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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

This conference presentation 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 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 presentation discuuses the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) which is Australia's independent national regulator of the higher education sector.

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 presentation 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 presentation explores how social media tools can help libraries support their communities whether in a crisis or not.

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 presentation examines an investigation of citation management practices of researchers in the Arts Faculty of a Victorian university using a questionnaire and open-ended interviewing.

Early findings indicate that there is little uniformity of practices or software use but rather a diverse range of personal approaches to managing citations. Reasons for using or not using software and the ways in which software is used are varied. Citation management practices appear to be influenced significantly by the type of work being done and/or the subject area and to be part of larger disciplinary practices and approaches to research. Not all researchers were entirely satisfied with their citation management systems but were reluctant to move from one system to another as it would be time-consuming. Additionally, many researchers were unaware of the full capability of citation management software.

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

The aim of this conference presentation is to examine the differences in information literacy (IL) practices for VET students from TAFE libraries across Vocational only and Vocational and Higher Education delivering, TAFE institutes.

It will examine the content, delivery methods and barriers of IL practices across these two types of TAFE institution with a view to identify the likely differences facing IL programs in different types of TAFE library, and to provide suggestions on how best to tailor the IL practices to suit the particular student and teacher cohort.

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

This conference presentation seeks to spark discussion, raise awareness and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the use of social networking for professional learning, the formation and fostering of professional learning networks and the future of the profession.

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

This conference presentation discusses how the National Library of Australia and its participant agencies built the largest collection of online Australian election material to date in 2013. The election was notable in a number of ways, the new platforms being used to disseminate a political message, the amount of material that was produced and how much of this we could and could not collect.

Candidates and political parties have also embraced the online world and used it increasingly used as a means of spreading their campaign message. This election Pandora collected more than it has in any previous election, but content was missed. This was for a variety of reasons, lack of permissions, technical limitations and constrained resources. But what was collected will form the basis upon which future researchers can look back at what drove the election campaign online.

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 describes the work of the Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) which has historically provided an information service, including a traditional library service, to internal and external clients, but shifting environmental factors within the library and broader information provision fields stimulated the service to look beyond its traditional functions to define its place within a new paradigm.

This case study demonstrates the way the Australian Drug Foundation library changed its model of service and redefined itself within a broader information unit, diversified operations and promoting increased collaboration between library staff, internal clients and external stakeholders.

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

ALIA National Conference provides the platform as a meeting point for all Library and Information professionals, from all sectors and all areas of Australia and the international community. 

This report, commissioned by the Australian Digital Alliance, discusses the Australian Government proposed amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 which seek to broaden the circumstances in which an organisation or individual may be liable for someone else’s copyright infringement. Although the Government’s proposed amendment appears to be squarely aimed at ISPs, the amendments would apply with equal force to any other person who provides goods or services which may be put to infringing use. This includes all organisations which provide internet access to the public (including government bodies, libraries, schools and universities), online platforms which enable users to upload and display images and videos (such as eBay, Facebook and YouTube), providers of remote or ‘cloud’ storage (including commercial businesses like Dropbox, Microsoft and Google, as well as schools and universities), organisations which loan out or make available copyrighted content (libraries and video stores) and businesses which make and sell everyday consumer technologies like CDs, CD/DVD burners, USB keys, hard drives, digital video recorders and photocopiers.

The report sets out the existing law in its historical and global contexts, and, on the basis of extensive consultations with representatives from universities, schools, libraries and the technology sector, explores the legal and practical implications of the proposed changes for Australian intermediaries. It finds that:

• the proposed expansion of liability would potentially have significant deleterious effects for Australian institutions;
• the existing Australian law is already as broad as or broader than those of its counterparts overseas (and fully compliant with its international obligations);
• the proposal would use a ‘one size’ fits all approach contrary to a century of authority emphasising the necessity of determining liability with reference to all of the facts of each case;
• it would give copyright owners considerably broader rights against Australian individuals and institutions than those suffering economic loss because of torts committed in other contexts (without any justification of why they should receive such special treatment);
• the proposed amendments would likely result in persistent rightholder lobbying for new regulations that go further and do more, perpetuating uncertainty about the scope of intermediaries’ obligations and liability;
• it would oblige greater reliance on ‘safe harbours’, driving increased account terminations;
• the increased costs and uncertainty would make Australia less competitive and a less attractive place for investment; and
• there has been no clear analysis about the benefits likely to be obtained in exchange for these costs.

Australian Library and Information Association is responding to the Early Childhood Learning element of the Productivity Commission Issues Paper, with the aim of: securing explicit acknowledgement of the role of Australian public libraries in early childhood development in the final report to Government (31 October 2014), and encouraging discussion to identify further opportunities for the national network of 1500 public libraries to be used by federal, state and local government to support early childhood learning provision.

The Australian Library and Information Association's submission in response to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Higher Education Standards Panel call for comment.

In 2013, ALIA set out to investigate the big questions about our future: how will libraries remain relevant for users?; what changes will institutions and individuals in the sector experience?; will ‘library and information professional’ continue to be a necessary and desirable occupation? Challenging, insightful, inspiring responses to our request for feedback at events held all around Australia was received. As a result, ALIA has been able to identify themes and develop actions that will support positive outcomes. The findings from the project have been produced as seven reports.

Ten themes emerged from our consultation relating specifically to special libraries, including government, law, health, corporate, engineering, science, art and others. 1. Radical transformation. 2. Value proposition. 3. DIY information. 4. Ready to use. 5. A seat at the top table. 6. Centralise and embed. 7. Big data. 8. Digitisation. 9. Subject specialisation. 10. Space.

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

This conference presentation explains how driven by a need to reduce its operating budget, the State Library of New South Wales embarked on a Review Program to capitalise on its investment in technology, and position itself to tackle future needs and challenges – particularly in the digital environment.

Rather than 'tweaking' the current structure, the collection management function [CMF] review provided an opportunity to consider the management of our collections from a life cycle approach and align our branch structure to that cycle. It has considered the skills and knowledge required to undertake key activities, and reimagined that capability into a new structure supported by new governance and revised policies and procedures.

In reality, the CMF has achieved transformational change in how we manage our collections and represents the most significant realignment of staff ever undertaken within the SLNSW. The new structure has 23 roles: no role remains the same. And, this review has been undertaken in the context of an organisation undergoing broad change and implementing new enterprise systems.

This presentation outlines how one major Australian research library has responded to the challenges encountered by the sector. It will explain the review process undertaken to achieve the new structure, the outcomes and the way forward.

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.

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

This conference paper discusses how the purpose of a Deakin University project 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.

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 confernce paper 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 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.

There were ten themes that emerged, specific to libraries in Australia’s 39 universities. 1. Switched to digital. 2. Libraries, MOOCs and online learning. 3. Operating in the global market. 4. The best online experience. 5. Maintaining visibility in an online environment. 6. Subject matter experts. 7. Making space. 8. Patron driven acquisition. 9. Supporting research. 10. Libraries as publishers.

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

This conference presentation discusses how most futurists will tell you that it is important to look at the trends, and develop various scenarios to assist in determining your future directions. However spotting trends may be more difficult than you first think, trends come and go and which ones will stick and have an influence on your everyday.

Take the humble ebook, first introduced in the late 90s but soon disappeared only to now make a significant impact on readers, authors, libraries and publishers some 20 years later. This illustrates that trends may take some time before they become embedded into our everyday.

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 discusses how NSLA (National and State Libraries of Australasia) has identified digital preservation as a priority. Over the last 2 years, the NSLA Digital Preservation Group has responded to this by undertaking a series of related projects.

These include identifying ways to measure our existing digital preservation capability, developing partnerships and opportunities for collaboration to develop skills and knowledge in the area, and looking into the abyss at difficult digital preservation problems and seeing what research we can undertake to help solve one of them.

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.