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Link-up

June 1996
ISSN 0158-5460



From the Editor

Actively seeking opportunities to expand or broaden existing services, developing new initiatives in response to community demands, and using effective marketing strategies to alert audiences to library collections and services, both within the community and at an executive level-all these are important issues which Link-up explores in this June edition.

For the first time, Link-up will be available at the National Library's web site, address http://www.nla.gov.au/linkup/. The site is currently 'under construction', and will be available on-line from 1 July 1996. All future issues of Link-up will be located at the site. It continues to be published in print, audio, and disk formats.

Remember, we always welcome articles and ideas. Deadlines for 1996 contributions are 1 July and 4 October.

Gabrielle Grime


Library promotion? It's all dots and dashes!

Jo-anne Fuller gives some handy tips for promoting library collections and services to the community

Given that library services are commonly delivered on tightrope budgets, effective promotion of such services requires careful planning in order to achieve results without 'blowing the budget'. Promotion is critical to your success, so it should always be reflected in your budget no matter how small the allocation. And it is (how do I say this delicately?) everybody's job whether you're trained for it or not.

Promotion, especially promotion of a service, is a lot like 'joining the dots'. You may not end up with a beautiful picture but-done well-you should be able to stand back and admire a truly useful machine.

So just what can be achieved when the primary input is you (your time and skills), and what are the unique considerations that need to be addressed when promoting specialist services?

Focus first

The first thing you need to do is go back to the dots and draw direct lines between your service and the eventual output, rather than outcomes. This is not the kind of statistic libraries ordinarily collect, such as number of clients or the number of searches or loans. It's probably better described as evidence. For example, companies could legitimately measure their library's contribution in new product developments. For individuals the benefits of using your service must be recognised as obviously relevant if not absolutely essential.

You will need to be on the look out for dots that can be connected. Colour in these lines yourself and then present them from the client's perspective. Robyn Tonks gave a good example of this in the profile of Singleton Public Library's Family Literacy Program in the March issue of Link-up. She said that the direct line she had identified for her program was simply the desire of parents to help their children.

Larry Prusak, Principal of Ernst and Young's Centre for Business Innovation in Boston, Massachusetts visited Australia during Australian Library Week. In presentations to the library and business communities he constantly reiterated that 'people are hot-wired to learn from each other and from stories'. This is an amazingly important statement because it confirms that it will be the anecdotes-told to you and about you-that will form the basis for the evidence file that will support your service and become the true grit of your promotion campaign.

Specialist services can learn from Prusak's message. They should endeavour to create a climate in which information and knowledge can be shared (drag out the tea set!) and collect anecdotes from their clients that can be used in subsequent public relations activities. Remember of course, to ask permission for their use. The latter is not at all difficult as anyone who has benefited from your service will be delighted to blow a trumpet on your behalf. Many, with encouragement, will also enter competitions that provide you with further focus and campaign fodder. The American Library Association has used this strategy to great effect in their 'Americans can't wait' and 'Libraries change lives' campaigns, both of which were heavily supported by real life testimonials.

Why is this important?

I have spoken to people who run literacy programs, programs for people with disabilities, and English language courses. Without exception the most common and popular method of introduction to new clients was via word of mouth. For some, this was the almost exclusive method of introduction.

Print materials are used, but design and content considerations may often apply for specific client groups. Sometimes this will be as simple as producing materials in languages other than English. At other times it will require you to be very succinct about the benefits of your service and its relevance and to present it in a simple, open way with the emphasis on pictures rather than words.

Avoid relying on 'stunt publicity'

The importance of a promotions program rather than a single event public relations cannot be overstressed-though there will be a place for event PR within your program. A successful promotions campaign is like a mathematics equation-it's the sum of the parts that matters.

Steve Sherman, in his book ABC's of Library Promotion, quotes 'one of the axioms of commercial advertising [is that] to elicit a significant response in a moderately intelligent person a message must be seen or heard a minimum of six times: for a more intelligent person, three times'. Hang on to this fact and keep it in the back of your mind when you design your program. It should influence not just how you promote your service to prospective clients, but how you sell it to your hosts, your funding bodies and sponsors.

Starting where?

Begin by brainstorming the links between your service and outputs for your clients-individually and as a group. Make a short list of those that make the best stories. These are the ones that are inspirational or have resulted in concrete benefits that can be easily appreciated by anyone who hears them.

Focus on output, not outcomes. For example, if you are helping a client with research and writing skills, the output will be an improvement in grades rather than just assisting with research. The output is the difference you and your service have made possible.

Start an 'evidence' file. Collect samples of advertisements, brochures or posters that you think hit their mark, articles that offer good suggestions and relate relevant experiences.

You can use this file to help guide you in the production of your own materials or to have easy access to good ideas and styles to show to others when you are describing what you want.

Don't risk losing good stories. Write anecdotes down yourself or ask others to write them for you. Include contact details in case you ever want to follow up the original source.

Ask your supporters to write a paragraph about why they think your service is worthwhile. Your supporters might include past and present clients, politicians with responsibility for the portfolio under which your service sits, local clubs, community groups and businesses that have benefited directly from your service or through the increased knowledge and skills your clients have acquired and been able to supply.

Settle on a maximum of three points that succinctly and logically claim the raison d'être for your service. Reiterate them whenever you can-in print, in interviews, in reports, and in conversations.

Recognise lobbying as an important part of your promotions strategy. Know who the decision makers and stakeholders are for your service and for the industry in which your service sits. Make sure you know the most effective way of getting through to them (letters, submissions, personal visits, a show of public support). Act like a Scout-be prepared. Know your allies and your adversaries. Have your facts ready and know your arguments well-as well as you know the counter-arguments. Make sure the recipient of your lobbying efforts understands the language in which your arguments are presented.

Recognise networking as a critical component of your strategy too. Networking is about building relationships, maintaining trust and sharing your knowledge. As such it satisfies an essential human need, but the trick is making it work for you. Good networkers know how to recognise leads for themselves and for others, and how to get a hearing about their services. They are selective about who they network with (at both an operational and a political level), and do not shy away from helping to sell other people's services. Good networkers encourage cooperation rather than competition. And remember that effective networking takes time. Like the ad says, it won't happen overnight, but it will happen.

Three handy tips for beginners. The first from networking specialist Robyn Henderson: get yourself a business card. Keep them in your pocket so they are easy to hand out at functions. Collect cards from others and when you get home write something about the person on the back of the card-a note about the hobby or project they mentioned or a particular interest you share. The second networking tip comes from Marion Roubos-Bennet at Conservation Access. Always wear your name tag on the right-hand side. Shake hands and feel the way your body turns and you will immediately know why. It's amazing how much easier it is to strike up a conversation with someone when you can easily figure out who they are and where they come from. Lastly, don't be afraid to pick up the phone-Most people are happy to share, indeed flattered that you though of them-it's that 'hot wiring' again.

Good service is great publicity-for those that already know you. But what about the rest? Recognise that your greatest supporters may never need to use your service.

Beating a track to the media will be an important part of your promotions strategy. Even though your client group may not be great readers themselves, your decision makers and stakeholders inevitably will be, so you should aim to make the media your ally. This too will require time and personal contact. Pore over magazines and newspapers read by your target groups and make a note of staff editors, writers and photographers who cover subjects similar to yours. Call them, ask about lead times and schedules and offer ideas for stories or photo opportunities. If a journalist or editor looks like they will be staying with a newspaper or magazine for a while, cultivate them. Send them details about your service and expertise and let them know that your are happy to comment on specific issues (list them). Think laterally-there are thousands of in-house newsletters that might also be interested in hearing from you, so don't restrict your energies to front line press. No matter what the circulation or the audience the rules are the same: be precise, be friendly and give after hours contact details as journalists are seldom of the 9-to-5 variety.

Do the same with radio and television programs. Don't automatically exclude television or print advertising because it's expensive. A well-placed advertisement as a component of a strategy can be money well spent and television advertising can be achievable through sponsorship or community service announcements, particularly in regional centres. This was exploited effectively by the Lake Macquarie Library, where Veronica Lunn brought together a team to underwrite and coordinate the production of two 30 second advertisements which were screened by Channel 3.

Remember that it is not enough to just fax off a media release and cross your fingers. up the energy level a week before your event. Call your contacts to alert them to your event and that a release will be coming through shortly. Call them again a couple of days before the event to make sure they received it and see if they need more information. Call on the day-ask if they are coming or if they need anything extra. After the event, thank them for their interest.

Put on your best smile, face a crowd and make it real. One of the most effective-and cheap-ways of promoting your service is to talk about it. Community groups like the Lions Club, Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, Country Women's Association, local shops and sports clubs, nursing homes and homes for the aged are always on the lookout for interesting speakers (that's you and a set of slides!) Many of these groups are also looking for worthy causes within their communities, so drawing a direct line to them may have some surprise benefits for your project. Such groups really let you network en masse and the people involved in them are usually great networkers too, so it won't be long before the referrals and recommendations start spinning back to you.

The last component to be incorporated into your strategy is a consideration of effective partnerships. Think laterally and long, because the long shots are often the best. There is a library on the New South Wales north coast that secured in-kind sponsorship from a car dealer for its mobile library, reducing maintenance costs for the vehicle considerably.

Think hard about who can help you and how can you help them-because there is no such thing as a free lunch and a well prepared argument usually wins. A recent example comes from Western Australia where Total Peripherals Group presented free information evenings on setting up a home computer system with access to the Internet at a number of public libraries during Australian Library Week.

Use every resource to its fullest. Capitalise on the efforts of others working in related areas. As well as the obvious benefit of shared experiences, you will discover a range of promotional materials and contacts that you can easily use to support your service.

The next thing to do is to buy a year planner and think about the skills and resources to which you have easy access. Begin a twelve month plan that exploits the tools listed above. Reassess it. Ask yourself if it is realistic and check that you have the requisite number of hits for your audience/s. At first you should aim to do a smaller number of things well, but you will soon discover that you can keep several promotional happenings in the air simultaneously. Don't overlook the simple ideas because therein may lay great successes-like the popular English conversation groups at Willoughby library.

Remember to share your successes and your failures with your colleagues. Working in specialist areas demands a lot from individuals and it is important that new people entering the field-often working in isolation or in small groups within larger organisations-can learn from your experience and don't have to reinvent the wheel. Write for professional journals and newsletters, attend meetings and talk whenever you can.

Keep your spirits up no matter what happens. Remember 'two negatives make a positive' but a single negative can be a great positive too. One of the most delicious stories I have heard in recent times is that of a New Zealand library that introduced nasty library fines with a campaign announcing the introduction of a new extended loan service, which, as a value added service, attracted a fee.

Don't be daunted if you haven't done any of this before. I have a friend in South Australia who has used a background in librarianship to great advantage. She swears (in fact she even let us put it on a bookmark for Australian library week) that 'library skills teach you to tie threads together and see possible connections in lots of fields that are not directly relevant ... It's like a multi-layered tapestry. Library skills are the ultimate training in lateral thinking'. And that-in a nutshell-is the essence of promotion.

Jo-anne Fuller works as the Local Presence Coordinator for ALIA NSW Branch. She is also a freelance writer, editor and project manager. For the past three years she has worked with ALIA National Office and a nation-wide team to revitalise Australian Library Week. Tel (02) 9906 6000 Fax (02) 9906 5987.

The Helping Hands Project: Exploring Public Library Services for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Two deaf education workshops presented by the Melbourne City Libraries with the Victorian Deaf Society produced some surprising results. Karen McQuigg and Jennifer Khan report

In 1994 Melbourne City Libraries applied for an Arts Victoria grant to promote library services to the Deaf. The original proposal was described as follows:

For Melbourne City Libraries to work in conjunction with the Victorian Deaf Society to run two deaf education workshops; one workshop to educate public librarians on how to make public libraries welcoming places for the Deaf and hearing impaired; the second to encourage Deaf and hearing impaired people to use public libraries.

The proposal identified two target groups within the definition of 'deaf': the pre-lingually deaf, known as the Deaf, whose primary language is Sign, and those people who have become deaf or hearing impaired after the age of speech acquisition. This latter group is referred to as the hearing impaired. Because the needs of both these groups are often different, both groups will be discussed separately in this article.

The Deaf

The significance of using a capital D to describe those deaf whose primary language is Sign, was described by Branson and Miller in their article, 'Language and identity in the Australian Deaf Community':

[The use of a capital letter] signifies the way the shared experience of deafness is associated with a sub-culture, a sense of community linked very closely with the use of sign language ... [It] refers to a social network linked by a particular perception of the world and by resultant dispositions towards that world, dispositions sensed and expressed in a way not experienced or understood by the vast majority of hearing people, a marginalised "way of seeing" ignored and thus devalued by the dominant culture which labels those that are deaf as "lacking hearing" and thus "disabled". For many of the Deaf, deafness does not render them disabled ... but simply renders them different. They are thus not simply deaf people but "the Deaf" (Branson and Miller, 1991, p. 1).

For many Deaf, in particular those whose primary language is Sign, learning experiences have been neither successful nor enjoyable. Often education for the Deaf has been through the use of Signed English, a communication method developed by teachers of the Deaf for use in the classroom. The usefulness of Signed English for educating the Deaf remains controversial. Branson and Miller (1991), for example, argue that Signed English is not a language at all but an artificially derived code, developed outside the community for which it was intended, that causes confusion for the Deaf. Whatever the merits or otherwise of Signed English, it is a fact that lack of educational success and low English literacy levels are features of Australia's Deaf community. These features, coupled with the Deaf's primary use of a visual language that is not available through libraries, must surely impact on Deaf perceptions and usage of mainstream information providers such as libraries.

In general, libraries tend to be neither well regarded nor well used by the Deaf. At a conference in 1988 entitled 'Opening doors for closed ears', two separate speakers, Graham Weir from Deafness Resources Australia, and John M. Day from Gallaudet University, an American University for the Deaf, suggested that the experience of the Deaf had often taught them that libraries were embarrassing, uncomfortable places. Day related the story of a Deaf library user who, having been directed to the first floor of the library, found herself unable to get the lift doors to open at this floor. After unsuccessfully attempting to force the doors open, she returned to the information desk to eventually discover that at the first floor the lift doors behind her had been opening but she had been unable to hear them. Meanwhile, bemused library staff and users had witnessed her trying to force the doors at the back of the lift open!

Both Day and Weir emphasised that if libraries want to make the Deaf feel welcome, they will need to work hard to change Deaf perceptions. Suggestions for achieving this included:

The Hearing Impaired

Quite distinct from the Deaf community are those individuals who have lost part or all of their hearing after the age of speech acquisition. People with this form of deafness have often lived a significant period of their lives in the hearing world and identify with it as their primary culture. People with hearing impairment often feel handicapped by their lack of hearing. Often they do not know Sign and do not identify with Deaf culture, but neither are they able to communicate fluently in the hearing world. In terms of library usage the hearing impaired are largely indistinguishable from the broader community in regard to their information needs, literacy levels and attitudes to libraries. In common with the Deaf, they benefit from technology, such as visual equipment, that facilitates access to information.

One of the main groups involved in services to the hearing impaired is the Victorian Council for Deaf People (VCDP). It was to the benefit of the project that this group is closely aligned with the Victorian Deaf Society (VDS) and is now located within their grounds at East Melbourne. As the VDS is located in close proximity to the East Melbourne branch of Melbourne City Libraries, all three groups were able to participate in organisation of the Helping Hands workshops.

The Helping Hands Project

The specific objectives of the Project were to:

The first workshop for the library community was held on 28 October 1994 under the title 'Signing up: providing library services to the Deaf'. The workshop was planned in consultation with the VDS, VCDP and a library representative from La Trobe University.

The discussions between VDS, VCDP and library staff that preceded the workshop were informative and stimulating. The following points were made:

The 'Signing up' workshop was advertised and promoted by Melbourne City Libraries, while the VDS and VCDP ran the workshop at the VDS headquarters in East Melbourne. Attendance was limited to 40 librarians and the session was fully booked.

The workshop commenced with a program called 'It's a deaf, deaf world' in which participants were given quick lessons in Sign, then forced into situations where they had to use it. The program uses role reversal to illustrate communication difficulties encountered daily by Deaf people. Afterwards librarians discussed their feelings during the workshop. Many participants expressed the sense of frustration, confusion and isolation they had felt when they were unable to communicate. They also said that the workshop was a valuable insight into how the Deaf must feel in hearing institutions. One participant commented that her Auslan (Sign) skills, though basic, had enabled her to communicate with the Deaf, while others noted the importance of body language for supplementing meaning when using Sign.

Following the participant feedback, a panel made up of members of the Deaf community spoke about their feelings as library users and suggested ways libraries could improve services to them. What became apparent from listening to the panel was the lack of ease with which the Deaf regard libraries, and how little even those who regularly use libraries know of library services that have obstensibly been designed with Deaf people in mind.

The panel discussion was followed by a short presentation from Jan McLeod on providing academic library services to the Deaf at La Trobe University. John Lovett from the VDS then distributed evaluation forms for the 'Deaf, deaf world' workshop and summarised the main points raised in the workshop.

The evaluation revealed a high level of satisfaction (92.5%) with the workshop. Many participants commented that their awareness of Deaf culture and practical issues connected with service delivery to this group had been improved.

The second workshop took the form of an information evening, and was held at East Melbourne Library on the evening of 14 September 1995. The program for the workshop was formulated by library staff in consultation with John Lovett. In planning the information session the following points were emphasised for establishing successful communication and relationships with Deaf people:

Misinformation about library operations is rife in the Deaf community. The best communication between Deaf and hearing people is on a one-to-one basis. For groups, speakers should make one point at a time and not impart too much information at once. This enables interpreters to comprehensively translate the point that is being made. The subtitled video Working with an Interpreter is recommended for people using interpreters to deliver their message.

The VDS also advised on acquisition of materials for the Deaf and hearing impaired. As the VDS believed that material in Deaf culture was more appropriately sited and centrally accessible at the State Film Centre, East Melbourne concentrated on acquiring books and videos of general interest, but with content pertinent to the needs of hearing impaired and Deaf people. Examples of this were books such as Oliver Sack's Seeing Voices and Harlan Lane's The Mask of Benevolence-two outstanding insights into issues related to Sign and Deaf culture. The subtitled videos purchased by East Melbourne deal with topics including harassment, sexuality, and legal rights and specific issues such as the use of child restraints in cars.

A pamphlet targeting the Deaf and hearing impaired was then produced, summarising the resources and other services available to these groups.

The information evening was planned in consultation with the VDS. The Society also distributed and publicised a flyer produced by Melbourne City Libraries to advertise the evening. The lack of interest in public libraries earlier raised by the VDS became evident by the almost total lack of interest in the workshop. By the end of the RSVP date only two people had booked for the session. When the evening was held the number had risen to eight, but, of this number, seven participants were hearing impaired library users. In addition the participants used a variety of communication means: one participant had a portable microphone connected to his hearing aid that speakers were required to speak directly into, some lip-read, some understood Sign but spoke rather than Signed replies, and one person used Sign and speech. As with the first workshop, two interpreters had been booked to translate the meeting and both were fully employed in successfully orchestrating the range of communication means used during the evening.

Library staff, who had not been expecting a high level of enthusiasm or library knowledge, were at times caught out by the lively and specific questioning, and the high level of library service awareness displayed by participants. Participants were very interested in the Internet and displayed a high level of computer literacy and technical knowledge of the hardware.

The one Deaf participant asked if a course on genealogy could be held for the Deaf, and was referred on to the State Library. There was also a high level of interest in using East Melbourne Library to access videos from the State Film Centre. In this scheme, Deaf people can pay to join the State Film Centre. Under cooperative interlibrary arrangements between the State Film Centre and public libraries, people can then nominate to collect these videos from their local public library.

The evening was educational for library staff in that it demonstrated the broad range of informational requirements of Deaf and hearing impaired people and the pitfalls associated with generalising across distinct cultural groups.

The title given to the project was The Helping Hands Project, a reference to the use of Sign by the primary target group, and to the libraries' stated objective of improving services to the Deaf. On reflection, the title seems a misnomer; librarians were helped by the project to understand Deaf issues, but how much the Deaf were helped by the project remains debatable. Ironically the people most interested in learning what library services could do for them were hearing impaired library users.

This result raises the uncomfortable question of whether a real need currently exists for public library services designed specifically for the Deaf? The Deaf have a distinct culture and predominantly use a language form not available in libraries-Sign. Most information is passed one to one between the Deaf using this medium. At present the predominant use of written literacies by the Deaf is either in educational contexts, such as at La Trobe University, which offers a course in Deaf Education, or when using subtitled videos primarily available through special libraries such as the State Film Centre. Given these circumstances, and the stated wish of the Deaf to access information from one centralised source, it seems that, at present, public libraries may not be appropriate providers of services specifically designed for the Deaf.

The good news is that public libraries can do much to support the needs of the Deaf. We can support services such as the State Film Centre's subtitled videos, and programs such as the State Library of Victoria's orientation session for the Deaf, by promoting these services appropriately. We can maintain an awareness and responsiveness to Deaf issues, and advocate for statewide library responses to the information needs of the Deaf. Ongoing liaison with Deaf advocacy groups would support this.

Public libraries can also support the needs of the hearing impaired, by promoting and making available technology that will enable them to access library resources more easily. Deaf specific technology such as TTYs is not an 'additional' library service; it is a core service because it enables the Deaf and hearing impaired to access the same level of library service supplied as a matter of course to other users.

In responding to the needs of the broader community, libraries can provide services which are inclusive of the Deaf and hearing impaired. The slogan 'Good access for people with disabilities is good access for everyone' remains true in the provision of library services. Improvements such as good visual signage, clear communication, subtitled general interest videos, and welcoming behaviour benefit everyone. They also help bridge the gap in equitable access to information for two groups with specialised information needs.

Bibliography

Karen McQuigg and Jennifer Khan, Melbourne City Libraries, 12-18 Meyers Place, Melbourne Vic. 3000. Tel (03) 650 5622 Fax (03) 650 2265.

The Charles Hamilton Centre: Making Library Services more Accessible

Logan City Council Library staff have successfully bid to have a centre for people with disabilities included in new library developments. Janet Poole reports

Located 30 minutes from Brisbane and a mere 40 minutes from the heart of the Gold Coast, Logan City is the third largest local authority area in Queensland with a population of more than 170 000 and an area of 244 square kilometres.

Given its current growth rate, Logan is expected to have a population exceeding 250 000 by the year 2006. The city is only 17 years of age and was created from adjoining local authorities-Albert and Beaudesert Shires. Logan has a predominantly young population with more than 50 per cent being less than 30 years of age. Likewise, it is a city of ethnic diversity with 27 per cent of its population coming from outside Australia.

January 1996 saw the opening of the Logan North Regional Library. This library is the largest and most modern of the five Logan City Council Libraries. Incorporated in the Library is the Charles Hamilton Special Needs Centre. The main purpose of the Centre is to provide services to people with disabilities. It is the first of three centres proposed for Logan City Council Libraries.

In September 1994, Logan City Council Libraries planned to expand the library service. Staff proposed to include a centre designed especially for people with disabilities. A report entitled What the People Wanted: A Report on Vocational and Community Access for Young People with Disabilities was sent to Council and the concept of a library centre for people with disabilities was approved. A working party was set up which consisted of library staff, council staff and representatives from the Disability Advisory Council of Logan. The Advisory Council commended Logan City Council for its initiative and nominated representatives from sight, hearing, mobility and intellectually impaired support groups to give advice regarding their needs. The first meeting of this working party was held in November 1994. The role of the working party was to recommend appropriate technology, advise on suitable uses for the Centre, provide expert advice on the information needs of various groups and suggest how the Centre should be funded. Members of the working party contacted Ringwood Library in Melbourne and spoke with staff about their Kurzweil Room which caters for the needs of vision impaired clients. The Ringwood Library served as a model for particular aspects of the Charles Hamilton Centre, especially in relation to equipment, staff training and promotion.

The Centre was established to enable people with disabilities to personally access information, allowing them to lead a fuller, more independent life. People with sight impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual impairment or mobility impairment do not have equality of access to information and need specialised technology to achieve integration into the community.

Key to the report What the People Wanted was the belief that

Equal access to the resources and benefits of society is seen as a right for people with disabilities, and they should receive resources according to their individual needs in order to allow full participation as members of society (Richardson, 1994, p. 4).

The aim of the Centre is to provide current technology and trained staff so that people can personally access information without relying on friends or relatives. Support services for people with disabilities should ensure quality of life and equality of service, and should be tailored to meet the individual needs and goals of people with disabilities (Richardson, 1994, p. 17). In short, the whole purpose of the Centre is to empower people by being flexible enough to meet individual needs.

In October 1995, one of the original members of the working party, Charles Hamilton, died very suddenly at the age of 52. As Manager of Community Development at Logan City Council, Charles had a long history of advocacy for those in the community with special needs, and his passing was a shock to those who relied on his good sense and support. It was decided that the Centre he worked so hard to make a reality would be named after him. This was done at the opening of the Logan North Regional Library on 29 January 1996. The room was dedicated to his name, and a portrait of Charles now hangs in the Centre.

The Charles Hamilton Special Needs Centre is a self-contained room situated at the rear of the Logan North Library. Two disabled parking places are provided near the entrance to the library. The entrance to the Library is through automatic doors, the pile on the carpet is flat and there are no steps or lips to impede the progress of a wheelchair. Access to the room is via a long, uncluttered passageway. An accessible disabled toilet is situated next to the Centre. Planning for the Centre included consultation with both Australian Standards and Library Standards.

The decision to include the Centre in the library itself was a deliberate one. It ensures that the Centre is open when the library is open-currently this is 53 hours per week, including Saturdays until 4 p.m. It was also felt that incorporating the Centre within the library would allow access to all library materials and staff, thus allowing it to become part of the mainstream library service.

Logan City Council provided the basic infrastructure, the operating costs are met by Logan City Council Libraries, and the equipment for the Centre has been donated by local organisations. Logan City Bingo was the first to give $1000, and Quota International of Beenleigh donated $5000 to be used specifically for equipment for people with hearing impairment. A further $5000, donated by Cambyses, the owners of the building in which the Logan North Library is housed, will be used to purchase equipment for people who are sight impaired. The Centre has a television receiver, a video cassette recorder, a TTY, a facsimile machine and an on-line catalogue-all for the exclusive use by people with special needs. Further major purchases will include a scanner, a closed-circuit television and a computer adapted for use by those who are mobility impaired. The response from the public has been very encouraging, and local organisations and community groups are very supportive.

Currently the Centre is being used as a meeting place for support groups for people with special needs. It is hoped that by providing a venue for local support groups to meet, the Centre and its facilities will become well known in the community and therefore receive optimum use.

An unexpected benefit of the Charles Hamilton Special Needs Centre has been the expansion and improvement of the storytelling sessions for those with intellectual disabilities. Young people with mental and physical impairments who attend the Kuraby Special School have routinely visited the Springwood Library (the predecessor to the Logan North Library) and felt comfortable with the staff who made them welcome. Helen Dunsford, the storytelling staff member, approached the carers and asked if she could read specifically for the visitors-so began the storytelling sessions. These sessions have improved with the library's move to Logan North and the Special Needs Centre. Helen now takes lower and upper primary school groups for regular storytelling and always discusses with the teachers the appropriate level for the clients. The response has been magnificent.

Another organisation, Multicap, regularly bring their clients, who have multiple disabilities, to the library to choose materials for loan. Staff are discussing with Multicap the best options for the use of the Centre so that their clients can participate more fully in the wider community. The Charles Hamilton Special Needs Centre provides a venue which those with disabilities can identify as their own and therefore feel welcome and valued.

Library staff find it very encouraging that Logan City Council has decided to include a similar centre at the Logan Hyperdome Regional Library, which is now in its planning stage and scheduled to open in mid-1997. Another centre will be incorporated in the plans for the Grand Plaza Regional Library which will open in 1998. Special Needs Centres will, for Logan City Libraries, be an important part of all future library planning-bringing the needs of people with disabilities into the mainstream. For people with disabilities, computer-based technology makes life in the community possible and they are increasingly being accepted into the community. Technology allows people

with disabilities to become independent. We hope that facilities and services provided by Logan City Council Libraries will improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in the Logan area.

Bibliography

Janet Poole, Community Services Librarian, Logan City Council Libraries, PO Box 226, Woodridge Qld 4114. Tel (07) 3826 5446 Fax (07) 3208 4147.

Pittwater Pangloss Circle

Maria Ferrara describes a new community initiative from Pittwater Library Services

I came to Australia as an adult 25 years ago, with no knowledge of English. My difficulty in communicating effectively gave me a deep sense of suffering and loneliness. I returned to university to overcome these emotions, where I came into contact with people of various nationalities, and I learnt that most of them experienced similar feelings. So, I was not alone!

During my years at university, I became increasingly conscious of Australian culture, and I wanted to become more active within my host society. I sensed that many Australians were eager to communicate with, and understand, people from non-English backgrounds.

I was determined to find some solution to this communication barrier. Years later, having become the Request Librarian at Mona Vale Library, I started talking with my colleagues about multiculturalism and the important role of the library in bringing Australian and international cultures together. When rostered at the circulation desk, I began to attract the attention of the customers, involving myself in their communication difficulties and listening to their feelings of loneliness and other problems. Eventually, I created an entirely new role of 'Multicultural Officer' in the Warringah Library Service, a role which was later officially recognised by the Pittwater Library Services.

I first targeted people whose surnames were not of English origin, and I asked about their countries and cultures, their knowledge of English and their language of origin, and if they would like to occasionally meet people of the same nationality in the library. Italian, French and German were the first conversation groups, and each had a native speaking leader.

Leaflets were produced and made available at the circulation desk, inviting people to contact me if they were interested in participating in these conversation groups. As I expected, the interest among the community was positive.

A number of English-speaking people with some knowledge of a foreign language also asked to join the groups, which met fortnightly on a regular basis.

Why Pangloss?

When a considerable number of participants were becoming involved in the conversation groups, I decided that it was time to call a meeting with the group leaders. We needed a name, a committee to direct and improve the organisation of the groups, and we needed to define our relationship with the library.

The aim was not only to give the groups some autonomy in relation to the library and to define my 'liaison' role between the two, while retaining my position as convenor of the groups and their leaders, but to establish the identity of the groups with a name and a Commitment Statement. The feeling of togetherness that the name would give to the groups was a high priority. With the involvement of group leaders the name 'Pangloss' was chosen. This name derives from the Greek terms pan, meaning all, and gloss, meaning languages. From this, 'The Pangloss Circle' was created.

Pangloss Success

The number of participants soon increased to the point where a second and in some cases a third group of the same foreign language had to be formed. This was done with new group leaders, and taking into account the new members' level of knowledge of the particular language.

The community participation is now so eclectic and dynamic that, every year for a few months preceding their exams, students undertaking a language in the High School Certificate join the groups. Friends from other Sydney suburbs who drop in for a visit often decide to join. Migrants with little knowledge of English often participate in the English conversation groups, while still going to courses offered by the government.

A very pleasing result is that the interchange of languages and cultures established by the Pangloss activities has been highly welcomed by the whole community. At present there are 15 conversation groups comprising almost 100 regular participants. The languages spoken are: Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Conversation groups in Greek, Indonesian and Portuguese will be added soon.

Aims and Objectives

The following Commitment Statements of the Pittwater Pangloss Circle define our objectives, the interrelation with the host library, commitment of responsibility of social duties and commitment and scope of fund-raising activities. They are:

These statements have been drafted as Pangloss Circle by-laws, which will be discussed, amended if necessary and finally approved at the next general meeting in June 1996.

Pangloss and the Library

In a cosmopolitan society like Australia, it seems to be non-English speaking people who are most affected by economic restrictions. Reduced book budgets all too often result in cuts to foreign language book purchases, preventing the building of already scarce collections of these books. Consequently, foreign language borrowers soon run out of new titles.

To overcome this scarcity, Pangloss decided to contact various embassies, asking for reading material, while explaining its own activities and goals. A number of the embassies, sent books, subscriptions to magazines and dictionaries, with their congratulations.

Having heard of our needs, some internationally renowned authors living in this area, like Morris West, donated some of their own works in various foreign languages.

Encouraged but not satisfied, we realised that we needed funds for book purchases, so Pangloss decided to publish a recipe book, Taste the Difference, which is a collection of original recipes written by some of the members of the Circle. With the proceeds of the book sales, we purchased fiction books, dictionaries, and two tape recorders now used by most of the groups. We are planning other fund-raising activities, to become more independent in the purchasing of foreign language material.

All books and other items purchased by Pangloss are donated to the library, which makes them available first to Pangloss members, then to other borrowers. The reciprocal benefits of these activities are clear:

The following statistics for the year 1994-95 give some idea of the Circle's variety. This data was collected very soon after the beginning of the Pangloss activity. I am sure that the statistical data for the year 1995-96 will double these figures.

Pangloss Future

There was considerable interest at a quarterly meeting of the Working Group of the Multicultural Library Services NSW when I spoke about Pangloss. As a result, some multicultural librarians from urban public libraries have observed some conversation group.

Once members approve the Pangloss by-laws, I will send copies to any libraries interested in beginning similar Pangloss projects. All group leaders are very willing to offer support and ideas, and to visit other libraries if requested.

I am sure that Pangloss will soon be a reality not only in Sydney but hopefully nationwide.

The Pangloss circle - statistics for the year 1994-95

Language    No. of     Av. no.   Conversa- No of      Av no of    Av no of   
spoken      persons    persons   tion      persons    books       magazines  
within the  per group  attending hours     coming in  borrowed    borrowed   
groups                  classes  per year  to the     in a year              
                                           library                           

Chinese     5          5         125       125        200         no fig     
                                                                  avail      
French 1    7          5         125       125        230         200        
French 2    7          5         125       125        230         200        
French 3    6          5         125       125        200         200        
German      6          4         100       100        140         200        
Italian 1   9          6         150       150        100         50         
Italian 2   9          6         150       150        120         50         
Italian 3   10         6         150       150        120         50         
Japanese    6          4         100       100        100                    
English 1   4          3         75        75         100         100        
English 2   4          1         25        25         25          25         
Indonesian  4          4         28        28                                
Totals      77         54        1278      1278       1565        1275       
Spanish     14         8         400       400        no fig      no fig     
                                                      avail       avail      
Comb total  91         62        1678      1678       1569        1275       

NB These figures are estimated approximately +10%-10% and are referring to the year 1994-95
The Indonesian Group attended only for 3 months
The English Group 1 attended for only 6 months
The Spanish Group have the conversations in the Avalon Library once per week
For the year 1995-6 we have four more groups: Dutch, and one more of Italian, English and Spanish

Maria Ferrara, Pittwater Library Services, Mona Vale Library, Park Street, Mona Vale NSW 2103. Tel (02) 9997 5422 Fax (02) 9997 3411.

The New Planet in Orbit:

Print Disability Library Access Network

The majority of braille and cassette books and magazines in Victoria are held by The Association of the Blind's Braille and Talking Book Library and the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind's Talking Book Library. The clients of these two libraries are geographically scattered around the State and Australia, and books and magazines are delivered and returned by free post. The two services depend on the automatic selection of books according to a borrower's fiction and non-fiction preferences. Given that very few borrowers actually visit the libraries, the main point of client contact is the telephone. Borrowers have never had direct access to OPAC of any kind, and have not been able to browse the up-to-date on-line catalogues and select books independently.

During 1994, the two specialised libraries approached the Libraries Board of Victoria about providing public access to their catalogues. A number of public libraries were also concerned about improving services for their visually impaired borrowers. The Board suggested that the libraries should join forces and apply for the Special Assistance Grant-Services to Disabled Users, for a cooperative project between the specialised libraries and public libraries. The grant for $34 500 was approved in June 1994. The Print Disabilities Library Access Network, or PLANET Project, was born.

The primary aim of the project was to provide access to computer-based catalogues of alternative format materials via the Internet, and to enable people with print disabilities to access these catalogues independently, either via an enlarged screen or synthesised speech. The first priority became providing Internet access to the catalogues of the Braille and Talking Book Library and the RVIB's Talking Book Library in the public libraries involved in the project, which were Eastern Regional Libraries; Mildura Rural City Council Library Service; Port Phillip Library Service; and Stonnington Library and Information Service.

VICNET was approached to advise the project participants on how to most effectively go about providing Internet access to the two catalogues. It was decided that VICNET would provide the link. VICNET is a Victorian organisation based at the State Library of Victoria which provides access to the Internet and also runs a World Wide Web server. Their advice and practical input throughout the project proved invaluable.

Public libraries without an Internet connection were subsequently linked. The OPAC interfaces were customised or simplified to make them as compatible as possible with print adaptive technologies, and a PLANET home page was set up on VICNET.

The OPACs of the Braille and RVIB's Talking Book Library and the Talking Book Library are now available on the Internet through VICNET at participating public libraries, and all libraries nationally which are connected to the Internet. A number of public libraries already have print adaptive technologies such as large print screens or synthesised voice in place and we are further hoping to purchase a number of large print screens for some of the public libraries involved in the project. The OPACs can also be searched by any individual who has Internet access from a PC at home, including PCs equipped with print adaptive technologies.

The PLANET project was launched by Elizabeth Hastings, the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, on 19 April 1996.

While it is still early days, it is reasonable to anticipate the impact the project will have, and its future benefits.

First, it will give our borrowers their independence. For the first time they will be able to browse up-to-date on-line information about our collections themselves, a right which sighted public library borrowers have long taken for granted. As Elizabeth Hastings stated, it allows our borrowers to make 'real choices, choices which are not subject to another's scrutiny or comment or unsolicited advice'.

Furthermore, because access points are available at public libraries, it means that even our more technophobic borrowers can garner an increased degree of independence by using their local librarian as a search intermediary.

It will also make it far easier for other public and academic libraries to locate the relevant material in alternative formats. While both libraries have holdings on ABN, one can only search by format using Supersearch, which is expensive and requires a subscription. Thus we expect to see an increase in the volume of interlibrary loans.

Finally, the PLANET project will raise the profiles of the Talking Book Library and the Braille and Talking Book Library in the community. More people will become aware of the resources and services we offer. This will result in more people joining up as borrowers, and for the first time PLANET address: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~planet/.

[Based on a report delivered at the Annual Conference, Round Table on Reading Materials for People with Print Disabilities, Novotel Bayside, Melbourne, 7 May 1996.]

Edwina Kenrick, Cataloguing Librarian, Braille and Talking Book Library, 31-51 Commercial Road, South Yarra Vic. 3141. Tel (03) 9867 6022 Fax (03) 9820 1335.

Bridging the Gap between School and Home

Liverpool City Library's new literacy initiative

Liverpool City Library has a well-established role supporting literacy in our local community. Situated in Sydney’s south-west, Liverpool’s population includes 24.3 per cent who speak a language other than English, while the number of children aged 0–14 represents 24.6 per cent of the population.

Over the past three years the library has offered a free program known as ‘Reading Together’ which focuses on primary school-aged children with reading difficulties. Parents and child participation is a requirement of this program, which provides practical advice and teaches parents how to work with their children to help them to improve their reading. Many of the parents who participated in the ‘Reading Together’ program requested extra information and many enquiries were received from parents who were unable to attend the program conducted after school. In response to these enquiries, Liverpool City Library embarked on a new project seminars entitled ‘Bridging the Gap between School and Home’.

The seminars were designed to address some of the issues parents raised: reading difficulties, spelling, homework and dealing with conflict arising from these difficulties. In order to make the seminars available to as wide an audience as possible, each branch library hosted a session. Commercial coaching clinics offer tutoring; however, the majority of the people accessing the programs offered by Liverpool Library would be unable to afford these services and it was determined that the seminars, as with the ‘Reading Together’ program, should be offered free of charge.

The seminars aim to do just that. The seminar leader assists parents by helping to identify the problems children are experiencing and then explaining reasonable expectations and demonstrating techniques to help remedy the situation. The seminars are presented by Mary DeBono, a teacher with many years experience working with children who need remedial reading assistance. Mary also conducts the ‘Reading Together’ sessions and used the insights she has gained from these seminars to shape her presentation according to the most common needs expressed by parents.

Mary helps parents to identify the specific problems their child has and focuses on simple, practical strategies that parents can implement immediately. Considerable emphasis is placed on the attitude parents need to adopt to work effectively with their children and strategies for resolving conflict. Mary encourages parents to be positive, encouraging and firm.

Many parents would like to encourage their children to read but are unsure of their own skills and how reading is taught. Participants in the program have identified a number of obstacles including: an uncooperative child, an uncooperative partner, a lack of education, poor English skills, cramped living conditions, limited time and patience, arriving home late from work and other children who also require attention. All of these difficulties are acknowledged and dealt with briefly and a variety of realistic solutions are suggested.

Among the topics covered in each seminar are homework, research work, reading, spelling, speed writing, writing, maths and conflict resolution. This was an ambitious list and it was not always possible to cover everything in the hour and a half allowed. The seminars were flexible and focused on the particular issues that were relevant to the participants.

While each seminar took place, an activity was provided for children whose parents were attending, including films and craft. This allowed the parents to focus on the seminar with minimal distractions. The children who participated ranged in age from 4 to 11 years and a high proportion were boys.

The first seminar was held at a branch in a fairly affluent area. Previous library programs and activities had indicated that parents in this area are very keen for their children to do well. In the past, there had always been a high level of community involvement. This trend was evident in the interest shown in the seminar, all places (limit 30) were booked out more than a week in advance. The parents who attended contributed to the discussion and asked lots of pertinent questions. The evaluations were all positive although a number of participants requested more time in future.

The second seminar was held at a branch library in a vastly different area. This area includes a high proportion of department of housing properties and previous activities led us to expect a high demand for services for children but a fairly low participation rate on the part of their parents. Although attendance was much lower—approximately 12 parents and 20 children— those who did attend asked many questions and participated fully in the workshop. The evaluations from this seminar were also overwhelmingly positive.

A third seminar is scheduled to take place shortly at a new branch library opened only a week after the first two seminars were held. Publicity for the first two seminars was sent out to all schools in the Liverpool area, and one of the primary school principals in the new area contacted the library to give his support for the program. The most effective publicity appears to have been the flyers sent to local primary schools to be included in school newsletters. Press releases were also sent to two local newspapers and the local radio station, and flyers were distributed in the library.

Liverpool Library remains committed to the ‘Reading Together’ program, which has become a regular item in the library budget. When Liverpool City Library re-opens following renovations, another ‘Bridging the Gap between School and Home’ seminar will be held. The emphasis in both programs is ‘partners in learning’, a role that fits the library perfectly.

Mylee Joseph, Liverpool City Library, 170 George Street, Liverpool NSW 2170. Tel (02) 601 8054 Fax (02) 600 6250.

Access Improvements in Tasmanian Public Library Services

The State Advisory Committee on Library Services to People with Disabilities (Tasmania) held its first meeting on 12 June 1981.

From its inception, the Committee worked towards improving access to library buildings and increasing resources for people with disabilities. As a result of suggestions made by the Committee, automatic doors were installed at the State Library building in 1983 and a designated parking space was made available for people with disabilities.

The Division of Regional Library Services of the State Library of Tasmania produced a report on Future Directions for the State Advisory Committee on Library Services to the Disabled in May 1986. The report noted that 'notwithstanding the attention focused on the library needs of the disabled in recent years in this State, much remains to be done. The thrust of concern for the disabled library user has tended to centre on the problems of physical access to library buildings and facilities'.

In April 1990 the Committee invited expressions of interest for a research project on Library Services for People with Disabilities and Special Needs in Tasmania to be funded by the State Library and Archives Trust. Twila Herr, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania's School of Librarianship, was commissioned to undertake the research project. The completed Herr Report was presented to the Minister for Education and the Arts in August 1993. The Minister subsequently indicated that the State Library would address the issues raised in the Report and the Department engaged a firm of construction cost consultants to undertake a library access project.

Quantity Surveyors Davis Langdon and Beattie of Hobart were asked to assess every crown-owned library building and the major rented libraries, and to establish whether they complied with the Building Code of Australia. The consultants were also asked to report on recommendations on the work needed to comply with the Australian Standard AS 1428 Design for Access and Mobility-Part 1: General Requirement for Access-Buildings.

Specific aspects addressed under the Building Code of Australia were car parking, access and sanitary facilities. Under Australian Standard AS 1428, assessment was made of continuous accessible paths of travel to libraries, ramps and walkways, and the circulation space at doorways.

In the early stages of the investigation the consultants attended a meeting of the Committee to outline the background of the project and to advise on the progress at that time. A Committee member with a physical disability accompanied the consultants on a detailed tour of the State Library building in Murray Street.

In 1994 Davis Langdon and Beattie presented their Report on Upgrading Disabled Facilities for Public Libraries to the Minister for Education and the Arts.

The Minister then advised the Committee that a sum of $125 000 would be granted in the 1994-95 budget allocation of the State Library Service for the commencement of a program to upgrade facilities in public libraries for people with disabilities, as identified in the Davis Langdon Beattie report.

An extensive list of projects was produced for this first budget allocation which included the modification or construction of toilet facilities to provide access for people with disabilities, the alteration or provision of access ramps to a maximum of 1 in 14 grade, with kerb and handrails, the installation of automatic opening doors where possible, and improved signage. Projects identified as priorities in the 1994-95 budget allocation were completed in six city libraries, and four large branch libraries.

A further $75 000 was allocated in the State Library Service budget for 1995-96 to continue to address projects identified in the Davis Langdon Beattie Report. In particular, the work commenced in 1994-95 in some branch libraries will be completed, automatic opening doors installed in a further six libraries, and further work done on ramps and toilet facilities in seven libraries. Some negotiation with local government on the provision of improved parking facilities for people with disabilities is also in progress.

The program of improving physical access to public library buildings in Tasmania is continuing, with many of the original recommendations of the Davis Langdon Beattie report now complete.

The former Chair of the State Advisory Committee for Library Services to People with Disabilities (Tasmania), Craig Price, produced a substantial draft strategic plan to improve library services to people with disabilities based on other recommendations of the Herr Report. Many items in the plan have been addressed and other tasks have been subsumed into the State Library of Tasmania's Strategic Plan. One of the State Library's goals is that there will be equitable access to library services for people with special needs, and the following strategies were formulated to address this goal:

Work is now underway to improve access to information for people with disabilities. The provision of large print and recorded and audio books for people with print disabilities, and resources for the housebound, are long-standing services throughout the State. A telephone typewriter (TTY) is available at the Glenorchy Library where a small collection of subtitled videos is held. These are available through the free statewide reservations service.

The need for computer access for people with visual impairments is now being addressed. An allocation of $5000 was provided in the State Library budget allocation in 1995-96 for investigation of options which may enhance access to the Tasmanian Automated Library and Information System (TALIS) by patrons with visual impairments. The major investigation will be into the use of text-magnifying software for PCs acting as terminals. This project has now commenced in conjunction with staff of the Glenorchy Library.

Zoomtext magnifying software has been placed on a PC for Internet access over a six-week trial period. Through the State Library's Home Page on the Internet and Zoomtext, patrons with visual impairments will have access to the full range of on-line services available to all patrons. They will have access to TALIS and associated services such as the Tasmanian Index, Fast Facts and the University of Tasmania's catalogue. It is expected that a closed-circuit television monitor and camera will be purchased to enable patrons with visual impairments to access in-house library materials.

Dialpac access to the TALIS system through 12 dedicated lines enables patrons unable to easily visit a library in person to use the library catalogue and other databases, place a reservation, and receive advice by mail when the item is ready for collection.

Most recently, a strategic planning day was held in Hobart, with the Advisory Committee identifying its priorities for further attention. The Committee is aiming to widen its membership to include more community groups and representatives from non-public libraries. It is expected that consultation days with special groups will be held and that information will be collected so that the Committee can advise on the provision of information and library materials in appropriate and accessible formats.

The State Advisory Committee on Library Services to People with Disabilities in Tasmania and the State Library Service are working closely with members of the community to improve public library services for people with disabilities in Tasmania.

Bibliography

Meryl Sinclair, Senior Librarian, Glenorchy Library, PO Box 63, Glenorchy Tas. 7010. Tel (002) 338 661 Fax (002) 732 040.

Meeting of the Chairpersons of Advisory Committees

The 11th Meeting of the Chairpersons of Advisory Committees on Library Services for People with Disabilities was held on 12 November 1995, and hosted by the State Library of NSW. Chaired by Murray Spriggs from the State Library of NSW, Chairpersons or their representatives, and State library authorities working in the field of library services for people with disabilities attended from the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and the National Library.

A major priority of this meeting was that the meeting's title no longer adequately represented its role, which has moved from focusing mainly on the work of State advisory committees to a forum for information sharing; joint policy development; facilitating the State, National, and Territory libraries to work cooperatively on projects of national relevance; and providing a unified voice for lobbying purposes. Currently, only three states have advisory committees; however, representatives from all States and Territories working in the field of library services for people with disabilities have continued representation at the meetings. All meeting representatives were concerned that the meetings would lose their relevance in the future, unless its formal name and role were changed.

The meeting unanimously passed a motion that the committee representing the State Advisory Committee on Library Services for People with Disabilities would write to the Council of Australian State Libraries (CASL), recommending that it establish a working party to replace the annual meeting of State Advisory Committee chairs. A designated person from each State should be nominated by CASL to sit on the working group, and these designated persons should be actively involved in the area of disability service provision in libraries.

The Chairpersons meeting will continue for one year while seeking CASL's agreement.

At the meeting each Chairperson or State representative tabled and spoke to their State or Territory library report, describing their activities over the last 12 months, and their priorities. Work on the issues identified in the 1994 Chairpersons meeting were discussed, as were a number of new issues, to be undertaken by nominated committee members. These included:

Library statistics: representatives will develop data and indicators for annual collection which are compatible with the standards for public library statistics agreed to by the Public Libraries Working Group of CASL

Technology: improving the accessibility of Web sites and multimedia and the distribution of that research to committee members

Captioning: the Australian Captioning Centre has requested information on the collection policies of all libraries collecting captioned videos and their means of promoting those collections within the community.

Other agenda items pertained to individual States. The next meeting of the Chairpersons of Advisory Committees will be held in Melbourne.


News and Resources

Conferences

The Australian Council for Adult Literacy (ACAL) will hold its 19th National Conference on the Gold Coast at the Surfers Paradise Travelodge on 7-9 November 1996. The theme for the conference, 'The Literacy Equation: Competence = Capacity?' has been chosen to enable an exploration of diverse views about adult literacy.

For further information, contact Jenny Farmer, QCAL, PO Box 301, Red Hill Qld 4069. Tel and Fax (07) 3366 5202.

The annual conference of the NSW Adult Literacy and Numeracy Council, titled 'At the Coalface II', will take place on 11-12 October 1996 at Newcastle University. Papers are being called for.

For further information, contact Susan Jarvis on Tel (02) 716 8469 Fax (02) 799 3514.

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology: A Resource for School, Work and Community edited by Karen F. Flippo, Katherine J. Inge and J. Michel Barcus. Baltimore: P.H. Brookes, c1995. ISBN 1557661898.

This extensive guidebook provides detailed descriptions of the many assistive devices that help individuals with a range of disabilities lead more productive and fulfilling lives. It includes information on specific devices, case studies demonstrating assistive technology in action and resource lists. To purchase a copy, contact MacLennan & Petty Pty Ltd, PO Box 425, Artarmon NSW 2064. Tel (02) 9906 3577 Fax (02) 9906 3471.

DDA Standards Newsletter

The National Coalition for the Development of DDA Standards are producing a free newsletter every two months, publishing questions about DDA Standards, discussing issues and providing progress reports of DDA Standards Sub-committees.

The National Coalition for the Development of DDA Standards (NCDDAS) is a project of the National Caucus of Disability Consumer Organisations. Any national peak disability consumer organisation interested in the development of disability standards under the DDA may participate.

This issue included summaries of work carried out by DDA Standards Sub-committees in the areas of transport, employment, acccess to premises, and access to government information and programs, which could well provide important information for librarians working to address issues of physical access and information distribution. To receive a print or disk copy, phone Rose Ross. Tel (06) 286 2789 Fax (06) 286 2992.

Guide to U.S. Resources

Guide to Information Resources in Ethnic Museum, Library and Archival Collections in the United States compiled by Lois J. Buttlar and Lubomyr R. Wynar. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1996. 384 pages. ISBN 0313298467. Bibliographies and indexes in Ethnic Studies, no. 7. ISSN 1046-7882.

This guide has relevance for anyone seeking information concerning the availability of resources pertaining particularly to the United States, for teaching, providing information to ethnic communities, and for conducting research. Ethnic museums, libraries, and archives are rich sources of this information. The guide describes 786 such cultural institutions, covering over 70 ethnic groups. It describes not only the collections but the sponsoring organisation's publications and other special services. Copies can be purchased from: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. 88 Post Road West, PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007, Tel (203) 226 3571 Fax (203) 222 1502.

Pulse Data On-line

Pulse Data (Australia) can now be found on the World Wide Web. The site provides up-to-date information about Pulse Data's new products, and most demonstration programs can be downloaded. The Web site also includes information on Pulse Data's travelling exhibition itinerary, and can be found at http://www.pulse.com.au.

Email to Pulse Data can be sent to Glenn Rice: glennr@pulsedata.com.au or to Bertil Smark-Nilssen: bertilsn@pulsedata.com.au. Pulse Data's newsletter Tech-Style can also be received by email.

Literacy & ESL Electronic Mailing Lists

The Victorian Node of the Child Literacy and ESL Research Network maintains two electronic mailing lists through La Trobe University.

These lists are to enable immediate communication between teachers and researchers on matters of mutual concern. They are not bulletin boards, so the only postings are things that members of the lists want to send to each other. As such, the lists are ideal for questions and answers and for ongoing discussion of the 'Does anybody know about/have experience of ...? type.

The first mailing list focuses on issues directly related to the work of the network. It is called 'Child literacy and ESL devel'. To join this list (at no cost), send an email message to the following address: Listserv@latrobe.edu.au. In your message you should simply write: Subscribe Child_literacy_and_esl_devel@latrobe.edu.au

The second mailing list has a wider policy focus and deals with all matters pertaining to language policy and language teaching. It is called 'Language ed and policy'. To join this list (at no cost), send an email message to the following address Listserv@latrobe.edu.au

In your message you should simply write: Language_ed_ and_policy@latrobe.edu.au.

In each case you will get a welcome message telling you how to use the mailing list (including how to stop receiving messages!).

Anyone with a modem and personal computer can access these lists.

For further information, contact Dr Howard Nicholas, Director Child Literacy and ESL, Research Node, Graduate School of Education, La Trobe University, Bundoora Vic. 3083. Tel (03) 9479 2744 Fax (03) 9479 3070. E-mail: H.Nicholas@latrobe.edu.au.

The Adult Literacy Research Network Node for Victoria has set up an electronic mailing list through the Western Metropolitan College of TAFE. The aim of this project is to promote the use of email lists for facilitating research, discussion and dissemination in the field of adult literacy and basic education. Literacy practitioners and researchers are encouraged to join the list and share ideas, tips, helpful resources and personal experiences in adult literacy teaching.

To subscribe to the adult literacy mailing list, send an email to: listproc@fox.vut.edu.au.

The message should read as: subscribe adult_literacy <your first name> < second name>.

For further information, contact Syed Javed, ALRNN, VUT. Tel (03) 9688 5086.

E-mail: syed@dingo.vut.edu.au.

Adult Literacy Practices

Adult Literacy Practices in Rural Families and Communities and Creating Responsive Curriculum Using the National Framework Geoff Bull and Michael Anstey: Robyn Cox and Jean Searle. NLLIA Adult Literacy Research Network (Qld), 1995.

This booklet, no. 1 in the series, contains two papers. The first part of Adult Literacy Practices in Rural Families and Communities provides a theoretical rationale for the research reported. In the next section the factors which construct adult literacy practices in rural communities are outlined. The final section discusses the implications of these findings for those involved in adult literacy. The booklet also includes the paper, Communities and Creating Responsive Curriculum Using the National Framework.

Price: $3.00. To order a copy, contact NLLIA Publications, GPO Box 372F, Melbourne Vic. 3001. Tel (03) 9614 0255 Fax (03) 9629 4708.

Braille Code Email

The International Council on English Braille is currently working to combine the best symbology from various codes with the literary code presently shared by all participating countries. In other words, the basic code now used for non-technical writing is being extended to include symbols for math operators, computer notation, and other sciences.

The goal is to produce a single code for use by blind people throughout the English-speaking world. The work is nearing completion. Further information on its development can be obtained by contacting: Tim Cranmer, E-mail: tvc@iglou.com

Intellectual Disability Resources

The Department of Families, Youth and Community Care, Division of Disability Services, Queensland, regularly produces a number of resources, including:

For further information contact the Resource Officer, Intellectual Disability Services, Department of Families, Youth and Community Care, GPO Box 806, Brisbane Qld 4001. Tel (07) 3225 8221.

1996 TaxTape and TaxDisk

Produced by the Royal Blind Society on behalf of the Australian Taxation Office, TaxTape 96 will help you understand your tax obligations for the 1995-96 financial year and will make filling in a tax return easier.

The full TaxPack is now also available on computer disk. TaxDisk 96 is specially formatted for use with synthesised voice output and contains all the information found in TaxPack 96.

TaxTape 96 and TaxDisk 96 will be available in June. Both are free of charge to anyone with a print disability such as vision impairment.

If you would like to be on the list to receive TaxTape or TaxDisk, contact the Royal Blind Society. Tel (02) 334 3524 or toll-free 1800 644 885 (outside Sydney).

Giving a Voice to People with a Disability

'Empowerment via Telecommunications' is a research project conducted by the University of Adelaide's Centre for Telecommunications Information Networking (CTIN). It will be a systematic examination of how new telecommunications technology could be used or adapted to provide support to isolated or vulnerable people including people who are prevented communication technology by a disability.

Project Coordinator, Tony Smith, Deputy Director of CTIN, explained:

CTIN's primary focus is on the development and use of advanced telecommunications technology, particularly in the area of mobile telecommunication and personal communication systems. Discussions with the Adelaide Central Mission indicated that new technology has much wider applications than at present, particularly when considering the special needs of various sectors of the community.
'The Empowerment via Telecommunications' project recognises that the telephone is a powerful communication tool and that new technology applied in the right way could make it even more powerful.

Smith welcomed the involvement of libraries in the project. He stressed that the project team is not seeking to duplicate other work in this area, but to identify unmet needs and encourage contact from other organisations or individuals who have undertaken work in this field.

The project would be undertaken during 1996 and conducted by a number of the university's departments to ensure that a comprehensive needs profile would be obtained. The researchers on the project would work with a number of large service providers and consumer organisations, but they were also interested in talking to smaller representative groups which might have more specialised and particular needs for the team to consider.

For further information about the 'Empowerment via Telecommunications' project, contact Tony Smith or Ian Bruce. Tel (08) 303 3222.

Westcod Ethnic Disability Services

In response to the needs of people with disabilities who are of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds in the Western Region of Melbourne, WESTCOD has employed two Ethnic Disability Advocacy Officers.

WESTCOD aims at assisting and supporting people with disabilities who are of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds to be part of the wider community, enjoying the same rights, entitlements and participation as all members of the general community. It provides information and advocacy services, advice, training and/or workshops to specialist disability or ethnic service providers.

For further information, contact Andreas Cassinides or Ahmed Zeed, WESTCOD, 37 Albert Street, Footscray Vic. 3011. Tel (03) 9689 3044.

Road Law Price Change

In the previous edition of Link-up, we reported that the Road Law computer tutorial was $125. The distributors have advised us that this was incorrect; the price is $99, and can be purchased from Results Enterprises, PO Box 332, Bega NSW 2550. Tel (064) 923 444 Fax (064) 923 934.

DDA Legal Advocacy Services

ACT

Welfare Rights Legal Service
PO Box 337
Civic Square ACT 2608
Tel (06) 247 2177
Fax (06) 257 4801

NSW

NSW Disability Discrimination Law Advocacy Service
Shop 99, 1-5 Meeks Street
Kingsford NSW 2032
Tel (02) 9313 6000
Fax (02) 9662 1364
TTY (02) 9313 7190
Free call 1800 800 708
Free TTY 1800 644 419

QLD

Welfare Rights Legal Centre
99 Gregory Terrace
Spring Hill Qld 4000
Tel (07) 3864 8511
Fax (07) 3864 8522

Cairns Community Legal Centre
128 Martyn Street
Parramatta Park Qld 4870
Tel (070) 317 688
Fax (070) 412 134
TTY (070) 317 179

SA

Norwood Community Legal Centre
110 The Parade
Norwood SA 5067
Tel (08) 362 1199
Fax (08) 362 0410

Tas.

Launceston Community Legal Centre
4A George Street
Launceston Tas. 7250
Tel (003) 341 577
Fax (003) 315 237

TTY (003) 341 949

Free call 1800 066 019

NT

Darwin Community Legal Centre
17 Peel Street
Darwin NT 0801
Tel (089) 413 394
Fax (089) 413 773

Vic.

Victorian Disability Discrimination Law Advocacy Service
11 Floor, 343 Little Collins Street
Melbourne Vic. 3000
Tel (03) 9602 4877
Fax (03) 9602 4948

WA

Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc.
Locked Bag 2
East Victoria Park WA 6101


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Last updated 20 June 1996

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