Reflection on library outreach at Yarra Libraries



I spent a couple of hours today with two staff from Yarra Libraries in one of their outreach projects where they set up at St Mark's in Fitzroy to distribute books, clothing and talk with community members who are visiting St Mark's to pick up food supplied by Anglicare. They also have an opportunity to wash their clothes with OrangeSky. The books that were given away were weeded from their own collections.



It was very quiet, with about five people coming over to talk to the library staff. Each of them took some new clothes and some took some books either for themselves of for their children. The staff were saying that this was only their second time at St Mark's recently, although they had been there more regularly before COVID. They expect to build up their interactions over time. 

They bought all their gear in a library van:


Service partners:

Yarra Libraries works with some partners to provide their services to the community. These are:


What I learned:

  • It is wise to be present where other services are also present as this gives a flow-on effect of clients who come for one service and find their way to the library.
  • Talk is as important as any other resource, as is laughter, and as is knowing that someone knows your name. Connection is needed and valued
  • Services don't always know what each other is up to. Leaving fliers at one service is not enough as these get lost or covered up too easily.
  • Talk between service providers is essential to know how to fill in each others' gaps and to allow one service to spruik for another. 
  • Second-hand clothes provide cover, but new clothes chosen by the wearer provides dignity and real pleasure. 





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