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News and Resources

[Murray Islands]

Australian Indigenous Resources Project

The Northern Territory Library is currently creating a database to identify where various holdings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources and material are located across Australia, what resources are held and types of access to these collections. This database will be accessible via the Internet.

RIGHT: Detail of watercolour view of the Murray Islands painted by Eddie Mabo, courtesy Mrs Bonita Mabo. Now part of the Mabo Papers, Manuscript Collection, National Library of Australia.


The aims of this project are to:

'Resources' may be defined as any item created by, for, or about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and held in a particular area on a permanent or semi-permanent basis. Items include archives, craft works, monographs, serials, theses, manuscripts, films, videos, sound recordings, photographs, artifacts and any other items that form part of a resource or collection relating to Aboriginal people.

The scope of the project is to create a forum in which the public can access information about what exists in Australia relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander materials and resources, where it is held, and contact details of the organisation holding the resources. To achieve this, the project will ascertain what is already available on databases and establish links where possible and acceptable. Where a link is not feasible, a reference point will be created (incorporating a contact name, telephone number, postal and email address) to facilitate further investigation.

Where possible and where acceptable, the project group hopes to create links to established databases and web sites which will provide more detailed information about the relevant resources and/or organisation. The end result will be an Australia-wide search facility encompassing a broad range of organisations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources.

The project officer is Maja Risler, who works with a steering committee made up of representatives from the Northern Territory Library, the Northern Territory University, Batchelor College, Darwin Public Library and Information Service, the Department of Health and Community Services, the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory, the Office of Aboriginal Development and the Office of Local Government.

The Project Officer is sending out a brief questionnaire to supply the project with enough information to provide an overview of the resources held across Australia.

If you would like a copy of the questionnaire or more information about the Australian Indigenous Resources Project, please send E-mail to maja.risler@nt.gov.au or write to: Australian Indigenous Resources, Northern Territory Library, PO Box 42, DARWIN NT 0801.

News from the NSW Multicultural Working Group

In 1993 a report 'Cooperating for Our Heritage: Languages in NSW Public Libraries' was produced by Jo Lin. The subsequent seminar based on the report produced a number of recommendations which the Metropolitan Public Libraries Association (MPLA), at the April Executive Meeting, agreed to review. Following the review, a number of recommendations have been selected for inclusion in the action plan of the NSW Multicultural Working Group. They are to:

Members of the group have undertaken responsibility for each project; and individual project deadlines and plans are being developed.

For more information contact Anne Hall, MPLA Representative on the Multicultural Working Group, Whitlam Library, Railway Parade, CABRAMATTA NSW 2166. Tel (02) 9725 0358 Fax (02) 9728 4617.

Reading Games

Reading Games: A Collection of Reading Games and Activities for Intermediate to Advanced Students of English by Jill Hadfield and Charles Nelson. London: English Language Teaching, 1995. Available from Bookery. $A42.50.

Reading Games is a teaching resource full of reading and communication activities for use in intermediate and advanced English as a second language classes. It contains 24 activities which all require students to read a text then communicate that information in order to complete a task, solve a puzzle or do a role play.

Reading Games is set out in the format typical of such teaching resource books with a contents page, introduction, teachers notes and the remainder of the book devoted to the 'photocopiable material' for each game.

The teacher's notes are given for each game in a standardised format which includes information on language features, possible unfamiliar vocabulary, instructions on how to use each activity and suggests follow-up activities which for most games is a writing activity. The last section, and the major part of book, contains the worksheets and reading texts for each game. The texts are clearly set out, have a 'nineties look' with their variety of fonts, some photographs and other graphics, but are generally 'matter of fact' in presentation.

As with any resource, teachers can always pick and choose activities or adapt them to suit their teaching style, student group, philosophical position and teaching methodology. Many of these activities are very creative and, as teachers are always looking for interesting activities for their students, teachers could also take the idea of one of the ideas from this collection but substitute more appropriate reading material.

Reading Games is a teaching resource full of activities which aim to get every student in the class reading, mixing together, talking, swapping information and finishing up with a solution of some kind with the added bonus of having a good time along the way.

Reviewed by Kaye Elias, Tutor, Return to Study Department, Council of Adult Education. Courtesy ARIS Bulletin.

[Capture the Moment]



NICAN is seeking colour and black and white photographs, measuring 8" by 10" (minimum) that capture people with disabilities experiencing community, adventure, challenge, companionship, friendship, freedom, independence, self-confidence, control, future, and experimentation.

Photographs will be collectively received and assessed. A selection will be identified as works to be commended and prizes will be awarded.

Please forward your entries to the National Photography Competition, NICAN Inc., PO Box 407, CURTIN ACT 2605. For further information, contact Heidi White at NICAN. Tel/TTY 1 800 806 769.

DAMEC

The 1995-96 edition of the NSW Directory of Alcohol and Other Drugs Services, Programs, and Resources for People with Non-English Speaking Backgrounds is now available. The directory includes information on organisations, workers, projects, and research which relates to alcohol and other drugs issues within the NESB communities of NSW. Also included is a listing of multilingual pamphlets, posters, video tapes, and other resource material.

For copies of the directory, contact DAMEC, PO Box 22, BURWOOD NSW 2134. Tel (02) 9744 3077 Fax (02) 9744 3448.

Speech Recognition

Have you used Speech Recognition? If you have, Ability Research would like to talk with you about your experiences. This is part of a research project funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services. It seeks to learn about people's experience with speech recognition technology.

If you would like to be part of this research, or know someone else who would, please call this number: (02) 9976 3410.

The results of the research are intended to improve understanding of how this technology can best benefit people with disabilities.

Graeme Smith, Ability Research, 8 William Street, FAIRLIGHT NSW 2094.

Italian Bibliography

The Italian Bibliography on Hearing Sight and Speech Defects is an Italian language annotated bibliography including journals and other publications which are written in English, French and Spanish.

For more information, contact Dr Salvatore Lagati, Servizio di Consulenza Pedagogica, C.P. 601 38100 via Druso, 7, Trento, Italy. 0461-828 693.

Disability Predictors for Local Government Areas

The predictors contain disability information for local government areas. The estimates are based on the 1993 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, disability pension data from the Department of Social Security and the 1991 Census. The data items refer to level of severity of disability, need for help, age group and area of disability (for example, mobility, schooling, employment and so on). The predictors are available as a consultancy service from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Contact Mala Madasamy on (02) 268 4187.

Education and Students with Disabilities

Consultations are currently under way on a draft 'Code of Practice for Tertiary Institutions: Students with a Disability' which has been funded by the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs. The document is expected to be completed by September 1996.

The code of practice is intended to 'establish a set of guidelines which will lead to a coherent approach to the planning and delivery of services, identify and document examples of best practice in institutional responses to students with disabilities and recommend a national minimal standard of service and support'. The consultancy team is committed to consulting widely in the belief that such an approach will greatly enhance its acceptability and integrity as a voluntary code of practice.

For further information contact Rhonda Watson, Project Officer, Code of Practice Consultancy, Centre for Deafness Studies and Research, Faculty of Education, Griffith University Qld 4111. Tel (07) 3875 5903 Fax (07) 3875 5924 E-mail: r.watson@edn.gu.du.au.

Pathways. Where to Next?

Phil Egan Management Services have been working on developing a Koorie Education Resource Directory which will help community providers to support the implementation of Koorie programs.

Chapters include: cultural focus; main players in Koorie Education; identifying community needs; becoming a provider; program availability; funding sources; planning a program; support services; good ideas and best practice; resources and contacts.

The resource is intended to be a support to any provider or individual wanting to learn more about the structures of Koorie education provision, and will be available from ARIS. Tel (03) 9614 0255 Fax (03) 9629 4708.

WORLD 1 Open for Business

Monday 1 July 1996 marked the first day of operation for the WORLD 1 Services Branch.

The branch has been established to support the future introduction of WORLD 1 services. It is responsible for the preparation and implementation of all training and marketing material for WORLD 1, and assisting customers in their migration to the new service.

The WORLD 1 Services Branch, or Program 6, is led by David Toll, the National Library's Assistant Director-General, Corporate Services Division. He is assisted by Bryony De La Motte as director, and a number of other training, marketing and Information Technology client support staff.

The existing services, ABN and Ozline, will continue to be run by Warwick Cathro, the National Library's Assistant Director-General, Services to Libraries Division, in the ABN office until they are replaced by WORLD 1. ABN will continue to be Australia's foremost bibliographic network until it is replaced by WORLD 1.

Ozline was introduced in 1987 to meet the need for a comprehensive Australian resource of bibliographic, directory and research databases. WORLD 1 will replace, extend and improve access to the 35 databases currently hosted on Ozline. New databases will also be added to the system.

WORLD 1 will continue in the tradition of ABN and Ozline, listening to and responding to the needs of the library and research communities.

Questions about any of the network services should continue to be directed to the Help Desk on 1800 026 155.

Keen Interest in Audio Book Award

The number of entries for the National Library's 1996 TDK Australian Audio Book Award again shows that interest in audio books continues to grow. A comprehensive range of fiction and non-fiction titles in abridged and unabridged formats were entered. Adult and children's fiction entries included contemporary and classic works and non-fiction entries covered biography and autobiography as well as books on cooking, study skills and the use of language.

Judging is now well underway and a shortlist will be released at the end of October. The overall winner and category winners will be announced at a function at Old Parliament House, Canberra at 6.00 pm on Tuesday 12 November. The awards will be presented by Robert Dessaix, well-known broadcaster, essayist and translator, who will also be guest speaker.

For further information, contact Mary Dickenson, TDK Award Coordinator, National Library of Australia, CANBERRA ACT 2600. Tel (06) 262 1289 Fax (06) 273 4493 E-mail: mdickens@nla.gov.au.

[ALSB Kit Sample]

Adult Literacy Services Bureau

This information pack was developed by Adult Literacy Services Bureau (ALSB) which operates under the auspices of the Western Australian Department of Training.

There is a high level of interest, across the community, in issues to do with adult literacy. This interest co-exists with a range of assumptions, myths and fears. Many people, including people with literacy needs, maintain quite contradictory notions about why it is that some adults, who are clearly not stupid, leave school unable to read and write well enough.

ALSB has a commitment to shifting the stigma associated with adult literacy by opening up the discussion and encouraging the general public to consider the myths in light of the evidence.

ALSB sent drafts of the 'Why some people don't learn enough literacy at school' leaflet to adult literacy students across Western Australia, and asked them to consider this perspective, and comment on their own experiences in relation to it. There were many responses to this request, and overwhelming support for an approach which explicitly challenged unspoken assumption of the 'victim' being to blame.

The material has been developed for a range of users, including teachers and prospective students. Copies of the information pack are available from Adult Literacy Services Bureau, Fleet Street, FREMANTLE WA 6160. Tel (09) 239 8090 Fax (09) 239 8075 E-mail: batess@devetwa.edu.au.

RIGHT: Examples from the ALSB kit.

Dictionary of Developmental Disabilities Terminology

Pasquale J Accardo MD; B Y Whitman MSW PhD; C Laszewski MSW LCSW; C A Haake EdD; J D Morrow MD. 1996; $A49.00. 448 pages; ISBN 0864331231

This resource defines and clarifies over 3000 of the most commonly used technical terms in the field of developmental disabilities. This practical, transdisciplinary sourcebook is full of jargon-free definitions, key terms, illustrations, tables and charts, synonyms and cross-references, and references to contemporary terminology. It covers causes and characteristics of a particular disability, the specific parts of an assessment scale, the objectives of a professional organisation, the techniques involved with an intervention method, and the requirements of disability related legislation.

Available from MacLennan and Petty Pty Ltd, PO Box 145 ROSEBERY NSW 2018. Tel (02) 9669 5997 Fax (02) 9669 5997.

It's Over to You

A new distance learning English course, It's Over to You, has been developed by the National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research (NCELTR) for the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.

It is a three-stage course focusing on relevant, practical themes which help the learner to understand life in Australia while developing their language skills. The themes include health and recreation, learning in Australia, the law, the media, and managing money.

Each stage consists of five books, each with audio cassettes.

The course has been designed for distance learning with teacher backup.

The book costs $A30.95 and is available from NCELTR, Macquarie University, SYDNEY NSW 2109. Tel (02) 5850 7673 Fax (02) 850 7849.

Coming Events

8-11 January 1997. Australia and New Zealand Conference for Educators of Deaf Students, 20th ANZCED Conference-'Unity in Diversity', The Terrace Inter Continental, ADELAIDE SA 5000. Contact Claire Loades, AATD (SA), PO Box 462, GREENACRES SA 5086. Tel (08) 226 1907 Fax (08) 410 2406.

The Health and Specials Sections of the Australian Library & Information Association and the Australian Law Librarians' Group will be holding the seventh biennial conference and exhibition of the Asian Pacific Special Health and Law Librarians' Conference in Perth, 12-16 October 1997.

The conference, presented jointly by the Health and Special Sections of the Australian Library and Information Associations and the Australian Law Librarians' Group, will be exploring a wide range of issues in keeping with the theme 'On the Edge'. The fledgling conference home page may be found at http://wwwlib. murdoch.edu.au/edge/edge.html. The theme, contact information, and call for papers are all shown on the home page.

For information: Cheryl Hamill, Convenor, Publicity/PR Subcommittee, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service Librarian in Charge, PO Box 480, FREMANTLE WA 6160. Fax (09) 431 2522 E-mail: Cheryl.Hamill@p085.aone.net.au.

LINK-UP IS ON-LINE

You can find us at the National Library web site at URL http://www.nla.gov.au/linkup/


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Last updated 2 September 1996

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