TAFE Library Futures TAFE Library Futures SeminarSeminar

Summary & Overview of the Summary & Overview of the Outcomes from the Learning Outcomes from the Learning Commons Research ProjectCommons Research Project

Zita YouensZita YouensHolmesglen Institute of TAFEHolmesglen Institute of TAFE

6 Issues Identified for the 6 Issues Identified for the ProjectProject

1.1. How to choose an appropriate Commons model and How to choose an appropriate Commons model and identification of its implications for TAFE Libraries.identification of its implications for TAFE Libraries.

2.2. Ensuring well-skilled staff – looking at staff development in Ensuring well-skilled staff – looking at staff development in the light of the changing scope of staff roles and the need the light of the changing scope of staff roles and the need for new positions in TAFE libraries.for new positions in TAFE libraries.

3.3. Capitalising on collaborative services – looking at the role Capitalising on collaborative services – looking at the role of collaboration between partners for mutual benefit.of collaboration between partners for mutual benefit.

4.4. Managing new physical facilities, as they are transformed Managing new physical facilities, as they are transformed towards the commons model.towards the commons model.

5.5. Increasing availability and access, including access to both Increasing availability and access, including access to both physical and electronic resources for the whole student physical and electronic resources for the whole student cohort.cohort.

6.6. Keeping up with educational and organisational change, in Keeping up with educational and organisational change, in line with changing perspectives on education and the role line with changing perspectives on education and the role of TAFE libraries.of TAFE libraries.

5 Search Conference 5 Search Conference ThemesThemes

• Staff DevelopmentStaff Development• Collaboration for mutual benefitCollaboration for mutual benefit• Physical environmentPhysical environment• Availability and accessAvailability and access• Keeping up with changeKeeping up with change

How Can we use How Can we use Collaboration?Collaboration?

Values Values Strength in numbers; Strength in numbers; Supporting those in isolation; Supporting those in isolation; Creating community; Creating community; Getting and sharing new ideas; Getting and sharing new ideas; Sharing resources and Sharing Sharing resources and Sharing

services.services.

Collaboration between City & Collaboration between City & Regional TAFEsRegional TAFEs

• Opportunities for collaboration, need to Opportunities for collaboration, need to be sought, between rural and city be sought, between rural and city TAFEs.TAFEs.

• There could be a twinning program that There could be a twinning program that allows a sister library approach to share allows a sister library approach to share ideas, swap staff and visit each other. ideas, swap staff and visit each other.

• A collaborative approach to professional A collaborative approach to professional development, would also offer development, would also offer advantages.advantages.

Collaboration between Library Collaboration between Library & IT Departments& IT Departments

• As the culture of Library and It As the culture of Library and It Departments are often at odds with each Departments are often at odds with each other in relation to priorities, Librarians other in relation to priorities, Librarians need to get together to develop and need to get together to develop and share an IT manifesto, which can be share an IT manifesto, which can be supported by VATL as a group initiative.supported by VATL as a group initiative.

• Working under such a manifesto can Working under such a manifesto can then support a more uniform approach then support a more uniform approach across TAFEs.across TAFEs.

Implementing Learning Implementing Learning Commons PrinciplesCommons Principles

• Space should be user-centred, as community/work/learning space.Space should be user-centred, as community/work/learning space.

• Whilst shape and size of the space can constrain improvements Whilst shape and size of the space can constrain improvements strong consultation methods and careful planning and review can strong consultation methods and careful planning and review can help clarify outcomes. help clarify outcomes.

• Zoning of spaces and the strategic placement of furniture can create Zoning of spaces and the strategic placement of furniture can create specific spaces that will allow more effective use of the space, and specific spaces that will allow more effective use of the space, and support a range of learning needs.support a range of learning needs.

• Where there are a limited number of PCs, snap points could be Where there are a limited number of PCs, snap points could be provided for students who don’t have wireless access. Areas set provided for students who don’t have wireless access. Areas set aside for this may encourage more social interaction.aside for this may encourage more social interaction.

• Spaces can be multifunction, depending on the need at the time (eg. Spaces can be multifunction, depending on the need at the time (eg. quiet study at times and group discussion at others)quiet study at times and group discussion at others)

• Seek opportunities for consortia, both inside and outside the Seek opportunities for consortia, both inside and outside the institute.institute.

Librarians & New Librarians & New TechnologiesTechnologies

How can we explore our roles & what our ongoing How can we explore our roles & what our ongoing development needs are?development needs are?

• By logging on to library blogs, being involved in By logging on to library blogs, being involved in professional groups such as VATL, ALIA, etc. and professional groups such as VATL, ALIA, etc. and actively seeking professional networking actively seeking professional networking opportunities.opportunities.

How will the roles evolve or change?How will the roles evolve or change?• Encourage “play” to learn and communicate Encourage “play” to learn and communicate

continuously with all stakeholders to identify continuously with all stakeholders to identify changing needs in order to be able to respond to changing needs in order to be able to respond to them.them.

Librarians & New Librarians & New Technologies Cont.Technologies Cont.

How do we encourage staff to adopt and promote How do we encourage staff to adopt and promote new technologies?new technologies?

• Attempt to gain institutional support, from the Attempt to gain institutional support, from the CEO right down the scale through Directors and CEO right down the scale through Directors and Library Managers to ensure access to the Library Managers to ensure access to the technology needed. technology needed.

• We also need to recognise why we need the We also need to recognise why we need the

technology and be able to communicate this, so technology and be able to communicate this, so we are not seen to be seeking it just for we are not seen to be seeking it just for technology’s sake. technology’s sake.

Change for the FutureChange for the Future

Change needs to be proactive rather than Change needs to be proactive rather than reactive, but also needs to be reviewed reactive, but also needs to be reviewed regularly to ensure appropriateness and regularly to ensure appropriateness and allow for adjustments as needed. allow for adjustments as needed.

Any change needs to identify the stakeholders, Any change needs to identify the stakeholders, in order to ensure their needs are considered in order to ensure their needs are considered and properly encompassed and libraries will and properly encompassed and libraries will need to look beyond the obvious groups of need to look beyond the obvious groups of staff and students in considering this.staff and students in considering this.

Some RecommendationsSome Recommendations

Establish a working party to oversee and Establish a working party to oversee and support the adoption of a Learning support the adoption of a Learning Commons model for Victorian TAFEs Commons model for Victorian TAFEs where possible and practicable.where possible and practicable.

Investigate the possibility of a consortia Investigate the possibility of a consortia bid to have the RODSKI survey which is bid to have the RODSKI survey which is proving effective in higher education proving effective in higher education institutions, adapted to the needs of TAFE institutions, adapted to the needs of TAFE at a price that can be afforded by all.at a price that can be afforded by all.

Some More Some More RecommendationsRecommendations

Develop an IT manifesto in response to one Develop an IT manifesto in response to one of the main issues identified at the search of the main issues identified at the search conference, of collaboration and cooperation conference, of collaboration and cooperation between TAFE Libraries and IT Departments.between TAFE Libraries and IT Departments.

VATL needs to publicise the “VATL needs to publicise the “Electronic Electronic Resources Australia” Resources Australia” project to its members project to its members and in particular TAFE Directors, who can and in particular TAFE Directors, who can support their libraries in opting in to support their libraries in opting in to consortia subscriptions, which will make consortia subscriptions, which will make them more affordable, particularly to smaller them more affordable, particularly to smaller regional TAFEs.regional TAFEs.