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ALIA Multicultural e-News
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The ALIA Multicultural e-News is a platform to share news with a Multicultural focus relevant to the Library Information Sector (LIS). It is open to people across LIS to contribute information of relevance. If you have some news to distribute broadly you can contact us via email. If you are interested in contributing a blogpost to our website you can also reach out via email to discuss ideas.
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And the theme for this eNewsletter is...
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The ALIA Multicultural Committee held its first online meeting for 2025 earlier this month and worked together to decide on four themes for each of the quarterly eNewsletter publications.
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The theme for this edition is on enhancing multicultural collections, programs and services, and ALIA Multicultural is pleased to be able to share more contributions from other states around Australia as we have previously not been able to do so.
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We are also excited to present an opinion piece on this quarter's theme that was written by one of our members Fei Chang, an LIS student from Adelaide. As someone from a CALD background herself, Fei frequently uses multicultural library services that help build cultural connections, support language development, and enhance community engagement. Fei is a strong supporter of public libraries as places that play a vital role in fostering cultural inclusivity, particularly in her home state of South Australia.
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Read on below to learn about Fei's personal experiences with multicultural library services and some ideas she believes could further enhance these services for multicultural communities.
Thank you Fei Chang for sharing!
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Exploring Multicultural Library Services in South Australia: A CALD User’s Perspective
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Personal Experiences with Multicultural Library Services
1. Community Language Collections
I access community language materials through:
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- The One Card Network: This system connects over 130 libraries across SA, enabling users to reserve and borrow resources, including community language
materials. Borrowing and returning at any participating library in SA makes multilingual resources accessible to those whose local libraries have limited community language collections.
- Libraries with Multilingual Collections: My family and I often visit Burnside Library, Campbelltown Public Library, and Adelaide City Library, which house the largest Chinese collections in SA. These visits deepen our cultural ties and enrich
our multilingual reading experience.
2. Engaging Multicultural Programs and Services
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- Bilingual Storytime: I attended and helped organise a Bilingual Storytime at Burnside Library during Chinese New Year. This session featured storytelling in
both English and Mandarin, providing an enriching experience for children and caregivers while also attracting interest from library staff and visitors. After the
session, I heard Chinese attendees express pride in their heritage, while others
appreciated the opportunity to learn about Chinese traditions and experience the beauty of the Mandarin language.
- Language Learning Support: Friends of mine have benefited from free English tutoring and conversation groups at libraries such as the State Library of SA, Tea Tree Gully Library, and Hamra Centre Library. These programs help migrants improve their English communication skills and integrate more easily into Australian society.
3. Free and Affordable Technology Access
For many migrants and refugees, public libraries provide essential digital services:
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- Free computer and Wi-Fi access: This is crucial for job applications, government services, and staying connected with family overseas.
- Affordable printing and scanning services for essential documentation.
4. Libraries as Inclusive Spaces
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- Informal Mini Multilingual Book Clubs: My family and friends often visit libraries together, creating a mini book club where we share recent reads and engage in
book discussions, fostering multilingual literacy.
- Study and Work: Libraries provide free Wi-Fi and quiet study areas, supporting both students and professionals from diverse background.
- Social Interaction: Libraries act as community hubs where CALD individuals connect and share cultural experiences.
- Comfort and Accessibility: Many CALD individuals visit libraries simply to enjoy a safe and welcoming environment.
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Recommendations for Improving Multicultural Services
While public libraries already provide excellent services, there is room for
improvement:
1. CALD Community Needs Assessment: Regular surveys can help identify demand for specific language materials and cultural programs.
2. Multilingual Staff and Volunteers: Increasing linguistic diversity among staff can enhance direct communication and support for CALD patrons.
3. Expanding Multilingual Resources and Programs: Strengthening the collection of books, digital resources, and cultural events ensures libraries remain inclusive and welcoming.
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Public libraries serve as bridges between cultures, fostering understanding and
community connections. By continuing to improving multicultural services, they can
better support the needs of diverse communities and create a more inclusive and
enriching environment for all.
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Events
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Harmony Week: 17 - 23 March 2025
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Harmony Week is a time to celebrate that Australia is one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.
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Image source: Department of Home Affairs
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Cultural Diversity Week: 17 - 23 March 2025
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Cultural Diversity Week is a time to celebrate the power, influence, and stories of Victoria's rich multicultural communities, and all Victorians are invited to participate through a variety of in-person events and activities.
This year the theme was The Journey Shape Our Future.
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Western Australian Multicultural Awards 2025
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These Awards recognise individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions to multiculturalism and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Western Australia.
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This year the State Library of Western Australia (SLWA) and the Shire of Harvey were both recognised for the contributions in multicultural library programs, and were announced as the winner of the Local Government Award and the winner of the Local Government Award respectively.
Congratulations to both SLWA and Shire of Harvey!
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To view the full list of winners, click here.
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State Library of Western Australia
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The State Library of Western Australia (SLWA) was recognised at the ceremony for their outstanding work in the Sheiks, Fakes and Cameleers project, which shares the under-told stories of multicultural Australia. These stories follow namely of the men who travelled to Western Australia between 1870 and 1920 under the oversimplified moniker of 'Afghan cameleers'.
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SLWA sought to demonstrate the true diversity of these cameleers who travelled from countries beyond Afghanistan, including Egypt, Persia (Iran), India, Türkiye, Syria, and what is now Pakistan. The project also sought to paint a richer, more nuanced picture of their contribution to Western Australia, not just as some of the state's earliest overland freight contractors, but as leaders of the Perth Mosque construction project, and as explorers and as significant Western Australian entrepreneurs in their own right.
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Staff at SLWA were truly blown away by the immense community reception for the Sheiks, Fakes and Cameleers exhibition, which comprised of a panel event, walking tour and film screening, and welcomed around 25,000 visitors through its doors.
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The exhibition and a virtual walking tour can both be found online through the SLWA website here.
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Thank you to Barbara Parnaby for sharing!
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Shire of Harvey Libraries
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The Shire of Harvey was also recognised at the Awards ceremony for their Harvey War Memorial Library's Multicultural Program.
This recognition highlights the Shire of Harvey's commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse community through accessible language and learning resources. The Shire has enhanced the statewide library services by offering library-based English classes for over a decade and school-based English classes in recent years.
These initiatives have played a crucial role in integrating new residents from diverse backgrounds and strengthening the community's multicultural fabric. They have also helped new residents feel welcome and connected, promoting social cohesion, and enhancing the well-being of all community members.
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- Library-based English classes: Offered for over 10 years, providing free weekly sessions.
- School-based English classes: Running for approximately two years at Harvey Primary School.
- Learning English Through Storytime (LETS) program: Available through the State Library for many years, supporting young children's language development.
- Books in languages other than English: Always accessible for borrowing or in-library use.
- Online language-learning resources: Freely available through library computers.
- Cultural events and talks: Occasionally hosted at the libraries to celebrate diversity and cultural exchange.
Harvey Library Project Manager Ruth Campbell-Hicks shared some of her own thoughts about the significance of receiving the Award with us below:
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It is exciting for Harvey War Memorial Library and a regional Shire to receive this recognition, especially among larger city local government areas. I am particularly thrilled for our volunteer tutors, whose dedication and enthusiasm have been instrumental in the program's success.
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In being asked what drives Ruth to make the Harvey Library so inclusive, she answered:
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Communities that embrace diversity and support individuals from around the world create a welcoming and enriching environment for all residents. It is wonderful that people have chosen to make Harvey their home, and we value the cultural contributions and connections they bring to our community.
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Thank you Trish for sharing!
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Trove list project
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Happy first year anniversary to the Trove lists project!
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This project was launched on the 4th of March last year as a way to promote Australian literature to the broader community, especially to the CALD community. The project has made an honourable appearance in this month's edition of the INCITE magazine on p. 18 with the article "Beyond English Australian literature in other languages: A TROVE lists project", written by our very own Committee members Joey Chung and Alice Chik.
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INCITE is a publication written by fantastic library and information professionals across the industry and a great way to keep in touch with trends happening in the library world. To read the INCITE magazine, remember to log in as an ALIA member.
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Thank you to Joey and Alice for driving this great initiative!
Anyone else looking to volunteer on this project and support this cause can reach out to Joey via Joey.Chung@holmesglen.edu.au.
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More about the project can be found on the ALIA Multicultural blog post here.
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AI Corner
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As AI adoption gains more traction within our libraries, the ALIA Multicultural Committee believes it would be useful for our members and readers to share some of the latest news, opinions, insights or happenings in the AI and library space!
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This edition of the eNewsletter we have:
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New horizons in artificial intelligence in libraries
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IFLA has recently published an open access book that looks into both the opportunities and challenges that come with adopting AI in libraries.
To download and read this publication, click here.
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Joey's encounter with Perplexity...
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Whilst tinkering around with the AI tool Perplexity, Joey found that her own Trove lists project was listed as a suggestion!
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Take a look on her LinkedIn post here.
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Thank you to both Jacqui Lucas and Joey Chung for sharing!
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Join ALIA Multicultural
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Join the committee and actively participate in advocacy and key projects.
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ALIA Multicultural is a group of passionate people committed to working collaboratively on advocacy with a multicultural focus specific to the Library Information Sector in Australia. You can join our committee and be part of a dynamic collaborative group committed to information sharing, Professional Development and special projects. Visit the website to learn more about us and send us a message if you would like to be part of the group.
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If you are interested in being an active member of the ALIA Multicultural Committee send us an email to express interest.
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Connect with us
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Access key multicultural research and resources via the ALIA Multicultural website
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ALIA Multicultural curates key research and community resources with a Multicultural focus for the Library Information Sector.
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This information can be accessed via our Resources tab on the ALIA Multicultural Website.
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Do you have some research or resource to suggest as an addition? You can contact us via email with your suggestions.
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Contribute to the ALIA Multicultural website blog
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Do you have an idea to contribute to the ALIA Multicultural website blog? If you or someone you know would be interested in contributing a post, discussion about research, an opinion piece, celebration of multicultural programs and services with our community send us an email expressing areas of interest or articles. The ALIA Multicultural website is a collaborative initiative and we are seeking your voice.
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ALIA Multicultural committee members share news regularly via a number of platforms including Instagram and Facebook and Linkedin.
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Anyone can subscribe to our website and eNews.
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We welcome ideas for content to our website and news too.
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ALIA Multicultural plans and delivers PD twice a year and you can watch our PD webinars via our YouTube channel.
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