Advanced Search

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference paper demonstrates how the 'Get Involved' program has successfully implemented the key focus areas of the Australian Government's National volunteering Strategy (2011) to better meet the needs of today's volunteers and library staff, align with contemporary library practice, and bring enhanced and expanded library services to the community.
 
Volunteerism in public libraries is impeded by a culture of volunteer management, wherein outcome is framed in terms of the completion of prescribed clerical tasks, and output is meaured purely in terms of hours served. For volunteers, this scenario can present limited options; for library staff, trying to find things for volunteers to do can feel like an encumbrance. Spearheading a cultural shift away from transactional library volunteerism toward transformational volunteering is the California State Library's state-wide initiative, 'Get involved: powered by your library'. At its core, this project is driven by volunteer engagement: an emerging theoretical and practical model of approaching, perceiving and working with volunteers. At a strategic level, volunteer engagement is fuelled by high-impact, skills-based volunteer opportunities in a project delivery context.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper presents the findings of a project funded by the Australian Research Council, that aimed to help Australia's libraries to make tough decisions in an environment where there is a competition for limited resources. The project established an empirical basis for evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP). EBLIP is an approach to professional practice that is grounded on the gathering and use of a robust evidence-base to inform the many decisions that must be made, and problems that must be addressed, now and into the future.
 
The paper provides an overview of the project including brief discussion of the key findings from the two sub-studies. The public library sub-study found that the following key aspects depicted the experience of EBLIP in a public library: leadership, culture, learning, context, collaboration and second nature. In the academic library sub-study six categories were constructed which describe librarians experiences of evidence-based practice as: empowering, intuiting, affirming, connecting, noticing and impacting.
 
The project findings will help to build an empirical basis for EBLIP. Although there has been a growing interest in evidence base practice within the library and information science (LIS) sector there is a limited empirical basis for its understanding within LIS, which has implications for how well it can be implemented within the professional practice of LIS professionals. This project will ensure that EBLIP can be empirically and practically developed as an approach to professional practice that allows for more robust and empirically driven decision-making. Thereby helping to ensure that government and public funding is utilized soundly, with community accountability, and that Australia’s libraries are truly helping to lead the nation. 
 

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference paper discusses the Change Makers project which set out to create practical tools for leaders in public libraries to use in recruitment. These tools aim to assist public libraries to transform their workforce for the 21st century and not only recruit staff who are change ready and change resilient, but who are curious, passionate and engaged. As future library leaders, we are responsible for building dynamic, responsive libraries that are seen as relevant to our respective communities and stakeholders. Of course, that means dynamic and responsive people too.
 
This paper builds on collaborative research that was undertaken as part of the State Library of Queensland's inaugural Library Leadership 2015 program. We didn't know each other well; we didn't know what we were doing at first; but we knew that there was often a mismatch between the flexible, resilient, change oriented workforce our libraries need in the 21st century, and some of the ways we attract, recruit and induct new staff. That's where the Change Makers project was conceived. We looked closely at current public library recruitment practices, and what other contemporary organisations did differently or better. 
 
This paper will inspire libraries to think differently about recruitment, and we provide evidence-based tools and templates to help you do something differently. If we have learnt one thing from the program, it was that nothing is too dull for reinvention - even recruitment.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses how the State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) collected a wide range of material around the NSW State Election (28 March 2015); foremost amongst them a collection of social media, websites and blogs. The collection of social media content relating to elections raises new methodological and technical challenges. Firstly, one must decide upon a systematic process for defining query terms to be used with social media search engines; these will collect public discussions from all the electorates and all the election topics. Secondly, monitoring the effectiveness of these terms and the topical relevance of the collected data is a time-consuming task that can quickly overwhelm library staff.
 
The SLNSW and the CSIRO collaborated on these challenges, using the social media monitoring tool Vizie to select, archive and analyse public digital material documenting the candidates, parties, interest groups and election issues. Specifically, the SLNSW developed a new collection framework specifically to collect digital material for elections, identifying the query terms, digital presences and sites representing the candidates, parties, interest groups, and election issues. These included Twitter accounts and hashtags, Facebook pages, websites and blogs which were utilised by the Vizie tool to capture digital posts.
 
This paper details a new election-specific collection framework, including the process for identifying and collecting the material, as well as novel Vizie extensions implemented to provide ongoing feedback on the collection framework.  This contribution has the potential to benefit other institutions wishing to capture meaningful collections of social media posts around specific public events, such as elections. The paper will thus also include lessons learnt and thoughts for future election digital collections.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference paper explores  how recent changes to the higher education environment have prompted academic libraries to demonstrate evidence of their value and impact to stakeholders. To achieve this aim, visualising data is an effective way to deliver important messages about impact and value in a clear and persuasive way.
 
Library and Learning Services (LLS), Griffith University, plays a crucial role as a key centre for information, training, and services aimed at assisting client success and retention. Since Semester 1 2009, LLS has been collecting workshop and consultation data which details client engagement with LLS services. In addition, feedback forms from clients who had attended workshops and/or consultation services offered by LLS between March and September in 2014 were used to produce a range of visual representations to demonstrate the positive engagement of LLS with students.
 
There has been a positive response to LLS impact initiatives from high-level stakeholders, such as Heads of School and the Pro Vice Chancellor (Information Services), although visualised information has impacted mostly on the LLS and its team members. However, visualised information has more recently informed LLS operational planning and impact and reach advice for senior staff. Visual messages have influenced LLS team members’ practice, fuelling the redevelopment of some services and resources. Although there is little hard data to prove the actual extent of audience engagement with visual representations, the authors believe that academic library data has the potential to improve services and communication with stakeholders when it is presented in an easily understood format. While visualised information has engaged LLS in being aware, and working towards better services for clients, the next stage of the project is to find ways of measuring the degree of engagement with the actual visual products.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference paper charts the development of the scaffolded liaison librarian training program based on an annual Training Needs Analysis (TNA); evaluation and the new directions of the program.
 
Professional development is essential for academic librarians to smartly navigate through options, opportunities and challenges in their professional career (Bell, 2015). Commitment from senior university library administrators’ to champion staff development programs ensures that librarians are equipped to fully participate in a rapidly evolving information environment. Such a commitment signals the important leadership role that librarians can play in supporting academics with their research activities and in guiding students to become sophisticated users of information.
 
Deakin University Library is regarded by academics and senior university administrators as an essential service to deliver on the promise of “accessible, media-rich, interactive and active educational experiences designed for excellent learning outcomes and optimum employability” (Deakin University, 2012). In order to maintain such a leadership position, the Library Executive endorsed a professional development program for liaison librarians to build their capacity to work effectively and confidently with academics.
 
 

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper will discuss the strategies and approaches adopted over the past five years to engage and maintain relationships with the multiple critical stakeholders, and share the tangible outcomes achieved by developing the Research Data Management Services at UQ Library.
 
Research data form an integral part of a researchers’ scholarly outputs. Research data can be a valuable resource, which can often be repurposed and future research can build upon, but more importantly research data provide critical evidence for validating the results of research. In recognising the significance of research data, the government, funding bodies and the general public increasingly demand open data for sharing and re-use. Evidently, to be able to share and re-use, research data need to be well-managed and securely stored. With the skills and knowledge of information preservation and curation, and with their extremely flexible and responsive attitude, academic librarians can be instrumental in providing training and advice for managing, preserving, sharing and re-use of research data (Cox & Pinfield, 2014; Brown, Wolski & Richardson, 2015).
 
Because of their knowledge and skillset, academic librarians can potentially play a vital role in providing research data management services to researchers. However, for these services to be successful, it is imperative for the librarians to build and maintain relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels. The Research Data Management Team are supported by faculty librarians to provide infrastructure, advice, and training to UQ Research Higher Degree (RHD) students and researchers.
 

Crowd funding is an attractive opportunity – many people, each giving a little, resulting in a lot – but it’s a highly competitive arena and any request for funding has to have a clear, worthwhile objective and broadly based appeal.
 
These crowd funding principles have been drafted by the ALIA Board  of Directors and were confirmed at the ALIA Board meeting on 5 December, 2016.
 
The principles are intended to offer guidance and will be applied to crowd funding initiatives undertaken by any ALIA entity as an alternative to traditional fundraising and sponsorship.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 

[Peer reviewed] Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi (With your basket and my basket the people will flourish). This is a Māori whakatoki or proverb that is used in everyday life and refers to co-operation and the combination of resources to get ahead.

 
This conference paper will discuss the first International Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI) OCEANIA cohort which was established in 2014. INELI Oceania is based on the International Network of Library Innovators, an initiative of the Global Libraries project of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. INELI-Oceania provides emerging library leaders within the Oceania region - Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific nations - with opportunities to connect with each other to explore new ideas, to experiment with new services, and to learn from one another. As a place of online engagement INELI Oceania has developed a network of innovators who are actively engaged in online learning and reflective practice in a trusted and supportive environment. The network, which includes online learning modules on topics such as innovation, risk, change management and advocacy, is supported by a group of mentors and a project manager.
 
This paper will introduce the INELI Oceania network and its aims. The authors share their experiences of how the learnings gained in the network have been applied through case studies focused on the Advocacy module of the course. Advocacy in this context is defined as the actions that influence decision making and involves articulating the value of libraries, identifying key messages and creating the right connections to create positive outcomes for the library/industry.
 
In looking at the case studies, The authors discuss challenges in leading development of library services in environments of significant change, for example restructures or amalgamations.  They also look at the role of the library in influencing societal change through community consultation and collaboration, and will acknowledge the value of international and cross cultural perspectives in addressing current challenges and demands.
 
The paper will seek to spark interest and conversation about the skills and attributes required to collaborate and lead in the 21st century library. The speakers will  emphasise the value of a learning environment that promotes trust and honesty, builds resilience and self-awareness, and the absolute necessity of networks and support. 

Contents: Draft Standards for Australian health libraries; Hospital-based EBM training programme; ALIA restructure: a WA Section proposal; Treasurer's report to AGM 24th August 1999; Cochrane News.
Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.
 

Contents: 1st Newsletter, early December, not dated; does not contain Minutes; report of university medical librarians' resolution to form a national group with state branches; National Co-convenors of Australian Medical Librarians Group: Jacquelline Baillie, Anne Harrison; Victorian Co-convenors: Fay Baker, Enid Meldrum; subscription $1.00 to 30th June 1972; meetings to be held quarterly; future topics to be on interlibrary loans, cataloguing, subscription agencies; future projects to compile list of member libraries, lists of basic reference books and journals, airmail subscriptions.
Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

Contents: suggestion to form an honorary advisory panel to help librarians to establish new medical libraries; potential for a scholarship for training in medical librarianship; talk by Fay Baker on her trip to the Philippines as Medical Library Consultant with the World Health Organization.
Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

Contents: quotes for Medical Libraries' Directory; request to update draft list of recommended journals for small libraries; comments on the standards of medical journals; wages case of the Association of Hospital and Health Services Librarians; talk by L. Walsh on the regional organization of hospitals and hospital services in Victoria - commenced 1954, rearranged 1970, suggested ways for country library services.
Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

Contents: Co-convenors: Val Strantzen and Marion Rock; delay in printing the Medical Library Directory; list of journals recommended for the small medical library completed and available; book list proposed for next project; Consultative panel for small hospital libraries met at Austin: Anne Harrison, Jacqueline Baillie, Enid Meldrum, Marion Rock, Val Strantzen; guidelines prepared by Jacqueline Baillie are available "Notes on Plan of Instruction for Untrained Persons in Charge of Hospital Libraries"; submission to Commission of Enquiry into Hospital and Health Services in Victoria (by Anne Harrison, Secretary, Central Medical Library Organization, on behalf of the MLG) pointing out need for increased aid; talk by Fay Baker on her visit to Vietnam as Medical Library Consultant for the World Health Organization.
Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.