Library technicians of the Year 2005

Kevin Dudeney has been awarded the 2005 ALIA Library Technician of the Year Award.

This award promotes the role of library technicians in library and information science, and the role and image of the library technician.

Administered by the ALIA National Library Technicians Group and sponsored by the School of Computer and Information Science at Edith Cowan University, nominees for the award must be a personal member of a library technician group and hold a library technician qualification that is recognised by ALIA.

Kevin's contribution to the advancement of library technicians has been outstanding. Working previously as a book retailer, Kevin began his career in librarianship working as an assistant library technician with the NSW Department of Corrective Services, before moving into his current role of library technician at the NSW Department of Corrective Services.

In awarding Kevin the 2005 Library Technician of the Year, the panel noted Kevin's excellent initiative and negotiation skills in the workplace, his consistently cheerful and positive outlook and his strong personal skills and ability to maintain excellent relationships with Education officers in corrective service libraries throughout NSW.

Kevin has been actively involved in a number of professional activities and committees over the years. These include holding the position of ALIA director from 2001-2005; convenor of the ALIA NSW Library Technicians Group from 1999-2005; being a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions; teaching part-time at TAFE NSW in Library and Information Studies, being a member of the Parramatta City Council, Library Advisory Committee from 1991-1999 and most recently he has held the position of treasurer and trade representative for neXt2005: ALIA National Library and Information Conference.

His contribution to maintaining practical links between the state library technician groups within ALIA has been invaluable. Kevin's work in organising the River of opportunities series of regional NSW workshops helped to provide a very successful forum for library workers to access practical professional development activities in country areas.

Kevin is a consistent advocate for library workers in Australia and for the Australian Library and Information Association and a worthy recipient of the 2005 ALIA Library Technician of the Year Award.

Congratulations Kevin.