Improving access to online multilingual resources by adopting the my language portal in the city of greater dandenong libraries

Abstract

This paper reports on the implementation of ‘My Language Portal’ in the City of Greater Dandenong Libraries (CGDL), Melbourne, Victoria, through the development of a ‘My Language Portal Project Plan’ in 2006. It discusses how the aims of the designers of My Language Portal (MLP) are fulfilled in the exceptional, changing demographics of Dandenong. It provides a rationale for the adoption of MLP, by evaluating census and library statistics, and through local assessment of usability features. Wide consultation led to the creation of a user guide in the form of a fact sheet for users of CGD Libraries, and collaborations with IT and marketing staff are strongly recommended to facilitate smooth implementation. MLP offers a powerful online multilingual resource that bridges the inevitable gap in collections caused by an inability to immediately provide in-house appropriate resources for recently-arrived and diverse migrant communities. Analysis of service provision in Dandenong highlights the need for extra resources, for improved information literacy training, and marketing, and for increasing the number of public access terminals. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.