ALIA Queensland Library Technicians

January-June 2002 report

Six-monthly report to the ALIA Board of Directors

Purposes and goals

The following purposes /goals were set by the group when formed in 2001.

1. To offer support, networking, and learning opportunities for library technicians and students
2. Promote ALIA and membership
3. Act as mentors for newly-qualified library technicians
4. Provide forum for information and discussion

Progression towards these goals has been achieved through the activities of the group in the past six months in the following manner:

1. Support, networking and learning opportunities have been provided through the regular general meetings of the group in the form of:
   • informal drinks and nibbles before meetings
   • a schedule of speakers invited to contribute to the meeting in an interactive setting
   • a program of topics relevant to members work and study areas.
   
   
2. ALIA membership has been supported and encouraged formally through:
   • Presentation of the annual ALIA Qld Library Technician of the Year Award (Recent Graduate)
   • feedback to the group from the 2001 Policy Congress
   • annual dinner held on National Library Technicians Day
   • nformal encouragement between members and others at the regular meetings.
   
   
3. Mentoring for newly qualified technicians has not been pursued in a formal manner as the ALIA QUORUM Group in their mentoring program ably covers this. Members of the ALIA Queensland Library Technicians Group promote this program. However, informal mentoring is happening between some Library Technicians within the group.
   
   
4. A forum for information and discussion is provided in the bimonthly general meetings. Minutes of meetings are distributed to all members on our electronic mailing list, and are put on the ALIA website. Meetings follow accepted meeting procedures and the floor is open to business arising from minutes, and other business, at appropriate times. Members also make active use of the aliaLIBTEC discussion list.

Key group activities

Activities of the group include:

• Executive meetings
• General meetings which are devoted to special topics
• Networking opportunities
• Opportunities to address Library Technician students
• Annual Dinner
• Presentation of the Qld Library Technician of the Year Award (Recent Graduate)

Executive meetings are held bi-monthly with the general meetings being held in the alternate months.
The executive meetings are held at the Jazzy Cat Café where the committee is able to enjoy a cozy meeting room and a quiet working dinner. The executive consists of eight members, and attendance is excellent. Executive meetings were held in February, March and April.

The general meetings are generally held at the Qld State Library Theaterette or other suitable venue, and are attended by about twenty people each time. The meetings are preceded by a 'drinks and nibbles' half-hour so that everyone can mingle and meet one another. Guest speakers are sought to address the meeting on special topics.

The February meeting was held at the Public Library Services (State Library of Queensland) building, and took the form of a 'Storytelling for all ages' workshop. Bernadette Franzoni, an experienced storyteller with PLS led the group of forty with discussion about preparation for stories, audience levels, choice of stories and props that can be used with success. This entertaining and informative session was followed by feedback by the Convenor from the 2001 Policy Congress, with most discussion focussing on the conference issues.

The April meeting took the form of a Library Tour, visiting the Queensland Art Gallery Library, and College of Art and Music Conservatorium Libraries of Griffith University. Each library gave a one hour presentation and tour.

In May, we held the annual dinner with guest speaker Anna Raunik talking about the BHP Billiton and State Library of Queensland project that is taking Internet training to the remote townships of Queensland. The evening also featured the presentation of the ALIA Queensland Library Technician of the Year (Recent Graduate) to Diane Turner from DPI Library, Toowoomba.

The AGM in June featured Jenny Hale from Resource Options as guest speaker. A new committee was elected with Jennifer Parker as convenor. Yvonne Brock from the 2003 conference committee gave an update on progress and planning towards the next Library Technicians Conference in Brisbane, 2003.

Library Technician students There has been discussion between the convenor and the co-ordinator for Library Science studies at Southbank TAFE with regard to ALIA student awards, but no candidate has been put forward. Promotions for general meetings and any special events are circulated to Southbank TAFE Library Science students through the co-ordinator, and students have been attending these gatherings. An offer to address the students has not been taken up by the co-ordinator at this stage, but will be pursued in the next six months period.

Expenditure and income

Variation from the predicted budget for January to June 2002 was:

Hire of a technician has not been needed to date, but may be in future.

Catering costs have been averaging $20.00-$30.00 per meeting.

Bus hire was not needed for the April Library Tour due to the proximity of the libraries. A short train trip was substituted.

Profits from the annual dinner were due to costs being applied at a staff rate.

The Qld Library Technicians Group were able to show a small profit at the end of six months and remain financially viable with a balance of approximately $500.00 held at ALIA National Office.

Marian Moyle
Convenor
ALIA Queensland Library Technicians Group