Only a bike ride away
Writing the Frontline column for inCite is a little like shouting into the wind, you’re never sure where your voice will go and will your sentiments register. That’s why it’s a delight to get feedback.
This morning I flung myself into my chair after a meeting fraught with pre-Christmas urgency (why do we haveto get stuff done by 25 December?) to find an email from Brenda Strachan, Campus Librarian (Fraser Coast) at the University of Southern Queensland. She wrote:
‘When I departed Brisbane for a job in the newly built TAFE campus in Gympie (1991), I certainly felt isolated as the only librarian staffing the library. So I established a regional TAFE group called SNOBS (Slightly North of Brisbane Section), with staff attending from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Sunshine coast and Maryborough. We met a few times per year for training and the usual sharing of info. This soon expanded to include staff from Kingaroy and Toowoomba, so we became WANOBEs, (West and North of Brisbane) but pronounced wannabees.
I do relate to everything you said in the article. I did go back to the big smoke for 4 years, but absolutely hated it and now I am working in a little piece of heaven. Far enough away from the politics of the larger library in Toowoomba, and I am able to ride my bicycle to work, instead of sitting in traffic for 90 minutes.’
In a follow up email Brenda informed me she’d just ridden her bicycle home for lunch along the beach from, ’so refreshing’ was how she put it :-).
It’s always great to read our Association’s magazine usually curled up on the lounge with a glass of white wine. To all of you have contributed over the past 12 months a huge thank you, it’s the diversity of perspectives that adds vitality to our profession. There are some great themes planned for 2010 so do start thinking about how you can showcase your library and or projects.
Stay sane in the lead up to Christmas.
Jan
Jan Richards, ALIA President