ACTive ALIA
proACTive
Number 232: March 2003
ACTive ALIA convenor's column
After the bushfires
Find out how libraries and cultural institutions in Canberra dealt with the major fire disaster on 18 January. The extent of the damage was unpredictable and therefore no existing disaster plan could have fully prepared for dealing with it. Learn from their experiences how they dealt with such a disaster. On Wednesday, 12 March at 5:30pm in the Fourth Floor Conference Room in the NLA, ACTive ALIA has invited two speakers on 'After the bushfires', from the Australian National University and the War Memorial.
Mount Stromlo Library fire recovery
The Australian National University Branch Library at Mount Stromlo was destroyed in the fire on 18 January 2003. Paul McNamara will be giving a talk on the recovery operations undertaken by the ANU library following the destruction of much of Mt Stromlo Observatory, including the Astronomy Library, by bushfire. Paul is the Manager of the science libraries and has extensive experience working with the Science community at the ANU.
I asked Paul to give the talk after we had both escorted visitors from China around the ANU Library. What they were most interested in was the bushfires and the destruction of the Mt. Stromlo. Paul showed us some horrifying pictures of the library at Mt. Stromlo, with burnt books still on metal shelves that had warped and crumpled in the fierce heat. The shapes of some of the books remain, but the pages are completely destroyed. The photos show collapsed walls, ceilings, external smoke damage and a huge amount of burnt material on the floors.
The ANU Library is assisting the staff and students of RSAA to access any scholarly information resources required to support their research and scholarship including by additional electronic access to replace lost back runs of material. It is providing document delivery services at no cost to staff and students of the School. These services can be accessed by e-mailing Document Delivery Services at docdel@anu.edu.au.
Whilst some astronomy material is held at Siding Springs, the W K Hancock Library holds the main mathematics collection for the University together with some astronomy material. In addition, some optics material is held in the W K Hancock Library and the Physical Sciences Branch Library. If required, material may be transferred from Siding Springs to the Acton campus.
Australian War Memorial advice and assistance for bushfire victims
A speaker from the Australian War Memorial will also inform us on the work done to assist fire victims conserve their fire, smoke, soot and water damaged documents, photos, floppy disks, sound and video recordings and other memorabilia. We will also learn what has to be dealt with quickly and what can be treated later.
As well as these informative speakers we have both the Bennett Lecture and an APSIG Lunchtime Seminar this month. Full details on these appear in the Events column of this issue of proACTive.
ALIA Awards
If you know someone who deserves recognition, nominate them now for an ALIA Award! There are online nomination forms at http://www.alia.org.au/awards/ for each award. For more information, contact ALIA National Office using the online form or telephone 02 6215 8222, or awards@alia.org.au.nospam .
Australian Honours Award
The ALIA Board of Directors also encourages members of the Association to put forward nominations to Government House in Canberra for an Australian Honours Award. More details can be found at the Australian Honours website at http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/about_honours.html
What can ACTive ALIA do for you?
At our April ACTive ALIA meeting (Wednesday, 9 April) we want to discuss what topics and issues our members want to discuss and learn about this year: how often should we have speakers? how often should we meet? face-to-face or electronic forum? in partnership with other groups such as URLs or FLIN? what linkages should we set up? what suggestions and constructive comment do you have? This is advance notice that ACTive ALIA will be discussing these issues at our April meeting. Please join us then or send us your ideas by ahead of time.
Helen Roberts
Convenor, ACTive ALIA
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