2024 Library Board Awards

• Library Board Awards celebrate excellence in Western Australian libraries
• Two regional public libraries awarded for innovation and collaboration
• Kay Poustie Scholarship supports the development of professional staff in the WA public library network 
• ALIAWest presents F A Sharr Award and service pins.

The 2024 Library Board of Western Australia Awards were announced last night at the State Library of Western Australia. The Library Board Awards are an annual celebration of excellence in Western Australian libraries and promote innovation and collaboration in the library sector.

Photographs from the night below and you can see more social pictures on our Facebook page.

Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration 

Albany Public Library received the Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration (Metropolitan and Large Regional Libraries) for its ‘After-Hours Student Study Space’ project, which addressed a critical need for accessible study environments in the regional centre. Each category winner received $5000.

Albany faced an urgent and growing demand for central meeting places with stable internet for student use. The judges were impressed by the strong community collaboration and consultation with local education providers. The system allows registered students to gain entry via a security fob through an external door, monitored by CCTV, creating a safe and secure environment.

Bindoon Public Library was the winner of the Library Award for Innovation and Collaboration (Small Regional Libraries) for its Dementia Support Program, designed to address community concerns regarding a lack of services for those affected by dementia. In collaboration with Forget Me Not Dementia Services, Bindoon Library runs a monthly memory café. The library created memory boxes and a dedicated collection to support those suffering from dementia and their family and carers.

Town of Port Hedland Libraries received a commendation for its project ‘Under the Yarning Tree’. The program – which was launched using funds from a Better Beginnings innovation grant and is now ongoing – invites local Aboriginal identities to share stories and participate in activities to further encourage reading, singing, yarning, drawing and playing in the home.

Library Board Award for Innovation and Collaboration submissions

• Albany Public Library for creating an after-hours student study space.
• Bindoon Public Library for their dementia support program.
• Broome Public Library for ‘Bookish Play the Deadly Way’.
• City of Cockburn, Cockburn Libraries outreach program at Comic-Con.
• City of Gosnells Libraries in partnership with Maddington Centro Shopping Centre and Paint the Highway ReAd for delivering Storytimes in a non-traditional learning space.
• City of Rockingham Libraries in partnership with Bizlink for creating a disability employment program.
• City of Swan Libraries in partnership with local elders for ‘Noongar Word of the Week’.
• Shire of Harvey Libraries for their flexible mobile maker-space.
• Town of Port Hedland Libraries for their program ‘Under the Yarning Tree’.
• Williams Community Resource Centre and Public Library in collaboration with the Williams Playgroup for their special Rhyme Time/Storytime program.
• Vanessa Paun for implementing the Geri-fit program in 14 public libraries.

Kay Poustie Scholarship 

Two Kay Poustie Scholarships ($8000 per scholarship) were awarded this year to enhance library services through evidence-based research and experiential learning in line with the Public Libraries Strategy 2022-2026.

Vanessa Paun’s project will explore ways public libraries can collaborate with non-traditional partners to implement unique and creative approaches to meeting community needs. The project notes the importance of libraries as essential community infrastructure and will share best practice ideas and practical solutions to forming successful and sustainable partnerships.  

Another scholarship was awarded to the team of Jennifer Bawden, Emma Hewitt and Aimee Ryan from the City of Melville. Their research project will involve consultation with First Nations young people to identify priority growth areas, programming needs and learning requirements at Willagee Library, building upon existing relationships between library and youth engagement staff and community. The learning from this project will enable other public libraries to undertake similar engagement.  

The Kay Poustie Scholarship is funded by the State Library of Western Australia, Public Libraries WA Inc., ALIAWest and the generous support of numerous private donors.

Australian Library and Information Association Awards

The F A Sharr Award was presented to Elena (Lena) Smirnova for her enthusiasm for and dedication to the Western Australian library sector. Lena is championing a ‘FIFO Library’ project which aims to introduce library resources to remote mine sites.

The F A Sharr Award is presented to a Western Australian librarian or library technician in their first three years post-graduation who exhibits the most potential to make a significant contribution to the library profession in Western Australia. The award is maintained by the ALIAWest Committee with the support of the WA Library Technicians Group.

Ten ALIA members received service recognition pins, including an impressive 60 years of membership to Arthur Downing.  

Comments to be attributed to the Hon John Day, Chairman of the Library Board of Western Australia:

“The Library Board Awards recognise innovation and collaboration in the library sector. It was wonderful to see so many worthy projects and programs led by the library sector.

“Many of these programs start with a simple conversation or an idea, and it was pleasing to see the community outcomes come to life. Thank you to all the applicants for your contribution to developing and expanding library services right around the state.

“It was a great pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Western Australian libraries and library professionals during Library and Information Week this year.”