Working groups
The statewide public library working groups provide support and training on a range of areas of library service provision.
Working groups share information through a variety of platforms including face to face and online meetings, email discussion lists, wikis and social media. These are developed and maintained by the relevant working groups.
Public library staff can participate in working groups in many ways including contributing to online discussion, attending seminars and presentations or taking part in online meetings and workshops.
Membership of working groups is open to all NSW public library staff.
The State Library supports and facilitates the establishment and development of communities of interest and networks. This support includes providing advice to working groups, support and facilitation of seminars, venue provision, access to video conferencing, and email list and wiki hosting.
Join a working group
- Children and young people
This working group shares information, resources, and learning about services and programs for children and young people in NSW public libraries.
- Join the youngpeople email list for discussion on issues relating to public library services for children and young people.
- Visit the wiki for more information about this group including meeting agendas and minutes and links to online resources.
- Corporate libraries
This working group facilitates the exchange of ideas between NSW public library staff who provide corporate library/reference services to council staff.
This is an online-only working group.
- Document delivery and interlibrary lending
This working group is for public library staff working in document delivery and interlibrary lending.
- Join the ill email list for discussion on issues relating to interlibrary lending.
- Join the mcbulkloans email list for discussion on issues relating to multicultural and alternate format bulk loans.
- Visit the wiki for more information about this group including links to online resources and details of meetings/workshops.
- Literacy
This working group supports public library staff in the delivery of literacy services and resources, provide advice and promote the provision of library resources to adult clients with literacy needs and adult literacy teachers.
- Local studies
This is a forum to network, discuss, inform and share knowledge on best practice in local studies.
- Join the localstudies email list for discussion on issues relating to local studies.
- Visit the wiki for more information about this group including links to resources and details of meetings/workshops.
- Marketing and programs
This working group is for public library staff who want to share ideas on programs and marketing in NSW public libraries.
- Multicultural
This working group is for public library staff who are interested in or provide services and collections for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The Multicultural Library Services Working Group consists of public library staff from metropolitan and regional NSW whose role it is to work with multicultural communities in their local government area.
The working group meets quarterly to share information and work together on projects that improve the awareness of multicultural services and resources. Each meeting features guest speakers including suppliers of LOTE material and electronic resources, and government and community partners.
Contact multicultural@sl.nsw.gov.au for more information on joining.
- Join the multicultural email list for discussion on issues relating to providing services and collections for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Visit the wiki for more information about this group including links to online resources and details of meetings/workshops.
- Home library services
This working group provides a forum for discussion of issues and sharing information about home library services. They also work on collaborative projects and mentor new home library service workers.
- Join the olderpeople email list to connect with other members.
- Visit the wiki for more information about this groups including links to resources and details of meetings/workshops.
- Readers' advisory
This working group is for public library staff who are interested in readers’ advisory services. Readers’ advisory is a term used to describe assisting readers with their leisure reading needs.
- Reference and information services
The RISG working group is for staff who provide reference and information services in NSW public libraries. This group also develops and maintains the Reference Excellence training program and coordinates a professional development reading group.
- Join the reference email list for discussion on issues relating to reference and information services.
- Visit the wiki for more information about this group including links to online resources and details of meetings/workshops and seminars.
- You can also follow the group on Twitter
- You can also follow the group on Flickr
NSW public library wiki
The NSW public library wiki is for NSW public library staff and working groups to share information.
If you work in a NSW public library and would like to add content to the working group wiki, please email pls@sl.nsw.gov.au with your name, library and preferred user name.
See also:
Collaborative tools and information sharing
The public library working groups share information through wikis and other forms of social media. The State Library shares news with NSW public libraries through the In the libraries enewsletter and Public Library Services enews. These tools can help you keep informed about what other libraries are doing and allow you to share your skills and expertise.
We are also using social media to help NSW public libraries share information. Please take a look, follow us and use the #NSWPublicLibraries hashtag when sharing to social media so that others can join the conversation.
Instagram - Public libraries NSW
NSW public library buildings on flickr - join this group to add photographs of your building.
NSW public libraries on flickr - join this group to add photographs of events or services in your library.