proACTive

Number 218: November 2001

Libraries of Rome
In September I was very fortunate to be in Rome (before 11 September) to attend the AMICUS Advisory Board, and the Amicus Dobis Libis Users Group Board meeting and conference. There were presentations on future developments in Amicus and Librivision products, access to information (well covered by Dr Livia Borghetti, director, National Library of Rome), new technology, including WAP access to library catalogues by Teknesis and new standards. I gave a paper on the library developments needed to support electronic access, which can be read at: http://www.nla.gov.au/nla/staffpaper/2001/missingham2.html.

There was also time to visit some libraries in the evenings, seeing great historical buildings and treasures. The first was the Academia Belgica, an institution founded in 1939 to support study in Rome by Belgian nationals and the study of Belgian cultural work by Italians. It stands in a very impressive building next to the gardens of the Villa Borghese. The visit was made even more memorable with a concert featuring an Italian soprano and a baritone, with Gioconda Vessichelli, who recently won the Belgian Ambassador's Prize at the Concorso Mario Lanza 2001.

On our visit to the National Library of Italy in Rome we found a completely refurbished modern library. Italy has two National Libraries, one in Rome and one in Florence inaugurated in 1876 at the Collegio Romano, the former Jesuit convent and college. The initial collections came from the Jesuit Biblioteca Major and the monastery libraries confiscated by the Italian government in 1873. The collections continue to increase through legal deposit, purchase and donations as monasteries close.

The collection contains many treasures - over 5 400 000 monographs and 550 000 serial volumes, more than 84 000 manuscripts, about 2000 incunabula. The modern building has 8 reading rooms leading off a central well for catalogue access. The Multimedia Reading Room offers access to music and online multimedia services. The manuscript and rare book collection is superb, both for the many rare books and manuscripts and the maps and globes.

This tour included a visit to the Central Institute for Book Pathology, which undertakes extensive restoration work on rare books and materials. The museum includes a marvellous exhibition of paper restoration issues and risks to paper, including damage from physical (light, heat, humidity), chemical (inks, acid paper) and biological (bugs and microorganisms) threats.

The Parliamentary library completed our tour of Roman libraries. The Biblioteca della Camera dei Deputati was founded in 1848 in the old part of Rome, next to the Parliament. With over 1 million volumes, the collection is housed in a large 5-storey building which has been magnificently restored, each floor in the style of a different historical period - even including, in its original medieval state, the room in which Galileo was sentenced.

It was a great opportunity to see the richness of some European library collections. The restoration of the buildings to provide a quality environment for visitors and staff was also inspiring.

Roxanne Missingham

Revelling in reference at RAISS
RAISS (the Reference and Information Services Section) held its conference in Melbourne 12-14 October, attracting 280 delegates from libraries around Australia and New Zealand.

Professor Carol Tenopir from the School of Information Services at the University of Tennessee gave her keynote address on the changing world of reference librarians. Dr Tenopir is the author of four books, over 200 journal articles, and has written the 'online databases' column for the Library Journal since 1983. She believes that, although we live in a technological world, the 'purpose and role of the library hasn't changed'. Users look to librarians to help them analyse and synthesise their information. Dr Tenopir concluded with the following predictions:

the most important role of the reference librarian is one of instructor and teacher;
users will be assisted more beyond the library's walls;
we will rely more on networked resources;
librarians will fight for fair prices; and
expect some backlash - some people don't want change.

Veronica Brady, from the Department of English at the University of WA, gave an interesting talk on reference work in the new millennium from a scholar's point of view. Many of the speakers discussed the challenges to the reference librarian of the constantly changing online environment and the need for continuing staff training and development. Another hot topic was information literacy skills and the online environment.

The conference program included a number of workshops on evaluation and measurement (for example applying the ASK model of reference service evaluation to virtual reference services), skills for reference staff, measuring clients' needs, and the virtual reference desk. Delegates could also attend a number of showcases on the latest services, surveys, research work, and reports. These sessions featured demonstrations of online database resources, online interactive tutorial software, the Pandora Archive of Australian online publications, and discussions on marketing and communication strategies.

The social events were well attended and provided a wonderful opportunity to network and relax with new friends and colleagues at this very successful conference.

Julie Ward

Coming next month: 'Treasures from the World's Great Libraries'
The National Library of Australia Centenary Exhibition (and our Xmas party!)

ALIA members in the ACT are invited to a special showing of this exhibition, with a tour by the curator, Margaret Dent, from 5:00pm-6:00pm on Wednesday 12 December. The tour will be followed by the group Christmas party. *

In late 2001 the National Library of Australia is staging a unique exhibition of magnificent treasures from the world's great collections. All of the extraordinary objects in the exhibition are to be generously lent from among the most precious possessions of major libraries and a small number of other selected collections.

It will contain unique and famous items - for instance a Gutenberg Bible, the Dead Sea Scroll of Deuteronomy featuring the Ten Commandments, not just one but two Albert Einstein manuscripts and an album of drawings and manuscript poems by famous seventeenth-century Dutch identities, including Rembrandt.

The exhibition will celebrate the National Library's centenary in 2001. It will show items from the history of nations and the world's civilisations, and will demonstrate and celebrate the importance of all libraries as guardians of human history and culture.

With this exhibition the Library will trace the development of culture and writing from over three thousand years ago up to the digital age and we will incorporate Internet archives and virtual exhibitions of relevant material at the close of the exhibit. For example, the Library will show demonstration material for the British Library's groundbreaking 'Turning the Pages' interactive digital exhibition.

'Treasures from the World's Great Libraries' will look both to the wonders of past civilisations, through the 20th century and into the future to inform and engage the widest possible audience. The exhibition will contain approximately 160 loans from 38 lenders in 24 countries.

Roxanne Missingham

* There will be a charge of $10.00, to help cover the costs of security and the party. RSVP by 30 November is vital - see 'Events' for details.

The HealthInsite Internet gateway
ALIA ACT and District Health Forum is holding a joint meeting with the Australian Society of Indexers, 12:30pm-1:30pm on Wednesday, 14 November in Conference Room 2, Ground floor, Alexander Building, Furzer Street, Woden. Non-members are welcome to attend.

Members of the HealthInsite editorial team will summarise their project 'Using metadata to create navigation paths in the HealthInsite Internet gateway', and lead a discussion on some of the issues which arose, including managing indexing quality and consistency, search engine capability, and the costs of doing evaluation research.

Meet at the Security Desk, Alexander Building - we'll be there from 12:15pm. Bring your lunch. RSVP Friday 9 November (so that security passes can be organised). Contact: Jill Buckley Smith, on ph 02 6289 8488 or at jill.smith@health.gov.au

ACT local presence officer
Judith Brooker will be our new local presence officer. She tells us: 'I have worked mainly as a reference librarian since 1980, after completing a BA Hons from Monash and Graduate Diploma in Librarianship from RMIT. I joined ALIA while studying, in 1979, and I have remained a member continuously ever since.

'Over the years I have worked in libraries full time and part time and as a casual employee. I started in a public library, Camberwell Waverley Regional Library, in both the children and adult sections. After a move to Canberra I began working at the ANU, in most of the branch libraries as well as on the serials conversion project. Since then I have worked at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library and at the National Library of Australia for over ten years.

'I am now spending time at home with my toddler, enjoying a country lifestyle while also maintaining my professional interests through ALIA and as a Canberra Word Festival Committee Member.'

judith.brooker@alianet.alia.org.au

Open Day, Open Mind
National Library of Australia Opens its Doors

The National Library of Australia opened its traditionally closed doors on Sunday 23 September to celebrate its 100th birthday, the birthday of a treasured cultural institution. Many exciting events and activities were organised for the day - all inviting visitors to peep behind the scenes and discover what the National Library is really about.

Highlights included an extensive program of tours to special collection areas, performances in the Foyer (Warehouse Circus was a particular favourite with the families) and readings by local and interstate authors.

The day was also an opportunity for former National Library staff to revisit their old workplace, reminisce and catch up with old friends. Over 5700 people enjoyed the day's activities and left asking 'When is the next one?'

Heather Clark

PEARLS
PEARLS (Previously Employed Australian Retired Librarians) met again on 8 October, for coffee, cakes and conversation. Eight people attended. We nearly had an AGM; at least, there was some talk about our past and our future.

It was generally agreed to remain unstructured, and to continue doing nothing in good company. To round things off, one member read out some literary quotes, ending with this: 'From his refined accent, quiet voice, and apparent omniscience, I took him for a librarian' (George Orwell).

Next meeting: Monday 11 February, 2002, at Backbenches, Old Parliament House, at 2:30pm.

Enquiries to Jon Prance, ph 02 6255 1857, prance@c031.aone.net.au

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