Friday 24 April, 2015
Bendigo Library, 259 Hargreaves St, Bendigo
Chris Kelly (North Central Goldfields CEO) welcomed us to the new Bendigo Library.
She also discussed the “Read Project” which is a literacy framework that will build on what libraries already do and provide some shape and context to planning, supporting both adult and children literacy learning strategies. It will also provide some extra branding, that libraries can use to raise their profile. The committee has scrutinized UK and US models to help define best practice.
Karyn Seigmann (Manager Bayside Libraries) presented the Victorian Public Libraries 2030: Strategic Framework, Summary Report. The strategic framework was collaboration between PLVN and SLV with the support from strategic design agency Chasing Sunrises. The 2030 project assists Victorian public libraries to best prepare for the future and develop a clear and focused outlook.
Copy of the Summary Report can be found here
Copy of the Summary Report can be found here
Heidi Tucker & Kirsten Slifirski (Berry Street Family Services)
Heidi explained the history and function of the Berry Street organisation. Kirsten presented a PowerPoint presentation ‘That’s my Auntie – using community publishing to engage vulnerable children and families’
Early Learning is Fun (ELF)
Berry Street has developed 3 bilingual Play and Learn sheet sets specifically aimed at Sudanese, Karen and Afghan refugee communities and those with vulnerable backgrounds. They were designed for each community. They explain what learning development is going on and is re-framed to cultural practices in the community. The Play Sheets have faces and information and lifestyle featured which also reflects community faces and are part of a community education campaign.
Berry Street Family Service
Lisa D’Onofrio (Director, Castlemaine Children’s Literature Festival) discussed organising a literature festival for a diverse community.
Castlemaine Children's Literature Festival
VISION – low cost, high quality, child-centred and participatory, literature related program.
AIM -- child centre assisted and partnered with community organisations, inclusion and accessibility.
AFFORDABILITY – worked with other services, such as youth and social workers to assist in giving out free tickets. One the festivals objectives are to keep prices to minimum while still paying the presenters of the programs.
During the discussion Lisa informed us that as part of the festival they had arranged for Jackie French (Children’s Laureate) to visit the local prison. This then open up a debate of possible literacy learning opportunities that could be established in prisons. For example a picture book box so that inmates could read to their children on visiting days, with books helping to ease relations. Male prisons have less education/parental programs in place than women’s. Also a borrowing arrangement similar to home library services was suggested.
Castlemaine Children's Literature Festival.
Castlemaine Children's Literature Festival.
Lunch/Library tours and networking opportunities
Peter Head (Brimbank Libraries) talked about their library programs for the Burmese Community. He discussed the significance of researching community demographics to work out target group strategies. Peter also talked about the importance of establishing a key contact with a respected community member/elder who supported and participated in the program. How necessary it is to reach out to women who are isolated at home and the benefits of learning English through storytime or offering bilingual storytime programs. Women have been successfully engaged by the Brimbank library service and now looking to target the males, for example running evening sessions.
OUTCOME – increase in Burmese membership and attendance of library events, for example coming to general storytime. They are more comfortable dealing with council more broadly as an organisation. With ongoing visits by Burmese mothers groups to the library.
OUTCOME – increase in Burmese membership and attendance of library events, for example coming to general storytime. They are more comfortable dealing with council more broadly as an organisation. With ongoing visits by Burmese mothers groups to the library.
Brimbank Libraries
Lego Therapy Program with Hume Libraries partnered with Sunbury Community Health.
Naomi Forster (Speech Pathologist – Sunbury Early Intervention)
Kat Taylor (Hume Libraries)
The early intervention team used lego as a learning platform for children on the autism spectrum. The team had identified a need for a therapeutic program placed in a key community setting eg. The library.
It was scheduled when the library was closed to provide space and environment suitable for the children’s needs. This helped parents feel comfortable in the library as they don’t feel like their child is being disruptive, which is a common feeling they often experience in attending spaces with children on the spectrum.
Picture Storyboards where used that explained where they were going and what to expect. They also explained acceptable behavioural expectations which can be a major barrier to participants.
Outcomes - repeat visits to the program, attendance to school holiday programs, the library now runs a stand-alone program called ‘Lego learners’ that some of the children attend. "Minecraft’ is another platform for this type of learning program.
Sensory or Special needs storytime occurs at other libraries, for example Mill Park and Greater Dandenong.
Further Information
Autism Victoria
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/scs/psychiatry/developmental/clinical-research/act-now/fact-sheets.html
Do2learn: Educational Resources for Special Needs
Do2learn: Educational Resources for Special Needs
Sue Larkey
Autism and Aspergers Resources for Teachers, Teacher Aides and Parents includes Workshops and Training.
Lindy Dadd & Rosanna Ricchiuti (Darebin Libraries) discussed their “It starts with us” Youth Photography Competition which they present as part of National Youth Week. Entrants must be13-18 year olds, library members, attend school (to assist non-members) or are residents of the City of Darebin. As part of the entry conditions photos are then owned by library service for library promotion and published on National Youth Week website. Photographs are judged by a local photography club.
Future strategies; photography workshops held at library before the competition.
Other possible themes could be poetry slams, short films.
Darebin Libraries could create digital display of all entrants in the future.
Darebin Library Service
It starts With Us photography competition
Dr Sue King-Smith (Program Manager, Community Capacity Building Unit, St Luke’s/Anglicare) spoke about the ‘Literacy needs and challenges in the diverse communities of the Bendigo area’.
St Lukes/Anglicare aim was to promote early literacy to the diverse communities in the Bendigo area. On examining vulnerable people within the community officials kept coming up against the term ‘hard to reach’ when in discussion with community organisations. On further examination the concept of ‘hard to reach’ people and underlying that term is the barrier of class. A particular concern was intergenerational poverty.
Another particular concern was that 0-3 year olds were not getting key literacy skills, such as talking, reading and singing. One strategy that was instigated was to use hospital staff members to promote key literacy messages by handing out ‘Lets Read Kits’
· Let’s Read program
· Set up ‘Gorilla’ libraries and storytimes in shopping centres.
· Establish Dolly Parton “Imagination program”
For every child in the program, one age appropriate book every month.
Sarah Mayor Cox (Lecturer, Literacy Education, Latrobe University, Bendigo) theme was Picture Books for Older Readers: dealing with themes of diversity and other issues. Sarah gave us a sneak peak at a picture book by Nadia Wheatly called “Flight” that was still in production with the publishers. A simple traditional story shown with stark poignant images, modernised. Refugee’s then and now.
Reference
Autism Consultation & Training Now. (2015). ACTNOW. Retrieved from
http://www.med.monash.edu.au/scs/psychiatry/developmental/clinical-research/act-now/fact-sheets.html
Autism Victoria. (2015). Retrieved from
Berry Street Family Service. (2015). Retrieved from
Brimbank Libraries. (2015). Retrieved from
Castlemaine Children's Literature Festival. (2015). Retrieved from
Darebin Library Service (2015). Retrieved from
It starts With Us photography competition
Dolly Parton “Imagination program”. (2015). Retrieved from
Larkey, S. (2015). Autism and Aspergers Resources for Teachers, Teacher Aides and Parents includes Workshops and Training. Retrieved from
Victorian Public Libraries 2030: Strategic Framework, Summary Report. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.plvn.net.au/sites/default/files/20130528%20FINAL%20VPL2030%20Summary%20Report_web.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment