audit of display capacity in member libraries
• Explored grant options as joint members o Supporting WestWords in their funding (Letters of support) o Science Week funding (Not received)
• Displays across our libraries o Numerous displays transported across the WestLIt Libraries