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Preserving and providing access to local archives is one of the roles performed by public libraries in New South Wales. This role is not mandated, nor is it a stated priority for public libraries. Local government records are regulated by legislation, but what of the other records documenting the lives of rural and city communities? In many cases the library’s local studies collection becomes the default home of the archives of local community organisations and of individuals whose personal papers are acquired by libraries. In some cases, the library shares the role of maintaining local archives with historical societies, museums and universities. The result is a functioning example of distributed custody, where public libraries and other local institutions take responsibility for local archives. This paper is a case study that draws on two major surveys of local studies collections undertaken by the State Library of NSW, the first in 1984 and the second in 2013–2014. It concludes that public libraries have been critical for over 50 years in ensuring that local archives have been acquired and managed, despite there being no explicit regulatory or policy frameworks for doing so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kay Poustie OAM Travel Scholarship is an initiative of the State Library of Western Australia Foundation. It provides Western Australian librarians with the opportunity to travel, visiting international library services and learning from their experiences. In 2012, the author was the inaugural winner of the scholarship, travelling to Europe to visit 10 renowned and innovative library services: Amsterdam Public Library, the DOK Library Concept Centre in Delft, Copenhagen Main Library, Copenhagen University and Royal Library, Malmö Library, The London Borough of Tower Hamlets' Idea Stores, The British Library, Cardiff Central Library, Manchester Central Library and Liverpool Central Library. The activities, buildings and programmes of these libraries were examined and several common features were identified as contributing to the success of these libraries. This paper discusses the features which these libraries thought were important to the success of their library services, and describes programmes, events and services which these libraries have implemented. This paper identifies goals for public libraries wishing to emulate the success of these international libraries in the areas of the library building, opening hours, events programmes and customer engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the pop-up concept, a world-wide trend which has been employed in various commercial and community settings, with a particular interest in how it has been applied to literary environments, using both physical and digital resources. The report examines six Australian public libraries, investigating why and how they established a pop-up library, and reflecting on their successes, challenges and what they have learnt from the process. The paper provides a definition of pop-up libraries and outlines how to create a pop-up library for a public library service, exploring the risks, benefits and issues to consider when planning for a successful pop-up library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three men were the driving force behind the passing of the New South Wales Library Act by the New South Wales Parliament in the early hours of 3 November 1939: John Metcalfe, Geoffrey Cochrane Remington and William Herbert Ifould. This paper explores the ways in which their differences and their similarities melded to make this happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the publication of Australia’s first crime novel in 1830, Australians have read crime fiction for entertainment, for the reassurance that wrongdoers will be punished, and to test their deductive skills against those of their favourite sleuth. The novels, short stories and plays within the crime fiction genre that have been produced in Australia between colonial times and the present day also offer opportunities to investigate a particular place or a particular time. Indeed, many crime fiction writers have mastered the art of recreating settings in both rural and metropolitan landscapes. The details provided within these works ultimately reveal a culprit (usually a murderer), yet they also outline the availability of certain products, bus and train timetables, the floor plans of local hotels or world-famous buildings and numerous other particulars, thus providing a rich, if surprising, source of material for the merely curious and the professional researcher. Crime fiction stories set within libraries present a history of the information services profession. This paper demonstrates how crime fiction can provide an important supplement to more traditional historical sources, with a focus on how the genre has documented some of the major changes within libraries over the last 75 years, since 1939. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a story that can at last be told – a local issue that became a national one. It is a story of a principle that became a civic right, one man's relentless opposition to the North Sydney library service (known as Stanton Library), political manoeuvres, a local government election and referendum and the efforts, sometimes open, sometimes covert, of a group of committed citizens and librarians to ensure that public libraries remained free. The committee formed to achieve this was set up in 1983, but the story begins long before that in 1935 with the Munn-Pitt report. This paper is based on a presentation given at the 11th Library History Forum held at the State Library of New South Wales on 18 and 19 November, 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology, new demands from consumers and changing social needs – all the uncontrollable, incredibly fast forces of modern Australia – mean that public libraries need to keep up to avoid going the way of the movie rental store, travel agents, catalogues or even the computer. Can ‘The Library’ be saved or do we need a reinvention that truly reflects their full value in 2015? This paper discusses how Australia's public libraries can continue their tradition of education and community development, retaining their relevance by embracing change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Public libraries do not fit Peter Senge's model of a learning organisation. They are not stand-alone organisations, but operate within the much larger local government system which can constrain their development as learning organisations. On a day-to-day basis, public libraries engage with their customers and respond to their needs by providing access to resources, programmes and services. But they do this within the bounds of local government systems and processes which set corporate goals, determine policies and procedures and provide budget allocations to support operations, and they are guided by public library standards which set out strategic directions and operational requirements for public libraries throughout the state. However, public libraries can be learning organisations if there is strategic alignment between library and local and state governments in a shared vision. CityLibraries Townsville has been fortunate, as Townsville City fosters learning and recognises and values creativity, innovation and collaboration as essential qualities of a successful organisation. Within CityLibraries Townsville, a learning organisation has developed that perceives change as an opportunity to learn and grow the library. This paper examines the extent to which Townsville City Council and CityLibraries Townsville have utilised the learning organisation framework as outlined by Peter Senge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important for libraries to confront and successfully adapt for the future needs of users in a world which is continually and rapidly changing. The Australian Library and Information Association believes that Australian libraries are part of a worldwide network of libraries and that the future success of Australia’s public library networks will be determined in part by the future successes, or failures, of public libraries on a global scale. In order to do the planning required, libraries in Australia and internationally are envisioning their future. This research analysed a range of forecasting reports in order to identify the themes and trends that are most likely to have an impact on how Australian public library services are offered, operated, funded and used into the future, a future which is in flux and uncertain. A range of published documents address the predicted future of libraries. These documents cover various time spans, from 2012 out to 2030, and vary in their predictions. The intent of this research project was to map the themes determined from the individual published documents in varying contexts (date span and geographic location) to produce an overview of convergence and divergence. The reports examined are not an exhaustive coverage of the literature that currently exists on the topic of the future of Australian public libraries, let alone the future of libraries generally on a global scale, but the results of the project indicate both agreement and disagreement, enabling a wider view than might be seen by individual organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various articles within the issue on topics including the conference "Libraries for the People: the 11th Australian Library History Forum," role of UNESCO in promoting public libraries, and future direction of Australian public libraries.

The article discuses various reports published within the issue which includes "Early Literacy Programmes in Public Libraries: Best Practice," "South Australian Hospital Libraries 1956-1980: An Incomplete History," and emergence of the National Library of Australia.

The State Library of New South Wales holds the world’s most extensive collection on the European exploration and colonisation of Australia and its region and the subsequent development of Australia. Much is held about the Indigenous peoples, some created by Indigenous artists and chroniclers, but the majority by others including explorers, government officers, missionaries and settlers as well as the more recent ethnographers, historians and writers. Many of the records are fragmentary and hidden within documents dealing with other matters. The State Library is working to make these records available in consultation with Indigenous communities. It also seeks to include more and stronger Indigenous voices to reflect on Indigenous experience and provide commentary on the material in the Library’s collections. The Library’s partnership with the New South Wales public library network offers a means for engagement with communities as well as an opportunity to provide better services to Indigenous people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the years following the Second World War and in the context of decolonisation and the Cold War, the public library was promoted at a global level by a variety of organisations such as UNESCO, the International Federation of Library Associations and regional organisations such as the South Pacific Commission. This promotion saw both theideaof the public library being championed – as a means to democracy, individual self-empowerment and modernity amongst other things – as well as practical advice and assistance being given by the developed nations. Australia played a role in this, seeking to assist many countries in the region and even further afield to develop their library infrastructure. Australian librarians such as Harold V. Bonny and Lionel Courteney Key were important in this significant chapter in twentieth century library history. This work sought to bring the public library to all the people of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From ‘the university for the common man’ to today's connected libraries, public libraries provide a wealth of information in a variety of forms. But the concept of the free public library offers much more than a conduit for the delivery of books and ebooks, journals and databases. It represents a bold statement in favour of opportunity for all, a statement famously taken up by Andrew Carnegie whose influence was worldwide. That boldness, not a hesitant ambivalence, must direct our planning for libraries. The 2014 celebration of the 75th anniversary of the passing of the New South Wales Library Act in 1939 reminded the sector of the importance of that landmark library legislation for Australia and of the strong network of public libraries enjoyed today. Those libraries are rapidly adapting to both the challengesandthe opportunities of the digital age as they create new public libraries for their communities. The new libraries embrace digital technologies and differ considerably in collections, services and use of space from earlier models, but they maintain the tradition of the free public library as a resource open to all. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article provides recommendations that can be used by public library services and associated organisations when considering building or refurbishing library buildings. Recommendations range from simple and easy-to-implement practices and procedures, to large-scale building development. It also provides a framework for libraries to follow when designing a new building, refurbishing existing buildings and raising community awareness of the benefits of designing and running sustainable libraries. The article looks at sustainability and its importance within a library, refurbishment of library buildings, greener work practices and public education initiatives. Three key areas of sustainability are highlighted: building/refurbishing, sustainable practices and education. The recommendations and concepts noted in the article are demonstrated through a case study of the Melton Library and Learning Hub in Victoria. In the relative absence of relevant Victorian publications, Tomorrow's Green Public Library also serves as a resource guide to direct public libraries to further information and publications available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Adelaide Hills Council Library Service has introduced a story time session for children with special needs and their families. This article highlights the reasons why the Adelaide Hills Council Libraries took this step as part of a greater concern for access to public libraries for children with special needs and their families. The article details the process involved in the development and implementation of the program. A description of the program, its goals and the benefits realised are outlined. The article raises the issue that access to public libraries for people with disabilities is predominantly focused on adults with physical and sensory disabilities. Understanding and awareness of the access issues to public libraries for children with special needs and their families need further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses some articles published within the issue including "Who are Australia's information educators," "CityLibraries Townsville as a learning organisation within a local government framework" and "Tomorrow's green public library."