Program

Download PDF version of the program [173 KB]

Thursday 14 May 2009

Venue: State Library of Queensland

9.30 - 9.45 Welcome and overview of the day

9.45 - 10.15 Paper 1 – Collections
Sharon Thien. National Library Board – Singapore
Re-framing the reference collection for the Singapore Public Library

With changing customers’ information searching needs and seeming preference for online or electronic sources, the role of reference service and the rationale for maintaining large public library reference collections is increasingly being questioned and challenged especially during ‘value of money’ audits. This short presentation will highlight the National Library Board Singapore’s efforts in reviewing and revamping its public library reference collection with the aim to improve the efficient and effective use of its physical library spaces and collections so as to achieve better customer satisfaction through providing a responsive reference service at the public libraries. The lessons learnt and challenges faced during this work-in-progress journey will be shared in this presentation.

10.15 - 10.45 Paper 2 – Collections
Wang Shiwei. Shanghai Library – China
Special libraries development in Shanghai

Since 1930s, Shanghai has witnessed the appearance of some special libraries, including science & technology library, historical literature library, newspaper and periodical library, etc., which lay the cornerstone of Shanghai special libraries development.

By the end of the 20th century and from the beginning of the 21st century, vigorous efforts have been taken by the Shanghai municipal and district government in the construction of public libraries and in the establishment of the layout of central libraries which boosted new special libraries’ development and blossomed into maturity.

Among those special libraries, Bibliotheca Xujiahui builds the bridge of East-west cultural exchange; Cultural celebrities Manuscript Museum boasts a collection of contemporary cultural celebrities’ original manuscripts; Confucian classics Exhibition Hall, in Huangpu District reflects the Chinese ancient culture; Modern Literature Museum, in Yangpu District exhibits the modern municipal industry; Life Science Library is at the top-end of modern high technology; Changning Hongqiao International Library aims to cater for foreign inhabitants; Film literature finds its expression in the Film Library, in Hongkou District; so does visual arts in the Visual Arts Library in Fudan University. Additionally, special libraries are under construction in some about-to-be-completed district libraries.
With the establishment and the layout of these special libraries, the service of Shanghai city public library will be raised to a higher level.

10.45 - 11.15 Morning tea

11.15 - 11.45 Paper 1 - Capability and careers
Davorka Bastic and Tatjana Nebesny. Zagreb City Libraries – Republic of Croatia
Project lifelong learning in Croatia

Zagreb City Libraries provide library services to around 800 000 residents of the city of Zagreb, capital of the Republic of Croatia. The Libraries employ around 420 qualified library staff out of which 270 have a university degree. In line with the Libraries Act, library staff must be graduated librarians. Formal education is no longer sufficient for the performance of increasing tasks of librarians in public libraries. Therefore, Zagreb City Libraries organize a number of additional workshops, lectures, seminars and meetings that make librarians familiar with the new knowledge and skills in librarianship, literature and culture, and facilitate their professional work and work with library users.

In 2001, Zagreb City Libraries helped establish, in cooperation with the National and University Library of Zagreb, Department of Information Sciences, University of Zagreb and Croatian Library Association, the Training Centre for Continuing Education of Librarians, and in 2008 initiated the project Lifelong Learning of Librarians in Croatia.

This paper shall summarize the program of courses, the aims of the Centre and the new project that is intended to develop a program for lifelong learning of librarians based on learning outcomes.

11.45 - 12.15 Paper 2 - Capability and careers
Barbara Clubb. Ottawa Public Library - Canada
Vicki Whitmell Ontario Legislative Library, (Toronto, Ontario)
Ottawa Public Library’s Talent Plan: Succession and Leadership Planning

The presentation is based on a 2009 report entitled Ottawa Public Library’s Talent Plan: Succession and Leadership Planning. The report contains a labour force analysis and recommendations for:

Developing the leadership and management skills of current and future management staff
Developing the knowledge and abilities of key supervisors, team leaders and skilled professionals
Ensuring that the whole staff complement is well trained, multi-skilled, flexible, knowledgeable and adaptable and that the library’s organizational structure supports innovation, cross-training, knowledge transfer and communication among teams, groups, and departments.

The report’s recommendations support the Library Board’s Strategic Directions and Priorities 2008-2011, specifically to be an accountable and innovative organization by “Developing our People”. It also responds to the City of Ottawa’s focus on engaging employees and prepares the library organization to transition through the coming waves of baby-boomer retirements. The report also responds to a recent report of the City of Ottawa’s Auditor General which recommended that the Library develop a formal succession plan.

12.15 - 12.45 Paper 3 - Capability and careers
Debra Rosenfeldt. State Library of Victoria – Australia.
Workforce Sustainability and Leadership in Public Libraries: an Australian study

In recent years the library industry workforce has been described as being in a state of crisis. The workforce is ageing rapidly. Many libraries report difficulty in attracting new staff, especially younger staff and staff of a high professional standard. The same libraries say they have trouble holding onto talented staff. Numerous studies of these workforce issues have been undertaken around the world. In Australia, the State Library of Victoria and the Victorian public library network published in 2008 a report on their study of the issues, Workforce Sustainability and Leadership: survey, analysis and planning for Victorian public libraries. Using qualitative and quantitative methods the study investigated:

• the current skill level of the Victorian public library workforce;
• current training levels and training needs;
• recruitment and retention issues; and
• development opportunities.

It also developed recommendations for strategies aimed at increasing sustainability and leadership in the Victorian public library workforce over the next fifteen years. This paper will provide an overview of the study and present some of the key findings and recommendations.

12.45 - 13.15 Lunch

13.15 - 13.45 Discussion on today’s papers

13.45 - 14.45 Visit to GOMA [Gallery of Modern Art]
http://qag.qld.gov.au/

15.00 - 16.30 IFLA Metropolitan Libraries Section – Mid –Term Business meeting

18.30 Conference Dinner. Boardroom, State Library of Queensland

Download PDF version of the program [173 KB]

Last updated: 16 April 2009