Victorian Public Libraries:Our Future, Our Skills
WorkshopThursday 3 July 2014
Victorian Public Libraries 2030
Five key social trends and two future scenarios depicting Victorian lifestyles
Creative scenario Community scenarioCreativityThe desire to unlock, express, develop & record creative interests
CollaborationThe willingness to partner, cooperate & share with others
Brain healthThe need for lifelong mental engagement, stimulation & care
Dynamic learningThe need to continually learn new knowledge & skills to participate fully in a rapidly changing environment
Community connectionThe desire for stable & trusted relationships with people & places of common interest
Our Future, Our Skills
Five significant social trends (VPL 2030)• Creativity
– The desire to unlock, express, develop and record creative interests
• Collaboration– The willingness to partner, cooperate and share with others
• Brain health– The need for lifelong mental engagement, stimulation and
care• Dynamic learning
– The need to continually learn new knowledge and skills to participate fully in a rapidly changing environment
• Community connection– The desire for stable and trusted relationships with people
and places of common interest
Our Future, Our Skills
VPL 2030: Creative libraries
In the Creative scenario there is a fundamental shift in society’s aspirations as the desire to consume declines and a creative culture emerges in its place. In this scenario more and more people are seeking to explore, develop and express their creativity.
We also see a decline in individual and organisational competition, and a rising interest in collaboration, both on a personal and professional basis.
Our Future, Our Skills
VPL 2030: Community libraries
In the Community scenario we see the combined effect of economic, social and technological change, as industries and social norms are disrupted and traditional gatekeepers lose their relevance.
Rapidly changing social dynamics lead to sustained high unemployment, feelings of social displacement, and the desire to reconnect with the local community. In this scenario there is a need to continually acquire new knowledge and skills as people feel the impact of the transformation from a local, physical economy to a global virtual one.
Our Future, Our Skills
VPL 2030: Recommendations
• Storytelling• Revenue and fundraising• Products services and
programs• Facilities and resources• Staff
2014 Victorian Public Libraries:Our Future, Our Skills
Our Future, Our Skills
The right people + the right skills and attributes + the right jobs + the right time________________
Our Future, Our Skills________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Image: http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com.au/2012_11_26_archive.html
Our Future, Our Skills
Skills audit
• Development of two online survey instruments– Individual survey– Management survey
Survey undertaken in November 2013
Our Future, Our Skills
Response rates: Individual survey
• 78% Response rate for Bayside
Knowing your workforce
Image: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/issue/latrobe-72/latrobe-72-031a.jpg
Our Future, Our Skills
Summary of current strengthsStrong understanding of the role that libraries play in societyGood experience in the core services offered by the library:
Providing information services Helping people find information Keeping the collection in good condition Undertaking routine lending services
Comfortable with their levels of literacy and cultural literacy
Our Future, Our Skills
Behavioural skills
• Constant change: – Flexibility
• A less predictable world, the need for new ideas and testing novel approaches to resolve operational issues: – Creative thinking– Problem solving
• Responsibility for ongoing learning and PD:– Lifelong learning
Our Future, Our Skills
Skills for the future• The themes that emerge from the Our Future, Our Skills
study indicate that public library staff believe that ‘traditional’ services will continue, but that new trends will emerge:
• There is a need to have:– A strong community focus– An understanding of both the local community and the wider
world in which we operate– Strong digital competences– An understanding of learning and creativity– The ability to establish new partnerships and alliances
Our Future, Our Skills
Stay CalmNot all individuals
require all the skills…
Our Future, Our Skills
Bayside
Community Library• Connected Library Plan• Develop more partnerships• What’s in our catchment area?
Our Future, Our Skills
Bayside
Creative Library• Develop a Maker/Creative Space and develop
programs• CTS team
Our Future, Our Skills
Bayside
Digital Literacy• Core competencies• Specialist competencies• CTS team
Victorian Public Libraries:Our Future, Our Skills