Libraries and knowledge centres in the Northern Territory.

In June 2004, the Northern Territory Library and Information Service (NTLIS) began implementation of a new Libraries and Knowledge Centres' model in eight communities in the Northern Territory. This chapter discusses the NTLIS model for library services in Indigenous communities, explains the implementation process, and explores some of the challenges in providing Indigenous library services in remote locations. Two case studies will be provided to illustrate what we have learned and how the model is being applied in specific communities. This chapter also discusses the database that is being made available to communities to enable them to organise, store and make accessible, digitised material related to their cultural heritage.

Background

The Northern Territory Library and Information Service is responsible for developing communities by providing access to appropriate library services for all Territorians. The NTLIS has four main goals to:

* develop communities through libraries

* connect people to information

* preserve Northern Territory documentary and cultural heritage, and

* help people learn.

Indigenous people make up 30% of the Territory's population. While 83% of Northern Territory residents live in greater Darwin and Alice Springs, 73% of Indigenous residents live in remote areas.

The Libraries and Knowledge Centres (LKC) unit within NTLIS provides support and training to public libraries, community libraries and school libraries across the Territory. In addition, the LKC Unit is directly responsible for providing library services at two joint-use (school and community) libraries at Taminmin and Nhulunbuy.

There are 22 community libraries, most of which are located in Indigenous communities across the Top End, with several in the southern region of the Territory. These libraries are staffed by Community Library Officers (CLOs) and are usually open from between 10-30 hours per week. NTLIS provides an annual grant to Community Government Councils to cover library operating costs and salaries. A separate annual amount is also allocated for the purchase of library resources.

Ongoing training and support is provided to CLOs by NTLIS. This involves site visits and regular telephone and email contact. A CLO website offers further support through procedures and manuals, tips for running programs and activities, recommended web pages, lists of Indigenous resources, etc. A CLO Forum is held in Darwin each year and all CLOs are supported to attend. The forum consists of three days of training and development activities. The theme of this year's forum was 'Building links for reading' with the focus on early childhood learning and library programs to support literacy.

Community libraries contain a range of resources including books, magazines, videos and DVDs. All libraries have at least one computer that is available for public use and most have internet access. Through the internet library clients have access to the IPortal (the combined online catalogue of NT libraries) and to a range of online resources provided by NTLIS including e-books such as TumbleBooks, and the Health and Wellness Resource Centre.

While Indigenous remote clients rarely borrow library resources, Indigenous clients use their community library to access books, magazines, videos and DVDs. Library computers are used for internet access, particularly internet banking sites and Indigenous websites. The most popular material is the Indigenous collection, which is shelved in a specially designated area and is identified by an Aboriginal flag on the spine of each item. The most widely used resources are those that relate to local community and family groups.

LKC model

The concept of Indigenous Knowledge…