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ALIA HLA professional development day, held 18 July 2016 at Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Sydney. Featuring presentations:

• Captivating your audience: using eLearning software for the creation of learning objects.
• Trello? Can you hear me? Enabling enhanced communication for library staff through a cloud-based application.
• Chimps Dreaming: utilising free email and a web editor to customise eTOC delivery for time-poor clients.
• Hi! I need to find a photo: health libraries and hospital history.
• From Repository to TROVE.
• Putting patrons in the driving seat: implementing e-books at The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
• There’s a guide for that! Using LibGuides at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
• Anne Harrison Award.
• Launch – Health Libraries Australia Archive.
• HLA/Medical Director Health Informatics Innovation Award.
• ALIA PD Scheme Health Specialisation: presentation of certificates to Certified Professionals (Health).
• The tree of collaboration: getting to the roots of conducting a collaborative health research project.
• Common (and curly) questions about sharing health data.

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

[Peer reviewed] This paper engages with the issue, raised by Lonsdale in 2003, of a lack of data regarding national staffing trends in Australian school libraries. The authors review the literature available, including general census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, library sector-specific information, and data from the education sector (including school libraries). Particular focus is given to the Staff in Australian Schools survey, as well as its limitations.

The authors discuss three main findings from their research: 1) declining numbers of teachers in primary school libraries, 2) a growing inequity between numbers of staff in low-SES and high-SES school libraries, and 3) the prevalence of teachers with little or no tertiary qualifications in library studies working in school libraries. The authors also examine residual gaps in the data and provide the following recommendations: work to collect and share data across relevant sectors; partner with the library industry to commission and fund broader kinds of research; and connect research to national and local priorities such as those related to school students' performance. 

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA) policy describing information literacy in the context of an information literate school community.

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

[Peer reviewed] This paper analyses changes to the librarian role and outlines how the Discipline Librarian (DL) role has developed over the last two years at Griffith University, moving away from traditional librarian services and towards a more targeted approach that delivers newly created services supporting scholarly impact throughout the research lifecycle. A strategic change in the service model delivery and a review of research support services identified new services and skills sets that would be required by DL’s. An audit of existing research skills identifying potential skill gaps indicated most DL’s would require additional training and development. This paper also discusses the capability framework and maturity model used for skills development. The authors, employed as Discipline Librarians, surveyed their peers to discover individual perceptions around the newly defined role and also to identify challenges or perceived barriers in communicating the new role and services to their community. Survey findings are discussed.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which discusses incorporating an intern program into the recruitment process at University of New South Wales (UNSW).

As with other complex organisations, having the right mix of staff is always a challenge in libraries. In recruiting staff at UNSW Library we look for particular skills, knowledge and aptitude and we make our decisions based on candidates’ qualifications and relevant experience. If you are new to our profession without the required experience and/or the right qualifications then many doors to a fledgling library career will remain firmly shut. Conversely, library managers think about succession planning and want to encourage new people to the profession. Some managers also want staff to join the “revolving door” by creating opportunities to gain experience in all sorts of library work. So how can library managers open the doors and build revolving ones? One strategy that UNSW Library has used is to run a successful intern program. The program consists of employing four final year/just graduated librarians for twelve months to work in the Client Services Unit.

The paper describes the intern program in detail, including planning, costs, recruitment, training and outcomes. It also explains how implementing an intern program does not have to be complex or time consuming for your library and how its ongoing impact can be extremely beneficial for participants, the organisation and the library profession.

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA) statement to advocate for library and information resources, programs and services in schools.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the keynote address on the future of libraries.

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

This conference poster paper highlights the challenges, strategies and successful inititatives of a university library electronic publishing service.

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

This conference paper discusses how the NSW Parliamentary library went about building a learning organisation. The NSW Parliamentary Library is the oldest specialist library of its kind in Australia. The staff of the library are also specialists, who possess remarkable amounts of knowledge about parliamentary resources and history. Like many libraries today, a great deal of this knowledge is tacit, with vast amounts of corporate knowledge embedded in the memories of comparatively few individuals.

In the 2014/2015 Business Plan, in line with the strategic plan of the Department of Parliamentary Services, the Parliamentary Librarian set a goal-based activity to “Build a learning organisation”. A project team was formed, and an original plan for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building was implemented.   A basic PMBOK (project management body of knowledge) framework was adopted to clearly define the scope, objectives, approach, stakeholders, team composition and risks of the activity. Distinct process groups of Definition, Planning, Implementation and Review were employed and project management templates ensured the project was methodologically sound while still maintaining the ability to quickly achieve results and test the project’s effectiveness. Three surveys were employed to inform implementation and provide a measure of project impact. Qualitative feedback was gathered through regular team meetings, staff forums and informal interactions.   The first round of the project ran over 11 months, with an implementation phase of 7 months, and focussed on creating the foundations for a system of structured knowledge dissemination and management. 

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies the paper which examines the role of Australia in library and librarianship research undertaken by Chinese academics.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which discusses how the NSW Parliamentary library went about building a learning organisation. The NSW Parliamentary Library is the oldest specialist library of its kind in Australia. The staff of the library are also specialists, who possess remarkable amounts of knowledge about parliamentary resources and history. Like many libraries today, a great deal of this knowledge is tacit, with vast amounts of corporate knowledge embedded in the memories of comparatively few individuals.

In the 2014/2015 Business Plan, in line with the strategic plan of the Department of Parliamentary Services, the Parliamentary Librarian set a goal-based activity to “Build a learning organisation”. A project team was formed, and an original plan for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building was implemented. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, promising and even unexpected.

Ongoing financial, administrative, and technological changes present significant challenges and opportunities for government libraries in delivering services to their clients. Determining how government library and information services might best confront these challenges and take advantage of new opportunities is crucial for the future of the sector. The Australian Government Libraries Information Network (AGLIN) has commissioned a review of service delivery models in Commonwealth Government libraries. The goals of the Commonwealth Government Agency Libraries Review (CGALR) are to evaluate the libraries’ current service delivery models and to develop an options paper outlining some future models which might better serve needs of clients across government.

This literature review considers a range of current perspectives on library and information services,focusing on the specific issues and challenges facing contemporary government libraries and librarians. The review incorporates four key areas:

• Directions in government administration
• National and international trends in government library services
• Developments in contemporary special libraries
• Skills and competencies required by special librarians

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

This conference paper discusses an approach to managing copyright risk in libraries.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies the paper which puts forward the case for a new publishing model for an open access (OA) library and information science (LIS) journal that also encompasses cultural heritage, informatics, and the digital humanities.

Given planning time and support, public libraries can be a major asset to government departments promoting cybersafety initiatives and adopting a stronger digital presence.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies a paper which discusses an approach to managing copyright risk in libraries.

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

[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses incorporating an intern program into the recruitment process at University of New South Wales (UNSW).

As with other complex organisations, having the right mix of staff is always a challenge in libraries. In recruiting staff at UNSW Library we look for particular skills, knowledge and aptitude and we make our decisions based on candidates’ qualifications and relevant experience. If you are new to our profession without the required experience and/or the right qualifications then many doors to a fledgling library career will remain firmly shut. Conversely, library managers think about succession planning and want to encourage new people to the profession. Some managers also want staff to join the “revolving door” by creating opportunities to gain experience in all sorts of library work. So how can library managers open the doors and build revolving ones? One strategy that UNSW Library has used is to run a successful intern program. The program consists of employing four final year/just graduated librarians for twelve months to work in the Client Services Unit. To date nineteen graduates have participated in the program with all but one gaining permanent work in libraries, including at UNSW Library, either during the internship or immediately after. This is significant as the interns state that prior to this experience, they had never even made it to interview stage. As interns are treated as regular Client Services team members they are paid the same, do the same work and have the same training and professional development opportunities as everyone else. This arrangement is beneficial to both interns and the Library as the interns come to UNSW full of new ideas and enthusiasm, and are hungry to learn as much as they can, which in turn inspires our permanent team members. To date interns have contributed to activities as diverse as working at the Help Zones of the three campus libraries, developing the enquiry management system, participating in a university-wide client services project, user interface testing for web services, and assisting in the Document Services Unit.

This paper describes the intern program in detail, including planning, costs, recruitment, training and outcomes. It also explains how implementing an intern program does not have to be complex or time consuming for your library and how its ongoing impact can be extremely beneficial for participants, the organisation and the library profession.

Contents: Farewell photograph from 92/93 National Executive - Cheryl Hamill, Elizabeth Hides, Anne Batt, Brigitte Glockner; casemix; report from the 10th National Cataloguing Conference, Fremantle, 4-6 November 1993.

Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) highlights recent changes to copyright legislation and future prospects for libraries regarding fair use.

This document summarises how people who work in the library and information field want the government to engage with library and information services to enable Australians to be well-informed, literate and ready for future economic and technological challenges.

POLICY

1. A national framework for digital access to cultural collections

2. Improved access to data and scholarly information through the development and trial of open access models for government-funded research

3. Halt to government library closures and greater recognition of the role of library and information professionals in evidence-based decision-making

4. Greater recognition of the important part libraries can play in literacy and learning 

5. Quality library services for tertiary students enrolled in universities, TAFEs and private RTOs

6. Qualified library staff employed in every school library

LEGISLATION

7. Copyright law reform and the introduction of fair use

FUNDING

8. Further investment in digitisation and the Trove platform

9. Resourcing for public libraries to assist citizens through government’s digital transformation

10. Funding for library buildings as a vital element of Australia’s knowledge infrastructure.

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA) statement describing and promoting the role of teacher librarians in Australian schools.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) provides an overview of the strategy developed to improve the delivery of services and resources to university students in the digital environment.

ALIA Special Libraries Summit, 2 September 2016 Adelaide: a satellite event to the ALIA National Conference

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) invited leaders from special libraries in government, health, law, research and other fields to come together to discuss the issues affecting the sector, with the aim of developing the basis for a collaborative national action plan. This report summaries the outcomes of the summit.

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA) statement emphasising the importance of qualifications for a teacher librarian.

Superseded by: ALIA ACSL Statement on School Library Staffing (2025)

This is the final report of the 2012 Anne Harrison Award Project conducted between October 2014 - February 2015.

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

This conference paper discusses the Twilight Talks program of public lectures which aims to improve the delivery of consumer health information to the Darling Downs community in Queensland.

The TAFE Libraries National Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme is managed by the ALIA VET Libraries Advisory Committee. It allows students and staff of participating TAFE libraries to register and borrow materials in person from any other participating host TAFE library in any other state, in addition to their own library. The scheme is designed to assist students and staff who may be enrolled with or employed by a TAFE institution in one state but who find it more convenient to access TAFE library services in another state. The reciprocal borrowing arrangements between TAFE libraries within a state are not covered by this scheme.

An updated list of participating institutions can be found at Mapping of TAFE Libraries: Updated 2021.

There are 246 TAFE libraries in Australia, supporting VET students in every State and Territory. At the beginning of 2016, ALIA's Vocational Education and Training Libraries Advisory Committee (VLAC) sought feedback about how changes in structure and funding have affected TAFE libraries and the library and information professionals who run them.

TAFE libraries were asked to complete an online questionnaire with 32 questions relating to changes in collection format, staffing, funding, space and the size of population served. The survey ran from 1 to 25 February 2016.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which explores the place of Research Data Management (RDM) support services as an extension of the academic librarian's role. The presenters anticipate that RDM support will become increasingly important in an ever-more data-driven research environment, and share the experiences of three South Australian university libraries in providing RDM, including the skillsets developed and lessons learned. 

ALIA HLA professional development day, held 9 July 2015 at Queensland University of Technology. Featuring presentations addressing:

• Smart Searching: Search Filters and Expert Topic Searches.
• PubMed Train the Trainer.
• Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Health Librarians.
• Research Data Management for Health Services Librarians.