January-June 2003 report

ALIA Tasmania Group provides membership services and CPD activities for ALIA members in Tasmania and is active in lobbying to increase the public awareness of all library services in Tasmania. Within Tasmania, succession planning for the profession is a critical strategic issue and in 2003 the key emphasis for the ALIA Tasmania Group is on providing a supportive network for the students enrolled in the new Graduate Diploma of Information Management course, offered by the University of Tasmania with core librarianship content sourced from Edith Cowan University.

Group activities

In the first 6 months of 2003, the ALIA Tasmania Group has held 5 events for members, providing a variety of activities. All events have been well-attended and have attracted members and non-members from different library and information sectors, with generally a different clientele to each session, demonstrating that members will support an interesting program of events.

Event 1: 26 February 2003
Planning Session
ALIA Tasmania Group conducted a planning session for members to determine the calendar of events and the focus of the Group for 2003. At this session, members identified the key focus should be on working with the students of the Graduate Diploma in Information Management at the University of Tasmania and encouraging their participation in ALIA events.
Event 2: 10 April 2003
International Special Librarian's Day
To celebrate International Special Librarian's Day, ALIA Tasmania Group arranged a presentation by Denis Abbott, recently elected President of the International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centres (IAMSLIC) on the role and activities of IAMSLIC and plans for the 2004 IAMSLIC conference in Hobart. This was held at the offices of CSIRO Marine Research in Hobart.
Event 3: 16 April 2003
Welcome to students of the Graduate Diploma in Information Management
ALIA Tasmania Group hosted a function for the students and members of the profession to meet in an informal session. Present were staff of the School of Information Systems at the University of Tasmania as well as senior staff of the two major employers in the Tasmanian library and information field, the State Library of Tasmania and the University Library. Students and members of the profession found the session an excellent way to establish contact with each other. All sectors of library and information services were represented which gave the students the opportunity to learn about the range of services available for potential employment.
Event 4: 14 May 2003
Ask Now! and explore!
Karen Marriott, from the State Reference Service, State Library of Tasmania presented an informative session on the online resources available through the State Library's explore! service, which provides access to selected websites and online databases sourced by the State Library,. The session also included a demonstration of the Ask Now! virtual reference service, which is being trialled by Australian State Libraries and the National Library of Australia.
Event 5: 19 June 2003
Metadata workshop
Carmel Denholm, from the State Library's Systems Support and Development section conducted a metadata workshop to introduce ALIA members and non-members to the structures of metadata and its application in the resource discovery environment.

Lobbying activities

ALIA Tasmania Group has been actively engaged in representing the profession in the following matters:

Graduate Diploma in Information Management.
- ALIA Tasmania Group released a statement to the media in January 2003 to coincide with the State Library's advertisement offering scholarship packages to students of the new Graduate Diploma in Information Management. The media statement highlighted the opportunities available to potential graduates and the skills required in information management.
- ALIA Tasmania Group is liaising closely with the State Library of Tasmania on the delivery of the Graduate Diploma in Information Management course.
Training Demand Profile for the Tasmanian Arts Industry
ALIA Tasmania Group prepared a submission for the consultants working on behalf of OPCET (Office of Post Compulsory Education and Training) to develop a training needs profile for the Arts industry in Tasmania.
Museums and Library/Information Services Training Package Review
The Convenor, ALIA Tasmania Group represented the Association at the Tasmanian industry consultation session facilitated by Create Australia on the training package. Notes from this session were forwarded to the ALIA National Office, for inclusion in the ALIA national response.

All the above activities have met the following objects of ALIA:

To promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Australians and a thriving culture, economy and democracy;
To promote and improve the services provided by all kinds of library and information agencies;
To ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and foster their professional interests and aspirations;
To encourage people to contribute to the improvement of library and information services through support and membership of the Association.

Liaison with members

ALIA Tasmania Group utilises e-mail as the preferred method of communication with members. The Group has established a members-only list for discussion of issues relevant to the Association. For wider communication of issues related to the broader profession and for notification of events, communication is through TasLib Link, an e-list for those employed or interested in the Tasmanian library and information services industry. The ALIA Tasmania Group now prefers to communicate on issues as they arise rather than by producing a regular newsletter.

Proposed program July-December 2003

Events proposed for the next six months are as follows:

Keith Trickey, a trainer for CILIP, will talk to members and non-members about his work at a session on 24 July
Linda Luther, the newly-appointed University of Tasmania Librarian, will be guest speaker at a function at the Hobart Bookshop on 13 August
Web of Science - science resources at the University of Tasmania, September
An employment seminar will be held in October, focusing on assisting the students of the Graduate Diploma in Information Management and other new members of the profession, to prepare and present applications for employment
A state-wide conference on Information Literacy will be held on 15 November

Jane Coatman
Convenor
ALIA Tasmania Group

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