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Sole Principal Sponsor |
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ALIA FRINGE: Beyond the Square
22-23 October, 2000
The Fringe will appeal to library and information professionals who are interested in their own career development and the future of our profession.
The programme is especially aimed at new and recent graduates who are exploring their career options and what they can expect from their chosen profession. It will also provide a forum for networking, updating and exchanging ideas for anyone who is returning to the profession, contemplating a change in direction, or considering working in non-traditional areas.
The Fringe is intended to be informal and interactive. There will be keynote speakers, short presentations from a range of practitioners who have varying experiences and backgrounds, panel discussions where delegates will be encouraged to ask questions, small and large group sessions, and opportunities to network and find a prospective mentor.
Programme
DAY 1: Sunday, 22nd October, 2000
Olim's Canberra Hotel
Corner Ainslie & Limestone Avenues Braddon 12.30 pm
Registration open 1.30 pm
Welcome
Opening Address: John Levett, Editor Australian Library Journal Librarianship beyond the square?
Following his arrival as an immigrant sponsored by the 'Big Brother' movement in 1951 and after a three-year slow trip round Australia, John began his professional career at Newcastle Public Library. In 1961 he became Chief Librarian at what is now the City of Lake Macquarie Public Library, until appointment as Deputy State Librarian, Tasmania in 1968. In 1970 he was appointed as Head of the (somewhat expansively titled) Resource Materials and Communications Centre at the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education. In 1976 he accepted an appointment as Head of the Department of Librarianship, and was later transferred with the Department to the University of Tasmania. He resigned from the University in 1988, and was a foundling partner in Hill Farm Herbs and Tracklements. In 1990 he became Vice-President of ALIA, President the following year. From 1992-1994 he was Chair of the Graduate Department of Librarianship, Archives and Records at Monash University. He was awarded the Fellowship of ALIA in 1988.
John is at once an avid reader, and an entranced user of the technology. He writes poetry, occasionally rides a motor-cycle, is interested in light aviation and for many years was a gliding instructor. He loves to cook and likes to garden. He has been a member of ALIA since 1954 with occasional intermissions. He is a public librarian at heart, and his preferred occupation is teaching (in librarianship).
2.00pm - 3.00pm
Session 1 Future Directions Within Libraries
Presenters include a mixture of professionals who are currently practising in libraries where they have challenged the normal ways of operating and done things differently and successfully - they will reflect on their experiences and visions.
| Speaker |
Title |
Abstract |
| Robert Knight Director, Riverina Regional Library |
Superman left in the shade: librarians eclipse traditional superheroes in regional and remote communities |
The role of public library managers in rural, regional and remote Australia is not about keeping catalogues pristine and books in strict order; there is much more important work to be done! The emerging role of public libraries and their staff in these locations has much more to do with community building and sustainability. As services are being withdrawn from many rural communities, the public library is more and more becoming recognised as a community focal point from which a diverse and increasing range of services is being delivered. Library professionals who prefer to shrink from the public and hide in the stacks do not cope at all well with the new face of the public library, which offers excitement, opportunity and diversity for those who are up to the challenge! |
| Greg Fowler South Australian Human Services Libraries Consortium |
Evidence-based health care - diverse career opportunities for librarians. |
Evidence-based health care is the conscious application of the best available research, together with professional expertise and patient choice, to the planning and delivery of health care services. There are increasing opportunities for librarians to fulfil a diversity of roles in this field. Librarians are actively involved in developing and maintaining summaries of best evidence, in publishing web content to enhance access to and use of EBHC tools, and in training clinicians and health services managers to find and appraise evidence which enhances their work practices. Greg will describe his own experience in working with a Consortium of 14 libraries in South Australia and will highlight international career trends in health librarianship. |
| Roxanne Missingham Director, Information Services, National Library of Australia |
Switch on! You're going places |
Roxanne will talk about changes in provision of reference services and the new career opportunities this is creating in librarianship. She will highlight the importance of being plugged into the future and will identify some of the new innovations in libraries including a 24-hour information service delivered over the Internet. She will discuss what skills base are required and what challenges there are for work in reference and the marketing of library services |
3.00 pm - 3.30 pm Afternoon tea3.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Session 2 Future Directions Outside Libraries Short presentations from professionals who are now working outside libraries. Speakers represent a range of experienced professionals who are working outside the traditional library sphere. They will reflect on how the professional skills and values of librarians have affected their success in non-traditional areas.
Concurrent session 2A
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Speaker |
Title |
Abstract |
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Nerida Clarke
Bid Manager
Telstra Retail,
Telstra Corporation
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From Special Libraries to the IT&T industry |
In entering the profession of librarianship many new entrants do not
realise that what they are about to gain is a skill set (or tool box)
which will allow them not only to make a broader contribution to their
organisations (particularly in the special library environment) but also
to move easily into related information professions should they wish to
make that transition. Nerida will discuss the contents of the 'Tool
Box' and will explain how a number of librarians have used these
skills to further enhance and change their careers. Nerida will explain
how she has used her librarianship 'Tool Box' gained through a
number of years working in libraries to successfully take on new roles
within the Australian Sports Commission (her former employer) and to make
the transition to the wider Information Technology and Telecommunications
industry.
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Mary-Anne Rose ,
Project Manager /Senior Business Analyst (IT), Australian Stock
Exchange
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Life before Libraries: From Law to IT via the library |
Mary-Anne originally practised law and moved to managing legal
information. She perceived the need for someone to bridge the gap between
the users (lawyers) and IT staff in relation to information system
requirements. She identified the need for a basic understanding of IT in
the context of information management and embarked on an Information
Studies degree with a computing major. Her first job was as a Business
Analyst, Market information at the ASX. She worked with electronic data
feeds of live stock market trades and quotes. Mary-Anne will talk about
the skills that she has developed and the various roles that she has
adopted using her information management skills and knowledge of
technology.
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Carolyn Cherrett
Academic Consultant and Marketing Manager, Ebsco Information Services |
Business skills - stepping stones to the corporate world |
Can working in libraries be an effective springboard into the corporate
world? Are there skills we learn at library school that will help us make
this leap? What are the skills we acquire through working in libraries
that will add to the skill subset suitable for the business sector? What
personal attributes do you need to succeed? Everyone agrees that skills
learnt are stepping stones to other places, but many people fail to
realise that these stones are not set in concrete. You can pick them up,
change their order, juggle the subsets and build yourself paths to a
myriad of exotic and lucrative locations. Carolyn will talk about skills
development - looking at the professional skills library staff use that
are invaluable in a business environment and the kind of interpersonal
skills you might recognise in yourself that will serve you well in the
corporate sector. |
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Linda Magee ,
Content Manager, CHOICE Online |
Taking the risk |
Linda will talk about the importance of identifying and taking
opportunities to develop a marketable skill set. Linda will reflect on her
own experiences in libraries including a number of roles at the State
Library of New South Wales, her secondment to the Premiers Department and
her current role as Content Manager at CHOICE Online.
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Concurrent Session 2B
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Speaker
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Title |
Abstract |
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Sue Scott,
Director, Online Legal Access Project, Law Foundation of New South
Wales |
Outside looking in |
Sue is currently working at the Law Foundation of New South Wales
carrying out research and standards work in online access to the law. Sue
will talk about how the knowledge and skills she gained through working in
libraries have helped in her current position. She will also discuss the
different perspectives she has gained from working in a non-library
environment.
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Jenny Novak, Information Centre
Co-ordinator, NEMMCO & Cynthia Love, Manager, Service
Development, CSIRO
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Taking your skills outside the library
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Jenny and Cynthia will talk about the transition from Special Librarian
to working in information management outside libraries in their
respective organisations.
Jenny co-ordinates the information centre and website at NEMMCO and
Cynthia manages the CSIRO external website and intranet.
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Kevin Brennan
Senior Project Officer
Fairfield City Council
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Life after libraries? Of Course!
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Kevin worked in Public Libraries for 13 years before taking up a new
position in the Strategic Planning Unit at Fairfield City Council. Kevin
will talk about his experience in moving from a public library to a
multi-disciplinary team in local government. What are the perceptions of
librarians by people from other professions - good and bad? Whatever these
perceptions are, librarians can bring a surprise package of transferable
skills to non-library jobs. Strong technology, people and management
skills are needed everywhere.
Kevin now works in a multi-disciplinary team full of planners,
engineers, and the like - how does a librarian fit in? What roles can we
have in have a totally outcomes focused team? In his presentation Kevin
will discuss these issues and also answer the BIG
question......'would you go back to libraries after a few years away?
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4.30 pm - 5.30 pm
Session 3 Career Planning
Leonie Blair, AIMA Training and Consultancy Services
Leonie's experience in information services extends over local government,
higher education and the vocational education and training sector. Prior to
becoming Manager of Training and Development Services at AIMA in 1998, Leonie's
career spanned 13 years in academic libraries (most recently as Associate
Librarian (Information Services) at the University of Technology, Sydney) and 9
years in public libraries. This breadth of perspective is complemented by deep
skills in human resource development - skills for knowing and growing the
emerging generation of information professionals through focussed, high quality
training and development programmes.
6.30 pm
Buffet dinner Olim's Canberra Hotel
$19.50 pp (not including drinks)
Day 2: Monday 23rd October, 2000
National Convention Centre
9.30 am - 10.30 am
Keynote Addresses
Professor Mairéad Browne, Professor & Dean, University Graduate
School, University of Technology and ALIA President
Enduring values and their impact on a career
Mairéad planned a career as an archaeologist, but on the spur of the
moment decided to take a year out to complete a Graduate Diploma in
Librarianship. This opened a whole new world and way of thinking, so that in the
end she abandoned archaeology for librarianship. As her career twisted and
turned through the university sector in two countries, the problem-solving
strategies and values Mairéad acquired through the study and practice of
librarianship have been a foundation of the way she has operated in very diverse
career positions.
June Garcia, CEO CARL Corporation,
Must one work in a library to be a real librarian?
For the past year June Garcia has been the CEO of the CARL Corporation, a
library automation vendor that provides hardware, software and other services to
large library systems or consortia. Before that, she worked in public libraries
for 29 years. This transition has caused June to give considerable thought to
what it means to be a librarian and to what extent our perception of what
constitutes a librarian is derived from a historical assumption that a librarian
is a person who works in a library as contrasted to a professionally trained
individual who uses his/her knowledge, skills and abilities in a very different
organisational setting.
10.30 am Morning Tea
11.00 am - 12 noon
SESSION 3 What are prospective employers looking for?
A range of presenters will reflect on the current market, their experiences
and strategies for employing library professionals - headhunters, employment
agencies, large libraries, mentoring programme organisers; also includes reviews
of the research about students’ understanding and expectations of their future
occupation and where graduates have been employed.
Concurrent session 3A
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Speaker
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Title |
Abstract |
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Garry Conroy-Cooper
Divisional Manager
Information Management Staff by Zenith
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Where are all these damn jobs in the knowledge economy? |
Where are the employment opportunities? Is our perception of the
'library' industry correct? Are we looking in the right places for jobs?
Garry will assess the marketplace from a recruitment agency perspective.
He will identify the trends in our industry, the skills and personal
attributes that employers are seeking from you, and the best methods of
accessing job opportunities for the short term and long term. |
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Dr Vicki Williamson , University
Librarian & Director, John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, Curtin
University of Technology
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Flexibility, innovation and professionalism |
Vicki challenges the traditional roles of librarians and will talk
about the need for flexibility and innovation in new graduates. Vicki
encourages people working in our industry to work outside the Square; she has had experience of a number of mentoring programmes,
both within librarianship and beyond. She will talk about her perceptions,
experiences and expectations from the employers’ point of view, and
highlight her experiences of building a staff team to deliver on the
vision to create Australia's first Prime Ministerial Library - the John
Curtin Prime Ministerial Library.
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Kim Farley-Larmour
ACT Library Extension Programme Co-ordinator
Australian Bureau of Statistics |
The image of Librarians - are we attracting the right skills? |
Kim has recently completed a Master's research which, in part, examined
library and information studies students' understanding and expectations
of their future occupation. Do those planning to enter the profession have
a realistic view of their future occupation? What impact does the public
perception of librarians and of library and information management have on
recruitment into our profession? How does the reality of library and
information management work differ from the perceptions of those planning
a career in the profession? Kim will discuss these issues with reference
to her role in the ABS.
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Concurrent session 3B
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Speaker
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Title |
Abstract |
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Associate Professor Belle Alderman,
Head, School of Information Management and Tourism, Division of
Communication and Education,
University of Canberra
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What makes a successful Mentoring relationship? |
Belle will talk about what makes a successful mentoring relationship
based on her experience with the Partners in Learning (PAL) Programme at
the University of Canberra. She will talk about how to assess yourself so
that you can approach potential mentors. She will also talk about types of
mentoring relationships and strategies for getting the best out of a
mentoring relationship. |
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Helena Zobec
Senior Librarian, Canberra Institute of Technology |
Stand out in the crowd: Skills development for a successful career |
Helena will demonstrate strategies and techniques to help you develop
skills that give you a competitive edge in the market place. She will talk
about the opportunities created through further study and insights from
her personal experience.
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Dr Paul Genoni ,
Lecturer,
School of Media and Information, Curtin University of Technology
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'Where have all the graduates gone: trends in Library and Information Science graduate
employment' |
What is the real picture of where graduates have been employed? Paul
will present and discuss the results of research about graduates from
Curtin University librarianship courses over the past 5 years. Paul
co-facilitated the WA Group Mentoring Programme for new graduates in
librarianship and will reflect on this experience to give further insights
into the current employment situation. |
12.00 - 12.45 pm
Panel discussion
What are the keys to success in the job market for new graduates? A panel of
recent graduates will answer questions about their experiences in the
marketplace - what gave them the edge in obtaining their first and subsequent
jobs in the current environment? What advice would they offer those who are just
entering the profession?
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Panel |
Abstract |
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David Pietersen ,
Systems Librarian, City of Armadale, Western Australia |
David graduated in February 1999. He spent three years as a part-time
library clerk whilst studying, and since graduating has held two
positions; 'Librarian- Electronic Information' at Edith Cowan University
(12 month contract), and his current position as 'Systems Librarian' for
the City of Armadale. David undertook a major in Information Systems, and
has developed strong skills in Operating Systems, Database Design and
Management, Application Software (Office etc.), TCP/IP, HTML, CGI (PERL
5), ColdFusion, Visual Basic, Java, and many others. These skills are
valuable because they have allowed him to develop powerful applications
for use on Internet and Intranet sites. |
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Ralene Woodbury
Manager,
ACT Virtual Library
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Ralene grew up in her local public childrens library, and there she had
her first taste of 'behind the desk’ - checking out books and counting
endless lego sets on Saturday mornings. She began working with the ACT
Library Service in 1991 while completing her Bachelor of Arts in English
and Womens Studies, and has since worked in (nearly) every position the
public library has to offer! After completing her Graduate Diploma in
Library & Information Management in 1996, Ralene has worked as
Childrens Services Librarian; Adult Services Librarian; Branch Manager of
the Tuggeranong Town Centre Library (a joint-use college/public library);
Information Technology Team Leader, and is currently managing the ACT
Virtual Library, a project developing electronic services for ACT Library
& Information Services. She can admit to never having been bored with
her job, which she attributes to an insane willingness to volunteer for
things she's never done before!!! |
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Alison O’Connor
Blake Dawson Waldron, Melbourne; Law firm |
Alison's interest in libraries began at an early age when she would
stick call numbers on her family's books and wouldn't allow her sisters to
take a book from the shelves unless it was checked out, and had
been stamped with a picture of a bear. Needless to say this caused
many fights! Alison completed a degree in Information Management at
RMIT and graduated in 1998. Her first library position was in a
medium size law firm as library/records management assistant during
her studies and then as the Librarian. In 1998 Alison joined the
library at Blake Dawson Waldron as the Assistant Librarian. The
position was originally only for 6 months, however she has been there ever
since! In October 1999 Alison took on the position of Melbourne
Library Services Manager - at the grand old age of 22. Throughout
her time at BDW Alison has also been responsible for developing the
library's Intranet pages, and has actively been involved in mentoring
programs for new graduates. |
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Sarah Arundel
Australian Medical Association (AMA) Library |
Sarah graduated from University of Canberra in 1998 with a Bachelor of
Information Management majoring in Library Studies, majoring in the
records management path. Following her 12 month period of work placement
at the National Sport Information Centre (NSIC) at the Australian Sports
Commission was employed there, then started her contracting career with
moves to the O’Connell Information and Resource Centre, the Family and
Community Services Library, the Defence Library Service (DLS) and now is
at the AMA. I never dreamt about becoming a librarian and literally fell
into the course after a couple of failed attempts at a hospitality career.
I love being a librarian and I love helping shattering the illusion other
people (and professions) have about what we do. Even though I was told in
first year uni: 'With a raucous laugh like that,
you'll never be a librarian' I have managed to adapt to the
circumstances
and change other people's expectations of what a librarian is
supposed to be like rather than change myself.
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Tracy Lane-Hudson,
Librarian, Australian Deposit, Technical Services Branch, National Library of
Australia |
Tracy is an Aboriginal woman from the Kalkadoon peoples of the Mt Isa
region of Queensland. Her initial tertiary studies were in English and
Ancient History at the University of Western Australia. She got a taste
for working in libraries when she worked as a Library Assistant at
Thornlie TAFE College (WA) from 1994 to1996. She became an Indigenous
Cadet at the National Library of Australia in 1996 and was appointed to a
Librarian position at the end of her cadetship. She undertook a Graduate
Diploma in Library and Information Management at the University of
Canberra graduating in 1999. Her university studies have helped her
develop skills that she has been able to apply to her workplace and other
professional activities. Tracy is currently the Secretary of the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library and Information Resource
Network (ATSILIRN), maintains the ATSILIRN web site and is the Convenor
for the ATSILIRN 2000 Conference. She is also studying towards a Master of
Arts (Information Studies).
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12.45pm - 1.45pm Lunch 1.45pm - 2.45pm
Session 4: Future directions - other alternatives
Presenters will explore alternatives and options, opportunities for gaining
experience through professional practice, further study, lobbying, study grants
and other awards
Concurrent session 4A
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Speaker |
Title |
Abstract |
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Ann Luzeckyj, Research and
Development Librarian, University of South Australia Library |
A foot through the door - Do you feel your course adequately prepared you for work?
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The University of South Australia Library offered a Certificate in
Library Professional Practice (CLPP) in response to a need expressed by
graduates within South Australia. This session will provide a contextual
basis to the CLPP programme, briefly outlining its, aims, objectives and
developments to date. The session will also consider other work experience
models and discuss the challenges that face new graduates.
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Jan Richards ,
Manager, Central Western Cooperative Public Library
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I can't take any more excitement |
'I can't take any more excitement' will encourage
participants to consider the opportunities afforded today's library
through co-operative ventures and alliances. Creative use of these can
allow libraries to re-position themselves within their communities through
expanded and enriched services, at the same enhancing career development
for staff. Jan will highlight the need for Libraries to stay alert to ever changing
trends, dynamics and community moods in order to optimise their chance of
success and suggest ways of monitoring these. Although many of the
examples used to illustrate individual points will be based on Jan's
experience in regional and rural public libraries they will be easily
transferable to a metropolitan situation or to libraries in other sectors.
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Michael Robinson,
Manager, Business Development Services
RMIT University Library;
Past-President, VALA
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New Members Welcome: the library professional and the professional association.
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Based on his experience with the activities of the Victorian
Association for Library Automation, Michael will explore some of the
career, research and learning opportunities which are available through
library-related professional associations. |
Concurrent session 4B
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Speaker
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Title |
Abstract |
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Carolyn McSwiney ,
PhD, Monash University
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Think globally! |
Carolyn was formerly Librarian, University of Notre Dame and is
currently studying towards a PhD at Monash University. Carolyn will talk
about what's happening in the area of globalisation/ internationalisation
and how to turn an awareness of these issues to advantage yourself and
your clients - in the workplace. She will include practical examples from
Australian and offshore libraries and CPD tips.
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Terena Solomons
Librarian, Hollywood Hospital |
The value of overseas experience |
Interested in travelling the world but are worried about the gap it
creates in your resume? Concerned that the travel fund won't stretch far
enough for a year's sojourn? Why not consider a working holiday and
combine work with play! Terena will discuss the benefits and value of
overseas work experience. She will highlight the skills and knowledge she
gained whilst working in the UK on a number of library and library-related projects
and will outline how the overseas work experience benefited her career on
return to Australia and opened up new opportunities.
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Chris Williams ,
Director, Library and Information Services, State Library of New South
Wales |
Learn or languish: Libraries in the community |
Chris has been involved in developing and implementing many innovations
to enhance the libraries role in the local community. Chris will talk
about the importance of libraries in the community from his perspective as
former Manager of Newcastle City Library, and in his current role in the
State Library of New South Wales. He will use recent examples from his
experience including development of partnerships, sponsorships and a
mobile training centre. He will talk about what has made the projects
successful including what important skills librarians have brought to the
project.
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Heather Fisher
Teacher-Librarian,The Cathedral School, Grafton |
Traveling the Yellow Brick Road |
Heather will talk about her career path (kind of twisty track really
rather than a path!) and the part a Travel Grant has played in the events
that have happened. She says she can also testify to the
benefits of having a few strings to one's bow so that there are always
a few options. Heather also has experience in Public Library/the community
partnerships (the teacher librarians involving the Primary and the
Secondary Associations, a Headstart Program, the Literacy Network, the
Children's Book Council, the Children's Interagency, the Arts Festival,
etc...)
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2.45 pm Afternoon tea
3.15 pm - 4.45 pm
Session 5 Small group discussions
This will give participants a chance to talk to the presenters in small
groups, asking any questions they want to follow up from the presentations or on
particular topics of interest.
Topics/presenters of interest - small group discussions (30 mins x 3)
concurrent sessions of small groups led by presenters/mentors: 3.15 pm, 3.45 pm,
4.15 pm. Participants can sign up at lunch-time for 3 sessions. Most of the
presenters have indicated that they will be available to facilitate these small
group sessions, and we are also willing to create new groups as topics of
interest arise during the conference sessions. The details will be finalised on
the day.
4.45 pm Closing and handover to main programme: Ian McCallum, Director,
Libraries Alive!
Ian began his career in 1969 at the National Library of Australia where he
was pioneer in various aspects of library automation and especially information
retrieval systems. In 1972 he was seconded to IBM Systems Development Institute
to work on Australia's first batch then online information retrieval systems.
In 1979 he moved to ACI Computer Services (later Ferntree Computer Corporation,
later GE Capital IT Services). His roles included: technical development then
profit centre management for AUSINET; Curriculum Corporation schools’ database
project; Structured Information Manager commercialisation with RMIT; plus the
development of commercial services in information management education,
professional consultancy and technology assessment. Ian was a member of the
Ferntree Executive, and until resigning in 1997, head of the Information
Management Division with responsibility for a 30-person team providing library
and information management systems and services throughout Australasia. He then
established Libraries Alive! P/L, an Australian consulting company
with a mission to bring a customer-centric, pragmatic approach to the issues
surrounding library and information management.
Ian was the recipient of the 1983 RD Williamson Award for outstanding
contribution to the development of information science in Australia. He was
National President of ALIA in 1986 and was awarded a Fellowship of the
Association in 1989. Ian has a strong interest in the development of new library
professionals and has been a mentor at every Aurora leadership institute in
Australia and at two Snowbird institutes in the US.
5.30 pm - DRINKS before the MAIN CONFERENCE Opening
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Last modified: 2001-04-30 |
