Key Selection Criteria: Biographies

Mieke Mellers
Library Operations Co-ordinator of Hume Global Learning Village

Mieke started out in library land in The Netherlands in the early 80s as a Children's Librarian in the Central Branch of the Amsterdam Public Library Service. After 3 years she decided that it was time to see the world outside Europe and ended up in Australia on a working holiday and met her (now) husband. When her visa ran out, Mieke went back to The Netherlands, worked on a government project related to library and literacy services for Turkish children. Then she got a job as Children's Librarian/deputy branch librarian in a town near Rotterdam.

Mieke decided to migrate to Australia, get married and start work as a Librarian at the Braille and Talking Book Library, one of the few 'public' libraries then not governed by the ALIA standards of having to have a recognised Australian qualification to work at a Librarian level (this has since changed). She upgraded her Dutch qualifications to Australian recognised qualifications and stayed at the Braille and Talking Book Library in various jobs including Audio Librarian, Braille and Large Print Librarian, Acquisitions Librarian, Manager Technical Services, Manager Collection Services for 13 years. She took a voluntary redundancy in 2004 when Vision Australia merged with the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and went to work as Collections Librarian the Stonnington Library and Information Service; this was a temporary position and she then moved to The One Umbrella to commence work as a Recruitment Consultant at the end of 2004.

Over 6 months, Mieke realised recruitment work didn't suit her so she got a job as a Librarian at the new Hume Global Learning Centre which was conveniently close to where her family was building their new house in Caroline Springs. Within 6 weeks the Library Operations Coordinator position became available, Mieke was successful in obtaining it and has been there ever since.

Ian Smith
Manager Library Human Resources at La Trobe University.

He has worked in university libraries for 30+ years as a librarian (mostly in reference & information services) and more recently as HR manager.

Ian has a particular interest in staff development and organisational development and is Chair of the IFLA Continuing Professional Development & Workplace Learning Section.

He writes regularly on these topics for the U.K. Library Management journal.

Jenny Baran
One Umbrella Recruitment

Jenny began her Information Management career as a Library Technician then upgraded her qualifications at RMIT ten years ago to a Bachelor of Business in Information Management. She worked in traditional library roles for many years, then for a vendor for 7 years prior to her move into recruitment 3 years ago.

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