Proposal for the formation of the
Friends of Gladesville Library (FOGL)
1. Rationale
In its final report of September 2006, The Joint Library Services Advisory Committee states (Recommendation 8a):
‘The Joint Library Services Advisory Committee should work with Councils, library staff and community members to promote and protect library resources in the community, to enhance the library as a physical space and to create partnerships of interest with community organizations and institutions, such as setting up and/or supporting library interest groups, including local Friends of the Library (FOL) groups.’
Accordingly those members of the community who have been actively involved in working to support Gladesville Library have decided to continue this effort in the formation of a Friends of the Library group, Friends of Gladesville Library (FOGL.)
2. Aims
The main aims of the group are listed below. (Hereinafter “the Library” refers to Gladesville Library and “the group” refers to Friends of Gladesville Library - FOGL.)
2.1 Providing feedback to and from library users for the Joint Library Services Advisory Committee (JLSAC.)
2.2 Protecting and supporting the Library.
2.3 Assisting in promotion of the Library and its various services. (This could be through a variety of formal or informal means, for example, stalls at festivals and shopping centres or personal contact.)
3. Structure
3.1 A constitution is not necessary because the group will not have any income or expenditure. Fund-raising is not a priority for FOGL. The FOGL group will assist the Library with its fund-raising activities (eg. book sales) but with the Library itself taking responsibility for financial management.
3.2 FOGL will operate with a small, low-key co-operative committee. This committee will organise meetings and send out communications and generally have responsibility for the administration of the group as a whole.
It is proposed that the Co-operative committee members could take turns at writing communications (eg Newsletter) and sending them out. In this way FOGL would still be able to keep functioning if committee members are away, very busy etc.
3.3 Communication amongst FOGL members will be carried out mainly via email (using the ‘undisclosed recipient’ option). A “regular post” will also be available for those who don’t use email. The Library will fund the small amount of printing and postage likely to be required to provide this alternative to email communication.
3.4 A publicity handout for FOGL will be available at the Library. A newsletter to publicise activities and meetings will be produced two or three times a year or as required.
3.5 The Ryde City Library Manager has agreed that a page for FOGL may be set up within the Library website. This may include such items as the FOGL newsletter, publicity for FOGL, book reviews etc. FOGL will draft a page of information for this purpose and submit it regularly to the Ryde City Library Manager.
3.6 FOGL will become a member of Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA.) The annual FOLA membership fee for friends groups with over 25 members is at present $60. The Hunter’s Hill Council Community Services has agreed to pay this fee for FOGL’s first year of membership. For more information about FOLA the website: http://www.fola.org.au/, contains many resources relevant to friends of libraries groups.
4. Activities / Meetings
4.1 The activities of FOGL will support the stated aims above: protect, support, promote, and provide feedback.
4.2 The group is mindful of and will abide by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Statement on Voluntary Work in Library and Information Service. “The use of volunteers for specific short-term purposes is acceptable but must never compromise the quality of service provision, nor undermine paid employment in any way.” The role of Friends’ groups “should be separate from the day-to-day operation of the library service.”
The above proviso will not restrict opportunities for FOGL and its members offering their services to the library on a voluntary basis.
4.3 FOGL meetings will be of three types.
a. Business meetings - to deal with issues relevant to the aims of FOGL and to provide input to JLSAC.
FOGL and JLSAC
Meetings of JLSAC will occur three times per year in February, June and October. FOGL meetings will generally be scheduled about three weeks prior to these dates.
To facilitate communication between FOGL and JLSAC, Hunters Hill Council Community Services Officer will forward copies of JLSAC minutes to a nominated contact person from FOGL after each JLSAC meeting. These minutes will set out the date of the next JLSAC meeting.
Submissions to JLSAC from FOGL will be sent to the Community Services Officer at Hunter’s Hill Council and the Library Manager at Ryde City more than two weeks before each meeting to ensure a place in the agenda of that meeting.
Copies of submissions will also be sent to the Community Services Officer at Ryde City and the Chairperson of JLSAC.
JLSAC meetings are open to members of the public. Times and places of those meetings will be listed in the FOGL newsletters.
b. Planning meetings may be necessary when a specific library associated event requires the group’s assistance, resources or organisation.
c. Cultural meetings - to raise the profile of libraries, literacy, information, literature and add a social element to the group.
The Co-operative committee will organise talks, social, meetings, films, videos, and music for FOGL.
FOR EXAMPLE. It may be possible to piggyback on the State Library of NSW public program for cultural meetings http://www.atmitchell.com/events/. The State Library would then handle bookings and payments. Members of group could attend together. This would add a social aspect to FOGL in a way that is not labour intensive.
Elva Salter/ Dianne van Sommers/ Graham Weule
12.11.07
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