There are two library services operating in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

that have adopted the appellation "knowledge centre" in relation to the delivery of library services for

Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians are people with familial heritage from, or recognised membership of, the various ethnic groups living within the territory of contemporary Australia prior to History of Australia (1788–1850), British colonisation. The ...

clients. The Northern Territory Library first developed the Indigenous Knowledge Centre model of service and later changed this to ''Library and Knowledge Centre''. The State Library of Queensland continues to use the title ''Indigenous Knowledge Centre''. __TOC__

Queensland

The

State Library of Queensland State Library of Queensland (State Library) is the state public reference and research library of Queensland, Australia, operated by the Government of Queensland, state government. The Library is governed by the Library Board of Queensland, whi ...

assists local government to establish Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs). These serve as information hubs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities throughout the State. The State Library of Queensland's IKCs provide the services of a local

library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...

, act as a meeting place and provide a safe place to keep important artefacts, artworks and other information within the community. IKCs are a hub for community, providing a place to gather and participate in programs based on community interests including traditional knowledge, culture and languages. Many IKCs provide public Internet access to their communities. IKCs are place-based, and no two are the same, as they respond to the unique needs of their community and offer a whole cultural precinct wrapped up in one small building. The first seven IKCs opened in 2002, at Lockhart River, Aurukun,

Erub Darnley Island, or ''Erub'' in the First language, native Papuan language of Meriam Mir, is an island formed by volcanic action and situated in the eastern section of the Torres Strait, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the Torres Strait Isl ...

, Mabuaig, New Mapoon, Pormpuraaw, and Wujal Wujal. Since then, a number of other centres have opened and now there are 26 across Queensland all created in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island shire and regional councils.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory Library runs a knowledge centre service to its communities under the title of Libraries and Knowledge Centres (formerly known as "Indigenous Knowledge Centres"). In 2007 this program was awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Access to Learning Award for its innovative use of digital technology in the remote Australian Indigenous community context. The Northern Territory Library is contributing significant funds to the development of the next generation of Indigenous collection management software.

References

External links

Indigenous Knowledge Centres

Indigenous Knowledge Centres
Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Indigenous Knowledge Centres of Queensland Facebook page

Hope Vale Indigenous Knowledge Centre radio broadcasts
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland Indigenous Library Services albums
State Library of Queensland. Contains photographs of Indigenous Knowledge Centres in use
Darren Clark Wujal Wujal photographs
State Library of Queensland. Contains photographs of the Wujal Wujal Indigenous Knowledge Centre Libraries in Australia Indigenous Australian education Librarianship and human rights {{library-stub