Marion Library Spotlight

Suman Savur, Children's Services Support Officer, Simone Mills, Children’s Services & Customer Service Officer from Marion Libraries interviewed by Audrey Menz, SAcommunity Volunteer Information Officer

Public Libraries, heroes of literacy and education

When the doors to Marion Library Services closed due to COVID-19 social distancing practises in late March, work hardly slowed for staff of the City of Marion Libraries, Adelaide’s own quiet heroes of literacy and education.

In an interview with SAcommunity, Suman Savur, Children's Services Support Officer, and Simone Mills, Children’s Services & Customer Service Officer, from Marion Libraries, explained that whilst their face-to-face services had paused, the demand for library services persisted throughout the community, compelling staff to consider new and inventive ways to deliver their much loved programs, support, and resources to patrons.

Ms Savur explained to SAcommunity that among their services, ‘Click and Collect’ allowed community members to order items online for pickup or home delivery during COVID-19, ensuring that even with their doors shut temporarily, individuals in the Marion Council area could still enjoy access to library resources.

The hard work hardly ended there however, with Ms Mills informing SAcommunity of the Library’s recent use of online platforms and new media. Ms Mills explained that the youth program ‘Bricks N Bytes’, was only one of a handful relocated to an online platform, with Marion City Librarians working together to create an online weekly Facebook video series for children who love science, LEGO and digital technology.

'Be Connected' during COVID-19

For those with little or no experience utilising online platforms and spaces, Marion Library was equally prepared to provide support during COVID-19, Librarians worked with individuals through their ‘Be Connected’ program to provide digital mentoring sessions and free webinars via phone call or Zoom conferencing call.

Ms Mills and Ms Savur told SAcommunity that whilst the transfer of their services from physical to digital proved challenging and unfamiliar at first, it allowed them to operate in a new way, providing not only their own online services but engaging with other resources, programs, and creators online. Through their ‘Little Library Monsters’ articles, Marion Library features ideas, videos and webinars aiming to keep kids busy at home both during COVID-19 and after. Similarly, the recent Marion Library, ‘Library Through the Lens’ adult program, aims to connect, engage, and educate it’s more mature community through online webinars by local and award-winning authors, video workshops and tutorials on a variety of topics, and online articles, and competitions.

Even as Marion Library’s doors opened to the public once again in May, online services and programs such as ‘Library Through the Lens’, ‘Little Library Monsters’, and ‘Bricks N Bytes’, continue to be offered in order to minimize physical interaction and increase library accessibility and community engagement.

Libraries, delivering outstanding programs, services, and events

Whilst COVID-19 proved a challenging time for businesses and services throughout Australia, facilities such as the City of Marion Libraries and its reliable, hardworking staff require a moment of thanks for continuing to deliver outstanding programs, services, and events. In their interview with SAcommunity, Suman Savur and Simone Mills urged communities to engage with their libraries be it for education, resources, entertainment, or connection, excited for what their open doors and new online resources and platforms may bring next.