TOWARDS FEDERATION 2001: Linking Australians with Their Heritage Review Meeting 1993

Progress Reports 1994-1996

Section B - Services to Special Communities
J: Multicultural Communities


RJA1 That the principles in A plan for cultural heritage institutions to reflect Australia's cultural diversity that refer to other than indigenous peoples be used as a basis for institutions' policies, with resources re-allocation as appropriate to institute the principles.

1994 REPORT

Where applicable, most institutions who submitted information are considering these principles. The State Library of South Australia has embodied the plan's principles in the Library's Strategic Plan 1993-2020, its Collection Development Policy and its Management Plan. The State Library of Tasmania will address this resolution during the formulation of its collection development policy.

Resources have been allocated by the State Library of South Australia for programs such as cross-cultural training; to an English Learning and Improvement Service which caters particularly for migrants; and the publication of information leaflets about the collections in languages other than English

1996 REPORT

The principles are embedded in the National Library of Australia's collection development policy for Australian printed materials and implemented through collecting projects. A survey of publishing from Australia's multicultural communities is in progress.

The State Library of South Australia provides a Cultural Diversity team as part of its ongoing budget and resources commitment. Language codes are being added to material being converted from the 1880-1980 card catalogues onto INNOPAC, not previously searchable by language. Language codes were used as part of the Conspectus methodology in preparation of State Library of South Australia's Collection development policy. Comprehensive cross-cultural awareness training program for all State Library of South Australia staff has been implemented.

The National Film and Sound Archive's Collection Development policy seeks to build a collection of cultural diversity that reflects Australian society.

RJA2 That institutions include reference to multicultural materials in their collection development and access policies, and complete Conspectus sheets where appropriate.

1994 REPORT

Most institutions who submitted information report that reference to multicultural materials, including materials other than English (with the exception of some non-Roman scripts), easy to read materials which can assist with English learning, and specialist language collections held by public libraries, have been incorporated into their collection development policies. References to multicultural materials have been incorporated into Conspectus reporting by the University of Queensland Libraries and the State Library of South Australia.

1996 REPORT

Multicultural material are identified in the National Library of Australia's collection development policy as an area of particular attention. Multicultural printed materials are actively collected and controlled. Conspectus analysis of multicultural holdings has not been done and the library has no plans in this area. Referred to in the National Film and Sound Archive Collection Development Policy.

University of Sydney Library adheres to this advice as appropriate; and the University of Adelaide will include when relevant in collection development policies.

The State Library of New South Wales' 1993 Collection Development Policy and related Conspectus sheet include reference to multicultural materials. The State Library of Victoria included a chapter on languages other than English in its revised CDP published in July 1996. There is also reference to language throughout the subject policies. State Library of South Australia's Collection development policy published in 1995 included reference to multicultural materials and used language codes in the Conspectus analysis. Multicultural materials are reflected in Library and Information Service of Western Australia's collection development policies of the public library collections and permanent collections in the Alexander Library Building.

RJA3 That institutions ensure that retrospective materials which reflect Australia's cultural diversity (either as originals or copies) are collected in line with overall collection development policies, and include records for such materials on the NBD.

1994 REPORT

Where it is applicable to their collections, all institutions who submitted information agree with this resolution. Some of the activities which have been reported in relation to this resolution are:

1996 REPORT

The National Library of Australia reports that all such acquisitions are catalogued on the NBD. Attention is given to ensuring that Australia's cultural diversity is reflected in special acquisitions projects concluded each year. Retrospective material which reflects Australia cultural diversity including ethnic communities and minority groups. Special emphasis is given to collecting retrospective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander materials.

University of Sydney Library adheres to this advice where possible. University of Adelaide will do so when relevant.

At the State Library of New South Wales an active collecting program is in place for retrospective materials which reflect Australia's cultural diversity. It is intended that collection level records for this material be placed on the NBD. State Library of Victoria actively collects material reflecting cultural diversity as part of its program to collect Victorian material at level 5 (Comprehensive) and Australian material at Level 4 (Research). At the State Library of South Australia current collecting policies incorporate collection of important retrospective materials and mainstream processing. A Collection Development Committee assesses all major acquisitions.

RJA4 That institutions continue to develop their understanding of cross-cultural issues affecting service, through appropriate staff training and other strategies.

1994 REPORT

Cross-cultural training programs are run by most of the institutions who submitted information. The State Library of South Australia is a member of the South Australian Working Group on Multicultural Library Services which seeks to ensure wide canvassing on multicultural issues relating to libraries. At the State Library of Tasmania, a member of staff is trained to coordinate the provision of foreign language material to housebound clients. The University of Melbourne Library reported that with both multicultural staff and multicultural clients, the standard of service did not seem to be affected by cross-cultural issues.

1996 REPORT

University of Sydney Library adheres to this advice where possible. Australian Defence Force Academy Library staff have attended training in cross-cultural issues. At the University of Adelaide library staff participate in staff training, seminars, etc.

State Library of South Australia reports:

Training courses in Aboriginal Cultural Awareness have been made available to staff at the Library and Information Service of Western Australia. Staff have also received training in the use of translation and interpreter services. Library and Information Service of Western Australia is compiling a directory of Aboriginal resources for public libraries, including contacts with people who can provide Aboriginal cultural awareness training for libraries. A Language Services Plan has been developed to assist people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

State Library of New South Wales reports that:

The National Library of Australia publishes Link-up, a quarterly newsletter which provides a forum for debate and issues on library services and disability, literacy and cultural diversity. Link-up is published in print, on-line on disk and on audio tape.

RJA5 That institutions develop an in-house policy and practice framework for the further development of cultural pluralism in collecting and access, and that copies of these frameworks be circulated amongst institutions and to the proposed National Round Table (Resolution RJ1) to assist with developing best policies and practices.

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information have noted this resolution. Most are developing, or already have in place, policies and practices aimed at further developing cultural pluralism in collecting and access. The State Libraries of Tasmania and South Australia include reference to cultural pluralism in their collection development policies and strategic plans. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies is currently working on an indigenous thesaurus and principles of access to secret/sacred material. The Australian War Memorial will strives to follow the intent of this resolution - for example in collecting of material relating to internees and multilingual signage.

1996 REPORT

A practice framework has not been developed but the policy at the National Library of Australia is to reflect Australia's cultural pluralism in all mainstream as well as targeted collecting activities.

University of Sydney Library will adhere to this advice where appropriate. At the Australian Defence Force Academy there is limited scope for the development of cultural pluralism in collecting and access. They would however be interested to see what other organisations are doing in this area. University of Adelaide will do so when relevant.

State Library of South Australia's focus has been on building communication links with cultural community groups, such as Spanish, Vietnamese, Tamil and Persian groups, to encourage legal and archival deposit.

The State Library of New South Wales' Collection Development Policy states the Library's policy for collecting ethnically diverse materials and notes specific strategies and programs. The policy document has been widely circulated and is available for sale. Some strategies central to policy implementation include:

All ethnically diverse print materials are catalogued and listed on the NBD.

RJA6 That institutions publish more reports and articles relating to their progress of multicultural library services in the mainstream library literature, as well as in specialist channels such as Multicultural libraries.

1994 REPORT

Where applicable for their collections, institutions who submitted information reported that they would follow this advice, The State Library of South Australia regularly contributes to the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs magazine Multicultural Life which reaches cultural community organisations. They are also preparing a report relating to the implementation of their cultural diversity program for inclusion in a number of publications including Multicultural libraries.

1996 REPORT

This advice is not particularly relevant to the National Library of Australia. The Australian Defence Force Academy Library does not believe this is applicable with regard to our collections or services. University of Adelaide will do so when relevant.

Articles published in State Library of South Australia's twice yearly promotional library magazine Library Liaison, in December 1994 Voices: a two page article on the new English Language Learning and Improvement Service. Also an article on the making of the children's book Ants to elephants, multicultural folktales and on telling the stories to children. The State Library of New South Wales edited Break Through (the Journal of the Working Group on Multicultural Library Services in New South Wales) through 1995, (and editorship has now gone to Botany Library Service). Multicultural Services staff maintain a high profile in ethnically diverse communities giving talks, providing training and preparing reports.


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