ALIA Board Blog

A good team at work is worth more than a top salary.  At our ALIA National Office staff meeting yesterday, looking around at the group, I noticed what diversity we currently have, just like the organisation that we work for.  ALIA National Office really does have a good mix of ages, gender, nationalities, talents and skills. And I couldn’t do my job without all of them.  I often say in this job “I have one of everything” in terms of staff - from a COO to IT guys, Finance, Membership, desktop publishing, librarians in other roles, a copyright expert and a great receptionist (to take that $1M dollar phone call) and State Managers around the country make up just some of the staff.  While we all have a particular skill set and role, we also ‘do everything’ at ALIA - from answering the main phone line to washing the teatowels (we have a nice red kitchen to match the corporate colour).

A good team means that the boss can take a day or a week away (like next week for #ALIAioc), and know that things just keep on going smoothly.  I know that sometimes my staff like the time when I am not there at the Office - for some catching up time :-) .

For some library leaders, a day away from the office is just what you need.  You may not completely escape some of the phone calls and other things that must be done that day due to deadlines, but it is a treat to be slightly away from the Office.  As the time moves into the weekend, for me it’s also more reading and writing time - when the email starts to quieten down.  Looking through other Library Day in the Life posts was one example for today.

It’s Friday, and although I have had a couple of days out of the Office this week, the work flows continuously (sometimes relentlessly) wherever I am.  My Aurora Leadership Institute  mentors and alumni are often good in keeping me grounded, by offering advice on keeping going, getting perspective, and aiming to switch off sometimes (but then sometimes you just can’t).

I love my Netbook and a couple of other PC’s and access points at home to keep a watch on emails, news and bits of e-information throughout the out-of-office days, or when travelling.  Having a wonderful PA/Exec Support Officer also helps with email and diary management in a position like this.  Don’t ever underestimate the value of speaking to someone’s Assistant as the first point of contact, for a chat, to get an idea of diary times etc, or wrangling a meeting that you would like to make.  Today I had a call arranged with book company CEO, that didn’t work out due to other things overtaking him.  Our diaries have not quite aligned yet, but glad for the patience of his PA to try to get us a time to talk.

It is also my daughters birthday today.  One year I started a new job on her birthday, and ever since, have been aiming to ensure that I am at least at home with her that day to celebrate with friends, family and cake.  The Canberra Summer weather continues, so we were able to enjoy some time at the local waterslide park.  Family reminds you of your other life, to bring you back to earth, for the support you may need on difficult days,  and to always have good Librarian Shusshing Jokes aplenty.

Sue Hutley, ALIA Executive Director  

It’s Australia Day today, a typical hot summer Canberra day (37 degrees), a public holiday and a chance to catch up on a few things.

Also a day to be proud of library leaders and supporters for the latest Australia Day Awards.  ALIA works with the Dept of PM&C to encourage more library staff to nominate their peers and leaders for Australian Honours (they even exhibited at our 2008 ALIA Conference to chat to people about how to nominate someone).      At any one time I usually have one or two Honours nomination letters awaiting responses, as we are often asked to provide comments on contributions to the library profession.  It is also the case that you may submit a reference and months or a year or so later (it is a lengthy and stringent process) you will see their names announced on the lists.  This year we say a special congratulations to ALIA members Spencer Routh and Ron Store, other librarians Aladin Rahemtula and David Clune as well as James Sourris, supporter of the State Library of Queensland.   There is also this great story from the National Library of Australia today about volunteers assisting digitisation.  Our ALIA Twitter, Facebook and e-Lists communicates the good news (yes, very much part of my job now too).

Librarian searching skills are still so important in my job - for news and media stories, finding people, gathering information, industry intelligence, collating facts, articles and contacts.  I continue to use these skills to my advantage all the time.

It’s Back-to-School in the ACT in two weeks time, so I spent some time using my past library skills in covering school books today with my daughter :-) The public holiday also gives me time for some reading, writing and music and app downloads (more on that in another #libday6 post).

Unfortunately part of my job is hearing the sad news of the death of members and library friends.  There seems to be a few lately, with more news coming in today via LinkedIn and email.  We make contact with families, ensure membership details are amended and if appropriate, ask people to write obituaries.  All part of the cycle of life with 6000 ALIA members.  Our ALIA Retirees Group also does a great job of keeping up with who is where, including their blog.

Tonight finished with a cold Australian Sparkling Shiraz (because it’s so hot), lamb and pavlova  - all typical Aussie food :-)   Happy Australia Day all! 

Sue Hutley, ALIA Executive Director  sue.hutley@alia.org.au   LibraryDayintheLife

If I asked you what was the first day of the week would you reply Sunday or Monday? The reason for my question lies in this week’s ‘big’ project, my involvement in A Day in the Life of a Library Worker. The commencement day for this week long expose of what I get up to as President of ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) is Monday, which I guess is fair enough as it’s the beginning of the working week. 

Call me old fashioned but I have always thought of Sunday as the 1st day of the week and it was only just before Christmas when in my ‘real’ job I was working with our graphic designers on a calendar to celebrate 150 years of local government here in Orange, NSW, Australia that the concept that it could be otherwise hit home. Opinion is mixed with Wikipedia recording it can be either depending on religion or location. As a chronic procrastinator I like this answer as  it gives me 2 days which I can describe as ‘the start of the week’ when avoiding deadlines.

So what deadlines do I have this week (and more truthfully, what am I procrastinating about)? The lovely Kate, editor of ALIA’s monthly magazine inCite is on my case about my introduction for the 2009 Annual Report with my Frontline column for the March edition not far behind. That girl can nag in the nicest possible way :-)!

The latter is easy peasy as the theme for the March edition if inCite is reading, something I’m passionate about from a professional and personal point of view. ALIA is excited to be working with our partners towards a National Year of Reading in 2012, something we’ve wanted to do for some time. We’ll be announcing details soon. As for the Annual Report that should be a piece of cake but all the great things we did last year far outnumber the  word limit I’ve been allocated (I admit it, I’m hopeless at Twitter!). 

One of the challenges of being the head of any professional association is the juggling act of ‘real’ vs ‘honorary’ job. In the real (read paid) job my estimates for the 2010/2011 financial year are due. In the changing environment in which we work looking ahead for even 12 months can be a challenge with emerging technologies and new products jostling for attention. There’s also the chance of golden opportunities which need to be embraced when they arise. This requires a flexible approach and an informed and skilled workforce - attributes which can be developed through engagement with initiatives such as ALIA’s PD scheme. Which reminds me (and you) to include ALIA membership as a ‘must’ in the budget.

I can put it off no longer, the dreaded Excel spreadsheet calls!  Cheers.

Jan

Jan Richards, ALIA President.

librarydayinthelife

Congratulations to our Sydney colleagues on a fabulous story in  the November issue of The (Sydney) magazine (pp48-52),  issued with today’s Sydney Morning Herald. The title is: “Shhh! Read all about it” with the subheading: “Don’t believe everything you read about libraries being close to extinction”. Writer Barry Divola profiles 5 individuals who represent  today’s libraries:

Kiersten Fisburn, Manager of Culture and Libraries for City of Sydney talks us through that  hip  temple of books that is the new Surry Hills Library and Community Centre (one of my current favourites). Kiersten says “Libraries should be more than just about books on shelves … they should serve their local area, make people feel welcome and be a place where you can borrow an armful of books and feel as if you’ve had a shopping experience without spending a cent”.

ABC radio and television journalist, Steve Cannane, paints a picture of undertaking research in the iconic Mitchell Library at the State Library of NSW. Naturally he talks about the treasures of this great institution but he also talks about the inclusiveness of its clientele; “so many people around you are working, from high school students to people doing their family histories, to other writers and journalists”.

Kat Mayo, an IT consultant confesses that her romance reading habit initially drew her to Ultimo Library “I knew I was spending too much”! Visits to the Library have since become family affairs with Kat ensuring that her children and husband have their own library cards so that her borrowing quota isn’t taken up by their interests. Way to go.

“In my last year of school I thought ‘I buy books, I read books, I love books. I’ll become a Librarian. It was that simple”. Those are the words of Alan Tasker, Field Librarian at the State Library of NSW. It’s Alan’s job to source and assess the archives, records and collections of people who wish to donate to the library or as Alan says “they pay me to visit people”. Seems to me we need to get Alan out to Careers expos.

The final vignette is of Richard Barclay, Manly Library’s Mobile Librarian. While most mobile’s are prime movers Richard drives a golf cart and operates the  Manly Library Afloat services which offers loans to commuters making the journey from Manly to the Sydney CBD. The service operates from 7.15am to 9.15am Monday to Friday and last year he issued 3,000 books with the number steadily increasing. Richard remarks in Summer every second person tells him he has the best job in the world (and I think I might agree) but more tellingly people also say “just seeing you here every morning reminds me that I need to read more”.

If you can get hold of it do “read all about it”. I was given a tip off that it was going to be in today’s Magazine last night by a Sydney colleague during the National Advisory Congress teleconference and as the publication dosen’t make it to newsagents in Orange I had to bribe a friend in transit through Sydney to bring it home today on the “first available flight”.  Obviously she appreciates the value of libraries and arrived just after 2pm proffering the requested glossy.

Cheers

 Jan

Jan Richards

ALIA President

The ALIA Board and National Office have received many and varied emails and enquiries regarding the Victorian Bushfire disaster, which continued throughout last week as more communities experienced fires.  Again, our thoughts of support and condolence are with all of our Victorian colleagues, their families and those all around the country affected by these tragic events.

We know that ALIA members and library staff around the country have shown their support - by donating to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal Fund.  We know how generous ‘library people’ are, and at this time, it will be no exception.  We have on an individual level - contributed cash, are giving blood, donated goods that have made their way in containers, and our volunteer time already.  Much more will be needed though over the coming months.  I am sure that most libraries are already organising fundraising morning teas and other events.

It was great to see the librarian and the library mentioned in the 7.30 Report on 12/2/08, and don’t forget to add the Widget where you can.

One week on, I have put together below a very brief synopsis of some of the known library-related initiatives starting to occur :- 

Public Libraries Network Victoria (VicLink) will be a main contact for future support requirements and will be a part of co-ordinating specific donations etc. (see John Murrell and Christine Mackenzie’s email)

ALIA’s Victorian Local Liaison Officer, Margie Anderson (as the local contact) and President Derek Whitehead will be in touch with key Victorian stakeholders and supporters to arrange more collaborative efforts, and to determine most urgent needs, over the coming weeks.  Keep up-to-date via the  aliaVIC e-list as well as this blog.

A number of publishers, the Australian Publishers Association and vendors have been in contact with me and more news on supporting donations of new books is currently being arranged and these details will be announced soon.

ALIA is one of the pilar bodies of Blue Shield Australia.  Working with other pillar body volunteers, information through the AICCM is available on salvaging and preservation of damaged cultural and other family heirlooms and personal items.  Blue Shield pillar representatives will meet on Monday 23rd February at ALIA House to discuss further collaboration.

The Australian Law Librarians’ Association has made a donation to the Red Cross Fund.

The Oz-TL (Teacher Librarians) e-list has had messages advising of a Teddy Bear Drive.  Donations of new teddies has started and you can contact the following people for more information.   Kate Hole  khole@tpg.com.au  or Jeananne Brown
 BROWJEA1@lavalla.sale.catholic.edu.au    are the co-ordinators. Teddies can be POSTED to :  Mt. Lilydale Mercy College,  120 Anderson Street,  Lilydale  3140
or
Kildare Campus, Lavalla Catholic College, PO Box 1080, Traralgon  3844

or DELIVERED to  Werribee Primary School, Deutgam Street, Werribee
and Kildare Campus, Lavalla Catholic College, Kosciusko Street, Traralgon  3844
 Other school updates also at  SLAV Blog & aliaSchools e-list

I encourage all ALIA members to continue to show generosity of spirit and your support.  Please also let us know at ALIA National Office of your stories, and contributions to donations, by emailing me at  sue.hutley@alia.org.au 

Sue Hutley, ALIA Executive Director 

Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is an average of six “steps” away from each person on Earth. I know on a global scale Australia’s population is relatively small, and within that population the library “world” is even more contained however it never ceases to amaze me how everyone within our networks somehow links to someone else. At the Biennial in Alice Springs (great conference, thank you to all involved) I was constantly discovering new connections and catching up with friends and colleagues from my past.

But what I find even more intriguing is the serendipity of discovering a library link in an unexpected time and place. Earlier this week I was in Brisbane for the Queensland Public Libraries Association Conference (another wonderful event). When checking out of my hotel room I lodged my baggage with the concierge, Raymond, whose customer service skills were outstanding. However, I must admit to being somewhat surprised when he asked me, with obvious interest (looking at the paperwork) if I worked for ALIA. “How do you know about ALIA?” I responded.  “My Mum’s a Librarian in the Northern Territory” he replied. There followed a conversation about libraries and their importance to communities.So well done Raymond’s Mum on spreading the word and raising such a delightful son!