Delegates who attended last week’s PLV Conference panel, ‘Access, Inclusion and Outreach’ (and any interested library workers) can now access the Neighbourhood Houses Victoria report, Safe and Welcoming Community Spaces.
The findings of the report were presented at the conference by NHVic CEO Keir Paterson.
The research underpinning the report aimed to identify and understand the elements that make community spaces safe and welcoming, including for individuals with experience of social isolation and/or loneliness. The research focused on the built environment, staff behaviours, inclusivity practices, and barriers to access.
A number of the findings are relevant to public libraries, including recommendations to:
- Prioritise a warm welcome: Configure entry areas to enable immediate human connection. Remove physical or procedural barriers that may inhibit engagement
- ‘Bring the inside out’: especially if visibility into the space is limited, use external symbols–such as rainbow flags, multilingual signage and community artwork–to signal inclusivity and activity.
- Maintain dynamic noticeboards: a regularly updated noticeboard near the entrance provides a low-pressure way for visitors to acclimatise and learn about offerings.
There are interesting findings in relation to the needs of specific cohorts, including people from LGBTIQ+ communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people with lived experience of loneliness and/or social isolation.