October 2024

Library furniture with Aboriginal artwork

PLS eNews

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from the Public Library Services team at the State Library of NSW — bringing you the latest news about upcoming events, promotions and professional development opportunities.

Banner image: Brewarrina Library

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Public Library Infrastructure Grants open

The 2024–25 Public Library Infrastructure Grants are now open.

Public Library Infrastructure Grants are for projects that will assist NSW councils to improve public library infrastructure, including buildings and information technology systems.

The grant guidelines and details of the application process are available on our website.

Applications are due by 5 pm on Monday 28 October 2024.

The State Library hosted an online grants information session on Wednesday 18 September. The recording is available here.

If you are planning a grant application you are strongly encouraged to schedule a time to talk to a State Library Consultant about your project and application.

Local Studies Librarians’ meeting

The next Local Studies Librarian’s meeting will be held at Bathurst Library and online on 5 November 2024. Booking information and the meeting agenda will be released closer to the date and will be available on the Local Studies working group wiki. On the wiki you will also find meeting agendas and recordings of previous events as well as resources and information for providing Local Studies services in NSW public libraries.

Join the Local Studies email list to keep informed of upcoming events and to stay connected with colleagues across the state.

New professional development titles on indyreads

The indyreads collection includes over 200 titles related to library and information studies. Titles come from leading industry publishers such as the American Libraries Association, Facet Publishing and Libraries Unlimited, and cover many aspects of providing library services to the public.

Recently acquired titles include Library 2035: imagining the next generation of libraries, Auditing diversity in library collections and Best technologies for public libraries: policies, programs and services.

Browse the collection here.

Text 'Tech Talks with Lynette' on blue background

Gale webinar: Student research tools & Gale learning centres

Gale’s latest webinar in the Tech Talks with Lynette series is about Gale learning centres and research tools available for students in Gale databases.

Wednesday 2 October, 1–1.30 pm

Register here.

Gale’s NSW public libraries newsletter provides details of other upcoming webinars, professional development opportunities and information about Gale databases and other resources. Contact Gale at anz.gale@cengage.com to sign up.

Consortia opt-in offer: AustLit

A new consortia opt-in offer is available for the AustLit database.

AustLit is an authoritative database about Australian literature and storytelling. It is the primary information and research resource for studies in Australian literary, print and cultural history, and is a crucial resource for research and information-seeking relating to all forms of Australian writing and storytelling.

The product also includes BlackWords, a dataset that records information about the lives, careers and works of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers and storytellers, and the literary cultures and traditions that formed and influenced them.

A free staff trial can be accessed here. Use the login details below:

Username: NSWnet
Password: NSW2018ABc

Go to NSW.net to access the discounted pricing. Please note that the pricing is commercial-in-confidence and can only be viewed by registered NSW public library staff directly responsible for the selection of eResources. NSW public library staff can register online.

You can learn more about the NSWnet consortia opt-in offers scheme by completing a short training module on the PL Portal.

Online HSC help

The State Library is running a series of free online help sessions for HSC students over two days on Monday 30 September and Tuesday 1 October.

These sessions are ideal for HSC students studying History (Ancient, Modern and Extension), English (Standard, Advanced, and Extension), and Society and Culture.

Each session is based on a single subject and will offer tips from our expert teachers and Q&A time for students to ask questions to assist them in the final weeks of study.

Spaces are limited and students should register individually. The sessions are designed for students. Teachers and parents are welcome to join however Q&A time will be dedicated to students. Sessions will not be recorded.

Find more information and registration details here.

Keep up with changes to the law

There have been a number of recent changes to the law, including the right to disconnect, coercive control and to the parenting provisions of the Family Law Act.

You can keep up-to-date with changes to the law on the news section of the Find Legal Answers website.

The legal information pages are also updated to reflect changes to the law. Recently updated pages include e mployment, domestic and family violence and f amily law.

Drug Info youth promotions

Drug Info has a range of promotional resources suitable for young people, and with NSW public libraries filling up with busy HSC students this month it is a great opportunity to promote Drug Info.

Drug Info has introduced a new youth promotions page on the PLS website. On this page you will find ideas for incorporating Drug Info into your library’s programming and promotions during the HSC study period and Schoolies, as well as activities and promotional resources that can be used throughout the year.