Northern Territory Library
Public Libraries & Knowledge Centres
Public Libraries | Remote Libraries | Aboriginal Heritage | School Library Program | Early Years Literacy Program
The Public Libraries and Knowledge Centres (PLKC) Program is located at our site in Winnellie and provides leadership and advice in the development and support of library services provided by municipal and shire councils and remote schools. In all there are 33 public library sites in the Territory, with 22 of these situated in isolated and remote Indigenous communities. The Public Libraries and Knowledge Centre Program also delivers public library services at Taminmin and Nhulunbuy, in partnership with the Department of Education and Training.
Map of NT Public Libraries and Knowledge Centres
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Public Libraries
The Public Library Service, based at Winnellie, is responsible for managing the development of the Northern Territory’s Public Library Network. It facilitates a network-wide delivery of services and programs to public libraries across the Northern Territory. Northern Territory Library provides support and professional development opportunities for public library staff.
The Public Library Services also oversees the management of:
- Taminmin Community Library (at Humpty Doo)
Remote Libraries
Support to remote libraries is delivered through the Libraries and Knowledge Centres (LKC) Program. The program was developed in response to requests from Indigenous communities, who wanted assistance to preserve their cultural heritage and provide appropriate access to it. The Libraries and Knowledge Centres Program also manages library resources for remote libraries across the Territory. A key feature of the Libraries and Knowledge Centres program is the local Our Story database which provides access to cultural and historical resources about each community.
In 2007 Northern Territory Library won the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award for the Libraries and Knowledge Centres Program.
Evaluation of the LKC Model
In 2005, NTL commissioned Professor Martin Nakata and a team of academics to review the LKC model.
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Aboriginal Heritage
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School Library Program
The Northern Territory Library also provides advisory and support services to schools and communities in the Northern Territory. This program focuses on early years literacy and information literacy and helps schools to develop partnerships aimed at developing and implementing innovative library programs.
Early Years Literacy Program
A library-based Indigenous Early Years Literacy Program for remote Indigenous communities is administered and delivered by the Northern Territory Library.
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The Walk to School is an Indigenous early years literacy strategy for Northern Territory Public Libraries and Knowledge Centres. The strategy seeks to support caregivers of Indigenous children aged from 0-5 years in creating an environment that supports the development of literate behaviours and practices; and facilitates access to age-appropriate literacy oriented activities and resources in a library environment.
PLKC Achievements
- 2008 Finalist Chief Ministers Award
- 2006 Winner Chief Ministers Award for Excellence in Public sector Management
In September 2006 the LKC Program won the inaugural Chief Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management in the category of Engagement with the Community and was highly commended in the category of Indigenous Community Development. The awards were presented during the week of the annual training forum for Community Library Officers (CLOs) in Darwin. The provided an opportunity for NTL staff to celebrate with CLOs. Cate Richmond, Assistant Director, LKC, commented that NTL could not have won the awards without the ongoing commitment of all CLOs, who work very hard to provide library services in their remote communities.
2009 IPAA Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management
Northern Territory Library’s Public Libraries and Knowledge Centres program was honoured to receive a Commendation for its entry in the 2009 IPAA Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management. Cate Richmond, Assistant Director of NTL, received the award from the Honourable Dr Mike Kelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Personnel and Water, representing Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a ceremony in Canberra this week.
The awards aim to encourage and recognise better practice and innovation in all levels of Government in Australia. They are designed to honour the achievements of public sector work groups, units and teams rather than individuals and focus on specific projects, initiatives or change processes.
The PLKC program enables remote Northern Territory Indigenous communities to document, preserve and access local cultural heritage through community libraries, and was recognised for innovative service delivery. It is an example of a successful partnership model for Indigenous library services with local communities and local government which builds on community identified strengths and aspirations. The model contributes to:
- Preservation of culture and Indigenous heritage
- Capacity building: employment, support and training of local library staff
- Increased community skills in information literacy and computer literacy
Northern Territory Library would like to congratulate the entire PLKC team for their dedication and continuing hard work.