Advanced Search

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger

This conference presentation discusses a pilot program which was run between August 2012 and February 2013 by Open UniversitiesAustralia (OUA) and four public libraries in regional areas of NSW. These libraries were promoted to OUA students (all studying online) as places where they could access high speed internet, modern computers, journal databases, inter-library loans, as well as encouragement and support from library staff.

The feedback from students who attended was so positive that OUA decided to expand the program with the help of interested public libraries, creating the OUA Connect Library Program.  With the support of the State Libraries of NSW and Victoria, and the Queensland Public Libraries Association (QPLA) the program has been promoted within these three states at national forums.

National 2014 Conference paper.
This conference paper explores how public library social media provides a trustworthy community forum. It can be used not only to inform audiences of library activities and services, but also provide libraries with tools to embed themselves further within their region and deepen their understanding of local needs. It can offer another place to harvest, disseminate and archive locally significant information and stories thus contributing to positive experiences and participation in community life.
Drawing from the use of social media in an emergency setting, this paper explores how social media tools can help libraries support their communities whether in a crisis or not.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger

This conference paper describes a project which was implemented as the result of students increasing expections that all the information they need for their assessment tasks can be found easily using commonly available search engines such as Google or Bing, and that library resources should be as easy to access as freely available sources such as Wikipedia. Convenience is a criterion which is used by students to decide if they will use a particular information source, so it is important for libraries to make their scholarly resources as easy to access as possible.

By providing a simple link from Wikipedia articles to library resources, this project has helped to place library resources within the research workflow of students, and satisfied their expectation of simple access to information resources. It has also allowed them to explore a greater diversity of published resources.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference paper describes The University of Queensland (UQ) Library’s journey towards systematically measuring and communicating its value to its parent body. Work began with the re-establishment of the Library Quality and Assessment Advisory Group (QuAAG) early in 2013.
QuAAG referenced business logic theory, including the Strategic Communication Loop of sensemaking, choosing, doing and revision. For sensemaking, QuAAG initiated a project that first audited and assessed the usefulness of statistics gathered by Library staff. It sorted these into essentials for informing internal management (on the volume and quality of activity), figures required for external reporting (e.g. to CAUL), and data demonstrating value delivered as a benefit to the receiver.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger

This conference paper discusses how as librarians, most of us have indirectly contributed to a research project – this is often by performing a literature review or advising on citation management.  We might have a long-term link with particular members of a research team who seek ongoing assistance during the life of the project, up to preparing their work for publication. However a research team comprising busy academics and clinicians requires many talents to conduct the investigation of a specific hypothesis.

Much of the “production” work is delegated to the project research assistants (RAs). This may include literature searching and synthesis, developing surveys or other data collection materials, recruiting subjects, compiling data and contributing to reports on the findings.

How much overlap is there between health librarian competencies and the functions of the RA in a research team?  This paper examines the roles and duties of the research assistant in the “typical” university-based research team. It then compares these with the eight professional competencies identified for health librarians in recent Australian studies. The similarities and gaps between the two are discussed.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
the first part of this conference presentation focuses on the broader national education agenda and industry engagement. Across Australia and internationally, universities are collaborating with business and industry to ensure their graduates develop the knowledge, skills and qualities that are relevant to the workplace. In this context, 
The second part focuses specifically on the University of South Australia’s industry partnership with the State Library of South Australia in delivering the the Library and Information Management and Archives and Records Management (LIM/ARM) Program. This partnership provides an opportunity for the students to learn from university lecturers as well as from active practitioners who are at the forefront of practical application.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation exploring the implementation of the eSmart Libraries program is integral to the conference theme of ‘Public Libraries Supporting Communities’, as it will not only showcase innovations in community engagement and education, but it will provide participants with an explanation of how the framework itself is practical, well supported and evidence-based.
Also, eSmart Libraries program itself has an online community that draws together best practice in digital citizenship and provides professional discourse on matters of how to best engage staff and users in sustaining the smart, safe and responsible use of digital technologies.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation reviews the role faculty librarians in the Health Sciences Team have played in responding to this new agenda, with participation in workshops, planning consultations with researchers, whilst simultaneously aligning and redeveloping services to meet this emerging need. 
The services include research consultations; researcher training (includes literature searching, bibliometrics, social media and more) the new customised search service (provides customised literature searching to support grant proposals and funded projects), and the research impact advisory service.
Another important aspect that has impacted on service provision has been the interdisciplinary nature of the University’s research agenda.  Faculty librarians are required to work across all disciplines in collaboration within Learning and Research Services in the Library and with researchers in the Faculties.  Within each Research Focus Area, there are multiple rounds of funding allocated and the customised search service has been heavily utilized.  This presentation reviews how librarians from the Health Team have become involved in quite complex negotiations with researchers as they scope out the requirements of each request, work within the team to ensure timely delivery of often quite multifaceted search requests.  Evaluation of this response to La Trobe University’s research agenda will be reviewed and results analysed to ensure continuing sustainability and excellence in practice.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation discusses a training needs analysis conducted by the State Library of Queensland (State Library)  for Public Libraries of Queensland in 2013-2014.  This presentation explores the findings of the training needs analysis and the development of the Vision 2017 Learning Strategy for public libraries’ staff in Queensland.  The Next Horizon Vision 2017 for Queensland public libraries is a collaborative vision with State Library, Queensland Public Library Association (QPLA) and Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).
Four key themes are outlined in Vision 2017: Creative Community spaces, Connectors – physical and virtual, Technology trendsetters, incubators of ideas, learning and innovation.
For Queensland public libraries to deliver on this vision we explored the skills sets, management and leadership competencies required with key stakeholders across local government, library industry education sector, public library staff, ALIA, and QPLA. Key barriers to library staff becoming confident learners were found to be a culture of permission required to learn, a risk averse culture within local government, and that library staff in Queensland are disengaged from the debate about the profession.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation looks at how the growth of the evidence based practice movement has demanded a response from health librarians at Curtin University Library. This paper outlines how a collaborative approach to building librarians’ skills from shaky beginnings to firm foundations has facilitated a level of Faculty research support that is recognized, utilized and appreciated.
Working collaboratively within our own team, with the Faculty and with other health librarians has been highly effective in our growth to date and we are keen to seek out further opportunities for engagement as we continue on this exciting journey. 

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation discusses the IFLA Trend Report which is research by IFLA used as a foundation for advocacy and policy, and for use by our members which looks across society and access to the digital information environment to identify high level trends which will affect our future information environment and brings together the ideas of a range of experts from different disciplines (social scientists, economists, education specialists, lawyers and technologists).

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation explores how the role of libraries have long been custodians of ‘more than just books’.  For NSLA libraries, the personal stories collected in our diaries, correspondence, photographs, artworks and realia are some of our most precious items.  The rapid increase in digitally-created material has posed many problems, but also offered many opportunities, for libraries. 
The traditional linear structure of item-donor-library is now a more complex structure, where everyone is a potential creator and curator.  In recent years, libraries have been grappling to find the best and most efficient way of acquiring and preserving these new materials, from these new creators.  Serena Coates will give a summary of the recent efforts by NSLA (National and State Libraries Australasia) to address the issues associated with digital collecting, and Sarah Slade will provide a summary of the efforts of NSLA’s Digital Preservation Project.

ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation discusses the purpose of a Deakin University project which was to examine the copyright and licensing knowledge gap of academic staff to identify their current understanding of, and attitudes towards, copyright, licensing and the open access movement in relation to the content they use, create, and share in their teaching and research practice.
The motivation behind this study was to gather information to assist the Library in creating and providing effective information resources and training for academic staff.
Results were largely consistent with other similar studies conducted around these topics.  There is a clear role for librarians to continue providing such training and resources as the push for Open Access resources, publishing, and data only gains momentum.

The purpose of this report is to assist library and information professionals to present the business case for health libraries within their organisation. By doing so, we hope health libraries will be able to maintain their excellent service to medical practitioners; a service which impacts directly on positive health outcomes for patients.