Projects – Project Sisu

May 22, 2024

Clarence Regional Library

Clarence Regional Library is a regional partnership between Clarence Valley and Bellingen Shire libraries.
It spans the bountiful saltwater freshwater countries of Bundjalung, Gumbaynngirr and Yeagl Peoples on the mid-north coast of NSW, Australia.
Clarence Regional Library has seven library branches – Grafton, Yamba, Maclean and Iluka (Clarence Valley); and Bellingen, Urunga and Dorrigo (Bellingen Shire).
A mobile library supports outlying towns and villages across the Clarence Valley.
New and/or refurbished library spaces are planned for Yamba, Maclean and Dorrigo.

September 10, 2022

Sisu Salon Series

The Sisu Salon Series offers three interconnected modules and an infinite variety of combinations. A targeted workshop here and there; an inclusive strategy development process; a service review or re-framing exercise. These skills-based workshops adopt a train-the-trainer mode.

My objective is to pass on, train, encourage and build confidence in teams of all shapes and sizes.

November 30, 2021

Geelong Regional Library Corporation

The Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) Strategy 2021-2025: Connecting and Thriving acknowledges and responds to the cataclysmic changes of 2020 and 2021. It celebrates and seeks new ways to support reading, learning, thinking, creativity, work, community cohesiveness and care for Country.
It brings to the forefront GRLC’s capacity to be an imaginative leader and partner in the region’s economic, social and cultural recovery.

November 30, 2021

Big Sky Libraries

Big Sky Libraries (BSL) is a regional library service comprising three north-western NSW shires: Moree Plains, Walgett and Brewarrina.
Black-soil plains and underground artesian water supplies have supported large scale cotton, canola, cereal crops, olives, pecan nuts, sheep and cattle industries across the region.
Opal mining around Lightning Ridge, hot mineral springs, abundant birdlife and significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites support growing tourism opportunities.

May 12, 2021

Wollondilly Library Strategy

The library is Wollondilly’s premier cultural institution. It is perceived as a lifeline, sanctuary, memory place and potential futures thinking hub. It is a trusted space and reliable partner in learning, practical skills, creativity and social connections.
Wollondilly Library Strategy 2020-2026 outlines what needs to be done to prepare for an expanded library experience as part of the proposed Community, Cultural and Civic Precinct.
It balances pragmatism with aspiration.

May 12, 2021

Wagga Wagga City Library Review

Opening in 1999, Wagga Wagga City Council’s $28 million architect-designed civic space, anchored by a purpose-built library over two generous floors, was ambitious.
The city library’s spatial design – high ceilings, generous light filled floors, expanse of windows and clear potential for expansion – has served the City well, although it still bears the architectural imprint of a 20th century book-centred philosophy.

January 21, 2020

Sanctuary

The 19th December 2019 proved to be one of Wollondilly Shire’s most dramatic days, in a bush fire season that had already had its fair share of drama.

It was a hot day, 42 degrees; an angry red sun hovered above, shrouded by billowing smoke. The towns of Buxton, Balmoral, Bargo and Tahmoor had received catastrophic fire warnings. They were at the epicentre of the Green Wattle Creek Fire, one of the day’s deadliest.
Road closures were in place, and people were warned to avoid using roads in and around Picton.

November 11, 2019

Ode to Oodi

Oodi Helsinki City Library is an unequivocal civic triumph, a temple to democracy when democracy itself is threatened.

Since it opened in December 2018, Oodi has welcomed over three million people. The 10,000 square metre building was a birthday present to the city to acknowledge 100 years of liberation from colonial rule, first Swedish, then Russian.
How apposite that Oodi looks out over a large civic square to Parliament House, an architectural relic from another era. This is the real ‘people’s palace’. This is where civic experimentation is taking place on an epic scale.
I spent five days at Oodi in September 2019.