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

Shake my hand! Networking for survival

Janine Schmidt, university librarian, University of Queensland Library

In the increasingly competitive information profession, networking is now the key to not just getting ahead but staying in front and preventing yourself from getting cast aside or overlooked. Whether you are looking for new or permanent employment; fighting for ever-shrinking budgets; negotiating with vendors or publishers; seeking support from academics, corporate executives or government officials; or ensuring professional relationships are established with all your colleagues, developing strong networks, inside and outside of your organisation, is vital.

Networking need not be a dirty word. Attendance at social and professional functions should not leave you anxious or fill you with a sense of dread. Networking can take many shapes and forms - from a simple listserv; to lunch or coffee with colleagues or associates; from attending conferences or professional functions; to finding a mentor to help develop relationships with others. Use your personality type to choose the networking style you want to adopt to build the right connections. Let me take you through the highs and lows of networking; the tips and tricks that have saved me; and share my personal experiences that have amassed through an extensive career in the library profession - in general what helped me get where I am today - it is a long way to the top alone - establish your networks!

..full paper to come

Biography

Janine is the university librarian at the University of Queensland. Prior to taking up this position, Janine was director of Collection Services at the State Library of New South Wales. She also taught for nine years at the University of Technology Sydney. Other appointments include physical sciences librarian at the University of New South Wales and head cataloguer at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial research Organisation Central Library in Melbourne. Her first job was as a typist in the cataloguing department at University of Queensland Library.