Monday 18 May 2015

Attend and document a conference/workshop/presentation/event

PLVN Children's & Youth Seminar/Workshop - Theme 'Diversity' 
Friday 24 April, 2015 Bendigo Library.

View a detailed description of the seminar here  



The PLVN Children’s & Youth Service (CYS) Seminar on ‘Diveristy’ was a resounding success. Seventy three participants and twelve presenters journeyed to Bendigo for an educational and enlightening day. I have attended PLVN CYS seminars & workshops for nearly twenty years and I have always found them to be very informative, inspiring and great networking opportunities.

Program outline:-
  •          Introduction to the new Bendigo Library
  •          Libraries 2030 Presentation 
  •          ‘That’s my Auntie-using community publishing to engage vulnerable              children and families’ 
  •          Organising a literature festival for a diverse community
  •          Library programs for the Burmese Community
  •          Lego Therapy Program
  •          Youth Photography Competition
  •          Literacy needs and challenges in the diverse communities of the                  Bendigo area
  •          Picture Books for Older Readers: dealing with themes of diversity and          other issues. 
Professionally the ‘Youth Photography Competition was very interesting. We at SLIS have already discussed implementing our own version as part of the SLIS Literature Festival later in the year. A similar program was mentioned at a CYS seminar last year. It has been decided that instigating a Youth Photography competition at SLIS will be a worthwhile opportunity to attract this age group to the library.

It was also encouraging to learn of programs being provided to children with special needs. Especially the Lego therapy program at Hume library service which I thought was a wonderful and apt program. Using picture storyboards that explained where they were going and what to expect. To also explain acceptable behavioural expectations which can be a major barrier to children who are on the spectrum. Children’s Librarian Jo Kaeding, 2014 recipient of the Twila Ann Janssen Herr Research Award for Disability Services, asks “how public libraries can provide an opportunity for children with special needs and their families to be part of the community that they live in?” Her research project will investigate how Australian public libraries can provide and improve access for children with special needs and their families (Kaeding, J. 2014 & Kaeding, J 2014).  I have a personal interest in this information as I have made friends with a Down syndrome baby and his family who come to my storytime and have an autistic boy and his carer who occasionally visits just before we close on a Tuesday.

The added benefit of attending PLVN Children’s & Youth Seminars are the extra discussion points from the audience participants. Other professional or new programs are discussed in connection to the topic or themes. New knowledge and ideas willingly shared and best practices are highlighted and explained. Contact details and web addresses shared.

Additional information topics mentioned and further explored.

Autism Victoria. 
ACTNOW Autism Consultation & Training NOW.
Do2Learn: Educational Resources for Special Needs. 
Sue Larkey. 
Autism and Aspergers Resources for Teachers, Teacher Aides and Parents includes Workshops and Training.

Berry Street Family Service. 

Bridges out of Poverty training. 

Creative Communities: the cultural benefits of Victoria’s public libraries. 

Dolly Parton “Imagination program”. 

Hippy Australia, families learning together. 

Let’s Read program. 

Mother Goose program. 

Rosetta Stone pioneered the use of interactive software to accelerate language learning. 
http://www.rosettastone.co.uk/about 

Reference

Kaeding, J. (2014). Increasing access to public libraries for children with special needs and their families. The Australian Library Journal , 63(4). 320-324.

Kaeding, J. (2014). ALIA research grant to study accessibility for special needs children. Incite 35 (11/12). 17.

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