proACTive

Number 233: April 2003

ACT Multicultural Public Library Services Review

February - April 2003

The ACT Public Library is currently undertaking a review of its Multicultural Services, to:

identify the library needs of ACT's culturally and linguistically diverse communities;
assess whether those needs are being met;
propose strategies for the future development of these services.

If you or your group would like to make suggestions about how to improve services please contact: Nicky Lo Bianco, ph 02 6205 9000, fx 02 6207 6330, nicky.lobianco@act.gov.au.

What can ACTive ALIA do for you?

Come and discuss how ACTive ALIA will operate this year and what you want it to do. At our third ACTive ALIA meeting of the year (Wednesday, 9 April, at 5:30pm in the NLA Fourth Floor Conference Room) we want to discover which topics and issues our members want to discuss and hear about this year: how often should we have speakers? how often should we meet? should we meet face-to-face? in an electronic virtual 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 its 9 April meeting. Please join us then or send any ideas by e-mail.

Helen Roberts
Convenor, ACTive ALIA.
ph 02 6125 4068, helen.roberts@anu.edu.au

New CYA Group

Thanks to all who responded to the note in last month's proACTive about the proposed ACT, Southern NSW and Riverina Children's and Young Adult ALIA Interest Group. It was great to hear from you all out there!

On Friday, 16 May, we plan to hold a meeting to formalise the proposed Interest Group and get to know each other. We will meet at 6:00pm at Caph's Restaurant and Coffee Lounge, Franklin Street, Manuka.

Please join us for a meal or just a coffee - RSVP to Judy Brooker by 14 May, ph 02 6230 2266, judith.brooker@alianet.alia.org.au.

Judy Brooker

LIBTEC CIT 1978-2003 reunion

Come and help us celebrate 25 years of Library Studies in the ACT! It will be on Thursday 8 May, at 7:00pm for 7:30pm in the Hellenic Club, Phillip.The cost will be $30.00 per person, and this will include a three course meal and tea or coffee.

This reunion is for all those who have studied, taught or have had an interest in Library Studies courses at the Canberra TAFE or Canberra Institute of Technology. Partners and colleagues are welcome.

For further information, please contact Ursula Macdermott, ph 02 6262 1448, umacdermott@nla.gov.au, or Marion Boyd, ph 02 6270 6912, mboyd@hcourt.gov.au. RSVP with your cheque to Ursula Macdermott, 5 Rufus Place, Lyons ACT 2606 by Friday 2 May, giving your name, address and number of guests. Make cheques payable to 'ACT Reunion Committee'.

Researching an essay

On Wednesday 9 April, URLs is hosting an important presentation for everyone interested in how students go about writing essays, and the implications of this for libraries. Mandy Lupton from the Centre for Educational Development and Academic Methods, ANU will present her University of Canberra Masters research 'Researching an Essay: Undergraduates' Ways of Experiencing Information Literacy'. Mandy interviewed 20 students in a first-year ANU course about how they searched for and used information for their essay.

This seminar will be of special interest to all those who teach, train and design curriculum in all educational sectors, including universities, TAFE, and schools, including teachers, librarians, academic skills advisors and staff developers, so please publicise this event to anyone who may be interested.

This seminar will start at 4:30pm sharp, in the McDonald Room, Menzies Library, ANU. All are welcome. More information: Nancy Clarke, URLs Secretary, ph 02 6209 1117, or n.clarke@signadou.acu.edu.au.

Nancy Lane in Canberra

On Wednesday 30 April, APSIG invites you to meet Dr Nancy Lane for lunch at 12:15pm at the Blue Elephant, 29 Lonsdale Street, Braddon. One of APSIG's favourite meeting places, the South Asian menu (Indo/Lanka) provides a variety of vegetarian food in addition to meat dishes. The cost will be $10 per head for a main course with a number of options plus tea or coffee. Luscious Indian desserts are $3.50 extra.

Nancy is well-known to Canberra colleagues from her years as Head of the University of Canberra library studies course and then at the Australian Academy of Science. She is now Director of Communications of Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL), and travels widely throughout the South Pacific. She will speak to us about her work and on what is happening in the region.

PREL's website gives information on its programs, which aim to bridge the gap between research, theory and practice in education. Its main office is in Honolulu, Hawaii, with service centres in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap), Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

All welcome. RSVP by Monday 28 April to Marie Sexton ph 02 6247 7795, msexton@netspeed.com.au.

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