Success stories

Storytime

Storytime sessions at libraries are a major attraction for parents and carers to enhance their children's enthusiasm for books in their early years of literacy development. Storytime sessions typically incorporate a combination of sharing stories from books available at the library, singing action rhymes and songs, and some craftwork.

Tasmania participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime initiative on 1 September 2006, where children from all around Australia listened to stories simultaneously. This program promotes the value of literacy and aims to involve children, parents, grandparents and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion. It also supports and promotes Australian writers and publishers.

In Tasmania, nearly 50 schools, libraries, child care centres, and other neighbourhood centres participated in the readings of the day and related activities. At the Hobart Lending Library the book Good Night, Me, by Andrew Daddo, was read to eager children by Tasmanian author David Rish. As a former early childhood teacher, David understands the importance of early literacy experiences for children. He recognises the effect that a literacy-rich background has on a child's success in reading and writing at school.

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Glenorchy Library + Online Access Centre

Following the success of the Huon LINC project that brought together a range of government and community services, funding was provided to establish a similar facility at the Glenorchy Library which incorporates the services of the library and the online access centre. The library was modified at a capital cost of $453,000 to create a flexible and welcoming purpose-designed space, with 30 computers for casual use as well as structured training. The Glenorchy Library has, for some time, offered clients assistance in the use of information technology through an active volunteer program, but the online access centre has greatly extended and improved the services available by providing both formal and informal learning opportunities.

Volunteers have been actively recruited and trained, and have substantially assisted in enhancing the range of services and courses offered, while improving their own employment and personal skills. There are, on average, nearly 3,500 computer sessions per month, which is meeting a much needed demand in the community. Also, over 1,200 participants have undertaken community training courses throughout the year.

Since the online access centre became operational in May 2006, there has been a substantial increase in the usage of the whole facility. Programs and events at the online access centre have included school holiday programs, Adult Learners' Week, Seniors Week, National Youth Week, Click Club for the families of pre-school children, International Women's Day project, as well as National Families Week and Australian Libraries Week. The Glenorchy Library + Online Access Centre also participates in partnerships with schools, TAFE, employment agencies and volunteer and staff training.

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International Recognition for Convict Records

Records documenting the lives of the 75,000 convicts sent to Tasmania and the workings of the convict system, held in the Archives Office of Tasmania, were accorded international recognition when they were added to the prestigious UNESCO Memory of the World Register in June 2007. It follows the inclusion of Tasmania's convict records on UNESCO's Australian Memory of the World Register in 2006.

The register lists documents which are of world significance, and these records, along with those of New South Wales and Western Australian convicts, form one of only four entries on the register from Australia and one of only 158 in total, worldwide. The register is part of a UNESCO international program established to recognise, protect and promote documentary material that records or reflects significant milestones and events in the history of the world.

The Archives Office is also working with a consortium of Australian universities towards the digitisation of most of the listed convict records, which will make them more accessible on the Archives Office website, and increase the opportunity for all to view these world recognised records.

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Adult Learners' Week

The Tasmanian community shows a strong interest in lifelong learning, and this includes sharing ideas and learning from each other in non-formal settings. Once again, learning events were held across the state during 1-8 September 2006 for Adult Learners' Week (ALW). Over $20,000 in small grants was allocated to community groups, online access centres, neighbourhood houses and other not-for-profit organisations in all regions of the state, including remote areas and rural centres.

This year, Tasmanian groups and organisations registered 108 events on the national online calendar, representing nearly 12% of all Australian entries. As Tasmania has only approximately 2.4% of the Australian population, this level of activity shows the strong take-up of ALW in the Tasmanian community.

A report from a neighbourhood house in a remote rural area stated: "The provision of grants for the program enables organisations such as ours the opportunity to 'make a statement' about the benefits of lifelong learning."

With the assistance of ALW small grants, many activities were made possible for enthusiastic participants, for example: scrapbooking, knitting, learning about digital cameras, Aboriginal and migrant cultural exchange, and healthy budget cooking.

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