Reach and spread the Indigenous spaces strategy across NSW

Spread the strategy across NSW

Targets

The public library network is actively aware and engaged with the strategy.
Public library staff promote the strategy across the network, encouraging collaborations and sharing stories

Key strategies

Organise onsite and/or online focus groups with library staff and managers to seek input and feedback on the application of the strategy.
Investigate the use of online tools to survey priority areas, new ideas etc.

Spread the Indigenous spaces strategy across the state — Map showing the distribution of the Aboriginal tribes of Australia (detail), Norman B Tindale, 1940 Mitchell Library, M3 804ECA/1788/1A

Resources for public libraries

Getting started

Public libraries have many opportunities to promote connections with Indigenous people and history through marketing and promotion. A part of the strategy Indigenous Spaces in Library Places is bringing greater visibility of Indigenous library services across NSW public libraries. Your library can take an active role in increasing positive representation of Indigenous people in your cultural institution by:

Including an acknowledgement of local Indigenous people in your email footer, or in your regular newsletter
Review your library website and identify opportunities to enhance the work that you are undertaking in relation to the Strategy
Promote significant events through library marketing and promotion.

TIP: it can be useful to ask the question: 'Are Aboriginal people and histories visibly represented through marketing and promotion in my library?' If your answer is no consider some ways in which to work together with your community to increase this visibility.

Working with communities

Connect with your Local Aboriginal Land Council to work on text for an Acknowledgement of Country that can be utilised within library promotional material.

Downloadable Resources

Key Dates PDF

Getting started

Libraries are often described as being the lounge rooms of a local community, a place for people to meet and learn. One of the keys to building this sense of connection, is by knowing who your local communities are. Indigenous communities in NSW are diverse, both in relation to culture/language and histories. For this reason, we recommend to:

Make the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag visible within your library service, either online, or in welcoming signs at the front of your library
Involve your local community as more as possible
Work with key organisations or local art centres to identify or commission appropriate artwork relating to the local Indigenous community

Downloadable Resources

Welcome Sign PDF

Getting started

Aboriginal Medical Services or pre-schools are places that could promote your local library services. Your library might like to create some flyers to distribute to local community organisations. Some ideas for marketing include:

Promotion on how to sign up for a library card
Guidelines on how to book a room in your library
Information on library resources available onsite and online
Information on your library's local studies collections
Marketing of regular events including story time or targeted senior’s events.

Working with communities

Identify relevant community organisations and contact them to see what brochures or flyers might be useful for their service.

Case studies

The following text was provided by the Library's Indigenous Services team, and includes quotes of NSW public library staff who kindly shared their thought on the day.

From #Yuin country to #Wiradjuri (Bega to the Blue Mountains), NSW public library staff travelled from all over the state for the Indigenous Services Unconference on 10 February 2017. These passionate library champions took part in a world cafe style program helping them to gain skills and confidence in providing library services to Indigenous communities. The Unconference was an opportunity to gather with some of the 40 NSW public library professionals who undertook an Aboriginal cultural competence training from Cultural Competence Australia.

The course was a pilot project part of the strategy for NSW public libraries Indigenous Spaces in library Places: Building a Vibrant Public Library Network Inclusive of Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Some feedback on the day:

"Spending time talking about how to make our library services more inclusive for Indigenous communities is important and valuable, and something we don’t spend enough time on. Finishing the Cultural Competency Course and following up with the Unconference was an invaluable experience and afforded me the opportunity to reflect on what my library service was doing and how we could do things better.

Over the course of the day, we had the privilege to be in a yarn circle with Tasha Lamb, the Manager Indigenous Connections at the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA), who shared her experience working in working at AIATSIS and the NFSA. The yarn circle provided a powerful experience of sharing in an equal space.

Using the world café model of participation, the Unconference enabled us to work in small groups on specific questions and topics, moving around and interacting with each other. For me, talking with other colleagues about where to place items in the collection, simple things we can do to create welcoming spaces and social media protocols and how to properly represent our online content. It was also an opportunity to listen to other peoples stories and learn from their own experiences.

By the end of the day I was able to clearly visualise what my library service could do to make ourselves more inclusive and welcoming. Something as simple as recognising the land in which my library is situated on the front door or putting the flag in a visible location is a great start. I realised that I don’t need to be in a hurry to do everything, that there are some basic, simple things to start with to reach the long term goal of inclusivity and inclusion.

The Indigenous Spaces in library Places: Building a Vibrant Public Library Network Inclusive of Indigenous Peoples and Communities document is essential reading for all public libraries and provides a framework to assist us in developing our library services. Having the time to talk about this with the Indigenous Services Team at the Library is an invaluable experience and I look forward to implementing actions in the near future."

Paula Pfoeffer, Coordinator – Library Services

"I was eager to attend the Unconference, so that I could build on the learning I had already achieved during the Aboriginal Cultural Competence training. The course was fantastic but I was particularly wanting to get some practical guidance on how to develop my specific Library Action Plan. The Unconference format was great as it created a safe and informal space for peer-to-peer learning, collaboration and creativity. The world café idea was a terrific way to get people talking about the core issues in a non-threatening way.

The yarning circle discussions were also great. The whole day really helped me to build confidence in my knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and nations; and how to conduct business in a culturally competent and sensitive manner.

The experience far exceeded my expectations. I would recommend all library staff attend if they get the opportunity!"

Bayside Council - Rockdale