2004-2005 annual report

ALIA Queensland Library Technicians Group has had another successful year during 2004/2005. At the annual general meeting last June, I was re-elected convenor of the group for another year. The committee consisted of Trish Darcy, deputy convenor, Anne Collins, secretary, Helen Trochoulias, treasurer, Margaret Mowberry, members e-mail co-ordinator. Megan Maguire took on the position of student representative. With the general committee members Lyn Bogaarts, Robyn Carlile, Anna Drew, Anna Johnson, Susan Sawyer, Sharon Uthmann, the committee size was twelve. I would like to thank all these people for their loyalty and their generous assistance to me and I hope they all feel that it was a rewarding experience. We have continued to meet after work, as needed, enjoying food while we work.

In March 2005, Helen Trochoulias, resigned as treasurer because she is travelling to work at the Gold Coast and not able to attend meetings. I took on the role because I had previously been treasurer and the annual dinner was looming.

On Tuesday 27 July, at the Southbank Campus Library in South Brisbane, Marian Moyle, former convenor, spoke on her experiences in the United Arab Emirites working at Sharjah Womens College, Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). Marian was on leave after twelve months and was to return to complete her contract of three years. There were many interested attendees and the questions came thick and fast. We are grateful to Marion for giving up her precious time to share her experiences with the group.

On Saturday 11 September, there was a bus trip to Toowoomba. Tours commenced at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery library where white gloves were needed to handle the historical pictorial items of early explorations. Toowoomba City Library was next where, after morning tea, a tour of the public area as well as behind the scenes was enjoyed. The Toowoomba Local History Library with a wealth of local information proved interesting. Queens Park, a couple of weeks before the Carnival of Flowers was starting to bloom. It was a good spot for lunch. Cobb & Co Museum proved an interesting venue for coffee. On the way back to Brisbane a stop was made at Warrego Wines for a tour and taste. Everyone reported that it was a wonderful trip. Thanks to Margaret Mowberry, the organiser, with help from Sharon Uthmann.

The christmas breakfast was held at 8:15am at the Watt Café, New Farm on Sunday 21 November. We enjoyed great food, difficult quizzes, good prizes and lots of fun. Thanks to Anna Johnson for organising this end of year function.

On Wednesday 16 February a copyright seminar was held at University of Queensland. The group was addressed by Tom Joyce the UQ copyright officer (with the information access service of the University of Queensland Cybrary). 'The free trade agreement and copyright: the implications for libraries' was his topic. There was a good attendance from many different libraries and we all enjoyed and benefited from Tom's talk. Thanks to Sue Sawyer for organising this seminar, Anna Drew for hosting on the night and Margaret Mowberry for catering.

On Saturday 12 March a half-day workshop entitled 'Asking the right questions' was given by Angela Vilkins. This was held at Brisbane City Council Central City Library meeting room which was a good venue. The 20 people attending participated in many activities and took away strategies to put to use in their workplaces. Thanks to Trish Darcy for catering and the library for the use of the room.

The annual dinner was held on Library Technicians Day, Tuesday 24 May, during Library Week at Skyline Restaurant, Southbank Institute of TAFE. The hospitality students served a delicious meal and Nadja Alexander entertained us with belly dancing. Robyn Carlile had us all racking our brains to answer when certain words had come into the English language so we could be the winning table and receive lots of Turkish delight as a prize. The guest speaker of the evening, Barb Ewers, QUT communications and external relations manager, spoke on marketing and libraries. The Queensland Library Technician of the Year (Recent Graduate) Award was presented to Margaret Mowberry by Douglas Stewart the general manager of Queensland Library Supplies, the sponsor. Margaret was also presented with a registration brochure for the neXt conference 13th National Library and Information Technicians Conference as a symbol that she would be funded to attend the conference. Jo-Anne Duscha from the Queensland Conference Committee made the presentation because the funding was a result of the success of that conference. The selection panel had a difficult job deciding on the recipient but Margaret had excelled in all areas of her work at Drug-Arm Resouce Centre and in her contribution to the ALIA Queensland Library Technicians Group since she joined as a student.

One Umbrella general manager, Marion Nicholson and Capraryan representative, Robyn Rodgers, presented lucky door prizes.

During the year I have tried to attend as many Quorum meetings as possible to ensure that library technician's views are represented outside our group. I would like to thank Sharon Uthmann for representing us at the National Policy Congress. Sharon and I also visited the day and night classes of starting library technician students at Morningside Campus to introduce ALIA and our group to them. Robyn Carlile is compiling a photographic record of the group and is willing to accept photos of events whether they be recent or in the past. Sharon Uthmann has worked with ALIA headquarters to improve our presence on the ALIA website with social pages of our events.

In a different venue we are now holding another annual general meeting. I would like to thank the QUT Law Library for hosting us tonight and thank Sharon Uthmann for organising and catering.

Once again, I thank all the committee for contributing and so lessening my workload. I would like to wish the new committee elected tonight all the best for the future and ensure them of my support in the events that they organise.

Jennifer Parker

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