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ALIA Information Online 2015 Conference, 2-5 February 2015, Sydney: at the edge.
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) proposes that the new rules of engagement lie in shifting relationships with clients and stakeholders from an impersonal and hierarchical model to one that embraces collective creativity, playfulness and authentic communication. This paper discusses how we achieve this by making the invisible visible, re-envisioning physical spaces for imagination and play, using an authentic voice, forming strategic collaborative relationships and supporting library staff in taking on new roles. 

ALIA Information Online 2015 Conference, 2-5 February 2015, Sydney: at the edge.
 
Abstract:
 
Introduction:
 
Trove is an embedded part of the Australian information and culture landscapes. Described as indispensable, transformative and revolutionary, Trove has moved from experimental project to ongoing service with a rapidly growing content and user base. Independent and National Library of Australia research is yielding new insights into Trove’s role in generating new knowledge, fostering social inclusion, and in developing communities of interest.
 
However, our understanding of how Trove fits into the international cultural collections discovery service landscape is less developed. While Trove has undoubtedly led this field, it is by no means alone. In the last six years, comparable national or trans-national services have emerged including Europeana, DigitalNZ, and the Digital Public Library of America.
 
Methods:
 
None of these services are exact analogues of Trove, and this paper will draw out the similarities, differences and overlaps across a number of domains: mission; content; service; user engagement; governance; and supporting business models.
 
Based on the knowledge developed over five years of developing and maintaining Trove, a literature search and interviews with the leaders of Trove’s ‘sibling’ services, this paper will critically examine the service’s different partnership and business models, and consider the ways in which those individual differences reflect divergent policy and social contexts.
 
Results:
 
The paper will extend beyond this analysis to ask what social, economic and policy contexts – what community values – influenced the scope, shape and flavor of each of these services. What national and trans-national identities are being invoked or modified through these services?
 
What government, community or private mandates generated and facilitated their development? What conditions favoured or hindered development or may do so in the future?
 
Conclusions:
 
What are the likely future impacts of the business models underlying each service, with their varying levels of public and private funding? What do these similarities and differences mean in terms of shared directions for work across the portals? Will there be further convergence of purpose and approach? Is it possible that global topics of interest, such as climate change and the movement of peoples across the globe will stimulate cross-portal work?
 
Relevance:
 
This paper addresses a ‘big discovery issue’, by exploring the ways in which the framing of discovery ‘problems’ and ‘solutions’ is heavily influenced by local social, policy, political, cultural and professional factors. Discovery services are like any other cultural assemblage – inevitably shaped by the environments in which they arise. Understanding these differences is essential as the profession moves beyond national to transnational data sharing relationships.

ALIA Information Online 2015 Conference, 2-5 February 2015, Sydney: at the edge.
 
Abstract:
 
Library staff are engaging with clients, delivering services in social media channels and representing your library brand online. How effectively is your team managing legal and reputation risks, community engagement, strategy, coordination and resourcing risks? This presentation is a guided tour through recognising and managing the online engagement risks they will encounter along the way. Tools featured include: Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons and the lessons learned at State Library of NSW.
 
Together we will explore the risks and control options available and the strategies in place across the four different focus areas that the State Library uses social media to deliver on organisational objectives:
 
1. Developing markets (audiences) and promoting Library events, exhibitions, products, collections and services
2. Promoting discovery of library assets (including collections, services, events, exhibitions, online services, physical spaces and staff expertise)
3. Engaging with clients and the community in their preferred channels and online communities (conversation and service delivery)
4. Collecting social media content for the collection (including social meta data and community created content)
 
The responsibility for creating social media content and engaging with communities and clients through these channels involves a range of different library roles and stakeholders. Navigating digital engagement as an avenue of service delivery is a key skill for library professionals.

ALIA Information Online 2015 Conference, 2-5 February 2015, Sydney: at the edge
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines how the ILN used freely available technology to establish and grow, and what was achieved from this base. The paper explores the steps the ILN took to identify planning and development strategies for small organisations and projects that need to ‘do more with less’.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
Abstract:
 
It can be invaluable for library staff at all levels to visit other libraries and gain first-hand knowledge of a service concept in action, or to experience a new or redesigned library space in person. Over the past 18 months, Justine Hyde (State Library Victoria, Melbourne, Australia) and Stephanie Chase (Hillsboro Public Library, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA) traveled together and separately to visit libraries in Australia, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Canada, and the United States to investigate what libraries at the cutting edge are offering and implementing.
 
Through these visits, as well as opportunities to meet with library staff and key leadership, it quickly became clear that libraries around the globe are grappling with similar issues, and are looking toward the implementation of similar trends to respond to these issues. Time and time again, the work of these innovative libraries was focused on the same six areas. Those areas are:

• Emphasis on reading
• Spaces for doing and learning
• Responsive, multi-use spaces
• Co-located services
• Shift to self-service
• Urban regeneration.

 
Through the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, implementation suggestions, and a significant number of images of the concepts in place in spaces, libraries around the world can take advantage of the innovations of our colleagues.

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) discusses copyright reform in Australia and recommended reform regarding fair use.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) discusses the use of ethnography to survey user experience.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This poster presentation discusses the use of open access at University of Queensland.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) discusses the case study of data mining in Vogue magazine archives.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
Abstract:
 
Introduction and Context:
 
The University of Sydney Library launched the inaugural ThinkSpace in early 2016. By attending this presentation you will be taken on a journey from dead space to ThinkSpace, outlining the strategic thinking, challenges and successes in prototyping this new concept.
 
The Challenge:
 
The University of Sydney Library inherited an area above one of our main libraries that came with issues such as size and the location. We have been able to turn these challenges into an opportunity to maximise the utilisation of the space so that it aligns with the strategic objectives of both the Library and University in helping to future proof the Library in a fun and exciting way.
 
The Solution:
 
In line with current thinking on future academic library trends we knew that makerspaces were on the short term horizon as an emerging trend (Johnson, Adams Becker, Estrada, & Freeman, 2015). After reviewing existing makerspaces in public libraries we decided to establish a slightly different model that provided more opportunity to experiment and collaborate with the ultimate goal of driving innovation.
 
The library had also spent some time rethinking our strategy in order to better position ourselves to contribute to University-wide institutional goals (University of Sydney, 2016) and to our profession as a whole. Two of the main pillars of the Library’s strategic plan are to “Provide a thinkspace” and “Facilitate collaboration & creation” (University of Sydney Library, 2016). We decided to create a hybrid makerspace that combined these two objectives and “ThinkSpace” was born.
 
The Concept: ThinkSpace;
 
1. Introduces people to new and existing technologies and ideas they may not have experimented with before in order to support innovation,
2. Facilitates collaborative opportunities between disciplines,
3. Acts as a showcase for experimental design.
 
The space has a 3D printer, 3D scanner, high end Mac computers equipped with Adobe Design Suite and drawing pads, a BB8 programmable droid, Google cardboard VR viewer and a Carvey tabletop 3D carving machine. In development is a small one button recording studio.
 
Results:
 
ThinkSpace is a new and growing initiative aimed at inspiring and encouraging creativity. The space is still growing but already we have garnered the interest of many students, student clubs and academics alike. Students are excited about the space and using play and experimentation as a way to learn and share knowledge.
 
We’ll share insights from attendance at workshops as well as some of the fabulous things we’ve created along the way.
 
The Library has taken an unloved, underutilised space and turned it into a vibrant ThinkSpace to help future-proof the library in a fun, creative and collaborative way, so come along and be inspired!

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference workshop (PowerPoint slides) critiques the recent planning practices in information organizations, such as libraries, outlines methods for integrating strategic thinking and action into the daily work, argues the important role of budgets, staffing and organization in creating a strategic culture, and advances the value of applying strategic thinking and action to individual career and professional advancement.

Article from INCITE November/December 2022 Volume 43 Issue 1.
 
Discussion of statewide marketing campaign in Victoria, "Return yourself to the library", designed over late 2021 to increase visitor numbers following COVID-19 lockdowns.
 
 
 

Miss Anne Harrison (1923-1992) was librarian-in-charge of the Brownless Medical Library at the University of Melbourne (1949-1983), and founder of the Central Medical Library Organization (1953-1994). She helped pioneer the introduction of Medline into Australia, and was a founder of the Australian Medical Librarians Group in the early 1970s, and later of the LAA Medical Librarians Section (now ALIA Health Libraries Australia). 
 
The Anne Harrison Award was established to commemorate her work, and to encourage others to make their own contribution to the development of health librarianship.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) responds to the Exposure Draft Copyright Amendment (Access Reform) Bill 2021, proposed by the Australian Federal Government.
 
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the Government’s proposed modernization of Australian copyright legislation for libraries and archives. The proposed changes will increase the Australian community’s access to our cultural collections, support creators, researchers, students and policy makers in their endeavors, and reduce redundant administrative processes for library staff.