January-June 2002 report

WA Library technician group: convenor - Bonnie Bruce

How is the group moving towards achieving its purposes and goals?

Promote ALIA and Library Technician activity.

The WA Library Technicians Group promoted ALIA and Library Technician activity by promoting membership at ALIA at various functions held during the last six months most notably the recruiting event in February, where a talk on the value of networking and mentoring was presented. This was a free evening. We also held a National Library Technicians Day Breakfast. Various members of the committee are also active within other groups, such as the WA Mentoring Programme, WA Forum, and the Local Studies Group.

Sandra Wilson was a member of the Sharr Medal Committee, and one of our members - Judy Allan gained a certificate of recognition from the committee.

We use Biblia - newsletter for WA Forum and inCite to promote our activities and events.

Encourage professional development both locally and nationally.

During the past six months we ran a very successful job applications and interview skills workshop and have plans to re run the metadata presentation from last year. The group has been busy with plans for the South West Forum which will be held in Bunbury in September - this one and a half day symposium is aimed at all levels of library workers and is a joint venture between WA Forum and WA Library Technicians Group we have been promoting it widely via e-mail lists and the public library section and are hoping for a good turnout.

Encourages new graduates through mutually - supportive friendships and recognising the special interests of library technicians.

The WA Library Technician Group encouraged new graduates by the reviving of the graduate mentoring program. This is being managed by three group members and although slow to start has begun to see results, with a small group of graduates being involved.

Social activities such as the Library Technicians Day breakfast and various library visits have helped to cement friendships within the group.

Expenditure

During the 2001-2002 financial year the Group held four functions for which an entry charge was made, and each event generated takings exceeding the associated costs. Funds resulting from these events ($282.43) were directed to a recruitment drive function costing $211.61, for which no entry fee was charged. With experience, we expect that future functions will generate additional funds.

The Group funded transport costs of $33.30 for a speaker to attend a library function in the South-west. The newly-formed Mentoring program had costs of $45.61. Stationery, postage and promotion costs for the year totalled $109.38.

Expenditure on events to take place during the 2002-2003 year was $300.

Key group activities and how well they have been attended and received
Most of the activities have been well attended with a good mix of students, members and non-members. Generally, practicing library technician ALIA members are the predominant attendees.

Professional development - whats in it for me? held in February disappointing turn out, but those that attended found it useful.

Job Application Workshop held in April well attended, small profit made, and feed back very positive. Saturday function. Library Technicians Day Breakfast held during Library and Information Week in May. Well attended.

Tour of the UWA Medical and Dental Library - held as part of monthly meeting for March. Well received.

Tour of the Murray Street Library - Curtin Graduate School of Business - held as part of monthly meeting for May. Well received.

Issues for the Group in 2002

Wider promotion of functions - develop contact points and networks to reach more library technicians and other interested people around the metro area.

Continuing involvement in education programmes for library technicians.

Increase our presence within Central TAFE and ECU, the two main providers of a library technicians qualification here in WA.

Issues to refer to ALIA National Office

Communication continues to be a problem. Various e-mails have been sent to ALIA National Office and have gone unanswered. This considerably hampers our planning process, particularly with events such as the South West Forum. Telephoning the contact direct seems to work better but is problematic given the time difference between WA and Canberra.

Local presence officer. What is ALIA doing about developing this role and how can we as a group make the best use of this sort of support?

The group has not been as active in these past few months as last year, but this is mainly due to the work involved in putting on the South West Forum, and establishing the graduate mentoring program. Several good ideas have emerged for next years program and will be pursued as part of the planning process for the next twelve months. The production of the Office-bearers Guide will help considerably with management of the group. We are pleased to note that WA is being represented on the Board of Directors (Deanne Barret) in CPD and that the National Library Technicians Group convenor is another West Australian - made some good contacts within other groups such as the Local Studies Group and WA Forum and will continue to build on these.

Bonnie Rae Bruce
Convenor
1 July 2002

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