Queensland, Australia: City Looks to Commercialise #Libraries ow.ly/kt34S via @infodocket Tip: @mattrweaver

— Library Journal (@LibraryJournal) April 26, 2013

A short time later I found the article on our local newspaper website – The Gold Coast Bulletin.

City looks to commercialise libraries (April 27, 2013) by Stephanie Bedo.

ABC Gold Coast (on Facebook) is asking what locals think about having to pay to check out books, and if collection development preferred e-books over print resources. Check out their responses.

Letters to the Editor

LIBRARY

The Gold Coast Bulletin
Apr 29 2013

I FIND it amazing we can’t afford library services but can afford the exorbitant wages of councillors and CEOs like Dale Dickson. – Grasshopper AS much as libraries are nice relaxing places and a good place to store records on paper, Colette McCool’s…read more…

Facts & Figures about Gold Coast Library Services – one of the busiest public libraries in Australia.

Public Libraries advocacy resources from ALIA

How do libraries reassert their identity as providers of balanced and significant information in the age of Google? That’s the question of the day.

Follow the hashtag #LiGW2012 on Twitter or you can see them captured as a set using CoveritLive at Kathryn Greenhill’s blog – Librarians Matter.

SLQ plans to provide the event as a webcast for those of us who can’t attend.

This seemed like a very appropriate image to use – Google autosuggest about libraries.

Image by herzogbr used under a Creative Commons licence.

Which library that you have visited has the most eye-catching, mind-boggling architecture? Links to your photos would be great. The one that I found quite fetching and that I have a photograph of is University of Otago Central Library.

“If you were designing the sort of information-processing system a brain is, it would be extremely impractical to store memories permanently in their original form. You need mechanisms for transforming and recording them; for chunking information into categories. Is your memory a phonograph record on which the information is stored in localized grooves to be replayed on demand? Is so, it’s a very bizarre record, for the songs are different every time they’re played. Human memory is more like the village storyteller; it doesn’t passively store facts but weaves them into a good (coherent, plausible) story, which is recreated with each telling. “
Judith Hooper Teresi

Does that make the librarian the curator of village stories?

“We are amazed by the accomplishments of the organizations currently delivering electronic content – companies like Apple (iTunes), Netflix, Hulu and Amazon – and believe a core question guiding our work must be: “If they can do this so well, why aren’t libraries offering similar electronic content services?” We seek the answers to this question, and plan to help solve the problem for and with libraries.” — http://libraryrenewal.org/about/

Research and online events are promised. Check it out.

Benjamin Wheal from the South Australian Library & Information Network (SALIN) Committee wrote to tell us about their latest exploit.  He writes….

“We’re a grass-roots, unaffiliated group which creates networking and professional development opportunities for people in the Library sector in South Australia (especially for newer graduates). In 2010 we’re 10 years young. This year the SALIN Committee has chosen to celebrate our profession through production of the 2011 calendar "Zombies in the Library". The calendar covers such topics as the role of the Zombie in reference, the frustrations faced when the Undead hog the photocopier, and for cataloguers, poses the eternal question: 299.675 or 398.21?

The point behind creating the calendar was to develop professional skills by doing something different and creative … and we hope that Library folk will get a good laugh along the way. We consider the final product an achievement, an oddity, and something of interest to the profession.”

Proceeds will cover costs of production and after that will go to local charities. So if you love a little zombie-esque time management, this calendar is a must-have. Might also make a good Christmas gift for your quirky loved ones.

Can a cataloguer comment and remind us what those numbers are for? It’s been a long time since I catalogued with Dewey!

The Library Journal Movers and Shakers Awards recognise excellence in librarians across a wide range of disciplines, not just technology. They are a great way for applauding the wonderful work librarians do to elevate our services and our profession and to improve the services, organisation and standing of libraries in our communities.

The Library Journal Movers and Shakers awards went international a couple of years ago and Australia’s own Paul Hagon joined the auspicious ranks of awardees, by being recognised in 2010.

LJ Movers and Shakers 2011

On to 2011:

“The editors of Library Journal need your help in identifying the emerging leaders in the library world. Our tenth annual round of Movers and Shakers will profile 50 or more up-and-coming individuals from around the world who are innovative, creative, and making a difference. From librarians to vendors to others who work in the library field, Movers and Shakers 2011 will celebrate the new professionals who are moving our libraries ahead.” (Library Journal)

In its tenth year, it would be great to see a second and maybe even third, fourth and fifth, Australian to be acknowledged with a Mover and Shaker award – but the only way this will happen is if we nominate them.  We all know someone who would be worthy of such an accolade, so take the time to share your appreciation of their work by nominating them. Nominations close 1st November 2010.

On the local scene, nominations are also now open for the 2010 VALA Award.

“The VALA Award, made biennially, is presented to the Australian library or information centre judged to have made the most innovative use of information technology during the previous two years.” (VALA)

The ‘use’ would have been implemented between July 2008 and June 2010 and the nomination of a library or information centre can be made by any person. Guidelines and nominations are available from the VALA Award page.

Two opportunities, one to recognise the great individuals in Australian Libraries and the other to recognise the great work of our libraries – support your colleagues and our libraries be ensuring they are nominated for these awards.

Enjoy!

I’m looking forward to seeing some other top 10 lists, and will be checking the #top10for2010 tag on Twitter over the next few days. Check out the ALIA Library Top 10s for 2010 blog for ideas and links.

Libraries that need to modify the access levels displayed against their holdings can do so through the Australian Libraries Gateway.

More information on this functionality is available from the National Library’s website.