I work in one of the largest Public Library systems in Sydney and have for…..boy…..twenty-six years. Before that, as you’d probably expect, I was a regular user of my public library for assignments, cultural activities, or my own general amusement. I am a walking talking advocate for Public Libraries.
So I am often asked by acquaintances making small-talk,
“So, what are you going to do in the future when libraries are all dead?” or something of that nature. As to what I would do if I did need another job, well I’ll get to that, but really is there any need?
This week, the Public Library Association held a briefing session for State Government parliamentarians, local government councillors and management. It laid out The State of our Libraries, a report detailing the realities of Public Libraries, their overwhelming benefit to their communities and the challengers their facing. Sydney Morning Herald’s article is a good digestible of taking in the information, but the report is online for everyone to see.
But here’s a few snippets from the article:
3.3 million library members in NSW
96% go to borrow books but there’s more to libraries than books
Classes and community programs and events
A bunch of services that many people take for granted not realising everyone can get access or afford:
- using the internet,
- reading ebooks,
- listening to audiobooks
- using computers for email, fax and printing
Now many government services are online access to online application forms has increased and public libraries are still number one providers of free resources and information. This and information professional who, might not be able to fill that form in for you, but are there to make sense of the government jargon and websites.
Still a major services to children and their parents, libraries are a place not home and where other people can gather and socialise in comfort. We promote, support and encourage literacy from newborn to housebound elderly and are at the forefront of life-long learning.
Study and work space is still a major part of being a library and with more and more of Sydney’s residents living in smaller apartments sometimes the only quiet place is the local library.
Libraries dying? Maybe from want of funds, but certainly not from want of use. Libraries have embraced information technology because he are and always have been the information technology specialists.
As for me. Well, I have more than 26 years of providing customer service to a highly diverse community from all walks of life and backgrounds. I am experienced in one-on-one and group training either in person or over electronic device and am part of a team that creates and delivers training to our Western Sydney community. I am an information professional in not just processing, but reference query and research, management, purchasing, promotion and delivery. As we say, I don’t know everything, but I know where to find it. And I have a decent singing voice. So, what do you think my employment chances are in the corporate world? I think they’d be happy to have some one like me. And that’s why I work for PUBLIC Libraries.
Blug... 