Comments on: Vision and National Framework for Australia’s Public Libraries http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/11/08/vision-and-national-framework-for-australias-public-libraries/ It is and we do. Musing, enthusing, libraries, emerging technologies, balancing, being mum. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:33:37 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kathryn Greenhill http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/11/08/vision-and-national-framework-for-australias-public-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-63002 Kathryn Greenhill Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:33:00 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1513#comment-63002 You're right Helen. I think we have to find a middle ground between speaking plainly and speaking in political language. While the vision in the document is validly about libraries, I think that the only bit that is specific to public libraries is "free access to knowledge, information and ideas". If you look at the rest of the vision and substitute in "Australia's churches" or "Community Football" or "St John's Ambulance Volunteers", then all the points would be just as applicable. I'm concerned that without specifically talking about what we do that is different from other community facilities, the vision just says "we can play nicely together and you should value us"... which is not terribly concrete. I think the focus should be on *what exactly* is in it for the people making the decisions. Every institution that wants funding will promise best practice and say that it should be valued. You’re right Helen.

I think we have to find a middle ground between speaking plainly and speaking in political language.

While the vision in the document is validly about libraries, I think that the only bit that is specific to public libraries is “free access to knowledge, information and ideas”. If you look at the rest of the vision and substitute in “Australia’s churches” or “Community Football” or “St John’s Ambulance Volunteers”, then all the points would be just as applicable.

I’m concerned that without specifically talking about what we do that is different from other community facilities, the vision just says “we can play nicely together and you should value us”… which is not terribly concrete. I think the focus should be on *what exactly* is in it for the people making the decisions. Every institution that wants funding will promise best practice and say that it should be valued.

]]> By: Helen K http://librariansmatter.com/blog/2009/11/08/vision-and-national-framework-for-australias-public-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-63000 Helen K Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:01:14 +0000 http://librariansmatter.com/blog/?p=1513#comment-63000 You make some good points. "Fun and joy" while meaningful and important to staff working in the delivery of sessions (and meeting worthy goals relating to community engagement and literacy). The terms aren't political speak and pushes no buttons with politicans - as much as we would like them to be :) If we (the profession), want to be taken seriously by politicans we need, and must speak the language to demonstrate how we are achieving their priorities for the nation. Free access to knowledge, information and ideas - while worthy and is what we do, it doesn't explain the significance of the role public libraries have within a community and peoples lives. You make some good points. “Fun and joy” while meaningful and important to staff working in the delivery of sessions (and meeting worthy goals relating to community engagement and literacy). The terms aren’t political speak and pushes no buttons with politicans – as much as we would like them to be :)

If we (the profession), want to be taken seriously by politicans we need, and must speak the language to demonstrate how we are achieving their priorities for the nation. Free access to knowledge, information and ideas – while worthy and is what we do, it doesn’t explain the significance of the role public libraries have within a community and peoples lives.

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