ALIA Quorum

Social events

Expanding Horizons: Information Professionals in the Digital World

A professional development workshop presented by Angela Abell, Associate, TFPL, London UK

This interactive workshop held on February 5 at QUT offered the opportunity to consider the roles and skills of information professionals in the domain of information management. An overview of existing British and international information management frameworks, standards and professional guidance will be provided and the key outcomes from the recent TFPL research project highlighted.

Angela's presentation [585kb ppt] provides an overview of the changes faced by the profession and the roles of individuals, institutions and associations.

Delegates worked together to develop the framework by reviewing the models proposed, by critiquing and developing the proposals and by considering a number of key questions. The workshop concluded with delegates consolidating viewpoints on the framework itself, on sectoral and international differences and drawing conclusions about the potential value and application of the framework in the participants' own employment contexts.

Angela Abell has held a number of senior library and information management posts in the public, private and academic sectors. Within the information and knowledge management domain her main areas of interest are the value and impact of information, the identification and development of information professional skills and competencies, and information and knowledge flows. Angela worked with TFPL Ltd for thirteen years where she set up and led a consultancy division and became Director of Business Development. She left TFPL at the end of November 2006 although remains a TFPL Associate. During her time at TFPL she undertook knowledge and information consultancy for private and public sector clients, developed training courses and learning materials, and led a number of 'roles and skills' research projects. These included two projects for UK government agencies exploring the role of information professionals in the knowledge economy. The outcomes were published as 'Skills for knowledge management: building a knowledge economy (1999)', and 'Scenarios for the knowledge economy: strategic information skills (2001)'.

Copyright: update on recent legislative changes

On Thursday 15 February Moyra McAllister, ALIA\'s Copyright Advisor, presented a seminar on recent changes to copyright legislation. Bookings for the presentation were so strong that Quorum asked Moyra whether she would be able to provide a second session later that afternoon. Moyra was generous enough to oblige.

Around 40 participants from special, public and academic libraries attended over the 2 sessions in the new Brisbane City Council Building.

If you weren't able to attend, Moyra's handout [168kb pdf] gives an overview of the presentation.

Photos, reports, news, copies of presentations from Quorum social events and professional development activities will be added to this new space throughout the year.

If you have been to a Quorum event - we'd love to receive your contributions! Please e-mail Merindi Derrick (please remove '.nospam' from address) if you'd like to contribute.