12th ALIA National Library Technicians Conference
9-12 September 2003
Bridging services - embracing reality

Underlying rocks and occupational archaeology: An oral history of Australian library technicians

Judy Clayden, School of Computer and Information Science, Edith Cowan University

Underlying the structures of solidly constructed bridges, one may find bedrock and perhaps some layers of sediment deposited in more recent times. Within these deposits there may be artefacts of interest to the archaeologist.

This paper describes an 'archaeological dig' below the piers to examine the solid bedrock, those people who have taken up the occupation of library technician. It reports upon an oral history project designed to record the education and work experiences of technicians involved in the development of the occupation in Australia.

..full paper to come

Biography

Judy Clayden has been the coordinator of Library Technology programs in the School of Computer and Information Science at ECU since 1989. She is currently enrolled in a PhD with the title: Contesting identity, power and status in feminized occupations: an historical case study of library paraprofessionals in Australia.