信息檢索資料：active-engaged-valued

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ActiveEngagedValued

OlderPeopleandNSWPublicLibraries

by

MyleeJoseph

Consultant

PublicLibraryServicesStateLibraryofNSW

Mayyouliveallthedaysofyourlife.

JonathanSwift(1667–1745)

1.0EXECUTIVESUMMARY 5

INTRODUCTION 5

Whatisold? 6

AsnapshotofageinginNSW 7

TheNSWpubliclibrarynetworkservingolderpeople 7

LEGISLATIVEANDPOLICYFRAMEWORK 10

International 10

UnitedNationsPrinciplesforOlderPersons 10

National 11

HumanRightsandEqualOpportunityCommission(HREOC) 11

NationalStrategyforanAgeingAustralia 11

FederationofEthnicCommunities'CouncilsofAustralia(FECCA) 12

AustralianLocalGovernmentAssociation(ALGA) 13

NewSouthWales 13

NSWHealthyAgeingFramework 13

LocalGovernmentAssociationofNSWandShiresAssociationsofNSW(LGSA) 14

Localgovernment–Libraryprovision 14

Localgovernment–Social,communityandculturalplans 14

KEYSTAKEHOLDERSANDSTRATEGICPARTNERSHIPS 15

LocalGovernment 15

Communitygroups 16

COTANationalSeniors 16

UniversityoftheThirdAge(U3A) 16

VisionAustraliaFoundation 17

DEVELOPINGCOMMUNITIES 18

CulturallyAndLinguisticallyDiverse(CALD)communities 19

Seachange/treechange 20

Greynomads 21

Communityconsultation 21

CHALLENGINGIMPACTSOFAGEING 22

Dementia 22

Carers 23

Grandparentsascarers 24

POSITIONINGLIBRARIESFORTHEAGEWAVE 25

Librariesaslifelonglearningagencies 25

Technologyandmaintainingaplaceinthewiredworld 26

Silversurfers 27

Accessandequity 27

Designingwebsitesforseniors 28

Multilingualseniorsurfers 28

Adaptivetechnologies 29

Ageingwell 29

Communityinformation 29

Healthinformation 30

Legalinformation 30

Volunteering 30

Homelibraryservices 31

Innovationandbestpractice 32

FIFTYISTHENEWTHIRTY-FIVE-MARKETINGTOSENIORS 33

Avoidingstereotypes 33

Developingmarketingplans 34

Advocatesandlibraryfriends 34

TRANSGENERATIONALDESIGNINLIBRARYBUILDINGS 35

Definitions 35

Bestpracticedesignguidelines 35

Designinfluencingcommunityattitudes 36

Stakeholdersinlocalbuiltenvironmentinitiatives 36

Transgenerationaldesignvsdedicatedspacesforolderpeople 37

INCLUSIVEANDAGEAWARESTAFFING 38

Ageingawarenesstraining 39

Customerserviceframeworks 39

CONCLUSION 40

APPENDIX1:UNITEDNATIONSPRINCIPLESFOROLDERPERSONS.45APPENDIX2:CAPACITYAUDITGUIDE:SERVICESTOOLDERPEOPLE

48

1.0ExecutiveSummary

LibrariesthroughoutNSWfaceanimminent'agewave'asthebabyboomergenerationreachesretirementage.Retireesandolderpeoplehavetraditionallybeenanimportanttargetmarketforpubliclibraries.Theimpactofagreatlyincreasedproportionofolderpeopleinlocalcommunitieswillbeanimportantconsiderationinlibraryplanning,facilitydesign,resourcing,marketingstrategies,thedevelopmentofstrategicpartnershipsandstaffing.Thispaperseekstoidentifytrends,currentresearch,stakeholdersandtomakerecommendationstosupportstrategicplanningwithintheNSWpubliclibrarynetwork.

Aslibrariesbegintoplanfortheshiftintheproportionsofolderclientstheyservethereareavarietyofkeyissuestobeconsidered:

thelegislativeandpolicyframework

keystakeholdersandstrategicpartnerships

communitydevelopment

researchanddevelopmentofservicesandfacilities

marketing

staffingandstafftraining.

InordertoassistNSWpubliclibrariesinassessingtheircurrentcapacitytomeettheneedsoftheageingcommunitytheStateLibraryhaspreparedacapacityaudittooltoassistinstrategicplanning.ThepublicationofthispaperintroducesaprocessofreviewinganddevelopinglibraryservicesforolderpeopleinNSW.Itisanticipatedthatthepubliclibrarynetworkwillengageinthedevelopmentofindustrybenchmarksforservicestoolderpeople.

Introduction

Librariesprovideanintegralpartoftheinfrastructureinlocalcommunities.IncitiesandtownsaroundNewSouthWalesthereisagrowingawarenessoftheneedtoprepareforrapidlyincreasingnumbersofolderpeople.Australiafacesan'age

wave'1

asthebabyboomers(bornbetween1946–1965)movethroughtheirlifecycle.Theclockistickingrapidlyasin2006theleadingedgebabyboomersturn60andin2011theyturn65.

Whatwillthismeanforpubliclibraries?Traditionally,libraryservicestotheagedhaveincludedlargeprint,talkingbooksandhomelibraryservices.However,theageingofthebabyboomersmayheraldmuchhigherexpectationsanddemandsoflibraryservices.ToquoteAllanKleimaninhis1997addresstotheIFLAcongress:

1Kennedy,D.(2003)AgeingandRetirementinNSWResearchCentreonAgeingandRetirement(Powerpointpresentation)

Theprofessiondidnotviewlibraryservicestoolderadultsassexyorexcitingorevencontroversial.Butnowlibrariansarebeginningtodiscoverthattheageingrevolutionisupon

us!2

Thispaperidentifiesavarietyofissuesinprovidingeffectivepubliclibraryservicestoanincreasingproportionofolderpeople,documentsresearch,andprovidesstrategiestoassistinplanninganddevelopinglibraryandinformationservicestomeettheneedsofolderpeopleinNSW.Thepaperalsoidentifiesanumberofkeystakeholdersingovernmentandthecommunity.

Whatisold?

TheUnitedNationsdefinesolderpeopleasthoseover50yearsofage.TheNSWDepartmentofLocalGovernmentidentifiesthetargetgroup"olderpeople"intheirSocialandCommunityPlanningandReportingGuidelinesascommunitymembersagedover55years.TheGuidelinesalsostatethatinrelationtoolderAboriginalpeopleitismoreappropriatetolookatageingissuesfromtheageof45

years.3

However,manypeopleover50donotidentifythemselveswiththeterm'older'andthishighlightstheriskofstereotyping'olderpeople'.Olderpeopleareaverydiversesectorofthecommunityincludingretirees,employees,businessowners,carers,pensioners,frailagedandhousebound,students,peoplefromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds,peoplewithdisabilities,peoplelivinginruralandremotelocationsandthoselivingincoastalandurbanareas.

Thereare,however,asetofphysicalcharacteristicswhicharegenerallyassociatedwithageingincludingdeterioratingvision,deterioratinghearing,reducedmobility,lesseningphysicalstrengthandanincreasingincidenceofdisease(egstroke,dementia,arthritis).Whilenoneofthesedisabilitiesordiseasesarethepreserveofolderpeoplealone,theincreasingnumbersofolderpeoplewillincreasethelikelihoodoflargerproportionsoflibraryclientswithspecialneeds.Thiswillincreasethedemandforlibraryservicestobeflexibleandwelldesignedtoensurethattheyareaccessibleandinclusiveandcatertotheneedsofageingcommunitymembers.

Australiafacesapronouncedageingofitspopulationoverthenextfortyyears.One-quarterofAustralianswillbeaged65yearsormoreby2044/45,roughlydoublethepresentproportion.Theproportionofthe'oldestold'willincreaseeven

more.4

2Kleiman,A.M.GlobalGreying:SuccessfulStrategiesforBridgingInformationGapswiththeElderlyPopulation.63rdIFLAGeneralConference-ConferenceProgrammeandProceedings-August31-September5,1997

3NSWDepartmentofLocalGovernment(2002)SocialandCommunityPlanningandReportingGuidelines

4ProductivityCommission(2005),EconomicImplicationsofanAgeingAustralia,ResearchReport,Canberra.

Aslibrariesbegintoplanforthisshiftintheproportionsofolderclientstheyservethereareavarietyofkeyissuestobeconsidered:

thelegislativeandpolicyframework

keystakeholdersandstrategicpartnerships

communitydevelopment

researchanddevelopmentofservicesandfacilities

marketing

staffingandstafftraining.

AsnapshotofageinginNSW

LiketherestofAustralia,thepopulationofNSWisageingbothnumerically(numbersofolderpeople)andstructurally(proportionofolderpeople).NewSouthWalesratesasthethirdorfourthfastestageingstatebehindTasmaniaandSouthAustraliaandonaparwithVictoria.ThefollowingtabledrawnfromtheworkofDrNatalieJacksonindicatesthepercentagechangeanticipatedinthenumberofpeopleaged

65

andoverinNewSouthWales.5

Percentageofthepopulationaged65years+

GreaterSydney

NSWBalance

TotalNSW

Australia

2004

12.0

15.8

13.4

13.0

2022

17.1

23.6

19.4

19.0

2051

24.3

32.2

26.9

27.1

%change

102.5

103.8

100.7

108.5

Source:NatalieJackson(2004),PopulationAgeinginNewSouthWalesanditsLocalGovernmentAreas

TheimpactofageingwillbeevengreaterintheNSWcommunitiesoutsidetheGreaterSydneyareawithanaverageof32.2%ofthepopulationintheseareasagedover65yearsby2051.DrJacksonalsostressesthatAustralia’sAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleshaveaconsiderablyyoungeragestructurethanthetotalpopulationduetohigherfertilityratesandalowerlifeexpectancyonaverageduetoavarietyoffactors.

Itisimportanttonotethatthegreatvariationbetweentheageingprofilesofcommunitiesisdrivenbymanyfactors,someofwhichincludethe‘seachange/treechange’phenomenonandtheinternalmigrationofyoungerpeopleseekingemployment.DrJackson’sworkfortheLocalGovernmentandShiresAssociationprovidesauniqueageingprofileforeachLGAin

NSW.6

TheNSWpubliclibrarynetworkservingolderpeople

TheNSWpubliclibrarynetworkincludes60countrylibraryserviceswith174branchesand37metropolitanSydneyserviceswith92branches.InNSW

5NatalieJackson(2004),PopulationAgeinginNewSouthWalesanditsLocalGovernmentAreas

.au/www/html/233-the-impact-of-population-ageing-on-nsw-local

-government.asp

6ibid.

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thereare363libraryservicepointsandintermsofmarketvisibilityandcommunityawarenesspubliclibrarieshaveahighlevelofrecognitioninmanylocal

communities.7

48%ofpeoplelivinginNSWaremembersofapublic

library.8

AnysnapshotofthecurrentserviceprovisionforolderpeopleacrossthepubliclibrarynetworkinNSWmustbeginwithanacknowledgmentofthevariationinlibraryservicesacrosstheState.LibrariesareakeyCouncilserviceprovidedforlocalcommunitiesandtailoredtothelocalenvironmentandtheneedsofthecommunity.

Despitethevariationbetweenlocalgovernmentareasthereisagreatdealthatpubliclibrarieshaveincommon. Acrossthenetwork,librariestypicallydeliverthefollowingservicesofparticularinteresttoolderclients:

Recreationalreading-fiction,hobbiesandinterests

Information-includingCouncilinformation,healthandlegalinformationinplainEnglish

Communityinformation-directoriesanddatabaseshighlightingservicesavailableinthelocalcommunity,manyoftheseareavailableonline

Genealogy/familyhistoryresources

Localhistoryinformation

Houseboundlibraryservices-90libraryservicesinNSWprovidetargetedservicestohousebound

residents9

Largeprint

Spokenwordbooks

Communitylanguagematerials

Newspapersandmagazines

Readerassistance-personalisedassistanceinlocatinginformationandresources,providingsupporttocommunitymembers.

Indealingwiththechangingageingpopulationanincreaseddemandforpubliclibraryfacilities,collections,technologiesandprogramsisanticipated.NSWpubliclibrarystatisticsindicatethatlibrariesarealreadyexperiencingpressureinkeyareasofservicedeliverytoolderclients:

7SLNSWPublicLibrariesinNewSouthWalesDirectory2005

8PublicLibraryStatistics2003/04

9MPLAHomeLibraryServiceWorkingGroup(2001)NSWHomeLibraryServiceNetworkSurvey

http://www.mplansw.asn.au/hlsn/Results_survey/survey_results.htm

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Stock

Circulation

Turnoverrate

Largeprint

720,630

3,405,610

4.72

Spokenword

254,182

1,113,041

4.37

Source:PublicLibraryStatistics2003/04

Thesehighturnoverratesarealreadyhigherincontrasttoanaverageturnoverrateof3.38%forlibrarymaterialsgenerally.ThesignificantincreasesinthenumberofolderclientswillhaveasubstantialimpactonlibrariesinNewSouthWalesandtheircapacitytomeettheneedsofthisclientgroup.

SpecialisedareasoflibraryservicedeliveryinNSWhavedevelopedrecognisedindustrybenchmarks,including:

-

PeoplePlaces–AguideforpubliclibrarybuildingsinNewSouthWales

-

Culturallydiversecommunitiesandthepubliclibrary:areviewofNSW

publiclibrarymulticulturalservicesand

-

Digitalpractice:guidelinesfordigitisingimagesinNSWpubliclibraries.

ThepublicationofthisissuespaperintroducesaprocessofreviewinganddevelopinglibraryservicesforolderpeopleinNSW.Itisanticipatedthatthepubliclibrarynetworkwillengageinthedevelopmentofindustrybenchmarksinthisareaofservice.InordertoassistlibrariesinassessingtheircurrentcapacitytomeettheneedsoftheageingcommunitytheStateLibraryofNSWhaspreparedacapacityaudittooltoassistinstrategicplanning.SeeAppendix2.

Legislativeandpolicyframework

NSWpubliclibrariesprovideservicestocommunitieswithinamulti-layeredlegislativeandpolicyframework.Currently,theprimaryresponsibilityforfundingpubliclibrariesisbornebylocalgovernmentwithamixtureofrecurrentandprojectbasedfundingthroughtheNSWStateGovernment’sfundingstrategyadministeredbytheStateLibraryofNSW.SomeprojectbasedCommonwealthfundinghasalsobenefitedlibrariesviaprogramslike“NetworkingtheNation”.

Inordertoadequatelyaddresstheneedsoftheageingpopulationcooperationandcoordinationbetweenalllevelsofgovernmentwillberequired.Itisclearthatgovernmentswillfacemanychallengesinmeetingtheservicedeliveryrequirementsoftheageingcommunity,nottheleastofwhichwillbetheincreasingdemandforpubliclibraryservicesandfacilities.

International

UnitedNationsPrinciplesforOlderPersons

Thesefivekeyprinciplesprovideaframeworkforidentifyingtheneedsofolderpeopleinthecommunitygenerallyandalsoaslibraryusers:

-

Independence

eginformationandcommunicationstechnology(ICT)training;bookdeliveryservices;accesstorelevantcommunityinformation;formatsandfacilitiesthatallowindependenceeglargeprint/audiobooks;wheelchair

/walkingframefriendlyaisles;accessforscooters

-

Participation

egfocusgroups;inputintolibraryplanning;participationinlocalgovernment;volunteering;oralhistories;friendsoflibraries;familyhistory;localstudiesandfriendshipgroups

-

Care

egneedsofolderpeopleapriorityinplanning;informationonlegalissuesinplainEnglish;healthinformationthatisup-to-dateandinplainEnglish

Self-fulfilment

eghomelibraryservicesforthehousebound;largeprint;audiobooks;programs;olderworkersonthestaff

Dignity

egequalemploymentopportunity;appropriatelytrainedstaff;accesstoservices;adaptivetechnologies10

ThefiveUNprinciplesforOlderPersonscouldbeappliedasaninternalplanningtoolbylibrariestoassessproposedstrategiesandinitiativesandhowappropriatelytheyaddresstheneedsofolderpeopleusingthelibrary.

10OfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRights.UnitedNationsPrinciplesforOlderPersons.

/english/law/pdf/olderpersons.pdf

.

National

Publiclibraryservicesaredeliveredfromatleast1,716librarylocationsthroughoutAustraliaandareoperatedby532localgovernmentlibraryorganisations.11Withinthewidercommunitypubliclibrariesenjoyahighlevelofrecognitionasa‘safeplacetogo’.12

Thevitalcontributionofpubliclibrariestosocialcapitalandtotheeducationalandeconomicdevelopmentofcommunitiesisrecognisedacrossthedevelopedworld.SupportforthisrolehasunderpinnedthecommitmentoflocalandstategovernmentsinNewSouthWalestohighqualitypubliclibraryservices.Librariescanbefullyeffectivefortheircommunitiesonlyiftheyhavetherightcombinationofproficientstaff,up-to-dateinformationresources,reliableequipmentandtelecommunications,andwell-plannedbuildings.13

TherearemanyopportunitiesforCommonwealthgovernmentagenciestodevelopstrategicpartnershipswiththepubliclibrarynetwork.Inmanycases,thepubliclibrarycanbeasustainablelocallinkforprojectswhereadequatefundingisprovided.

HumanRightsandEqualOpportunityCommission(HREOC)

HREOCadministerslegislationaddressingissuesofdiscrimination,includingdiscriminationbasedonageanddisability.TherightsofageingmembersofourcommunityareenshrinedintheCommonwealthDisabilityDiscriminationAct1992andtheNSWDisabilityServicesAct1993.Thelegislationprotectsolderpeoplefrombeingthetargetsofdiscrimination.14

Designoflibraryfacilitiesandservices,equalemploymentopportunitypoliciesandtheprovisionofstafftrainingcanallbeimportantstrategiesforlibrariesinminimisingpassiveandactivediscriminationagainstolderpeople.

NationalStrategyforanAgeingAustralia

TheNationalStrategyforanAgeingAustraliaidentifieskeyissuesfortheageingpopulation,specifically:retirementincomes,housing,transport,technology(healthandcommunication),olderpeopleintheworkforce,accesstohealthservices,lifelonglearning,andformalandinformalcareservices.

Withpeoplelivinglonger,theperiodafterretirementfrompaidworkisbecominglonger,andformanypeople,moreactive.Theyhavemoretimeforeducation,recreation,culturalpursuitsandvoluntarywork.

11ABS(2005)8561.0PublicLibraries,Australia

12Cox,Eva(2000)“Asafeplacetogo”LibrariesandSocialCapital

13Nesbitt,H.andBlighVollerNield (2005)PeoplePlaces–AguideforpubliclibrarybuildingsinNewSouthWales

14AustralianLegalInformationInstitute

.au

/

Peoplewillexpectmorefromretirementandwillbelookingtohavequalitylifestyleswhereverpossible.15

Thereisanobviouslinkbetweenpubliclibrariesandtheeffectiveprovisionofequitableaccesstotechnology,lifelonglearning,recreation,culturalpursuitsandvoluntarywork.Inaddition,thereisalargeproportionofolderpeopleinthelibraryworkforce.TherearemanyopportunitiesformutuallybeneficialpartnershipsbetweenCommonwealthgovernmentagenciesandpubliclibrariestomeettheneedsoftheageingcommunity.

InrecognitionoftheneedforresearchintotheagewaveandassociatedimpactstheFederalgovernmenthasestablishedtheAgeingResearchOnlineportalandconvenedTheNationalSymposiumonAgeingResearch:buildingevidence,policyandpractice23-25September2005.16Researchintotheneedsofolderadultsaslibraryuserscouldalsobecontributedtothisclearinghouse,benefitinglibrariesaroundthecountryandalsoraisingtheprofileoflibrariesasavitalpartoftheinfrastructureservingolderadults.

FederationofEthnicCommunities'CouncilsofAustralia(FECCA)

FECCAhasdevelopedapolicyfocussingontheissuesofageingastheyaffectmigrantsandpeoplefromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds(CALD).ThedifficultyformembersofthecommunitywhodonotspeakEnglishfluentlyinaccessingappropriateservicesandinformationisconsidered,particularlyasspokenEnglishskillscandeteriorateaspeopleage.

TheolderpopulationfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgroundsisnotonlyincreasingmorequicklythantheAustralianbornintermsofsizebutitisalsoageingmorerapidlysuchthatby2026itisprojectedthatoneinfourpeopleaged80andoverwillbefromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.17

Mostpubliclibrariesidentifytheneedsofpeoplefromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgroundsinthecommunity.Inplanninglibraryservicestomeettheneedsoftheageingcohortthisresearchintothedemographicprofileofcommunitiesandconsultationregardingtheirneedswillcontinuetobeapriority.

15CommonwealthofAustralia(2001)NationalStrategyforanAgeingAustralia:AnOlderAustralia,ChallengesandOpportunitiesforall.

16AgeingResearchOnline

.au

Accessed9/8/2005

17FECCAAgeingandAgedServices

.au/Policy/ageing.html

AustralianLocalGovernmentAssociation(ALGA)

InpartnershipwiththeCommonwealthDepartmentofHealthandAgeing,theAustralianLocalGovernmentAssociation(ALGA)hasdevelopedawebsitePlanningforanageingcommunitytoactasaclearinghouseforresourceswhichwillassistlocalgovernmentinplanningforanageingpopulation.18ThiswebsiteispartoftheLocalgovernmentpopulationandageingproject.ALGAhasalsopreparedtheAustralianLocalGovernmentPopulationAgeingActionPlan2004–2008.19

TheremaybeopportunitiesforpubliclibrariesandlibraryassociationstocontributepolicystatementsandexamplesofbestpracticetothePlanningforanageingcommunitywebsiteandalsotoALGA’sAgeinginPlaceresearchjournalfocussingonlocalgovernmentandageingissuesinlocalcommunities.

NewSouthWales

NSWHealthyAgeingFramework

InNSWtheMinisterialAdvisoryCommitteeonAgeingistheofficialadvisorybodytotheNSWGovernmentonmattersofinteresttoolderpeople.TheDepartmentofAgeing,DisabilityandHomeCare,throughtheOfficeforAgeing,leadsthewholeofgovernmentapproachtotheAgeingFramework.

InSeptember2004theNSWgovernmentheldaForumonAgeingwhichdrewtogetherkeystakeholderstofacilitateareviewofageingissues,updatingtheHealthyAgeingFramework2003andidentifyingemergingtrends.InformationfromtheForumandconsultationsisinstrumentalinupdatingtheHealthyAgeingFramework2004-2009.Askeystakeholderspubliclibrariescanmakesignificantcontributionstofutureforumsonageing.20

TheNSWHealthyAgeingFrameworkprinciplessetbroadguidelinesforservicestoseniors.TheseprinciplesarecomplementedatthelocalgovernmentlevelbytheLocalGovernmentandShiresAssociations’AgedServicespolicystatement.21

18ALGAPlanningforanageingcommunity

www.alga.asn.au/policy/healthAgeing/ageing.php

ALGAAustralianLocalGovernmentPopulationAgeingActionPlan2004-2008

http://www.alga.asn.au/policy/healthAgeing/ageing/plan

/

NSWDepartmentofAgeingDisabilityandHomeCare,NSWHealthyageingframework

1998-2003,p4.See

.au/PDF/hafwork.pdf

LocalGovernmentAssociationandShiresAssociationsofNSW,Policystatements,as

amendedbythe2001AnnualConference,p6

LocalGovernmentAssociationofNSWandShiresAssociationsofNSW(LGSA)

AgeinganddisabilityisoneofthekeyportfolioareasfortheLocalGovernmentAssociationofNSWandtheShiresAssociationofNSW.In2004amajorstrategicprojectonageingwasinitiated.TheresearchoutcomesincludedPlanningthelocalgovernmentresponsetoageingandplaceakeydocumentintendedtoofferaframeworktoassistcouncilsbegintoplanforthepopulationageinguniquetotheirareaandTheimpactofpopulationageingonNSWLocalGovernmentinwhichUniversityofTasmaniademographerDrNatalieJacksonprovidescomprehensivepopulationageingprofilesforeachlocalgovernmentarea.IneachprofileDrJacksonindicatesthecurrent(2004)andprojected(2022)age-sexstructuresforeachlocalgovernmentareainNSW.22

TheseprofilesrevealthatthepopulationageingwillaffecteachNSWlocalgovernmentareasindifferentways.23Regionalareas,particularlymoreremoteones,experienceanumberofadditionaldisadvantageswiththeageingpopulation.Theseincludeproportionatelyhighernumbersofolderpersons,longdistancestospecialistmedicalcare,highertelecommunicationscosts,limitedinfrastructureandthedifficultyinattractingprofessionalstoprovideessentialservices.

Localgovernment–Libraryprovision

HavingadoptedtheLibraryAct1939councilsinNewSouthWalesarerequiredtomeetcertainconditionstobeeligibleforStatesubsidies.Councilsmustprovideafreepubliclibraryserviceincludingfreemembership,freeloans,freeInternetaccessforinformationandcannotchargefordeliveriestosickordisabledresidents.24

Localgovernment–Social,communityandculturalplans

Undersection200oftheLocalGovernment(General)Regulation2005,councilsarerequiredtoproduceasocialorcommunityplanatleastonceeveryfiveyears.TheCulturalPlanningGuidelinesforlocalgovernmentrecommendthatwherecouncilschoosetodevelopaculturalplantheyalsoconsiderdevelopingtheplaninconjunctionwiththeirsocial/communityplan.25

Publiclibrariesrepresentoneofthemostaccessibleandhighlyusedcommunityandculturalservicesprovidedbylocalgovernmentfortheir

22Jackson,N.(2004)PopulationAgeinginNewSouthWalesanditsLocalGovernmentAreas

.au

23LocalGovernmentAssociationandShireAssociationsofNSW(2004)Planningthelocalgovernmentresponsetoageingandplace.

24GovernmentofNewSouthWalesLegislationhomepageLibraryAct1939s10

.au

/

25NSWMinistryfortheArtsandtheNSWDepartmentofLocalGovernmentCulturalPlanningGuidelinesforLocalGovernment

.au/dlg/dlghome/documents/Information/CPG-final.pdf

communities.Intheconsultationanddevelopmentofcouncilsocialandculturalplanspubliclibrariesarekeystakeholdersandprovidemanyserviceswhichaddresstheneedsofalloftheidentifiedmandatorytargetgroupswhichincludeolderpeople.26

Keystakeholdersandstrategicpartnerships

PubliclibrariesinNSWareanintegralpartofthewidercommunityandtheirabilitytoeffectivelymeettheneedsoftheagewavewillbeenhancedbycooperationandcommunicationwithstakeholdersandindevelopingmutuallybeneficialstrategicpartnerships.

Communitycollaborationimpliesastrongconnectiontotheexternalenvironmentandacommunity-basedapproachtoservicedelivery.Thismeansthatalibrarymustcommittoworktogetherwithitspartner(s)toidentifytheissues,developthestrategyandpursuearesolution.Communitycollaborationsshouldavoidduplicationofserviceandfocusonacost-effectivemethodtodeliverservice.27

WhiletherearesomecommonstakeholdersandpartnersforlibrariesacrossNewSouthWales,therewillalsobemanyopportunitiesatalocalleveltodeveloprelationshipsthatbest