2021-12-07 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   7 DECEMBER 2021




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                          7 DECEMBER 2021

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           For long-term sustainability, we must meet         resources to complete life tasks, to the ‘digital
           the growing needs of the current library users     natives’ requiring more advanced guidance to
           who already value our services, as well as         connect with and explore new and emerging
           attracting the wider community who may find        technologies. Not everyone has the same access
           value from what we offer. Our Library Service      to free, reliable technology which is vital to social
           will need to respond to, and initiate change       inclusion and Libraries play an important role
           in an environment of rapid change where our        in providing this connectivity and bridging the
           communities are experiencing demographic           digital divide.
          shifts, establishing different ways of living and   Funding constraints
           engaging with new technologies.                    The majority of funding for public libraries is
           The key challenges our libraries face include:     provided by local government in Queensland,
           Balancing increasing user expectations             with a small percentage contributed by State
           There is an ongoing demand for traditional         Government, specifically for the procurement of
           services which remain popular, coupled             collection or project delivery. A core component
           with increasing demand for new services            of a modern library service is its programming
           and emerging technologies. Educational,            and service delivery which is targeted towards
           informational and entertainment options            community needs and expectations and
           available to community members are                 corporate strategies. In an environment of
           increasing, in addition to the diversity of formats ING HOHAD One! prassurs ter lonel qerernenant
           and expectations to provide multiple formats       and to enable the sustainable delivery of this
           to meet different needs. Our goal is to provide    programming, our Library Service utilises a
           a balanced service that meets both traditional     range of strategies including external funding,
           needs and increasing expectations.                 partnerships and volunteers.
           Traditional perceptions of Public Libraries        Falling literacy rates amongst children, youth
           For non-library users, there remains a             and adults
           perception that the role of a public library is to Australia’s literacy rates, including critical STEAM
           collect, access and preserve print collections     skills (e.g. Science, Technology, Engineering,
           and the space is to be used for quiet study.       Arts and Mathematics) are falling. A recent
           Libraries have evolved over the years and strong   survey revealed that 43% (or seven million)
           advocacy of the value of what we offer will be     Australians currently lack the necessary literacy,
           important to resolve this misconception and        numeracy and/or English language skills to
           attract new users.                                 function effectively, and with confidence, in their
           Expectations for physical space                    everyday lives. Libraries are ideal for supporting
               5:     sf                    :                 literacy and learning and have the potential to
           The library, in its role as a community hub, needs                ;        :           :
           to be designed to encourage and enable users       piny © kay rete rr premedng neasarial larery
           of all kinds to use the space in different ways.   efforts. Our literacy programs enrich the lives of
                a       :   .               :      :          our community and those around them.
           Meeting the diversity of needs and increasing
           expectations from library users is an on-going     Supporting our ageing communities
           challenge. Our Library Service accommodates        Noosa Shire has an ageing population
           this through provision of flexible spaces that     indicating that there will be an ongoing
           supports both increasing digital needs, and        demand for a range of PICgMnns and services
           physical space and service requirements.           specific to an older demographic. A key
           Bridging the digital divide                        focus area is supporting our elders with the
                 ‘       :               :    :               rate of technological change and providing
           There is a growing demand for libraries to              :             =       :
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           provide digital literacy support to empower           .       beat            .   hes. eesestias
           our community to thrive in our digital world.      aging popula “ —        ae a insane
             :                                                and an essential and contributing part of our
           This ranges from those who need one-on-            communit
           one support to understand and use digital                    y:

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