Research and advocacy
Information and resources for public library staff that promote the value of public libraries and the importance of providing a quality library service to local communities.
Information and resources are available on the following subjects:
Advocacy
Emerging trends
Planning
Research
Reviews
Services
Other useful resources
Advocacy
- A Fair go for all in the digital era: towards a digital inclusion roadmap is a report compiled by Tim Williams following the first National Digital Inclusion Summit at Parliament House (Canberra, August 2011). The summit was principally concerned with the challenges of digital inclusion and the digital divide with the arrival of the NBN. This report includes comments about the evolving role of libraries in the broadband era. The library sector was represented Sue Hutley (Executive Director, Australian Library and Information Association).
- The Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relation’s (DEEWR) Foundation Skills Working Group [new window] has published a consultation paper to support the development of a 10 year National Foundations Skills Strategy for Adults [new window].
State Library of Queensland’s response [new window
46kb] to this consultation paper addresses each of the eight questions listed for discussion.
Emerging trends
- National Broadband Network: implications for libraries and local governments provides an overview of the National Broadband Network (NBN). It explains the major components of the NBN, the technology behind it and proposed time frames for roll-out. It discusses the major benefits and associated issues of the NBN and focuses on the implications for public libraries and local governments, particularly in Queensland.
- Extending the Scope of Trove: Addition of E-resources Subscribed to By Australian Libraries by Rose Holley (D-Lib Magazine: November/December 2011; Volume 17, Number 11/12) describes the work undertaken as part of the release of Trove v4.0 to include selected sets of e-resources subscribed to by Australian libraries. The inclusion of 120 million subscription e-resources took the Trove content total to almost 240 million items. Trove is the national discovery service for Australia managed by the National Library of Australia.
- Cloud computing strategic decision paper: opportunities and applicability for use by the Australian Government outlines the Australian government's cloud computing initiative and examines the opportunities and challenges to all levels of government in Australia in delivering services to individuals and industry.
- E-book research and trends is intended to highlight the effect that e-books will have on the role of librarians and information professionals and explore some of the major issues associated with e-books and their expanding role in libraries.
Planning
- Joint-use libraries: a planning checklist [new window 44 kb] discusses the various benefits and disadvantages of joint-use libraries and provides a checklist of issues to be considered in their planning.
Research
- Dollars, sense and public libraries: a landmark study of the socio-economic value of Victorian Public Libraries [new window] was produced for the State Library of Victoria and the Public Libraries Victoria Network. The report analysed the socio-economic value of Victoria’s public libraries and found that the benefits contributed by public libraries significantly outweigh the costs and represent a sound return on community investment. There are four distinct components of the report:
-
- Key Findings factsheet
- Public Report: summary of findings
- Technical Report
- Technical Report appendices
- Access to the reports is also available through One Search.
- Best bang for the buck: the economic benefits of Sunshine Coast libraries Queensland [new window] by Ross Duncan (APLIS: 01/12/2008, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p140-153). Abstract: Now is the time for library managers to be able to translate the value of the services they provide to the community into language able to be understood by politicians and others.
Reviews
- The Review of Queensland public library standards and guidelines [new window 30 kb] discusses the recent review of the Queensland Public Library Standards and Guidelines, highlighting the important role played by the standards, and outlining the steps taken to ensure maximum input from public library staff.
Services
- Opening Doors to early literacy [new window 377 kb] is a professional development resource made available through the Expanding Horizons statewide projects for 2010 -11. In July 2010 Dr. James L. Thomas delivered workshops to several Queensland public libraries. This booklet has been compiled to support public libraries in the delivery of Early Literacy sessions.
- State Library services to people with vision impairment [new window 35 kb] provides an overview of current State Library services to clients with vision impairment and touches briefly on associated initiatives of particular interest in Queensland public libraries.
- Adult literacy services [new window 58 kb] gives an overview of adult literacy services available from State Library, a brief summary of relevant services and activities offered by Queensland public libraries, and a selection of significant Australian and international projects and examples of best practice.
Other Useful Services
ALA - Frontline Advocacy for Public Libraries [new window]
Caval - Research Advocacy [new window]
More information
If you have any comments or wish to contribute, please contact us at pls@slq.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 27th January 2012
Creatively engaging people with information, knowledge and community
