July-December 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. The key emphasis for ALIA Tasmania Group for 2003 was identified by members at the beginning of the year as providing a supportive network for the students enrolled in the new Graduate Diploma in Information Management course, offered by the University of Tasmania with core librarianship content sourced from Edith Cowan University.
The students were invited to all ALIA activities, and ALIA in conjunction with the major employers of library and information professionals, made contact with students pursuing librarianship qualifications from other institutions to include them in this networking.

The appointment of Jane Jeppson as Local Liaison Officer for ALIA in Tasmania will provide a much-needed resource for ALIA as a whole in Tasmania and will provide an ongoing communication and support channel between the groups and the industry. In this new role, Jane will continue to liaise closely with the University of Tasmania in supporting the graduate students and providing the conduit between ALIA, the University and the major employers in the industry.

Group activities

In the second half of 2003, the ALIA Tasmania Group progressed its program of providing a variety of activities for members. Events continued to be well supported and the feedback from members and non-members attending has been positive with interest shown by individual members in hosting specific events in 2004.

24 July 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.
13 August 2003
Linda Luther, the recently appointed University Librarian in Tasmania, spoke to an informal gathering at the Hobart Bookshop, attended by almost 30 members and non-members. Linda spoke of her background and of her special interests in the profession. Following the talk, a small group continued the discussion with Linda over dinner.
National Policy Congress 19-20 September 2003
Jane Coatman, representing the ALIA groups in Tasmania, and Jane Jeppson, as the incoming Local Liaison Officer, attended the National Policy Congress in Canberra. Prior to the Congress, input on the issues and discussion papers had been sought from ALIA members via an electronic discussion.
29 September 2003
Richard Dearden, Science Librarian at the University of Tasmania, presented a lunchtime session, attended by 18 members and non-members, giving an update on the online resources delivered by the University and the ways in which these can be accessed.

This session was repeated in Launceston at a breakfast seminar on 20 November 2003 with 14 attending. Both presentations indicated the interest there is in developments in online delivery of resources, and the timing and locations of the presentations gave members who may not usually attend evening sessions an opportunity to participate.
12 November 2003
Employment tips and tricks session for the graduating students. This session was aimed solely at the graduating students, both from the University of Tasmania and other institutions, and was designed to give the students some tips on ways to gain employment after graduation. Five speakers gave short presentations, accompanied by relevant forms and key contact details, and provided the students with some well-appreciated advice on how to approach the local job market. Three of the speakers presented from an industry viewpoint, being the Staff Development Librarians from the State Library and the University Library, together with a government department librarian. The other two speakers were recent graduates who have followed different avenues of employment and they gave personal viewpoints on their experiences. The session was attended by 10 students and the feedback was extremely positive.
10 December 2003
ALIA Tasmania combined its Christmas function with the presentation of the ALIA Student Award at a local Hobart hotel. The event was attended by over 20 ALIA members and non-members, including the Dean of the School of Information Systems at the University and the course co-ordinator of the Graduate Diploma of Information Management. The ALIA Student Award was won by Rachele Carnevale and her award and Christmas were well celebrated!
16 December 2003
A meeting was held between ALIA Tasmania and representatives of the major employing institutions to establish the framework for a mentoring program to commence in 2004.

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 continued to liaise closely with the School of Information Systems at the University of Tasmania, as well as with the State Library of Tasmania on the delivery of the Graduate Diploma in Information Management course.
Museums and Library/Information Services Training Package Review
ALIA Tasmania Group presented further comment to ALIA National Office on the ongoing review of this training package.
University of Tasmania Open Day
ALIA Tasmania, together with the State Library of Tasmania and the University of Tasmania Library, mounted an eye-catching display panel on careers in librarianship for the University Open Day.

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 represent the interests of members to governments, other organisations and the community

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 prefers to communicate on issues as they arise rather than by producing a regular newsletter.

ALIA Tasmania 2004

ALIA Tasmania group will continue in 2004 with a new Convenor and committee. Richard Dearden is the incoming Convenor/Secretary with Emeline Haight as the Treasurer. The Committee is Heather Jones, Helen Dunford, Meredith Hepburn, Chris Evans and Jane Lord.

It is anticipated that a New Graduates Group (or at least an informal group) will form in Tasmania in 2004, providing a representative for liaison with the national New Graduates group.

ALIA Tasmania is intending to be actively involved in a joint Information Literacy seminar to be held in Tasmania in July 2004, in conjunction with the State Library of Tasmania and the University of Tasmania Library.

Thanks

As the outgoing Convenor, I would like to thank the ALIA Executive and the Board of Directors, together with the staff of the National Office, for the support and assistance given during my term as Convenor. As this has coincided with the group restructure, it has been interesting and challenging to move ALIA forward, but I felt strongly at the 2003 National Policy Congress that the change has now been embraced and there is a great future for the Association and the profession, both locally and nationally.

Jane Coatman
Convenor 2001-2003
ALIA Tasmania Group

6 January 2004

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