Northern Territory

1. Roll of nominated group representatives

ALIA Top End Robin Hempel, Linda Winzar, Stelios Podias, Dianne Wilcox, Kira Paznikov Barry
Central Australia Region Diane Clifford, Graeme Shaughnessy, Carmel Leonard

2. Election of one delegate to attend Canberra NPC

Robin Hempel

3. Celebrating success

ALIA Top End
One of the highlights this year has been the development of the program, 'Graduate Mentoring: An Opportunity for New Graduates'. Under the guidance of Ann Ritchie and Stelios Podias, a mentoring training group was formed in 2002. In 2003, the program has been offered to ALIA members who have undertaken library studies and who have reached the 'new' or 'soon-to-be-graduate stage at both technician and librarian level. The program had provided an incentive for graduates to join ALIA or renew their membership as they now have a forum to come together to discuss ideas and issues which affect their future. Meetings and CPD activities have covered a wide rand of topics and themes including how to develop a CV, tips for obtaining the right job, re-entering the library workforce, establishing and maintaining a professional profile, making your professional association work for you. Because the focus of each meeting is geared to the specific needs of the mentorees, sessions have been well-attended and participation enthusiastic. The group's facilitators have used their expertise and experience to provide an interesting and relevant program backed up by strong professional support. Planing is well under way to ensure the on-going continuation and success of the Mentoring Program into 2004. Another highlight was 'The Great Debate: Are Libraries Cultural Institutions?' jointly hosted by ALIA Top End and the Northern Territory Library and Information Service during Library and information Week this year. The most significant achievement of staging an event such as this was the bringing together of the Top End Library Community with representatives from government, from the public and private sector and from the general public - people who use libraries, people who would like to avail themselves of the services and those who have stayed away with the advent of the new technology feeling libraries are no longer for them. As one eighty-year-old gentleman who attended said, 'It's good to know that libraries to-day are not just about computers. They still care about us, the readers!' The debate was opened by the NT Minister for Libraries, the Honourable John Ah Kit, who shared with a packed audience his journey towards self-empowerment via knowledge and information gained as an indigenous child growing up in the local camp. Later he began to use libraries to complete his education and begin his entry into politics. But over the years, he has gained much from yarns around the campfire and insists the best way to unwind at the end of a busy day is to relax in a quiet corner with his favourite book. The two debating teams comprised an eclectic mix of Territory personalities and a lively, passionate and humorous exchange ensued. Paradoxically, the negative team seemed to champion the cause of libraries more strongly than the affirmative so that in the end the argument that libraries are cultural institutions most definitely prevailed. The night was a real winner for the promotion of the work of the Top End group. The big event for the year is the ALIA Top End symposium 'Power our Territory: Information Literacy for development of the Northern Territory', 12-13 September 2003. An enormous amount of planning and networking has taken place in order for this event to go ahead. This is evident in the program which has created intense interest in library circles throughout the Territory.

ALIA Central Australia
Please find an e-mail forwarded from Dianne Clifford, Convenor: At the beginning of 2003, my headmaster asked me to keep the library open Monday to Friday until 7:00pm. We had already tried opening 6:00pm-9:00pm one night per week but this had limited success. Re staffing: I did not want to be rostered on to an evening shift as I was already working very long hours and had to be at school by 8:00am each morning for other commitments. I would also be free to cover others as needed. I negotiated a pay rate totally separate to the normal work hours, staff submit two time sheets. We pay our evening staff $25 per hour. Basically 1.5 times regular pay. I offered the option of evening work to my two assistants and they both opted for one evening each. The other 3 evenings are done by clerical staff of the College. I was reluctant to have teachers do the shifts as I was inclined to think they would do their class prep rather than library duties. My staff had clear instructions to leave their other clerical duties behind and work for the library when on duty. To this end I always have a set list of tasks to complete as well as shelving. The response to late openings was initially a disappointment. Only a handful of students would stay on after the 3 o'clock bell, and a few others (usually seniors) would return later. We had one mature-age student who was there every night until closing. This went on for all of semester 1 last year. I felt that we couldn't justify the expense, if asked to, but the Head was determined that the opportunity be offered to the students, even if only one took advantage of it! After one semester of low student numbers (max 6) we had a rethink on client needs. We looked at the barriers that discouraged students from using the library. 1. Food - all students look for food when they get home from school. We now offer afternoon tea each day - usually at 3:30pm. This comes from library funds. Usually cake, sandwiches, fruit, biscuits. I was initially reluctant to allow food in the library and would serve the food outside. After a week I trialled it inside and we have been delighted with the response. One year later we have had no books damaged by food or drink (only water allowed) and the students just take their food back to their desks and continue working. They appreciate the privilege that they are receiving. 2. Stationery: often students cannot complete an assignment for want of a sheet of poster card or some other small item. We keep a supply of stationery items that we can sell to the students (I operate an IOU page). We also have a collection of lovely pens and pencils and those 'special' things that many students like to use for special projects. We have adopted a 'yes' attitude. We still run a tight ship as far as respecting others rights to study and proper behaviour in the library but we are far more relaxed after hours. Students are very accepting of the need for two sets of rules. The teenager who plays up when with his classmates during a library lesson is often a hardworking, polite person when he/she voluntarily stays after school to complete homework. Students who stay late are able to make a cup of coffee of tea and they appreciate this privilege. I have also arranged for meals to be available through our boarding house if wanted. Not many students take up this option, but sometimes the staff do. Today I served afternoon tea to 45 students and 8 staff. There were still about 20 there when I left at 5:00pm. Did I mention that there is a formal 'homework centre' from 3:00pm to 4:30pm and 2 teachers are rostered on each day for this? We have found though, that many teachers like to pop in and they usually end up assisting some of their students. The library is also used as a venue for formal tutoring. The response from parents has been very satisfying. There are many issues associated with extended hours opening and I am happy to discuss this with you if you like. We have also recently used our library as a venue for Toastmasters meetings and the local RSPCA AGM. Diane Clifford, Head, Library and Information Service, St Philips College.

4. Research exchange and partnership (REAP) initiative

Research topics
ALIA Top End group: Census of libraries (ABS), Topics and issues from the Information Literacy Symposium, Guides to how libraries uphold moral rights and traditional law with regards to indigenous collections.
Central Australian ALIA group: Formation of community-based indigenous knowledge centres in Central Australia, Library space/design for indigenous clients.

5. Continuing professional development.

a) What are the priorities?

b) Gaps

c) What types of workshops/seminars do members want to fill the above gaps?
ALIA Top End identified gaps including limited opportunities for CPD in the Northern Territory together with expensive courses (eg CAVAL) which are out of most peoples' financial reach. Other gaps include the problem where only one delegate can usually attend interstate training, resulting in lack of commitment to implement or workshop further. Priorities included: Employers not giving credibility to ALIA's CPD program is conducive to no incentives being provided for participation- the CPD profile needs to be raised amongst employers. A need for a co-ordinated territory/state CPD program delivered within a territory/state was also noted as a priority, as was the inclusion of local studies and briefings and workshops on new initiatives, together with a visit of the ALIA executive officer. ALIA Central Australian Group believed that a priority is training and development for remote areas and suggested workshops and seminars such as: Strategic planning, project planning, motivational seminars, public relation, marketing of libraries, conflict resolution, preservation and conservation of material. The cost of these seminars to members should be less than $200.

6. Issues of critical importance

ALIA Top End Group
LIS schools: quality programs; Image of profession; Image of association; Association members-only initiatives are city/southern-based; Communication between ALIA national office and groups needs to be clearer; Lobbying the funding sector; Standards for libraries: buildings, staffing, services etc members-only access to the website has locked out too many options; Recognition of increased skills by employer; Updating of group website has been slow in the past.

Central Australian ALIA group
Promotion of library and librarians to the public; Recognition of professional expertise that would provide financial remuneration commensurate with the professional qualifications and experience of librarians; Equity of salary levels in relation to other professions; Feedback to the regional branches of registration of new members; Importance of ALIA being a vehicle to lobby appropriate government and business leaders to raise profile of librarians locally and nationally.

6. ALIA: Towards 2010 consultation draft

At the ALIA Top End meeting there was agreement that the items of Recruitment/Recognition and Lobbying/Research were important. It was felt that resources for isolated and remote member support needs to be factored into the draft as currently there is no mention of this.

7. Questions on notice

The issue relating to recruitment to library positions where qualifications are sometimes listed as essential, and sometimes as desirable. Should qualifications be listed as being essential in the criteria especially if membership of ALIA or equivalent is required? Members have noted that appointments are made to positions where the applicant has not completed the degree or diploma, yet these have been listed as essential criteria. What is ALIA's stand on this?

Any other comments from the meeting?
What was the outcome of the Awards review? How does this affect groups? Further information has been requested regarding the Local Liaison officer position. The question of communication with regional and remote members and their access/lack of to CPD opportunities and other membership benefits continues to arise. This is often because members or potential members in these areas experience difficulties in the electronic communication and delivery of information.

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