ALIA Local Studies (WA Group) - what we've been up to recently ...

First, our AGM at National Archives on 19 June 2003: Outgoing Convenor Jan McCahon thanked all members for their support and for giving her the opportunity to lead the Local Studies WA Group at a critical time in ALIA history. The changeover to the new centralised administration model seemed to be fraught with difficulty. Now however the system is shaking down and things are running much more smoothly. Writing as incoming Convenor, I can only say how fortunate we were to have Jan at the helm through this period of change. Her unflappable commonsense and directness guided us skilfully among the shoals back to clear water and plainer sailing ... As if her contribution to Local Studies weren't enough, Jan has just been re-elected President of the Oral History Association of Australia (WA Branch), with the OHAA National Conference taking place in Perth in just over a week's time. Now, that's dedication for you!

Other business at the AGM was the election of office-bearers and committee and the problem of finance. Central administration changes have required the Local-Link subscription period to be aligned with the ALIA financial year rather than the standard calendar. Rising costs have also necessitated a rise in subscription rates, set at the lowest possible level to maintain a viable publication.

Events so far this year ...

...have included extremely successful visits to the Perth Astronomical Observatory and the ABC Archives. Both were fascinating and full of interest from a Local Studies perspective. Our major event however was a one-day workshop Are your CDs de-laminating? on 11 July. All sessions dealt with digitisation with reference to LS collections. This too was well-attended and extremely successful. Speakers Erica Ryan (National Library of Australia), Kandy Jane Henderson (John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library), Patrick Moore (State Library of WA), Maggie Exon (Information Studies, Curtin University) and Lesley Ferguson (Corporate Information Branch, Dept of Premier and Cabinet) all spoke interestingly and informatively about digitisation in practice in their professional fields. All their presentations were so relevant and thought-provoking that the scheduled closing panel simply ran out of time. Obviously we made the right choice of both speakers and topics: discussion could have gone on far longer. As the old showbiz saying has it: 'Leave 'em laughing' (or at least wanting more!)...

And future plans ...

... and our next one-day workshop is coming up on Friday Sept 12. The focus this time is on a perennial problem for local studies collections in libraries, museums, historical societies and archives. How best do you index them? Can or should you use standard subject headings (LCSH, APAIS or others), or design your own headings to meet your local customer needs?

Speakers will be Allison Kingscote (Australian Pictorial Thesaurus, State Library NSW), Brian Stewart (State Library of WA), Maggie Exon and Chris Richardson (Information Studies, Curtin University), plus a panel of WA practitioners - Janet Tombleson (Augusta - Margaret River Shire Council), Julie Coxall (Bunbury City Library), Lise Summers (State Records Office), Barbara Hellriegel (City of Joondalup). The day will end with a second panel following the model that worked so well at the digitisation workshop. All the speakers from previous sessions will be available to answer questions, but we aim to encourage responses from the audience as well. Feedback shows that Local Studies people really want to share experiences; to find out what works and what doesn't from the people who put theory into practice. This promises to be another top day for local studies practitioners in WA. We hope to see you at Collier Community Centre, Collier Park Village on Friday 12 September. If you can't be there, read all about in the next Local-Link!

Alison Gregg
Convenor, ALIA Local Studies (WA Group)

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