Techs at the Top: 8th National Library Technicians Conference

Key speakers

opening address | Keynote speakers

Opening address

Robyn Young, BA Qld, GDipFE SAust CAE, MEd NE, PhD Toronto
Dean of Education Northern Territory University

Robyn Young began her career as Acquisitions Librarian at Darwin Community College (now the Northern Territory University) and became Head of Users Services Division in 1977. In 1981 Robyn was acting Associate Head of the Library. She was instrumental in setting up the Certificate in Library Practice at the institution and was course co-ordinator from 1982-1984 when she left the library scene and became the co-ordinator of Academic Development at the College. In 1986 Robyn received a Letter of Recognition from the LAA. She is currently the Dean of Education at the Northern Territory University. In 1994 Robyn was guest speaker at the 10th anniversary of the first graduates from the Library Practice Course.

Keynote speakers

Day 1

The career development of library technicians in eastern Indonesia: problems and challenges

Sarah Wirawan, Librarian at Hasanuddin University, has studied the staffing needs of libraries in eastern Indonesia. There is tremendous demand for library technicians which has been recognised by Indonesian Government endorsement of higher status and conditions. However, there are still serious problems in education and training, motivation and knowledge of technology.
Sarah was Chief Librarian at the Hasanuddin University until April 1995 when she resigned to take on an educators role at the University.

Day 2

Tony Barry
Australian National University Library

The age of the global library

As institutions start to publish material direct to the Internet these works are immediately accessible to potential readers and library users. In effect publishing to the network is direct to the library shelves and the end user's desk. This paper will speculate on the effect this will have on libraries and will make a number of predictions about developments in the shorter term. This is a very rapidly changing field and therefore the conference presentation will need to explain why these predictions are in error!

Day 3

Lex Marinos
Australian Broadcasting Commission

Multicultural Australia, information and entertainment

Born into a family of Greek cafe owners in Wagga Wagga, Lex Marinos moved to Sydney so that his elder brother could attend university and become a doctor. Lex took the opportunity to move into the entertainment industry in which he has worked as actor and director, on the stage, movies, TV and radio. he is currently serving on the Federal Government's Multicultural Advisory Committee.