APSIG newsletter no. 62: November 2006

Clicking in Perth : Dili librarian attends ALIA Conference

Avenel Hicks writes:

With the support of the National Library of Australia, Margaretta (Evy) da Silva, Librarian at the Dili Institute of Technology in East Timor, was able to travel to Perth for the ALIA Click06 conference. She mounted a poster display providing information about the development of libraries in East Timor, the national library association (ABITL) formed in 2004, and the first library training course launched earlier this year at DIT. While libraries in East Timor and Australia are a world apart, I think it was a valuable experience in sharing and learning.

During a stopover in Darwin, Evy also met with librarians from the Northern Territory Library Service and Charles Darwin University to discuss issues of shared interest.

Having worked with Evy for 18 months at the DIT in 2004 and 2005, I was delighted to have her stay with me during her time in Perth. While here she was also able to visit a range of local libraries, the ECU library school, and meet with Australian librarians interested in library development in East Timor. I hope her visit will lead to ongoing interaction and support for libraries in East Timor from colleagues in Australia.