The Librarians on ABC

Dear Colleagues
Well, we have now seen the first episode of "The Librarians" on ABC tv. I joined around 50 at the National Library of Australia to share the experience - to laugh (we did a lot of this), sigh (hardly any of this) and network to celebrate the new series. Thanks very much to Sue Hutley, Executive Director, ALIA for organising the event and putting on cheese and crackers, tea and coffee for us all.
Some of us came in pearls, cardigans and sensible shoes, others more relaxed. (I had thought about coming in slippers and a dressing gown, but the pearls and cardigan seemed more appropriate). Mark Scott, Managing Director of the ABC snuck in and enjoyed watching our reaction to the program.
Thanks Anna-maria for the photograph - and we'll all watch the next episodes from our homes in future with a cup of coca, or something stronger!
Don't forget you can share comments through ALIA's blog http://www.alia.org.au/thelibrariansblog/
(And also if you are interested in PowerPoint use and misuse see the clip at http://metacole.wordpress.com/2007/10/16/the-princess-the-witch-and-the-powerpoint/)

ALIA National Library Technicians conference

I was very fortunate to attend the ALIA National Library Technicians Conference in Melbourne earlier this month. It was very well attended – with around 400 delegates and trade registered for the conferences.

The program and information about the conference is available online at http://www.alia07.com/.

Ann Beaumont from the State Library of Victoria opened the conference, focusing on the massive changes since she qualified as a technician in the 1960s and the need to focus on users needs. An active library 2.0 participant, Ann described well the need to play with blogs, wikis and other technologies to be able to learn how we can use them to connect with users and to enable users to connect with other users in the 2000s. The conference continued the theme of choice for users and moving services which can reveal our great collections through other papers. Kevin Hennah was fabulous, with many ideas about “making over” our physical spaces to attract new users and engage better with existing users. I came back to my library convinced that we needed to buy his book

Congratulations to Dunn and Wilson study grant recipient Rebecca Evans for her project “Preserving our past to educate our future” which aims to identify, collate and catalogue photographs and other information about library technicians into an image database.

Congratulations to the ALIA Library Technician of the Year for 2007, Jennifer Dyer from NSW who has made an outstanding contribution to library technicians in schools, NSW and nationally. An amazingly dynamic and energetic person, Jennifer has inspired many others and truly deserves this recognition.

Congratulations to the conference team and the very active participants.

You can also keep up with ALIA and ALIA Library Technician developments through Facebook – its addictive and a fun way to share – give it a go http://www.facebook.com

Dynamic librarians and library technicians at the Top End

The Top End Group of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) are a dynamic and successful group linking library staff together to build their expertise and services. I was very fortunate to attend the Top End Symposium which brought together library staff in all sectors. The presentations indicated that Northern Territory libraries were innovators taking new technologies and adapting them to their particular client needs.

Austin Ashe opened with a passionate declaration about the value of libraries - traditional services and online services. His legal career and commitment to communities provided different and complex perspectives on the value of libraries.

"Six Degrees of Separation " by Helen Edney introduced the enormous literacy issues in the territory. She described activities at Katherine library which have focused on improving literacy and developing life long skills from the library's program. It was a very thought provoking and good presentation.

The best paper award was given to Kay Pisel, Kormilda College for her presentation "Where to now? Positioning a school Library in the 21st Century". The range of services offered and sheer enthusiasm of staff was quite inspiring.

"Sharing Library Information - a Podcast Project at CDU Library" by Jessie Mahjouri and Marg Purnell, Charles Darwin University, described using podcasting to deliver training. A remarkably good project, the resulting audio files are easy to use and engaging. Do have a look at their service http://www.cdu.edu.au/library/LILL/podcasts.html

The conference dinner was terrific – with belly dancing and magic tricks. Here is a photograph at the dinner of ALIA local liaison officer, Jayshree Mamtora, Andrew Finegan and me. Stephen Barnett, official photographer of the symposium, has posted a wonderful set of photographs on his blog http://digitaldamage.blogspot.com/


The ALIA National Advisory Congress was also dynamic and valuable.

Congratulations to all who contributed to the events.

Top End - action packed libraries and library staff

The Top End Group of the Australian Library and Information Association are a dynamic and successful group linking library staff together to build their expertise and services. I was very fortunate to attend the Top End Symposium which brought together library staff in all sectors. The presentations indicated that Norther Territory libraries were innovators taking technologies and adapting them to their particular client needs.

Austin Ashe opened with a passionate declaration about the value of libraries - traditional services and online services. His legal career and commitment to communities provided different and complex perspectives on the value of libraries.

"Six Degrees of Separation " by Helen Edney introduced the enormous literacy issues in the territory. She described activities at Katherine library which have focused on improving literacy and developing life long skills from the library's program.

The best paper award was given to Kay Pisel, Kormilda College for her presentation "Where to now? Positioning a school Library in the 21st Century". The range fo sevrices offered and sheer enthusiasm of staff was quite inspiring.

"Sharing Library Information - a Podcast Project at CDU Library" by Jessie Mahjouri and Marg Purnell, Charles Darwin University, described using podcasting to deliver training. A remarkably