Public Libraries Metropolitan - West South West Meeting

I have just returned from this meeting at Castle Hill Library and thought I would bring you up to date on some of the happenings in other libraries in our Zone.
Blacktown Library
Are getting a new branch library at Stanhope Gardens in April 2009. They are currently implementing RFID with Civica.
Baulkham Hills
Are doing a Trial Living Library for the next 6 months in partnership with Community Aid Information. They obtained money from CDSE. I will find out more so that we could go and have a look! Rouse Hill Library opening 6 March (1300 sq. m)
Auburn Library
Also doing a Living Library as a one off event with Western Area Health Service.
Bankstown Library
Huge Summer Reading Program. 500 children turn up to the Summer Reading Program presentation night.
Penrith Library
Penrith Library undergoing refurbishments. Strategic Plan being worked on. History of Penrith from 1850 onwards being written over the next 2 years.
Fairfield Library
Using special purpose grant for History of Fairfield to be written. Just gone through a restructure. Library Manager has reduced direct reports from 13 to 6. Whitlam Library is being refurbished and quotes have been sought from Brewster Hjorth and CK Design. Carolyn Bourke attended an IFLA conference in Pretoria, South Africa. Plans are underway to host a satellite conference of IFLA when it is hosted in Brisbane in 2010, in Sydney for multicultural librarians.
The next meeting is scheduled in late March at the new Rouse Hill Library!

New Libraries built recently in NSW

NSW is very lucky in that there have been some great Libraries built in the last 2-3 years. Please have a look at these websites:

Recent Libraries

Wallsend (Newcastle area):
http://www.ncc.nsw.gov.au/for_business/business_in_newcastle/wallsend_library

Windsor:
http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/library.html

Strathfield:
http://www.wsud.org/downloads/2003%20SWC%20Projects/SWCStrathfield.pdf

Customs House:
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/customshouse/thelibrary/

Narellan:
http://www.architectureaustralia.com/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200605&article=12&typeon=2
http://www.lgcsa.org.au/seminars_files/Download%20-%20Narellan%20Library%20Community%20Space.pdf

This will give you a good idea of what is happening in public libraries being built at the moment.

Welcome to Two Thousand and Great

Yes, no excuse, I have not updated this since returning from annual leave. For those of you who didn't know, I went to Peru for nearly 3 weeks and have not got over it! I did a blog while I was away:
http://gapadventures.mytripjournal.com/paulvickiperu
Again, I will try and update this blog from week to week.
News for 2008
The State Library of NSW staff will be undergoing Library 2.0 training which is then hoped to roll out to the public libraries. I hope that something will be announced in the second half of this year. I will make this opportunity available to as many people as possible.
How are you going with the Mental Health CD ROM Worksheet? Council HR are now reviewing this and considering rolling this program out to the rest of BMCC.
The Library is hosting some wonderful events in the first quarter of 2008.
On the Run is a State Library exhibition. On The Run will be at: Katoomba Library December 19, until January 19, and Springwood Library from January 21until February 7 2008. An official launch will be held at Springwood Library on Monday January 21, 2008 at 11.00am. The exhibition is free and open during normal library hours.
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/events/exhibitions/2006/ontherun/index.html
Library Lovers Day is February 14 - Valentines Day. We will be giving out bookmarks and encouraging people to put them in books they love. Blind Dates with books will also be arranged. I am looking for people to write the Lonely Hearts ads for the books...get your pens to work!
http://www.librarylovers.org.au/
Harmony Day will be held on March 20 this year. The Library will be running a Living Library at the Katoomba Civic Centre. Have a look at Lismore Library's website to learn more about the Living Library concept: http://rtrl.nsw.gov.au/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=130
Plus there are loads of School Holiday Activities coming up...