ALIA Reference and Information Services (VIC)

2004 report

Purpose and goals

This group changed its name and focus at the beginning of 2004. The committee decided that it could not offer professional development and networking opportunities to members in NSW when all the organising was done in Melbourne. In consultation with Richard Dearden it was decided that reference librarians in Tasmania would be better served by the ALIA Tasmania group. The e-list was changed from aliaSEARAISS to aliaVICRAIS and members were given the opportunity to unsubscribe. The group's purpose and goals have remained the same but now only apply to Victoria.

Committee membership

Sarah Hopkins convenor - Bayside Library Service
Anne Bult secretary EdD candidate - Monash University
Heather Ross treasurer - RMIT University
Shirley Wong University of Melbourne
Doreen Sullivan St Vincent's Hospital

Meetings held

2 March (planning meeting)
27April
22 June
17 August
5 October

Activities

30 March - State Library of Victoria: Reference service in new spaces
Tour of the domed reading room, the Redmond Barry Reading Room and the Cowen Gallery at the State Library of Victoria. Leneve Jamieson and Jock Murphy from the State Library led the tour. 17 people attended.

5 April - launch of aliaRAISVIC e-list

27 July: Getting better and better: DIY professional development
A panel session covering different forms of professional development. The speakers were Margie Anderson on the ALIA CPD program, Ben Conyers on undertaking a higher degree in librarianship and Angela Prior on professional development at Monash University. 37 people attended.

27 October: Cross database searching
A seminar on cross-database searching using different products in different libraries. 45 people attended. The speakers were:
Liz Burke, La Trobe University Library - Tour of UK MetaLib sites
Tony Davies, Swinburne University Library - MetaLib at Swinburne
Lynette Lewis, Yarra Plenty Regional Library - Information Australia Project

Budget - The tour of the State Library was a free event. The cost for the other two was $5.00 for students, $11.00 for ALIA members (including institutional memberships) and $16.50 for non-members. RAIS was able to cover the costs involved in running all three events and make some profit. A treasurer's report will be sent separately.

Sarah Hopkins, convenor