What Does a Head Librarian Do?

National Library of Victoria: The National Library of Victoria, located in Melbourne, Australia, is the oldest public library in Australia. When it was founded in 1854, Melbourne was only 20 years old. The library is known for its large dome reading room, built in 1913.

National library of victoria

Australian public libraries at all levels directly under the culture of the federal, state, and city halls

Expanded functions

Make the public library a social and cultural activity center. Today, Australian public libraries are no longer traditional libraries. People who come to the library are not only dealing with books and periodicals. The library has become a society that integrates culture, information, education, entertainment and leisure. Cultural activity center. Almost all large and medium-sized public libraries carry out social and cultural activities to the public. The State Library of Victoria pays particular attention to the development of events. There are not only spacious exhibition halls, galleries and showrooms, but also public venues such as conference halls, lecture halls and classrooms. The library makes full use of these venues for forums, exhibitions and performances. , Celebrations, public welfare lectures, training, etc., and thus attracted a large number of readers. In addition to the permanent display of some of the art works in the collection, the exhibition hall often organizes and organizes a series of high-quality cultural and art exhibitions and theme shows based on current events, collections, and user requirements, among which there are also national traveling exhibitions. In addition to exhibitions, the library will continue to hold various reading exchange meetings, meetups, opening ceremonies, celebrations, press conferences, autograph sessions and other activities.

Reader Services as the Library Work Center

According to the Australian Constitution, local government agencies established in states and territories do not have the function of law enforcement. This administrative system makes the government's concept of serving taxpayers --- the general public deeply rooted in people's hearts. The work orientation of public libraries is to serve readers wholeheartedly service. Australia is a country with a relatively sound integrity system. The integrity of Chinese people is very high, which also provides favorable conditions for libraries to fully implement reader services.

Digital efforts in the Australian public library system

The library focuses on the digital age. While continuously developing digital resources, it is also trying to establish a resource guarantee mechanism to evaluate and identify digital information in order to achieve its permanent protection and preservation. At the same time, libraries at all levels are actively carrying out infrastructure construction, improving various technical skills, actively establishing regional, national and international information network centers, striving to expand and create new service models, and finally achieving Australian literature and information worldwide. Convenient and fast resource sharing within the scope. Faced with emerging media and emerging technologies, the State Library of Victoria has boldly conceived and explored the model of the future library. In 2003, the Victoria Pavilion opened an event venue called "Experimedia", which provides a space for people of all ages (mainly young people) to exchange digital information and new technologies. Based on its own understanding and understanding, the Victoria Hall designed it into a model of the library of the future, equipped with new media technologies, equipped with various software and hardware equipment, multifunctional computer game consoles, integrated latest LCD screens, The "multimedia wall" with high-sensitivity sonic touch interface and world-class playback technology forms a dynamic zone where new technologies are used for new events and new forms of exhibitions. The Victoria Museum hopes to attract various people to understand the future of the library in this novel way and teach them to use modern technology and methods to tap the library's rich collection resources.

Establishing Internet-based Public Library Network System

Several network information service projects led by the National Library are being welcomed by more and more readers. (1) Ask Now (ASK NOW). This is a question-and-answer online service project created by the Australian National Pavilion, State Pavilions, and the Capital Territory Library together with the National Library of New Zealand and the National Library of Singapore. They are each composed of professional librarians from 11 libraries Undertake, the main task is to use the network information resources to talk to readers through online chat, answer readers' questions, suggest information query scope, and tell readers which questions they can query from the website. This is a virtual reference service that serves as a network information guide. Municipal libraries and their branches throughout the country can access this service through links. (2) Ask the Librarian (Ask A Librarian). This is another question-and-answer online service project developed by state libraries. Readers submit service requests through email forms. Some experienced librarians in the library answer readers' inquiries via email. What information can be found in the reader library? (3) PANDORA (Pre-serving and Accessing Networked Documentary Resources of Australia). First established by the National Library of Australia in 1996, this is a selective and uninterrupted collection and preservation of social, political, cultural, religious, scientific or economic publications published online by Australia, and these networks Projects where resources are classified and indexed and services are provided to researchers. The State Library of Victoria joined the project as the first member unit in 1998. So far, nine state libraries or cultural institutions have become members of this activity, and they each undertake the collection and processing of a certain subject or subject network literature according to the agreement.

Use of websites for public services

With the unified command of the National Library of Australia and the support of regional governments, public libraries everywhere are stepping up the construction of library websites, striving to deepen service functions and achieve resource sharing. The State Library of Victoria has established five websites so far. In 1994, the Victorian Library, with the support of the state government, created a public information portal called "VICNET" (Victoria Net) across the state, providing people across the state with access to information and online communication. , And a platform for information technology services. It connects more than 10,000 social groups across the state, including schools, sports clubs, historical societies, art galleries, and more. Formed a huge regional public information network, which is also the most important information network in the state. The content of the webpage is mainly divided into social information, culture, education, amusement, family, government, community dynamics, health and travel, etc., including the statewide public library document information and service resources, and national library resources The website has been extended to provide multi-language and multi-cultural services to grassroots public libraries, expanding the scope of library services. VICNET receives an average of more than 2 million clicks per week. VICNET has also continuously established various services to expand its functions. For example, "Skills Net" is a long-term network training program specially designed for the elderly, people with low education level, and those without occupations; the "E-Gape" project started in 2001 , Providing network access services at free or low prices. By the end of the project in June 2005, a total of 86 blank E sites had been established, but the state government encouraged and supported the project to continue.

Looking into the future, constantly exploring the future development of the library

The Australian Public Library has not been satisfied with what they have achieved, they have always set their sights on the future. The library collects the past for the future, preserves the past, and captures the present for the future. From the Australian National Library to the State Library, they are carrying out an overall strategic deployment for the future of the library, planning and designing the future development of the library, and making the best preparations to meet the various new technology environments that have shaped the library challenge.