A Partnership for Access - The Koori Library Pathways Project - A Reflective Review from Shepparton Victoria
The Koori Library Pathways Project was funded in 2005/2006 through a grant from the Library Board of Victoria, governing body of the State Library of Victoria. Launched in November 2006, the Project was completed at the end of September 2007. It was a joint initiative between the Shepparton based Indigenous organisation, the Koori Resource and Information Centre (KRIC), and the Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation (GVRLC)whose regional headquarters and main branch library are based in Shepparton. Shepparton has the largest population of Aboriginal people in Victoria outside of metropolitan Melbourne. The catalyst for this Project came from the local Aboriginal community when KRIC approached GVRLC to discuss ways of developing a sustainable partnership between the two organisations. The Project was undertaken with two key objectives: to better connect the whole community to local Indigenous information and knowledge; and to develop and deliver more accessible and responsive library services to the local Indigenous community. These two broad objectives were to be met by completing a list of project goals that included investigating the information needs of the local Indigenous communities, developing a resource of Indigenous information and knowledge, establishing protocols, strengthening the capacity of the local Indigenous community to manage information services, cultural awareness training for library staff and exploring potential resources for sustainability. The Project was managed and co-ordinated by KRIC with the support of a Project Team that included members from both organisations. The paper will critically review the Project as a model for partnership for access.