ALIA NAC 2005 Culcairn report

1. Roll attendees

Damian Lodge (convenor), Katherine Jackson (secretary), Roxanne Missingham (ALIA representative), Georgina Dale (ALIA representative), Belinda Brown (Charles Sturt University Library Wagga Wagga), Claire Campbell (Wagga Wagga Public Library), Marsha Riley (retiree), Tim Eggleston (Charles Sturt University Library Albury), Annie Roennfeldt (Upper Murray Regional Library), Eilagh Rurenga (Wagga Wagga Public Library), Jake Wallis (School of Information Studies, Charles Sturt University)

2. Selected representative to attend Canberra NAC

Name: Damian Lodge.

3. Celebrating success

Alan Bundy visit to region
Alan Bundy (president of Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA)) made a visit to the region. His visit was initiated by Maggie McCafferty (librarian, Yarrawonga Public Library). Alan spoke to a small but interested group at Wodonga Library about friends' groups and how they can help their libraries. Alan also attended a dinner in Albury with librarians from public, TAFE and university libraries. This gave participants a wonderful opportunity to talk to Alan about his work with FOLA and discuss current issues and happenings in a variety of different library settings. While in the area, Alan also visited a number of public library branches.

Disaster planning workshop
Disaster preparedness training proved to be a very dirty business at Wagga Wagga City Library on 16 and 17 May as over twenty five librarians from all around the South West Zone, Kiama, Queanbeyan and Sydney converged for some hard work, good food and excellent training. Participants came from TAFE, university and public libraries as well as one from the museum sector. The two day training course was designed and presented by archivist Kim Morris, from Art & Archival in Canberra, who has a well deserved reputation as an excellent trainer. The course was a combination of theory on day one, and then a practical simulation in the murky depths of the council building car park on day two. Participants were unanimous in their comments about how the training had exceeded their expectations of what they had hoped to learn. Disaster planning involves four main steps: disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. To properly address these steps and ensure a capacity to respond and recover well in the event of a disaster, it is essential to have a well prepared, well maintained disaster plan. However, the participants learned that disasters can be unpredictable and it is not until an actual incident occurs that plans are fully tested. Among the casualties at the workshop were the priceless faux Rembrandts that were quickly whisked away and dumped in a heap, as eager librarians rushed in to rescue items in the simulation. So it was a good lesson to remember the theory of the first day about going slowly and prioritising our collections. The next step is to write the disaster plan to ensure that the library's collections will survive a potential disaster in the future.

4. ALIA stars program

Maggie McCafferty (library officer, Yarrawonga Public Library) spent her three week study placement in East Timor as part of a nine week self-funded volunteer stint with the library and archives at the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) in Dili. Maggie worked with local staff on a number of projects as well as providing ongoing training in library procedures and practices.

5. Election of directors

Discussed procedures of elections.
Discussed proxy voting on the website.

6. Workforce planning and education

Quite a large number of people are leaving the profession.
Two library schools have closed recently.
Should we have a masters as part of a librarians qualifications.
Discussed jobs, information about jobs, courses covering jobs and the profession.
Talked about research awards available to members of the profession.

7. Other comments from the meeting

Marsha Riley was presented with a silver pin for her services to ALIA.

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