July-December 2001 report

How is the Group moving towards achieving its purpose and goals?

Promotes ALIA and Library Technician membership on a national basis

Group activities at 11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference, Hobart, Tasmania - 21-24 August 2001:

• Distribution of membership survey
• National forum
• Annual General meeting

Open letter to members and potential members discussing how members can benefit from joining a number of ALIA Groups as part of their membership, via Libtec e-mail discussion list - September 2001

The following correspondence will be sent in December 2001:

• Letter to delegates of the 11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference, who are not members of any of the ALIA Library Technician Groups, promoting membership of ALIA, the National LT Group and their appropriate State/Territory LT Group.
• Letter to Technician category members of ALIA, who are not members of any of the ALIA Library Technician Groups, promoting membership of the National LT Group and their respective State/Territory LT Group.

Actively represents the interests of library technicians in national forums

• Represented on the CREATE Australia industry review panel of the national training package - November 2001.
• All committee members will be present at the ALIA National Policy Congress, 7-8 December 2001.

Dissemination of information to library technician groups and members, also provides support and guidance to these when required:

The Groups main method of communication with members and the committee (comprising of representatives of each State/Territory Library Technician Group) has been through e-mail.

The Group has posted the following information onto Libtec - the Library Technicians electronic discussion list:

• Convenor reports - July, August, September and November 2001
• Membership survey - September 2001
• Membership survey results - November 2001 (also forwarded to the Board)
• Link to the Sydney Morning Herald web-page to an article about the New South Wales pay equity case. Reminded list participants that Phil Teece and ALIA had a major involvement in ensuring library staff, were included in the initial stages of the enquiry. - November
• Agendas for Committee meetings held 21 August and 7 December 2001 in Canberra - July/August and November respectively.

During the 11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference, held 21-24 August 2001, in Hobart, Tasmania, the Group raised and discussed issues with members, potential members and representatives of other Groups.

Convenor has sought feedback and comments from committee members (including representatives of each State/Territory Library Technician Group), on a number of reports and issues.

National LT Group facilitated the establishment of an ALIA e-mail account, to be used for the new EmployLT job network service. A number of Library Technician positions have been posted on libtec during 2001.

Promotional marketing sessions as part of professional development activities

• 11th National Library Technician Conference activities - 21-24 August 2001.
• Job Application and Interview Skills Workshop, Bunbury, Western Australia - 10 November 2001

Communication through teleconferences

Due to having two face-to-face committee meetings and regular e-mail correspondence during the July to December 2001 period, it was deemed unnecessary to conduct any teleconferences.

Report on key group activities and how well they have been attended and received:

Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 August 2001, Hobart, Tasmania - Attendance by 18 committee and members.

Program planning meeting held Tuesday 21 August 2001, Hobart, Tasmania - to discuss events, activities and services run by each State/Territory Library Technician Group. Ideas on how to translate these services to other LT Groups were also discussed. - Attendance by 18 committee and members.

National Group forum also held Tuesday 21 August 2001 (part of the 11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference program) - Phil Teece, ALIA Industrial Officer was invited to speak about current employment conditions, future trends and the NSW pay equity enquiry. Membership survey was promoted during this event.

National Group Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 23 August 2001 (continued on Friday 24 August 2001). AGM included:

• Reports provided by Convenors, or their representatives, of each ALIA Library Technician Group, highlighting activities and services to members, since the Fremantle Library Technicians Conference in 1999.
• Election of new executive committee members for next two years.
• Discussion and endorsement by members of draft Procedural Guidelines for the Group
• Amendments made to the endorsed draft Procedural Guidelines by request of Susanne Bruhn of the ALIA National Office. Proposed amendments forwarded to committee members (State/Territory LT Group Convenors). Amendments endorsed. Second draft forwarded to the ALIA Board of Directors for ratification.

A membership survey was distributed during the conference and posted onto Libtec. Results have been compiled, forwarded to each ALIA Library Technicians Group, members (via Libtec) and forwarded to the ALIA Board of Directors.

Convenor was invited to attend a number of activities in Western Australia.

• Friday 9 November 2001 - Panel member at ALIA WA Library Technician Group Disciplining library patrons debate/panel session, Perth, Western Australia. 20+ participants, received very positive feedback.
• Saturday 10 November 2001 - Co-presented with Bonnie Bruce, a job-application and interview skills workshop in Bunbury, southwest Western Australia to the SWELL regional group. Part of the workshop included promotion of ALIA, including links to ALIA events and services and the benefits of ALIA membership - 21 participants. Have received positive feedback.
• Attendance in Western Australia, provided an opportunity to discuss proposed plans and budgets for 2002 activities with Western Australia based members, including the Group's Vice Convenor.

Convenor was invited to participate in review of the Industry Training package, through CREATE Australia. First meeting was held Monday 26th November. Will be forwarding information to members, all ALIA Groups and the Board of Directors as it becomes available.

Attendance of the National Policy Congress, 7-8 December, Rydges Hotel, Canberra.

• Convenor invited to give a five-minute presentation during the National Policy Congress on achievements, challenges and professional issues facing ALIA.
• A second scheduled committee meeting will be held on the morning of Friday 7 December 2001 at the Rydges Hotel, Canberra. The agenda has been posted to Libtec and included on the Groups web-page. Background information papers will also be made available to members.

Participation by members via attendance of the meeting or by responding to background papers is being encouraged.

Comments on variances in expenditure and income against budget:

With a majority of the National Committee to be eligible to attend the National Policy Congress, it was decided to have a second face-to-face committee meeting. To allow Sandra Wilson (Vice Convenor) and Kathy Sharrad (Past Convenor) to attend the committee meeting and the NPC as observers, it was decided that any funds for teleconferences would be used to supplement the travel and accommodation budget.

The Group endeavoured to keep travel and accommodation costs to a minimum by:

Seeking to book airfares and accommodation for Sandra Wilson and Kathy Sharrad, through the NPC delegate's travel and accommodation rate.

There was a problem with Sandra Wilson's booking which was misplaced. Ultimately Sandra was able to book her own flight through Ansett airlines at a more reasonable rate than the ALIA travel agents were able to obtain through Qantas.
Kathy and Sandra also agreed to share a hotel room, further reducing costs.

Bonnie Rae Bruce (National Committee member and WA Library Technician Group Convenor), offered accommodation to Stephen Coppins, during the Convenor's Western Australia visit in November.

Comments on issues to be considered by the Group for 2002

Results of the recent membership survey indicated a greater preference for CPD activities (including Conferences), as well as communication between Groups and members.

The National Library Technician Group in conjunction with State and Territory Library Technician Groups will be working to develop activities to meet these needs in 2002.

Review of the Industry Training Package with CREATE Australia will continue.

Issues that the Group would like to refer to the Board of Directors or ALIA National Office

The National Library Technicians Group would like to thank the Board for approving the budget for the Group and other Library Technician Groups. While this is the first time in many years that some Groups have received actual funding from ALIA, we would like to point out a few teething issues. These need to be addressed to make the program budgeting process more effective for Treasurers, Groups and ALIA:

Detailed breakdown of the approved funds and activities -
Many of the Library Technician Groups (including the National Group) forwarded 12-month funding applications, to later find out the Group registration period only lasted 6 months. This caused initial confusion about which activities had actually received funding and at what levels.

Monthly updates sent to the correct person
Amanda Colbert, Treasurer July-August 2001 or, Janette Telford, Treasurer September-December 2001, have not received any monthly statements or updates for the Group account.

Recruitment and retention of members:
July-December 2001 has been the first time members have had to indicate their intention to join the National Library Technicians Group. Prior to the introduction of the new Group structure members of each State/Territory Library Technician Section were automatically allocated National Library Technician membership.

The membership of the ALIA National Library Technicians Group was as follows:

Membership across all State and Territory Library Technician Groups (and we note other Groups) has reduced during this six-month period. We attribute this decrease in membership to the following issues:

• Lack of consultation by the Board of Directors with members on important membership issues.
• Increase in membership fees for members in the $25 000-$35 000 pa wage bracket.

Many long-term and active members have not renewed their memberships because of these issues.

We predict a further reduction in ALIA membership (across all membership categories), in the next membership renewal period, due to the Board's recent decision on Group Conferences.

The Group would like to offer to work with the Board, representatives of other Groups who organise ALIA Conferences and Trade delegate representatives to work on guidelines and models to ensure the success of a range of ALIA conferences, beneficial to members, Trade and ALIA.

The Group would like clarified the article appearing on page 16, of the November 2001 issue of inCite, in relation the Board's recruitment initiatives for members in the following categories:

• Students
• Professionals
• Senior Professionals (we did know there was such a membership category in ALIA?)
• Institutions

Could the Board please clarify, the plans for prospective Library Technician members or if they will be included in the recruitment plans of the 'Professionals' category?

If the later is the case, the National Library Technicians Group would be very interested in working with the Board on any campaign which promotes membership of our Professional Association, to everybody working in the library and information profession, eligible for ALIA membership.

We would like to commend the Board for their decision on the removal of the $8.00 fee for members joining additional ALIA Groups. This allows more members to take part in other Groups relevant to their professional needs and interests.

The decision on the two-year reduced membership fee for graduates is also a very good initiative.

The Group feels that it is important to acknowledge the contribution, hard work and dedication, the following people have provided to ALIA and the Library Technicians Group, especially in this, the International Year of the Volunteer:

Convenor:
Kathy Sharrad (January 2000-August 2001); Past Convenor (September 2001-present)

Vice Convenors:
Yvonne Brock (January 2000-August 2001); Convenor 12th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference (Brisbane, Queensland, 2003)
Sandra Wilson (September 2001-present)

Secretaries:
Kerrie Kelly (January 2000-August 2001)
Marion Fielke (September 2001-present)

Treasurers:
Amanda Colbert (January 2000-August 2001)
Janette Telford (September 2001-present)

Committee members:
ACT - Elizabeth Clary
NSW - Kevin Dudeney
NT - Patricia Whalan
Qld - Marian Moyle
SA - Sharron Zuodar
Tas - Kerrie Blyth/Rebecca Evans
Vic - Kerrie Kelly
WA - Bonnie Rae Bruce

Others to be thanked:

Helen Duggan and the organising committee of the 11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference, Hobart, Tasmania.

Committee members of each of the State/Territory Library Technician Groups.

Organising committee of the 12th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference, to be held in Brisbane, Queensland, 2003.

Clare Bristow and Meredith Martinelli, respective Convenors of the Victorian and New South Wales 2005 National ALIA Library Technicians Conference bid committees - since aborted.

Lothar Retzlaff, for work on National Group initiatives.

The Group would also like to congratulate the recipients of the following awards:

Marion Boyd - recipient of the 2001 Library Technician of the Year Award, sponsored by the University Co-op Bookshop.

Kerrie Blyth - recipient of the 2001 Dunn and Wilson Scholarship

This concludes the report of the ALIA National Library Technicians Group for July-December 2001.

The Group hopes to provide a positive update on activities and news in the January-June 2002 report to the ALIA Board of Directors.

Stephen J Coppins, JP, ADIPA(LP)D, ALIATec
Convenor
ALIA National Library Technicians Group