Lifelong learning, Learning Cities and Libraries - Lara Pugh, Wollongong City Libraries

Wollongong City Libraries is driving an innovative project to establish Wollongong as a UNESCO-accredited learning city that promotes lifelong learning for all by 2024.

What is lifelong learning?

In embracing all forms of learning from ‘cradle to grave’, lifelong learning can be defined as “…all purposeful learning activities undertaken throughout life with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competencies within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective.”

Lifelong learning underpins the development of a sustainable community as lifelong learners are empowered to be more adaptable. Furthermore, every goal in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires education to empower people with the knowledge, skills and values to live in dignity, build their lives and contribute to their societies.

What does lifelong learning have to do with local government?

Local Councils are concerned with matters close to our homes, such as building regulations and development, public health, local roads and footpaths, open spaces and recreation, libraries, environmental issues, waste management, and many community services. They also develop community strategic plans that outline the community’s priorities and aspirations, and how these can be achieved.

Education plays a central role in achieving many goals in Our Wollongong 2028 Community Strategic Plan; for example, there are programs to tackle the issue of waste management under the goal ‘We value and protect our environment’:

• ‘Garden Fun with FOGO’ educates pre-schoolers on waste management.
• ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ promotes waste reduction amongst school-aged children.
• There are resources and workshops for adults to compost and establish worm farms.

What is a learning city?

A learning city promotes lifelong learning for all; according to the UNESCO Institute of Lifelong Learning (UILL), learning cities foster individual empowerment as well as social, cultural and economic development through cross-sector lifelong learning initiatives.

In Australia, learning cities are established as a driver for change in communities through active partnerships between local government, business and the community. There are benefits to working in partnership to address economic, social and environmental issues, namely, an increased pool of resources in terms of funding, knowledge, assets and experience.

Why is the library driving the Learning City project?

Wollongong City Libraries (WCL) play a core role in delivering on Wollongong City Council’s commitment to creating a community that is informed, engaged, creative and connected. The Wollongong City Libraries Strategy 2017-2022 – Your library, your place sets out a clear vision to inspire reading, lifelong learning, creativity and inclusion in the community, with deliverables including “…develop and deliver training and educational programs to meet diverse community needs” (p.15), for example:

• ‘Get Skilled – Tech Help!’ is a program for older people and newly arrived migrants and refuges on how to use computers, tablets and mobile phones.
• ‘STEAM Punks Club’ is for primary-aged children who like to build, make, play, experiment and game.
• ‘Wriggle and Jiggle’ and ‘Toddlertime’ are literacy programs for pre-schoolers.

Wollongong City Libraries is now taking its commitment to lifelong learning to the next level by leading a Council-wide project to establish Wollongong as a learning city.