Libraries and me: How I got to where I am.

When I was a child, the library was my friend.

When I was a teen, the library was my escape.

When I was in University, the library was my study companion.

Now, as an adult, the library is my future.

Libraries mean different things to different people and as we age, our perceptions of libraries change. The way that I view and treat libraries is much developed from the way I did in my childhood years, and it is this change that makes the bond that I have with libraries feel like an old friendship.

It is this bond and friendship which explains the wonderful warm feeling that I felt when first I considered changing my career path from Primary teaching to library work. When my best friend suggested I consider joining her in library work, I giggled with joy at the thought of making such a wonderful industry my own career. The world that had started as a doorway to my imagination had become a doorway to a lifetime of learning and educating possibilities, surrounding myself with books and creative pathways and allowing me to open doors for others, from intuitive children, to solitary teens, to enthusiastic students, to interested adults like myself.

When entering the teaching industry, during an interview, I stated that I saw teaching as a gift. That, to be a teacher would be a privilege. That to be the person responsible for introducing pathways of learning to children would be a pleasure that I would strive to earn. But now I look back and realise, to be a librarian is a greater gift, for as a librarian, you open those pathways to children, but also to people of all ages and walks of life. That is the true privilege.

Libraries as a community

Many would state that libraries are a pivotal part of the surrounding community, but few recognise libraries as a community in themselves. In this post I will explore this concept and discuss the relevance of community as a term for libraries.

 

Community has two distinct commutative meanings: 1) Community can refer to a usually small, social unit of any size that shares common values, and 2) in biology, a community is a group of interacting living organisms sharing a populated environment. The latter is generally accepted as the relevant definition when referring to the community that a public library serves, but it is the former to which I refer in this post. This brief, summarising definition refers to shared ‘common values’ but linked to this is the sharing of interests, goals, advice and resources in order to strive toward attaining and projecting these common values.

 

Libraries can be referred to as a community because they share interests, goals, advice and resources, striving through the support of one another and a constant thread of networking. While you may walk into your local library and ask for a book that you cannot locate on the shelf, the librarian may be contacting 5 other libraries in the neighbouring networks in order to find a copy of that book and in doing so strengthen the connections between the libraries and develop contacts for the service of both the libraries, the staff and the public. Academic libraries often trade resources and it is quite common for libraries, during weeding, to offer their weeded resources to other libraries that may be interested in them. This networking system of trust and reliance builds up this sense of community and ensures that each library is strong and able to serve its local community to the best of its individual ability.

Libraries as a business

One way in which many people never see libraries is as a business. When a library exists as a free public service, it becomes difficult to see it as a business because it breaks the specific rules by which a person would identify a business, primarily that all services will cost something, whether an exchange of money, goods or services. The library does not require an exchange of anything other than trust, care and reliability.

 

However, libraries are a business and, since they exist in all areas of the world, the business is booming. So how does the library, as a business, work in a world where money talks and everything costs something?

 

Most libraries are linked to councils and as such, most libraries run on an income from the council, a little extra money coming from the community through donations and fees. However, there are many libraries around the world which are privately owned, but publicly accessible and are thus not funded by any government group. In these cases the libraries must be funded and supported by anyone who wishes to assist. Many such small libraries hold fundraisers or ask for donations in order to manage the collection and maintain the services that they offer and, thankfully, many members of the community recognise the value of the service offered by the library and they assist whenever able.

 

But, as with all businesses, libraries do need significant funds in order to not only maintain the resources of their collection, but also to purchase new resources to ensure that the collection is current and relevant to all users. Weeding is a necessary process to ensure that the collection stays as useful and appreciated as possible, and weeding can also lead to a potential option for fundraising to feed back into the library service. Many libraries quite often have the option for selling on the books that are weeded from the collection so that people can own books rather than needing to return them, and in turn, the library gets some money that can feed into the continuous growth and development of the collection.

 

So when you are next in your local library, consider the costs of maintaining this service which you possibly take for granted. Not only in managing the environment, but also in ensuring that you have access to new books, in good condition and often access to the internet for all people. And maybe while you’re considering these costs, make a donation to help a library out.

Libraries as a space

I have spoken extensively on this blog about the service that libraries offer to their communities in terms of encouraging reading, developing knowledge and inspiring creativity, but I have not yet explored the other ways that libraries can be seen and used. In this and the next two posts I will explore the library as something other than a library as we see it in our primary interpretation. I will start this by exploring libraries as a space.

 

Libraries are, more often than not, a public space. Excluding for a moment those exclusive libraries that have a limited availability or a restricted community, we can look at libraries as a service for the community in terms of a useable space.

 

The library space can be employed by library staff in many ways, some of which are the workshops or training opportunities for members of the community. Most public libraries will offer private areas which can be employed for these purposes, from technology training seminars, to author visits, to childcare programs. These scheduled events and programs can be managed in the library space and the fact that the library is a comforting public space leads to those involved in these sessions being considerably more at ease in that environment.

 

The library offers a space to the individual also, allowing a person of any race, age, education or wealth to find a corner of the library and disappear into any world they so choose. The library is an environment conducive to escapism, offering a space of quiet, comfort and endless supply of imaginative worlds to leave the real world and advance, if only for a moment, into a world of your own. This interpretation of library as a space truly illustrates the value of the library to its patrons.

Libraries throughout time

The history of the library has been traced back to approximately 1200 BCE, with a palace library, temple library, and two private libraries excavated in Syria. From that time, libraries began popping up around the world at many locations such as Nineveh, Alexandria, in Catholic Monasteries across Medieval Europe, and gradually across the entirety of the globe. The Library of Alexandria in Egypt is certainly one of the most historically recognised and popular, partly due to the historical significance of its collection, and partly due to its untimely demise in a fire, leaving the collection a pile of collected ashes. The devastation that still carries through the years because of this tragedy echoes with the message of the importance of this kind of knowledge to the world. The fact that many libraries have been destroyed intentionally only serves to strengthen this belief in the power of knowledge and learning. Many people who sought throughout the years to control the people have feared the influence of the library, being an accessible pathway to knowledge. Knowledge is power, and power is freedom.

 

One of the biggest changes in the structure of the library from its early beginnings to its state today is the public accessibility of the collection, many libraries serving as public local libraries which are open to all members of the public, regardless of age, race, education or wealth. Rather than this supply of information serving as a divider to separate the elite from the common, the library serves as the great equaliser, the information being made available to all people of all backgrounds. The library encourages learning and serves to inspire people to improve their minds and stimulate critical thinking.

 

We are a long shot from what we once were and that is why, regardless of how some people fear for the future of the library, I am excited to be entering this great industry. To think that I am aligning myself with an industry which is just as passionate about encouraging learning and creativity is SO thrilling and I simply cannot wait to get started.

Marvellous Mem Meets Meek Mumbling Me

The amazing woman has been and gone! The Wollongong Library’s author visit with Mem Fox went splendidly on the weekend and many great new memories were made. Mem was as charming as ever and a large number of children turned up to hear her speak and to meet her. It amazes me to see someone who is still so motivated to write and create after all these years, Mem being one of my own favourite authors from my childhood. She presents as an energetic and fun-loving person and she immediately captured the imagination of all children (and adults) present. Those at the library will never forget this wonderful author visit and Mem has the eternal gratitude of all involved. Below are some candid shots that I took during the author visit. Hope you didn’t miss this great day.  

^_^

Further Information about Marvellous Mem

In the approach of the author visit of the amazing Mem Fox, I have decided to present a brief biography of this inspiring woman, with information drawn from her personal website (http://www.memfox.net/ - well worth a visit if you have the time). For more information about the author visit please see the blog post from earlier today, “Author Visit Approaching”.

Mem Fox was born in Australia, grew up in Africa, studied drama in England, and returned to Adelaide, Australia in 1970. She is Australia’s best loved picture-book author.  Her first book, Possum Magic, has sold over four million copies and is still the best-selling children’s book in Australia, 29 years after its publication.

She has written over 40 books for children among which are the perennial favourites: Possum Magic, Time for Bed and Where Is The Green Sheep?; and several books for adults also, including her best-selling book for parents: Reading Magic: how your child can learn to read before school and other read aloud miracles. Her book: Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes was on the New York Times best-seller list for 18 weeks in 2008—2009 and also won best book for young children at the 2010 Turin International Book Festival in its Italian edition. Her books have been translated into 19 languages.

Mem Fox was an Associate Professor of Education at Flinders University in Adelaide where she taught teachers for 24 years until her early retirement in 1996. She has received many honors and awards from various Australian governments and other organisations for services to literature, as well as three honorary doctorates for her work in literacy. She has visited the USA over 100 times as both a consultant in literacy and as an author. She keeps threatening to retire but never quite gets around to it as she is always finding something new to write about or shout about.

Mem Fox’s Ten Read Aloud Commandments

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud.

2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read.

3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.

4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.

5. Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time.

6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.

7. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short.

8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child’s name and yours, remembering that it’s never work, it’s always a fabulous game.

9. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books.

10. Please read aloud every day, mums and dads, because you just love being with your child, not because it’s the right thing to do.

The Developing Form of Nonfiction Resources

The problem which arises with nonfiction resources is that, in the absence of fantasy or a fictional tale, many children automatically perceive it to be uninteresting and certainly not the preferable option when browsing their school or local library. It is the aim of nonfiction suppliers and creators to make the nonfiction genre a more engaging and enticing option for all ages, to create in children, from a young age, a passion for learning.

One of the emerging trends is the presentation of nonfiction as a picture book, writing a fictional story about a specific topic and interweaving it with facts and educational information so that the nonfiction information is more accessible for younger readers and more enjoyable. Two strong examples of this strategy are ‘Python’ by Christopher Cheng and ‘Bilby Secrets’ by Edel Wignell. ‘Python’ tells a story about a python, while also educating the reader about pythons, ‘combining informative facts with a lyrical, mesmerizing narrative, and with expressive illustrations’ (Cheng, C 2013). ‘Bilby Secrets’, in a similar fashion, ‘features two kinds of text on each double-page spread: a lyrical text and a descriptive one – each in a different font’ (Wignell, E. 2013). This process educates the reader while they enjoy a fictional tale. Both of these books were nominated for Children's Book Council of Australia awards, so this strategy is clearly an effective one for promoting the nonfiction category.

Another trend emerging in the nonfiction sector is the introduction of interactivity with a text, encouraging a stronger feeling of involvement between reader and resource. Two very relevant examples of this are ‘Surrealism for kids’, a publication by Queensland Art Gallery, and ‘Press here’ by Herve Tullet. ‘Surrealism for kids’ introduces the reader to a variety of surrealist artists and their works, but the pages of information are then partnered by pages of craft and interactive activities to encourage the reader to engage with the surrealist art movement and experiment with the variety of art forms explored by the artists discussed in the text. ‘Press here’ is a simple, interactive book which gives directions to the reader to touch and interact with the page, appearing to then affect the next page in the text. This level of interactivity leads to a stronger connection with the text and therefore a greater permanency to the facts learnt from the text.

Another trend, which works along a similar strain as the previous two, is the strategy of changing the format of books, mixing text and images with no direction as to an order for reading. An example of a text which employs this strategy is ‘Stuck on History: the story of Australia in stamps’ by Chris Miles. This book presents information in a varied, broken up formation, with images intermingled freely with blocks of text, graphs and tables, and interactive questions and activities.

One of the most significant trends now facing the creators of texts, both fiction and nonfiction, is the strategy of redefining what is reading and what is a book. The above listed trends all work with this same theme of challenging the ‘norm’ and attempting to develop a new understanding of how things ‘should’ be done. An example of this is the text, ‘Composition No. 1’ by Marc Saporta, a ‘book-in-a-box’ which claims that it “can be read in any order” (Visual Editions, 2013). This text, while originally published in 1963, is becoming very popular recently due to the challenge that it makes to the accepted book format. The fact that it challenges the restrictions that are usually placed on texts is what makes it so enticing for the reader and thus it is not surprising that this strategy is being employed by a wider range of resource suppliers to encourage further engagement with texts.

 

Author Visit Approaching!

Wollongong Public Library has just made the exciting announcement that they will be hosting the venerable author, Mem Fox in an Author Visit this weekend. Mem Fox, who is in the area for an authors’ conference has agreed to make an appearance at the local library, discussing her latest publications, doing a public reading of one of her books and taking questions from those present.

The visit has been added to by the inclusion of a sausage sizzle lunch and a follow-up Possum Magic craft activity for children 12 years and under. People of all ages will be welcome and Mem has stated that she is happy to take photos with anyone who wishes it.

The event is on this Saturday the 14^th of September and will run from 11am to 2pm, Mem speaking from 11:30 to 12:30. See you all there!

Local Libraries vs School Libraries

I find myself, when thinking on libraries as a service in general, thinking of public libraries more often than otherwise. There are, however, so many other types of libraries which serve the public in so many different industries and areas. Many companies and public services have personal libraries which serve their own personal needs, such as hospitals, banks, museums and galleries. There are mobile libraries, government parliamentary libraries and the most common of all: school libraries.

I am currently completing a work placement at a primary school library and I am learning a lot about how each library differs, especially how a school library differs from a public library. There is of course the obvious difference that there are no adult (or even young adult in the case of a primary school) fiction books, but there are also a variety of other differences in the use and relevance of a public school library.

A Public Primary School library is generally made up of a group of different collections, including the basic fiction and non-fiction sections, a selection of ‘big books’, an array of guided reading resources, and an extensive collection of teacher resources (which can be a combination of books, other written texts, video and audio or games and tools). The fiction section is itself divided into a number of categories, often separating picture books from chapter books, Premier’s Reading Challenge books from those unlisted, and books in a series from standalone texts. The non-fiction section is generally divided by the Dewey Decimal system. This system is also generally applied to the shelving of teacher resources, however the resources are also generally shelved first according to the KLAs to which they are relevant, DDC organising them within these KLA categories.

This differs from a public library in a number of ways. The primary difference between the two is the different client groups, the public library serving all groups of the general public, and the school library serving the needs of the students and the staff. In a public library, the fiction section is generally divided by genre and then by author, and the format of the book is rarely taken into consideration when shelving. The public library serves across all areas and therefore so must their collection and thus the collection is not only more plentiful, but also more varied. Where a public library is a place for browsing, borrowing, researching and leisure, the school library is primarily a place of learning, classes being constantly taught in the library space on topics from all areas and enriching the students’ knowledge of books, culture and the world around them.

In the end, despite their differences, these two libraries work together to encourage and pursue constant learning and enrichment. The public library offers free access to information and literature, whilst the school library offers an application of that literature to encourage further exploration and to imbue a young generation with a passion for literary pursuits. A gift for the future that is beyond value.

Books for Free?!?

“I’ve not been a member of a library since I was about ten years old so I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but I figured you’d have to pay something to join and something to take each book out and it would take ages like everything else does to join or sign up for nowadays. So I was stunned when the lady behind the counter explained it was free to take a book out, free to join and you could prolong your borrowing of a particular book beyond the three week deadline online. Plus you can order a book and they’ll get it in for you for 80p. So that was it, all of it’s free. No wonder those that use libraries regularly are up in arms about proposed closures of them. It just strikes me as something a nation can boast about – we lend people books for free” – James Brown

Having grown up in libraries, I don’t remember the first time I realised, with awe, the wonder of being able to take a book, or even a pile of books, home for no charge whatsoever. In our world where everything has a cost, this is a rare and wonderful concept. For that short time, you can have those books in your home and you can explore them at your leisure, diving between the pages and immersing yourself in that strange new world. I often forget how unique this concept is and it is certainly difficult to put myself into that child mind in which I can truly appreciate what this service means.

I was reminded of this awe a few days ago when I was waiting at the circulation desk for service behind a young mother and her 3-4 year old child. He wore his mother’s handbag over one shoulder, he was hugging four books to his chest and it was becoming clear that this was four more than he could hold at once with ease, but when his mother reached down to take the books from him he squalled as though she was tearing life itself from his grasp. She dropped down to squat before him and held out her hands, while explaining that they were taking the books home for a while and he would get to read them as much as he wanted. The boy slowly placed the books in his mother’s hands and then grappled with her handbag, handing her wallet to her (an obviously practised pastime for them). The mother smiled and laughed and said that they didn’t have to pay dollar-dollars this time. The librarian was going to let them take the books for free. In an almost comical fashion, the boys arms dropped to his sides and his mouth fell open in a gaping ‘O’ as he realised what this meant. The mother quickly completed the loan, but throughout that process and all the way to the exit as she led him by the hand, the boy carried the face of astonishment and kept looking back at the circulation desk as if to make sure that this was real.

This little moment made me grin from ear to ear and it made me think of how truly astonishing this service is, when it comes down to it. Everything has a cost. Everything must make a profit. We have been told this throughout our lives and it has been confirmed by the services offered to us, so it is no small wonder that when encountering the library service for the first time, astonishment prevails.

12 Amazing Libraries: an exploration of libraries around the world

Every library that I enter, I love for one reason or another. Here is a list of 12 amazing libraries, some which I have had the pleasure of visiting, and some which I would love to see with my own eyes.

Trinity College Library - University of Dublin

 

I am so glad that I was able to visit this absolutely spectacular library during my holiday to Ireland in 2008. The building itself is awe-inspiring, the collection made me speechless and just walking through this incredible place felt like a dream. The Book of Kells is on display in the library and the tour that people can go on around the campus is very informative in regards to both the Book of Kells and the Library itself. This Library is a must for the European traveller.

Library of Congress - Washington, D.C.

 

This architectural wonder is effectively the national library of the United States and the oldest federal cultural institution in the US. The design of this incredible building leaves you speechless and I have no doubt that if I ever get to see it in person, it will be even more incredible.

 

 

Admont Abbey Library - Austria

The Admont Abbey in Austria is the largest monastic library in the world, it has a long-established scientific collection, and is known for its Baroque architecture and collections of art and manuscripts. The incredible interior design looks like a cross between a beautiful painting and the inside of a very fancy dollhouse. I would love to see this glorious place and lose myself in its collection.

 

 

Bibliotheca Alexandrina - Alexandria, Egypt

Constructed in memorium of the original Library of Alexandria, which was tragically destroyed in a great fire many years ago, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina celebrates knowledge and attempts to glorify the cultural significance of the once great library. The outside appearance of this incredible place is astonishing and the interior is just as glorious and if I were ever to travel to Egypt I would ensure that this was on my list of must-see locations.

 

 

Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego

This very distinctive building is the main library building on the University of California, San Diego campus and contains four of the campus libraries, (the Arts Library, the Mandeville Special Collections Library, the Science & Engineering Library and the Social Sciences & Humanities Library. The 'lantern' design rises 8 stories to a height of 33.5 m and is one of the most recognisable of the libraries from around the world. I would love to see this gorgeous building, if only to say that I have been there.

 

 

Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

 - New Haven, Connecticut

 

This incredible library is the largest building in the world reserved exclusively for the preservation of rare books and manuscripts. I can say very little about this location other than whenever I look at the pictures of it, I just want to be there. I think that is truly the best measure of a beautiful library.

 

 

Abbey Library of St. Gall - Switzerland

 

This library is truly spectacular and it makes me think that working there would be quite akin to being in a fairytale. The library collection is the oldest in Switzerland and is comprised of almost 160,000 volumes. The artistry in its construction is breathtaking and I would love to see it someday.

 

 

Angelica Library - Rome, Italy

 

This elegant library holds about 180 000 volumes of manuscripts and has been open to the public since 1609. The simplicity of its design sets it apart from some of the more elaborate libraries in this list but I believe it truly demonstrates the beauty of its collection and represents what a library is supposed to be.

 

 

Bristol Central Library - Bristol, U.K.

 

I hesitate to say any more than this of the Bristol Central Library: It looks like a freaking CASTLE! The incredibly beautiful architecture is the work of Charles Holden from 1906 and it presents a very empowering, yet intimidating figure in College Green. It appears that going there would feel like going back in time but, as with all libraries, it is a doorway to every time ever experienced, and some yet to come.

 

 

Taipei Public Library - Beitou Branch

 

The first and most obvious point of the Beitou Library is its absolute immersion in nature. The library is renowned for being constructed to be an eco-friendly green building and is thus not only good for your body and your mind, but also good for the environment around us. Being eco-friendly is a very suitable thing for libraries to lean towards and I am always proud of the industry when I discover another library which has taken the environment into consideration. A plus for this library is that they were able to do so while also making an incredibly beautiful building.

 

 

Old Market Library - Min Buri, Bangkok

 

Another beautiful library which challenges the 'norm' of what a library is or must be, this little library is the renovation of the old market space, which was burned down by a fire and left empty for almost 11 years. The community atmosphere surrounding this project library is strong and the library offers a quiet space where people can relax, read, converse and enjoy a world of culture in comfort and acceptance. It is libraries like this one, which challenge the library 'norm' which are bringing libraries into the 21st century.

 

 

Mitchell Library - Sydney, Australia

 

And finally, another which I have had the pleasure of visiting. Situated as part of the State Library of NSW, Australia, the Mitchell library houses the collection donated by David Scott Mitchell along with many newly added resources acquired over the past hundred or so years. This well-lit reading room is an aspiring librarian's dream, with three levels of bookcases surrounding the room, an extensive card catalogue and, in general, absolute silence. The place has a feeling of awe about it and serves to strengthen my wish to be involved in this amazing industry as soon as possible.

 

I hope you have enjoyed this exploration of the amazing libraries from around our incredible world. if you haven't in a while, perhaps you should pop down to your local library and see what makes it unique. You never know, another beautiful library could be just around the corner.

Developing World – How libraries are changing to stay relevant

"In this digital age you could be forgiven to think libraries will soon become a thing of the past." - Kathleen Dyett

 

It is the age old fight, to ensure that what we do is just as relevant as the world around us develops and changes. It is the same across all industries. As technologies advance and new understandings of our world emerge, the industry must adjust accordingly. Libraries are among the most affected by the changing world, as access to information is one of the main elements of our lives that develops most significantly with technology.

 

The internet was a very significant development for the information industry and for many years, the library industry attempted to 'soldier on' without the assistance of or alliance with the internet. After it became clear that the internet wasn't a 'passing fad', libraries began to accept internet search options as a beneficial option for a search for quick information, but being aware of the superiority of their more detailed fact finding abilities.

 

When it became clear that internet searches were becoming the main step that the general public would take in order to answer their questions about life, the universe and everything, libraries began associating themselves with the major search engines, aligning their own skills with those of the developers of these 'information highways' and working to develop a more user friendly pathway to answers. It is through this partnership that we now have resources such as Google Scholar as well as the countless e-resources and online catalogues for library services, offering a plethora of information at the simple touch of a button.

 

Today, when you walk into a library, you see an environment of unity between the world of book knowledge, and the world of advanced technology and it wouldn't be foolish to suggest that they are like two peas in a pod.

Jim Barlow-Oregon, 2013 - http://www.futurity.org/how-librarians-survived-the-search-engine/

Kathleen Dyett, 2013 - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-13/libraries-use-novel-approach-to-ensure-digital-future/4884594?section=act



A Tour Of My Local Library

 

There are many libraries that I love, but here is a video tour of my local.

Wollongong City Public Library is situated in the centre of the city and serves the community effectively, supplying resources and entertainment to all ages and social groups.

 

 

If you get the chance, it's worth a visit.