Friday February 19, 2010
Mosman to 2030: a valuable information resource
For information on Mosman’s demographics (current composition and future trends) visit Mosman Council’s website and check out the Community Profile, the Atlas and Forecast.
This is an excellent resource for students, researchers, community groups, Council, the business community, and the community in general as it provides information on current population and future trends and answers questions such as How many people live here? Who are we? What do we do? How do we live?
The Forecast section, which predicts changes in Mosman’s demographics up to 2031 in table, graph and map format, has recently been upgraded and enhanced with some useful new features:
- A ‘Data mapping’ tab which allows for the creation of thematic maps, including number, percentage and change in number, for any of the datasets, for any year of the forecast period
- A new home page giving an instant snapshot along with detailed contextual ‘role and function’ text
- Thumbnail maps on each page showing the location of each selected area to provide additional spatial context
- Information for ‘males’, ‘females’ and ‘persons’ available instantly for each dataset
- More extensive summary and key results information
- Summary of the major components of population change represented on one page for easier analysis.
The information in the Forecasts is underpinned by:
- The Community Profile which includes results from the 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991 Censuses of Population and Housing, presented in table and graph format with commentary. It enables detailed analysis of the changes to the Mosman community over a 20 year period.
- The Atlas which presents the above information as interactive maps. Based on data from the 2001 and 2006 Censuses, each map is prepared using Census Collector Districts providing the finest level of detail to help identify spatial patterns and trends in the area.
Friday February 12, 2010
It's like the internet, only 3D
Update, 16 February – We had more than 200 messages left online and in the Library, and 5kg of chocolate walked out the door. Thanks to everyone who made the week special!
What do people love about Mosman Library? It’s the books (audio books, music CDs and DVD movies also get a mention); the children’s library; the friendly and helpful staff; and the place itself – dry when it’s raining, cool when it’s hot, an ‘oasis of calm’!
A week of celebrating libraries in general and Mosman Library in particular climaxes on Sunday 14 February, the date formerly known as Valentine’s Day but now claimed for Library Lovers across Australia.
At the circulation desk we’re offering ‘choc for comment’ – and the choccys are going fast! – plus there’s a Library Lovers web page where you can leave your personal note electronically.
Rowan said he loves Mosman Library because “it is a bit like the internet only 3D.”
Go on, show us some love.
Library Lovers Day is a combined advocacy event organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Public Libraries Australia (PLA).
Tuesday January 5, 2010
Plain language guides to the law
Mosman Library is part of a statewide initiative of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW and the State Library of NSW that provides free access to legal information for the community. In our reference section you have access to a regularly updated collection of plain language books about the law.
Now some of the most well used and useful Tool Kit titles have been put on the Find Legal Answers website in full text:
- Defend yourself: facing a charge in court
A practical guide to defending a criminal charge in court which covers arrest and questioning, bail, dealing with lawyers, court procedure, how to plead, hearings and trials, preparation, evidence, proof, examination in court, sentencing, and appeals. - Guilty your honour: representing yourself in NSW when charged with drink driving
A practical guide to defending a drink driving charge. Examines the offence and penalties, whether to plead guilty, whether to get a lawyer, how to prepare for court, and what happens on the day of court. - Guide to wills and estates
A practical guide to the creation of wills, changing, revoking, or challenging a will, rights of creditors and beneficiaries to a will, probate and intestacy, and legal fees.
Having these books online is a great step, as it allows you easy access to some fantastic legal resources.
Monday January 4, 2010
Teen blog hits refresh
We took the opportunity of a new year (is it a new decade?) to give the Wired 4 Teens blog a refresh.
And it really did need to update its look… the site is 5 years old this month!
Eve, then our dynamic customer services librarian, kicked off the blog with a post on February 3rd, 2005. Amy followed Eve as host on the site, and now Darren is coordinating teen activities and resources.
Teens are invited to participate in the space – you can post a review online, discuss a post in the comments box or just RSVP for an event or suggest a book, CD or DVD for the library collection.
Darren is also calling for digital artworks – we’ll soon be adding a widescreen showcase to the blog home page that will feature e-art from local teens.
Tuesday December 15, 2009
Hot mags
Mosman Library subscribes to a number of magazines on your behalf. They’re all available on the main floor, conveniently by the couches, and can be loaned for three weeks.
We asked the librarians and staff what they liked to read…
Friday November 27, 2009
SWITCH: Public Libraries in a Changing Environment
Surry Hills Library by Helen K, on Flickr
This week Mosman Library attended the 2009 NSW Public Libraries Conference and Exhibition hosted by the Public Libraries NSW Metropolitan Association.
The theme was ‘SWITCH: Public Libraries in a Changing Environment’.
The “S” in SWITCH refered to sustainability: economic, social, cultural and environmental, and the role that public libraries, in partnership with governments, businesses, educational organisations and community groups, will continue to play in social inclusion, community development and community sustainability.
Some highlights from our librarians…
Tuesday November 24, 2009
Discovery & serendipitous search
Children playing in the sand at the Mick Simmons’ Radio Club picnic, Balmoral Beach – Sam Hood (State Library of NSW)
Search the National Library of Australia’s new online catalogue and you’ll find not only books but photos, newspaper articles, journal articles and conference papers, music scores, biographies, pictures and archived web pages. It’s a holistic view of materials located in libraries, museums and archives all around Australia.
The NLA has called this new service Trove “as in ‘treasure-trove’, being a collection of valuable or delightful things. Trove is derived from the French verb trouver, meaning to find or discover. Thus, the name encapsulates the concepts of a collection, of treasured and valuable collection items and of the process of discovery” (Gateways, October 2009).
Trove provides a single point of access to places like the Australian National Bibliographic Database, the Register of Australian Archives and Manuscripts, Music Australia, Picture Australia, Australian Research Online, Australian Newspapers 1803-1954 and PANDORA (the national web archive).
Try a search on Mosman, Balmoral Beach or Clifton Gardens.
Wednesday October 21, 2009
Nextreads is a hit with Mosman
Launched in January this year Nextreads is an email newsletter service that showcases the great new books we are buying in your library. In addition we send you a few of the books we have enjoyed just in case you missed them.
We offer thirteen exciting newsletters to choose from including General fiction, Biography and memoir and Kid’s books. that come monthly, bimonthly or weekly. There is also a handy link to your library catalogue so you can check if the item is available and place a hold if it is not.
Over one hundred and fifty people are taking advantage of the service and most are signed up to multiple newsletters.
If you would like to have the latest books sent directly to your inbox join Nextreads at Mosman Library.
Friday September 4, 2009
Book banning delights author
Jerrold Mundis, author of the book Slave Ship that was banned in Australia in 1971, emailed Mosman Library after finding himself featured in Round 1 of our search engine challenge.
“Damn, I wish someone would have told me back then when it happened. I could have enjoyed it through all of these past nearly forty years.
“Well, at least I have the satisfaction of it now.”
Mr Mundis – who describes himself as “a pussycat, really” – said he was delighted to find out that his book had been banned in Australia and was keen to read what the censors had to say.
Naturally, we accessed AustLit for him! This database is available free from Mosman Library PCs.
Thursday September 3, 2009
Explore NSW
Here’s your chance to play with a ‘testing release’ of a fantastic new web site called About NSW. It aims to showcase the diversity of people, places and things to see and do in our state.
What makes About NSW special is that it grows by feeding on information that exists already in government offices, museums and libraries. It also looks to what individuals and communities have published about NSW. We can add to About NSW simply by making our information available to the world wide web in open and accessible formats. Even better, our information is matched to that of other people and institutions, so adding meaning and depth and allowing for greater serendipity when searching and exploring.
Mosman is one of the suburbs currently featured on the home page. A photo of Clifton Gardens from our Flickr stream is included in the slideshow. There’s also a map that locates the old Turner’s Confectionary Shop at 884 Military Road and shows its banana split spoons and glassware that now form part of the Powerhouse Museum’s collection. With the NSW State Heritage Register a part of this project, information on historic places like Boronia House is also included.
This is just the start of About NSW. See the blog post from the project team for more detail and background.
But it’s an exciting glimpse into a future where you’ll expect information from across cultural and government institutions (not forgetting personal collections) to be delivered to you in a richly contextualised package as a matter of course!