SE Regional Rep Teresa Kohne has been catching up on the latest activities from across the south-east region.
LOCKYER VALLEY
Judging Books by Their Covers: Genrefication of Adult Fiction at Lockyer Valley Libraries
On our recent closed day (held twice a year for library maintenance, meetings, and professional development), our staff donned their joggers and pulled up their sleeves to shuffle our Adult Fiction collection. With some careful maths, many trolleys and a very flexible plan, we moved every single Adult Fiction book so they are now shelved in categories.
In the weeks leading up to this event, staff diligently worked through the alphabet to assess each book, determine their correct genre and assign their category in the catalogue. We chose six main genres to consolidate our existing subgenres into, so we can continue utilising the same spine labels.
The first wave was to take the books off the shelves, analyse their tags and records to determine their genre, and update the item holdings accordingly. The second round caught items that were missed or returned during the first wave, and a widget was created for ease of reference so staff could select these titles and genre them. Finally, any items that still hadn’t been genred have had an item status applied so they are put aside upon return to be looked at.
We developed this matrix to assist staff and patrons and there are signs on every shelf detailing the genres and stickers to look for:
This book shop-inspired layout is intended to increase browsability and has been well received so far, with many people commenting how great it is to browse their favourite genre. In the first 10 days we have seen an increase of 8.7% in loans across our two branches, but it is still very early days and we will continue to monitor results.
We shared some posts on the process on our Facebook page, you can view the video advertising the change and a short timelapse by clicking the links. If you have questions, please contact Coordinator of Libraries and Galleries, Nic Kilah on nkilah@lvrc.qld.gov.au or 5462 0317.
Welcome Baby Celebration
Our Welcome Baby Celebration is a wonderful annual event, and this year was no exception. Our special guests (babies born in 2023) were welcomed to the Lockyer Valley Community alongside their families with a certificate from the mayor, library bag of literacy and early learning-based goodies and library information and a morning tea. This year we had 37 babies registered (25 attended on the day), with 13 of these babies new to the library community. It was wonderful to see returning families and frequent library users as well as new members enjoying their special morning.
Cozy Crafts
With some inspiration from Jamie from Gladstone Libraries (thanks Jamie!) we’ve started ‘cozy crafts’ at both of our branches. Attendees can enjoy a hands-on staff-led craft once a month at both branches to enjoy making their creations to take home, as well as self-guided mindfulness colouring sessions. We originally trialled fortnightly alternating sessions, advertised for youth and adults with quite a low turnout. We are now trialling monthly hands-on sessions at 3.30pm on Thursdays with self-guided colouring available every Monday at both branches, and the activities are available to anyone 10+ years old. We’re hoping to catch upper primary to high school kids with their parent/guardians and adults. The crafts chosen are simple creations that staff can step attendees through within the hour and the mindful colouring pages and pencils are all stored in one plastic box that they can take to any comfy spot within the library. We’ll be using recycled materials wherever possible for sustainability and to promote good crafting practices. The trial will continue for another three months before the program is reassessed for future planning.
EDI / Shelf Ready Items
While this is not a new process to many libraries, this is very new and exciting for us! We have implemented EDI and full shelf ready from our main vendor for quicker processing and to release our acquisition staff member to focus on other aspects of their role. We’re still working through the finer details with the vendor (i.e. sticker placement, what books are covered, consistency of spine labels) to ensure consistency and minimal variation for staff and patrons.
Sunshine Coast Libraries
Future Engineers Club
Libraries Young Peoples Services team launched a new STEM program in June 2024 called ‘Future Engineers Club’. The drop-in club meets weekly in each library and encourages attendees to unleash their creativity with LEGO, magnetic tiles, geometric shapes and much more. A mix of individual and group challenges were created for kids to complete while in the space. The club has been incredibly well received by the community with over 450 people attending the first 35 sessions.
Heritage Trivia
Local history buffs joined Heritage Library staff for a fun morning of trivia based on the history of the Sunshine Coast. The event was a great success and demonstrated strong community interest in learning about the local area and its history. Heritage programs are skyrocketing in popularity across the Coast with a range of new programs being developed including Retro Postcard Stories and a G rated sip and paint workshop based on drawings and paintings by local environmentalist Kathleen McArthur.
City of Gold Coast Libraries
Celebrating a remarkable financial year at Gold Coast Libraries!
Over the past 12 months, Gold Coast Libraries have thrived, offering an exciting array of programs and activities that celebrate the magic of storytelling across all ages. From discovering new books and authors to fostering community connections, we’ve been on an incredible journey together! Highlights include:
Author Visits – We’ve hosted renowned authors like Owen Wright, Leigh Sales, Trent Dalton, and Julie Goodwin.
Fun for All Ages – Our littlest library enthusiasts enjoyed visits from Santa, Bluey-themed Storytimes, Harry Potter dress-up events, and Lego adventures.
Community Engagement – Our foyers have come alive with music from schools and accomplished musicians, strengthening our ties with the community. And we’re proud to announce that we now offer the BEST Accessible Collection in Australia with hundreds of learning and development resources available for everyone.
Noosa Libraries
Noosa community Thrives!
In May, we welcomed the Noosa community for our Thrive Wellness event at Cooroy Library. We were joined by hundreds of residents to foster wellbeing, and develop the tools, strategies, and connections we need to bounce back stronger in challenging situations. Highlights were kids’ yoga, mindfulness for families, Birdie Storytime with free puppets, sensory craft and an insightful disaster resilience session.
Noosaville Library’s new amenities!
Noosa Libraries are delighted to announce the successful completion of the Noosaville public amenities project! The project was executed by Carfax Commercial Constructions over 11 weeks, and was partially funded by the South-East Queensland Community Stimulus Program.
The existing amenities at the Noosaville Library, which were 30 years old and considerably outdated, have been replaced with facilities that meet the current standards of functionality, capability, and inclusiveness. Ensuring accessibility for all users. This is particularly important as the Noosaville Library also serves as an overflow emergency evacuation centre for higher-needs community members. The project has also addressed the recurring issues with plumbing and drainage that were causing disruptions and often resulted in the closure or reduced access to the facilities. Our new amenities are looking great and are a lovely improvement to the user experience at the Noosaville Library.
