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Number 220: February 2002

ACTive ALIA convenor's column

The end of year get together of ALIA members at the National Library in December was a huge success and a very enjoyable event. Members came from far and wide, lining up as if for a rock concert. We all had a wonderful time with exclusive after hours access to some of the greatest treasures in the library world. It is the most popular exhibition in Canberra at present. Only 100 people can enter the exhibition at one time in order to preserve the valuable exhibits. We had 83 members and guests attending so we were all able to enter together.

After about an hour at the exhibition we went up to the fourth floor conference room where a festive table had been set with scrumptious hot and cold Christmas nibbles and drinks.

Treasures from the World's Great Libraries
Margaret Dent, the Curator of 'Treasures from the World's Great Libraries' (only in Canberra and only until 24 February 2002) gave a splendid introduction to the exhibition and answered questions from fascinated revellers throughout the evening. Most people were overwhelmed by the exhibition and were amazed that so many historical items such as a typed manuscript of Martin Luther King's speech and Darwin's notes 'On the Origin of Species...' have been gathered together.

We certainly send our grateful thanks to Margaret Dent for her introductory talk and our congratulations on a brilliant Exhibition to Jan Fullerton, Director-General of the NLA, and to everyone else who was concerned in organising the event. Special thanks also to Julie Ward for organising the catering and the impressively decorated festive table.

We are very grateful to Roxanne Missingham for the wonderful idea of combining Christmas cheer with an opportunity to see 'Treasures from the World's Great Libraries'. Everyone who visited seemed to have one item that particularly resonated with him or her. All those I spoke to were most attracted to different items. No two of them picked the same one. I was very impressed to see the great seal of Queen Elizabeth First and a document with her distinctive signature as I had a few days before seen the SBS program the History of Britain episode on Queen Elizabeth First.

Great website
The Exhibition 'Treasures from the World's Great Libraries' has an excellent website (at http://www.nla.gov.au/worldtreasures/) with many of the exhibits explained, although it should be complemented if possible by a visit to see the real items. Go if you can! And be quick-the exhibition closes on 24 February.

I include some visitors' comments on the site and the exhibition to show the sort of enthusiasm they also felt:

'I had the good fortune of visiting the National Library yesterday, on 8 December, and seeing the exhibition in person. It was wonderful. I contacted my friend in Scotland last evening and we visited this website and I had the pleasure of viewing the exhibition again. I would recommend anyone who has the chance to visit the National Library in person, do so. For me the highlights were the words of Martin Luther King-I guess as a 40-something person this is very much part of my personal history too; however it is difficult to pick from the wonderful items on display.'
'I thought the site was fantastic! As someone who was contemplating whether it was worth making the trip from Ballarat to Canberra to see the exhibition all I can say is I can't wait to see the real thing. Congratulations to all involved.
Liesl New, Ballarat.'

I visited the exhibition last Thursday and was simply absorbed. I really valued the opportunity to get close to the exhibits and to read them for myself-obviously why you limited the admissions. Brilliant idea. The introductory comments while we were waiting our turn were also very valuable. This site is perfect for those who can't get there or who for some reason can't get around the exhibit. I can't wait to show my father (83 next weekend) when he comes to visit this week. He'll be thrilled, because he wouldn't have gone to see it himself, thinking it too difficult. The library is to be congratulated on this wonderful exhibition. I wish I could be sure all my tax money was doing something as useful and beautiful as this. Thanks to all involved.
Carolyn Wright, Sydney

Danielle Reid-CIT Library and Information Services best student
Another highlight of the evening was the awarding of a certificate and a prize of proof Federation Year coins from the Australian Mint to Danielle Reid as the best student completing the Canberra Institute of Technology Diploma of Library and Information Services in 2001. The award is to encourage exceptional students who show promise and excellence in pursuing a career in libraries.

Danielle will be continuing her studies in Librarianship at the University of Canberra as well as working part time in a library. Danielle's proud Dad was there to witness the ceremony and he could see, from the number of librarians at the function who sought to speak to her, to tell her what great places to work their libraries were, that Danielle would have no trouble getting work in an ACT library. Congratulations Danielle.

Helen Roberts
ACTive ALIA convenor

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