How did YPRL explore "Roots of Democracy"?
Libraries play a crucial role in upholding democratic values through providing equitable access to information, fostering literacy, preserving cultural heritage, promoting digital inclusion, and facilitating community advocacy, representation, and engagement.
For Library and Information Week this year, YPRL explored the theme ‘Roots of Democracy’ through a range of events and activities highlighting how libraries strengthen the democratic process through everyday practices.
Our staff worked with local artist Fleassy Malay to gather the diversity of learning experiences at YPRL on a typical day.
This was highlighted through both installation and poetry, building and shaping a new collection of voices and quotes from books, capturing tiny moments of time.
Here is a selection of examples we got from the question “What are you learning at the library today?” :
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“How to use a laser cutter”
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“The Macedonian numbers One-еден (pronounced eden) Two-два (pronounced dva) Three-три (tri) when singing Five Little Ducks at Storytime”
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“How to fill out a myGov form”
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“How to read with the School of Monsters books. They are funny!”
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“That there is speech therapist recommended titles in the collection.”
Read Fleassy’s poem ‘Quiet’ that was inspired by her day at Watsonia Library here!
Eltham Youth Space!
At Eltham Library, local artist Erika Clarkson creatively interpreted young people’s ideas for enhancing library services in the Youth Lounge.
Throughout the week, visitors aged 12 - 25 voted for their preferences, based on a commitment from staff to action. The top-voted idea was Creating Green Spaces, something we will include in our study break programming in the next few months.
As part of this project, young YPRL members recommended titles and reviews to feature in the lounge, check it out here!
We also had great interest in the Finding our Heart story walk out in the Children’s Garden. Participants took a journey through the pages of Finding Our Heart: A Story about the Uluru Statement for Young Australians by Thomas Mayor and illustrated by Blak Douglas and learnt about Australia’s past and how we can create a shared future. Stay tuned to see what branch this story walk will appear at next.
Other programming included curated collection displays across the region, including a spotlight at Milk Park on Always Was, Always Will Be by Boonwurrung Elder Aunty Fay Muir OAM and Sue Lawson – a look at some of the iconic First Peoples protest movements of the last 200 years. Branches also displayed resources provided by Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD).
Displays for democracy:
Other events during Library and Information Week included the Junior Library Lovers program at Ivanhoe Library where junior members created engaging displays, enhancing the children's section, and advocating for their beloved books.
Whittlesea Library had a pop-up at the Church St. Council hub where they promoted library services and the benefits of membership.
In response to the rise in AI usage, social media and digital communications, YPRL launched a new online resource to help our users educate and inform themselves on how to detect misinformation, disinformation, and fake news.
Some staff also improved their skills by attending ALIA’s online seminar on ‘Literacy and Democracy: how the Library and Information Science sector combats mis and dis information’.
