ALIA education

Simone Hys

Why libraries: I have to blame or thank my Mum for this one. When I was a teenager I was banned from two libraries for spending too much time in them. My school librarian and the local public librarians knew me on sight and would only let me in if my mother wasn't around. Eventually Mum gave up and when careers time came, suggested that since I spent so much time in libraries and couldn't keep away, I might as well work in one.

How I ended up where I am today: In 2000 I'd just finished a contract as Ask-IT officer with UQ at the Ipswich Campus and was looking for work. I applied for a liaison librarian position with Griffith University and wasn't successful. A month later a very lovely lady rang me up to say that some positions had opened up on a new campus at Logan and asked if I was interested in being considered for the positions. I jumped at the chance and have been with Griffith now for four years. I transferred from Logan InfoServices to a more helpdesk role here at Nathan a year ago.

Current role: InfoServices helpdesk officer for both library and IT queries with Griffith University.
What that means: I answer phone calls all day from staff and students of the university who are having problems with computers, assignments, library related queries, anything. The helpdesk I work at is the first point of call for 42 products and services offered by information services. So basically it's anything from staff being unable to log in, to students in learning centre deleting files accidentally and calls from off campus students trying to get access to their lecture notes. The service is staffed 6:00am - 1:00am Monday through Friday and I've got the 6:00am start shift.

Things I've learnt along the way:
Don't give up. When you think that there are no jobs to apply for, and you're deciding whether or not you should change professions, something always comes up.
Get involved. Join groups, attend ALIA events, go to conferences, meet people. It's amazing the wealth of friends you make, and the information sharing that happens. I have had some of the best fun since I sent one e-mail be-moaning my need to meet like-minded library folk in my area.
Be prepared to try anything. When I first started working in libraries I was a library assistant with a council library. Because I was the newest and youngest staff member, the other staff gave me the off-cut jobs. Only problem was I loved them. I spent the next three years on the mobile library travelling from community to community because no-one in the service could drag me away! I picked up a real talent for being able to troubleshoot on the fly. Who else could say flooding has prevented them from getting their library back to base and had to find an alternate route while the flood waters were rising?

How do I keep updated? I joined the PD program in 2004 after attending the then National Policy Congress because I was interested in a way of formalising all the researching and involvement I was doing. I attend most of my local ALIAQLD meetings, research ideas for papers, talk to other library people about ideas I have, and attend as many symposiums and conferences as I can. I am the national convenor of the New Graduates Group, and am affiliated with the New Generation Policy and Advisory Group. Not a bad way of keeping up-to-date with things happening. I also subscribe to various news groups and e-lists and talk often with colleagues.

Hobbies/recreation: When not wearing my various library hats, or answering phones at work, I can be found behind the console of the Radio Lollipop radio station at the Mater Children's Hospital. I volunteer there as a DJ and also do work in the wards brightening the day for sick children. Other times I volunteer with the ALARA Association in Ipswich working with special needs people and helping the events co-ordinator run various fun events for the clients. I love my gardens and am an avid keen gardener. I grow my own vegetables (as much as I can), read and re-read any books or magazines I can get about Australian organic gardening and attend garden expos with my Mum. I have many dogs, a very large backyard and keep working out ways of filling it with more fruit trees.