ALIA Children's and Youth Services (Qld)
Convenor's report
18 October 2001
Overview
This has been a year of change, new directions and restructuring for ALIA as well as Qld CYS. During May 2000, Anne Spelman attended the ALIA National Policy Congress regarding the restructure of ALIA groups. For more information on the NPC and its recommendations go to http://www.alia.org.au/governance/nac/2000/.
At a Young Peoples' Librarians' Group meeting in March 2001 [http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/publib/yplg/0103min.htm#cyss] and a CYS meeting in April 2001, Anne consulted with teacher-librarians and public librarians regarding the future of CYSS in Queensland. Both parties were keen to see CYS continue as a group. To re-register Qld CYS during 2001, Anne submitted an application to form an ALIA group under the new organisational structure. The Board of Directors endorsed this application for the period from 18 June to 31 December 2001.
Web space
- Within the new structure space is provided on ALIAnet for CYS Qld to promote activities, put up minutes etc
- On 8 August 2001, Anne successfully bidded for $220.00 to cover an ALIA stationary order, gifts for presenters at ALIA events, postage and stationary.
Office-bearer resignation
- Elizabeth Hermanoczki resigned as CYS Qld treasurer on 24 May 2001, due to a change in her work situation.
Election of new treasurer
Direction of Qld CYS 2001
- Young people's librarians and teacher-librarians were keen to see CYS continue as a group, but agreed that it needed to be reviewed if it was to be of professional benefit to members. It was suggested at a Young People's Librarians Group meeting on 27 March 2001 that CYS presents a one-day conference, rather than a series of smaller activities. Members enthusiastically endorsed this idea, and planning began at a CYS meeting on 23 April 2001.
Pro-Fusion conference
Attendees represented private, public, primary and high school, and public libraries. Activities and information suggested as of most interest professionally were storytelling, displays, booktalking, conference debriefs and reading groups. Having identified areas of interest, members set about securing guest speakers from South-East Queensland.
The result was a one-day conference called Pro-Fusion, supported by Public Libraries Division, State Library of Queensland. Pro-Fusion aimed to fuse library professionals from the school and public sectors ideas, skills, networks and knowledge about services for young people. CYS gained use of Public Libraries Division conference room free of charge, staff resources to assist in the day's running was provided by, and catering was also sponsored by Public Libraries Division.
Many thanks to Public Libraries Division director, Robert Pestell for his support.
Pro-Fusion was advertised via the various teacher-librarian and public librarian networks and electronic and distribution lists, which proved very successful. The event attracted 67 interested professionals and students. We were lucky to attract support of guest speakers who are experts within their fields: Lyn Linning (lecturer, Early Childhood Education, QUT), and Jo Jensen (author, storyteller and children's librarian). Both gave freely of their time to attend and present at the conference.
The program also included the following speakers and presenters:
Visual Literacy - Loris Phair, teacher-librarian, Hillbrook Anglican School;
Reading Groups - Anne Spelman, young people's consultant, Public Libraries Division;
Childsplay Queensland history and educational project - Kaye Nunan and Niles Elvery, State Library of Queensland;
Displays - Dajo Finlayson, teacher-librarian, Moreton Bay College, Mark Turdinger, Reverse Garbage, and Yvonne Russell, Just Imagine;
Booktalking - Lyn Linning, QUT, and Denise O'Connor and Laney Robinson, Public Libraries Division;
Conference debriefing - Reading Matters - Loris Phair;
Boys and Books Panel, Julie Sharpe, Distance Educations, Shane Purse, head of library, Toowoomba
Grammar School - and Vicki Shapcott, youth services librarian, Cooloola Shire;
Storytelling - Bernadette Franzoni and Jo Jensen.
Conference evaluation feedback was collated by CYS secretary, Loris Phair. While requiring improvement in future, the inaugural Pro-Fusion conference was a great success. Many thanks to all who contributed to this event.
CYS future
During a CYS meeting 8 August 2001, Anne and Loris identified key findings from feedback received from Pro-Fusion. It is suggested that the CYS activities and events 'signature' be two mini-conferences, held at Public Libraries Division, one per school semester. Ongoing interest in the following two areas would be of interest to members:
- Children's writing and getting published. Perhaps an event with a QWC member as a keynote speaker. Writing competitions, web publishing...
'From reader to writer'?
- Teens and reading, boys and books, girls and literacy (including computer literacy), and non-fiction reading. Also talking books and audio literature. Practical strategies to promote reading.
'Power on with the reading'?
It is clear that the Pro-Fusion conference reached its niche audience and was consequently endorsed as being of real value to literacy professionals in all fields. Anne has been nominated to attend the National Policy Congress 2001 which reviews and reports on the recommendations and progress of the groups. As we are now in a position to build on its success and our learnings to keep CYS Qld professionally invigorating, I hope the committee and members will endorse an application to re-register CYS QLD as an ALIA group from January 2002, for a maximum period of two years.
Anne Spelman
ALIA CYS Queensland convenor
18 October 2001
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