Strategic

Framework for

Library Collections

2020-2025

Contents

1. Background............................................................................ 2

2. Purpose of the Framework................................................. 2

3. Collections and Content ...................................................... 7

4. Themes...................................................................................8

4.1. Developing a Reading Culture ......................................10

4.2. Supporting Lifelong Learning and Literacy ..............11

4.3. Celebrating Culture and Heritage ...............................12

4.4. Celebrating Diversity..........................................................13

4.5. Supporting Economic, Civic and Social Participation...14

4.6. Curating a Community Focussed Collection...............15

Appendices

Appendix A Directions Year One to Five...........................16

1. Background

Brimbank City Council operates a service from five branch

libraries, an online library and home library service.

Library collections are a core library service, with 240,000

collection items held, and over 1.3 million loans annually.

Brimbank Libraries (the Library) provide print materials,

multimedia and electronic resources for reading, listening

to and viewing that support its role in lifelong learning,

reading for pleasure and the preservation of cultural

heritage.

The lending collection comprises fiction and non-fiction

books, magazines, newspapers and audio-visual

material. The digital collections are extensive and include

information databases such as encyclopaedia, reference

and standards; recreational material including music

and multimedia streaming, ebooks, eaudio ebooks,

emagazines and enewspapers.

The need for libraries has increased, with e-resources

and technology giving us the opportunity to bring in new

users and use our spaces in different and innovative ways.

Our spaces accommodate both the printed word and the

electronic resource, and are flexible to cater for all tastes:

those who want to work alone or in groups, at desks or in

comfortable chairs, in silence or surrounded by a hubbub

of noise.

Our current libraries and future library development will

continue to respond to community need, be based on

partnerships and collaboration that can support access to

a range of different services close to where people live, to

foster community connection and maximise community

benefit.

Strong skills in literacy have a significant impact on

wide-ranging life outcomes. Literacy is the essential

foundation of Australia’s productivity, its ability to cope

with increasingly complex challenges and demands, and

improves the quality of life of its citizens.

Literacy is an essential life skill. It is the foundation of all

education and development, and is central to economic,

civic and social participation.

1

The Library and its

collections play an important role in supporting strong

literacy skills and lifelong learning that contribute to

improved social and economic outcomes. Libraries are

uniquely positioned as ‘safety nets’ for English-language

learners, and are often the first point of access to

information and services.

2

A state-wide audit of libraries’

reading and literacy programs conducted in developing the

‘Reading and literacy for all strategic framework 2015 -2018’

found that libraries are in a strong position to help adults

with low-level literacy improve their skills.

2. Purpose of the Framework

This Strategic Framework for Library Collections (the

Framework) builds on the Strategic Framework for Library

Collections 2017 - 2020 and clarifies Council's objectives

regarding library collections and digital content.

3

The

Framework will guide Council’s investment in library

collections and will define the purpose, vision, guiding

principles and strategies that will shape the collection

content to the year 2025.

These directions are supported by operational guidelines

to plan, build and maintain, a useful and balanced

collection of library resources.

The Framework will also inform collection development

which is based on ongoing assessments of the

information needs of the community, analysis of usage

statistics, demographic projections and budgetary

considerations.

Collection development includes:

• Selection criteria and de-selection criteria

• Planning for and implementing new collections

or collection areas, including community

recommendations

• Assessing and evaluating the accessibility of formats as

well as license restrictions

Whilst the Library records and reports various statistics,

simple loan metrics on their own provide limited

information about the effectiveness of library collections

and content in achieving Council’s objectives. This

Framework builds the base for a robust and continuous

evaluation of the library’s collection to ensure community

needs are met.

This is achieved through:

• Providing an extensive and diverse collection of

resources, including targeted collections that support

adult literacy development

• Providing a welcoming, supportive and inclusive

environment

Children with good literacy abilities do better than their

less literate peers across all their school subjects, and are

more likely to be active and informed citizens.

Library collections have been developed to respond to the

Brimbank community’s needs and interests. Resources are

provided in English and nineteen community and emerging

languages. Collection strengths include community

languages, comics and manga, film and television shows on

DVD, and English language support resources. Collections

also include school textbooks, and educational toys.

4 Brimbank City Council — Library Strategy 2020–2025

1, 2

Reading and literacy for all: A strategic framework for Victorian public libraries 2015–2018 (SLV & PLVN 2015)

3

'Digital content' refers to resources that are provided as digital files rather than in physical formats – examples include ebooks, downloadable audio

books, online educational resources.

“Literacy is the first step towards

freedom, towards liberation from social

and economic constraints. It is the

prerequisite for development, both

individual and collective. It reduces

poverty and inequality, creates wealth,

and helps to eradicate problems of

nutrition and public health.”

Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay,

International Literacy Day 2018

3. Collections and Content

Using a social justice lens, library collections support

Council’s goal for Brimbank to be an inclusive, liveable

and prosperous community, and to be an innovative and

responsive Council that puts our ‘Community First’. Being

Community First underpins everything we do in relation to

library collections, services and programs.

The Library will provide a wide-ranging collection of

print, non-print and digital resources to meet the current

and future informational, recreational, educational and

cultural needs of our community. The Library will respond

to identified community demand for resources in print

and digital formats which meet their current needs and

interests as well as collecting and retaining materials of

Brimbank’s cultural heritage.

Libraries connect community members to resources in

multiple formats, including where relevant, high quality

resources that are available for free online. Digital content

is a key element of the library collection; it enhances,

rather than replaces, traditional physical collections.

Digital content is managed within the same framework as

physical resources. Digital and physical collections are a

complementary suite: neither in competition nor separate

from each other.

6 Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025

Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025 7

4. Themes

The Framework has been developed on an evidence

base of library usage statistics, demographic data,

research of national and international industry trends and

informed by local consultations and numerous community

conversations.

The following six themes provide a framework for

managing Brimbank’s library collections into the future.

.1 Developing a Reading Culture

.2 Supporting Lifelong Learning and Literacy

.3 Celebrating Culture and Heritage

.4 Celebrating Diversity

.5 Supporting Economic, Civic and Social Participation

.6 Curating a Community Focussed Collection

The themes support the future direction of the Library

Strategy 2020-2025 and the Brimbank Social Justice

Charter 2018.

The Framework draws on a wide range of broader policy

documents including:

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Free

Access to Information Statement 2018

ALIA Information Literacy for All Statement 2006

ALIA Online Content Regulation Statement 2002

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organisation (UNESCO) Public Library Manifesto 1994

Library Policy 2018

Library Strategy 2015-2020

Neighbourhood Houses and Community Centres Strategy

and Plan 2019 - 2014

Economic Development Strategy 2016 – 2020

Council Plan 2017 – 2021

2040 Community Vision

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Strategy 2018

Lifelong Learning Strategy 2018 – 2023

Youth Jobs Strategy 2018-2023

Reconciliation Action Plan 2019 - 2021

Settlement Action Plan 2019 – 2023

Children’s Plan 2015 – 2019

Age Friendly City Plan 2018-2022

8 Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025

Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025 9

“The ability to read and write

underpins everything we do, every

day. A literate community is strong

and inclusive, where individuals and

families are resilient, aspirational,

socially engaged, informed, healthy

and connected”

Literacy Matters: State Library of Western

Australia Literacy Strategy 2017 – 2027

“…..acquiring and improving literacy

skills throughout life is an intrinsic

part of the right to education.

The ‘multiplier effect’ of literacy

empowers people, enables them

to participate fully in society and

contributes to improve livelihoods.”

Research Evidence of Reading for Pleasure,

Department of Education May 2012

4.1. Developing a Reading

Culture

The Library Strategy 2020-2025 supports the

development of a reading culture and English literacy

learning. A key part of this commitment is maintaining and

refreshing Brimbank’s English Literacy Support collection

for people of all ages, in multiple languages and formats.

Support for English and first language literacy must

include ‘entry points’ for all levels, interests and abilities.

Supporting a reading culture requires shaping our

collection to make it inclusive for all by ensuring barriers to

literacy access are removed. A broad range of formats will

be available for all interests, appropriate for different ages

and abilities, including but not limited to, newspapers,

magazines, comics, picture books, fiction and non-fiction

books, multimedia, databases and websites, literacy

learning software, and electronic books and magazines.

Recreational reading provides opportunities for

individuals and families to celebrate literacy, learning and

the joy of reading. Reading to children increases the child’s

reading and other cognitive skills. This is an early-life

intervention that is beneficial for the rest of their lives.

To meet the interests of the Brimbank community, the

library collection’s wide range of genres and topics, from

‘pulp’ to literature to non-fiction should be available in a

range of formats, languages and reading levels.

4.2. Supporting Lifelong

Learning and Literacy

Beyond its conventional concept as a set of reading,

writing and counting skills, literacy is now understood as

a means of identification, understanding, interpretation,

creation, and communication in an increasingly digital,

text-mediated, information-rich and fast-changing world

UNESCO, 2018.

The Library collection supports lifelong and life-wide

learning and literacy in our community. The breadth of

the collection will continue to develop according to the

diverse needs of the community. Learning styles, abilities

and interests, requiring resources that support learning

of all kinds in multiple formats including print, games,

DVDs, audio books, digital and online formats. Council will

actively seek out new formats, content and emerging

technology that support informal community learning.

A continued priority is support of early childhood learning

and literacy. This includes educational toys, as well as

early literacy resources such as board, picture, bilingual

and ‘beginner reader’ books.

The Library purchases a limited number of textbooks to

support learning with the priority going to the purchase

of school textbooks and other resources on Brimbank

Primary and Secondary School lists, particularly VCE

level studies. While students are expected to purchase

textbooks, the reality is that many cannot or do not. The

Library therefore acts as a ‘safety net’ by purchasing

limited numbers of textbooks and school texts for loan

and use in the library.

10 Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025

Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025 11

“Investment in learning by

individuals, families and

communities brings economic

inclusion, healthy living, social

cohesion and intercultural

understanding.”

Victorian Government Report in

Multicultural Affairs 2017-18

We know that Victoria is considered one of the most

successful multicultural societies in the world – as one

of the most diverse local government areas in Australia,

Brimbank is particularly proud of this claim. The Library’s

collections reflect and celebrate the diversity of the

Brimbank community.

Brimbank has a rich diversity of cultural traditions and

expressions, and libraries play a key role in celebrating

these cultures. Diversity is one of the core values of the

Library. As such, it is important to the Library and its users

that the collection embody diversity in subject matter, in

authorship, and in attention to the diverse populations

served. Every effort is made to ensure that the resources,

purchases and licenses reflect that diversity.

Community language collections will continue to be

a core focus. Brimbank supports and promotes the

retention and use of first languages through library

collections. Our libraries celebrate the rich cultural life of

Brimbank through collections in English and community

and emerging languages. Maintaining collections in

major community languages not only provides access

to information in community members’ first languages,

but also supports the continuation of culturally-relevant

traditions, stories and knowledge.

Celebrating local culture includes works in English. The

Library will endeavour to maintain a collection that

includes resources that a typical community member

would reasonably expect their local library to stock, even

if some items have relatively low circulation. Resources in

community languages and from migrant communities allow

community members to maintain ties to and knowledge of

culture and news from their country of birth or heritage.

4.4. Celebrating Diversity

Titles reflecting a wide range of subjects, perspectives,

experiences, characters and stories will be retained and

purchased. This includes, but is not limited to diverse

experiences and expressions of gender identity, sexuality,

religion, race, ethnicity, political opinion, lifestyle, and

physical or mental ability.

A range of expressions, viewpoints and ideas will be

reflected in the library collection. Selection and management

of collections shall align with the principles expressed in the

IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and

Institutions) Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom

2007. In particular, Brimbank will “ensure that the selection

and availability of library materials and services is governed

by professional considerations and not by political, moral and

religious views.”

4

In order to protect intellectual freedom,

Libraries in Brimbank also play an important role in promoting

local history and culture. Brimbank’s Local Historical

Societies hold collections of archives, records, photographs,

old newspapers and rare books which is supported and

promoted through joint community activities. The Library’s

local history collection numbers more than 600 items.

Resources relating to local Aboriginal history and culture,

as well post-settlement history, will continue to be

an important part of library collections. Council has a

particular commitment to collect, display and celebrate

resources relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

communities, as part of the Brimbank Reconciliation Action

Plan 2019 - 2021.

4.3. Celebrating Culture and Heritage

Council will prioritise the privacy of library customers so as to

enable them to safely explore ideas without fear of censure

or discrimination.

Recognising the effects of unconscious bias in publishing

and selection for library collections, the Library will

establish explicit processes for the selection and

retention of resources relating to less well-represented

backgrounds, experiences and identities, so as to ensure

that appropriate resources are held and easily found in

library collections.

12 Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025

4

IFLA Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom 2007; p2;

ifla.org/publications/ifla-statement-on-libraries-and-intellectual-freedom

4.5. Supporting Economic,

Civic and Social Participation

Research from the Australian Productivity Commission

outlines the links between literacy skills and employment,

health, social and community participation, and states

that higher levels of literacy are associated with greater

earning potential, better health outcomes, increased

community participation and personal wellbeing.

5

Council supports economic participation and employment

opportunities within Brimbank. Resources that support

literacy, numeracy and employment will continue to be

important library collection strengths. More generally,

community members can use library collections and

content to improve and expand skills that will increase

their employment opportunities – whether through

reading relevant books, watching instructional videos,

using online learning resources, or simply maintaining

literacy skills by reading for pleasure.

In the Brimbank Social Justice Charter 2018 Council has

made a clear commitment to active citizenship, and this is

supported by a range of resources within library collections.

A strong English-learning collection will be maintained,

assisting community members to understand and use the

language of government. Resources relating to citizenship

tests and processes will continue to be an important part of

the collection, as well as collections and content relating to

Australian law, politics, and government.

Council will use library collections and content to support

social and community participation in a variety of ways. In

general terms, reading and literacy can give community

members confidence to socialise more widely, as well as

provide insight into other people’s lives, ideas, and cultures.

Library collections will include a wide variety of viewpoints

and philosophies, facilitating discussion and debate.

Recognising one’s own experience in the stories and

characters depicted in cultural works is important in

maintaining feelings of self-worth and belonging, particularly

for those who may feel marginalised from society.

Providing access to popular culture also supports

social participation. With access to popular television

shows, games, films and books, community members

can participate in discussions that reference, debate or

celebrate those cultural works.

4.6. Curating a Community

Focussed Collection

The Library seeks to build on current collection strengths

while filling any significant gaps, always recognising that

priorities will need to be revisited and adjusted over time

to respond to requirements of our community.

The Framework will be underpinned by identified

strategies that effectively support the development

of collections to meet the interests and needs of the

community. This includes building;

A single collection of information resources that are

discoverable and accessible in a timely manner.

A collection that is based on the analysis of a variety

of forms of evidence that allow the Libraries to better

respond to user-driven needs.

In implementing this Framework we will continue to build

pathways that recognise, respect and value Brimbank’s

residents, workers, visitors and cultures.

This will be achieved by:

• Identifying a collection development approach that will

support the current and future needs of residents

• Acquiring resources that can be made discoverable and

accessed in the libraries and online

• Developing a collection of materials which support the

interest and needs of the community while managing,

the growth of the collection; and

• Implementing tools to ensure core collecting areas

remain continuously strong and new collection streams

are identified

“Reading is fundamental to

learning and integral to economic,

civic and social participation.

Libraries play an important role in

promoting a culture of reading and

supporting literacy development in

a changing environment.”

Reading and Literacy for All: a strategic

framework for Victorian Public Libraries

2015 - 2018

“Libraries are innovating their

collections by promoting physical

collections outside their buildings,

developing their digital collections,

involving patrons with participatory

acquisition opportunities,

incorporating user-created content,

and rejuvenating existing collections

with new purpose”

Kristie Nicholson

6

14 Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025

Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025 15

5

Shomos, A. 2010, Links Between Literacy and Numeracy Skills and Labour Market Outcomes, Productivity Commission Staff Working Paper,

Melbourne, August.

6

(2017). Innovation in public libraries: learning from international library practice. Cambridge (Mass.), Chandos Publishing, an imprint of Elsevier.

Directions Year One to Five

The strategic priority for library collections is to encourage

and support community to be Lifelong Readers.

To achieve this we will provide resources and programs

that promote, engage and support literacy and learning

to people of all ages and abilities within the community.

Being able to read means that you can learn to do just

about anything.

This priority sets out how we will provide resources

which meet the needs and interests of our community,

communicate and raise the profile of the Library’s

collection and foster the love of reading.

The following six Priority Action areas will direct the

focus of library collection development through to 2025.

Progress on Priority Actions will be reported annually to

Council.

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Brimbank City Council — Strategic Framework for Library Collections 2020-2025 17

9249 4000

info@brimbank.vic.gov.au

PO Box 70, Sunshine, VIC 3020

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133 677

• Speak & Listen

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We acknowledge the First People’s and traditional

owner’s, the Wurundjeri people, of the land we now

call Brimbank, and celebrate the history, knowledge

and creativity of the world’s oldest continuous culture.

We pay our respect to Elders past present and

emerging.

We acknowledge the impact of colonisation on

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We

recognise the strength, resilience and pride of the

Aboriginal community.