1. “Drill Halls, Mechanics Institutes & Public Libraries: the struggle for relevance” Brendan Fitzgerald & Frances Savage Online projects VICNET, State Library of Victoria

2. “but mainly she told the truth” • Mark Twain 1835-1910

3. Public Libraries: the 3 C’s • current projects & issues, • the challenge of relevance and, • changing roles

4. Global ICT Context: • Peoples network • New library • Australian ICT Context: • Regional Telecommunications Policy • NOIE • Connecting Victoria • Libraries 21

5. VICNET Online Projects Background: Libraries Online: 1998 - 2001. $2.4M provided by MMV for content and infrastructure projects for libraries. Rural Libraries Online: 1999 - 2002. $3.47M provided by Networking the Nation for library network infrastructure in rural Victoria.

6. Other Projects: • $114k - rural public libraries printers • $145k- 2 way satellite Mobile Libraries(UMRLS) • $20k - e- gaps funding ( Glenelg RLS) • $800k - Internet and IT local priorities ( DoI) • $1.6 M - SNIP (Arts Victoria) • $230k - Urban Libraries (MMV)

7. Infrastructure Projects: • Last Guys- 33 final branches • Workstations- 400 public access PC’s • Geelong/Corangamite Satellite pilot • Metro Bandwidth- 18 libraries 2Mbps • RLOL 19 satellite sites/WAN • Printers For Public access

8. Content Projects: • Gulliver- consortium • Victoria’s Virtual Library-gateway • (www.libraries.vic.gov.au) • Open Road • (www.openroad.vic.gov.au)

9. Skills Projects: • Adaptive technology- Jaws, EIA, Trackballs, Magic • Open Road - User administration • - Multilingual Surfing • Web Developers Forum

10. “but mainly he told the truth” • Samuel Clemens 1835-1910

11. “ The first thing to have in a library is a shelf. Frm time to time this can be decorated with lithrachure. But th’ shelf is the main thing.” F P Dunne 1867- 1936 “Mr Dooley Says” 1910

12. Relevance: the issues • Partnerships • Infrastructure • Social Capital • Continuity and change

13. Partnerships: • Consortia • Collaborative Relationships • Government • Funding

14. Infrastructure: • Bandwidth • Interoperability • Telecommunications and traffic • Buildings

15. Social Capital: • Professional Development/Workforce • Information Society • Investment • Community & Social engagement

16. Continuity and change: • Sustainability • Accessibility • Expectations

17. Critical Success factors • Social inclusion • Education , literacy and LL learning • e-government • community regeneration • Local cultural strategies • “Building Better Library Services” Audit Commission 2002

18. Foundations to build on • Value of information & service • Meeting needs • Geographic network

19. “ I think that in too many libraries the librarians have made it quite clear that they know everything and we know b*****r all!” • Library Non user views - AC report 2002

20. “ …. the Internet comes on computers now!!!” Homer The Greek 1997

21. Contact details: • brendanf@vicnet.net.au • francess@vicnet.net.au