Description
For this post, I interviewed Lindy Allan the Library Service and Collection Coordinator, who is currently in charge of children services at Macquarie Regional Library in NSW. Through virtual correspondence, Lindy discussed current children programs, steps they take to include diversity as well as problems they face due to lack of funding and limited staff.
What did you learn?
Due to a lack of resources and limited staff, regional libraries have difficulties meeting the needs of the culturally diverse backgrounds and specials needs of their communities (L. Allan, personal communication, January 13, 2019). Regional libraries only offer a small number of non-English, resources and having little or no equipment on site for special needs. Larger libraries such as the State Libraries are aware of the difficulties regional libraries face and offer assistance when possible (State Library of NSW, 2017, pp. 8-14). This means that the libraries have to rely on the larger libraries, school libraries and community help centres to borrow resources and equipment when the need arise which leaves clients having to wait (L. Allan, personal communication, January 13, 2019). Unfortunately, along with the lack of resources, none of the current children programs encouraged or targeted those with culturally diverse backgrounds or with special needs (Macquarie Regional Library, 2018). State Library of NSW released a report which highlighted the significance of having targeted promotions and service aimed at those of diverse background and needs (State Library of NSW, 2017, p. 7).
How was the activity relevant to your professional practice working with children and/or young adults?
It is the role of a public library “to provide free membership and free access to its range of services and resources which are provided to all members of the community” (Australian Library and Information Association, 2012). This included any children with special needs and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and it is the role of the librarian provide support and assistance to ensure they can access the information and resource provided. By working closely with the community, council and other libraries, to prioritise resources, with immediate purchases and resource that can be borrowed from other institutes on a need basis. Having understood the communities needs and resource available allows librarians to provide the best possible assistance when need to all clients.
What gaps in your knowledge were revealed and how might you fill those gaps?
I was not aware of the growing large number of diverse backgrounds in Dubbo, with India, Philippines and Nepal being the three largest of the non-English countries of migrant (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2016). Through researching the last couple of Dubbo census (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016) and local newspapers (Rayner, 2017), I was able to see the increase in diversity in Dubbo’s population with a large percentage of migrants moving to Dubbo being families. I was surprised to find that Macquarie Regional Library also suffered from a lack of data being collected regarding their children programs and diversity in the library, with Lindy only able to give me her rough estimates, with no record currently being recorded (personal communication, January 13, 2019). Without proper data, it becomes difficult to identify an issue and to create a plan to deal with it. This means a section of the regional community is not able to access the information they need or aware of services provided for them.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). 2016 census quickstats. Retrieved from
http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SED10026
Australian Library and Information Association. (2012). Standards and guidelines for
Australian public libraries. Retrieved from https://www.alia.org.au/sites/default/files/documents/advocacy/PLSG_ALIA_2012.pdf
Macquarie Regional Library. (2018). Something for kids. Retrieved from
http://www.mrl.nsw.gov.au/programs-and-events/something-for-kids
Rayner, M. (2017, June 28). Dubbo becoming more culturally diverse according to ABS
statistics. Daily Liberal. Retrieved from https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/4758631/city-has-a-more-diverse-culture/
State Library of NSW. (2017). Multicultural library services in NSW public libraries 2017.
Retrieved from http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/multiculturallibraryservices_nsw_2017.pdf