ALIAWest icebreaker

This years icebreaker was held at the defence library service (DLS) information research centre at Leeuwin barracks Fremantle. The DLS Perth is part of a consortium of over 20 libraries in over 30 locations in Australia. DLS Perth is one of two defence libraries in WA with the second being located at HMAS Stirling on Garden Island. DLS Perth has approximately 1500 registered users and provides services to defence personnel and their families over much of Western Australia.

The library currently has two staff, the library manager Tracy Barker and her assistant Nadine Gibbons. The library has access to a number of databases including Proquest, Emerald and various legal databases. The library has an eclectic collection of material which reflects its clientele. Tracy mentioned that the population the DLS serves will usually dictate the type of books and other materials the library will collect, particularly if the bases are within a metropolitan area or in a remote region such as Pukkapunyal, which has a large resident community, and therefore collects more popular material such as fiction. The DLS libraries share a communal catalogue and engage in interlibrary loan between the various libraries across Australia. Staffing and standards change quite dramatically across the various library branches within the defence force, but this is slowly changing as each library begins to operate under some common standards and guidelines. Tracy said they are hoping to promote DLS Perth to a wider community, and although they are not on Kinetica they are happy to interlibrary lend, so please give her a call if you need something.

The library although small is well set out, with space for searching the internet and attractively displayed volumes. Many thanks must go to Tracy and Nadine for hosting a very enjoyable evening.

Bonnie Bruce

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