- Present: Robin Hempel (chair), Linda Winzar (minutes), Dianne Wilcox, Di Sinclair, Julie Adams, Ruth Quinn, Ellen Bucknall, Ann Ritchie, Jayshree Mamtora, Lyn McIntosh, Felicity Williams.
Apologies: Barbara Cotton, Stelios Podias, Sarah White, Emma Darby, Shirley Shepherd.
- Confirmation of Previous Minutes:
Confirmation of minutes of meeting held 19 February 2003. Accepted by Ruth Quinn. Seconded by Dianne Wilcox.
- Business Arising
3.1 Letter to Minister: Evidence to include in the letter was called for at the previous meeting. No evidence was tabled at this meeting. A more strategic approach to gathering evidence was discussed in order to access current situation and communicate for lobbying purposes. Ann Ritchie gave an example of a data gathering exercise undertaken by the ALIA Health libraries. Their project funding was $5000.00. After discussion it was agreed that the ALIA Top End group should undertake a similar project. The group supported Robin Hempel initiating the process to gain similar funding to undertake a project of an NT libraries census.
ACTION: Robin Hempel initiate the process of gaining funding to undertake a census of N.T. libraries.
Motion: That we put in a grant application to a develop a census of Northern Territory Libraries.
Moved: Ann Ritchie
Seconded: Ruth Quinn
3.2 NTLIS Review: Robin Hempel confirmed that a letter was sent by Felicity Williams on behalf of the group to Director NTLIS. Robin provided a verbal summary of the letter. The letter expressed concern that the group as a member of the review steering committee had not been involved to date other than a request to comment on the agencies Strategic Directions paper. No response to this letter has been received to date. Robin offered to set up a meeting with the Director to discuss. Following discussion it was agreed that the Director be asked to present to the group regarding the status of the review. Robin will invite Director to the next meeting.
ACTION: Robin Hempel to invite Director NTLIS to present at the April meeting
3.3 Group Support Officer Position: The position was advertised via e-mail. 3 applications were received. Robin Hempel reported that during a phone conversation with Georgina Gale of the National Office, Georgina implied that continuing financially support for Group Support Officers may not be available and/or that such Officers in the future would need to play a greater role with the National Office. Ruth informed that National Officer had committed to supporting this position by supporting the group application. As no official communication on the subject had been provided the consensus was that the recommendation should be forwarded to National Office and the appointment made as soon as possible.
3.4 National VET program sessions: Felicity Williams and Lyn McIntosh both attended the National VET program sessions. Participants were asked to consider skills that would be required in 20 years. Both Lyn and Felicity put 'Information Literacy skills' forward however this was lost in the broader context of the sessions.
- Budget
4.1 Update: No items.
- CPD Activities
5.1 PLNT Dinner: This event was attended by 8 people, attendance was down due to the cyclone warning at the time.
5.2 Information Literacy Symposium:
Co-ordinators: Jayshree Mamtora and Ellen Bucknall
Working group: Lyn McIntosh, Di Sinclair, Linda Winzar and Sarah White (to be confirmed)
Sponsorship: A group may need to be formed to look at sponsorship
Planning: If planning is done by May the symposium could be promoted during Library Week, particularly because of the 'Information Literacy' Library Week theme.
5.3 ASLA and CBCA Function: ALSA are interested in a combined function, but not in July. Maybe September or October. When Robin Hempel contacted ASLA concern was raised about the current situation of the lack of teacher-librarians in Northern Territory schools. Robin will request a letter in writing so the group can act on their behalf. Felicity informed that the CBCA could be interested in a combined Christmas function. Felicity promoted 2 upcoming CBCA events: Feedback session on the Children's Literature Conference in October and combined CBCA and ALSA short list presentation on 30 April and Stuart Park Primary School.
Agreement was that ALIA would aim to hold a combined function with ASLA and CBCA in October.
ACTION: Robin to request letter from ASLA with view to lobbying.
- Mentoring
6.1 Update: Anne Ritchie reported on the first meeting was held with the 3 mentorees. Meetings will now continue on a monthly basis.
- NT Awards
7.1 PLNT Meeting date: Lyn McIntosh reported that the PLNT meeting is scheduled for 8, 9 and 10 September. The symposium will be planned to coincide with these meeting dates to enable participants from public libraries throughout the Northern Territory the opportunity to participate.
- Group Awards
8.1 Student Awards: Linda Winzar informed the group that the Northern Territory University student awards would continue to be supported by ALIA. Linda has advised NTU of this and is awaiting notification of the student selected.
8.2 Group Awards: Linda to contact National Office regarding status of group awards. It was suggested that these awards could be presented at the end of year function if the status is still unknown.
- Communication and Networking
9.1 Newsletter: Kaye Bartlett is happy to continue as newsletter editor for the group. The next issue is planned for April 2003. The newsletter will be published online only.
- Directory
10.1 Disk: The directory disk has still not been located.
- Other Business
11.1 CHARTTES: Felicity Williams, ALIA Representative on the CHARTTES Training Advisory Council, tabled report. The group supported Felicity to continue in the representative role and Ruth Quinn to act as back up.
11.2 Library and Information Week 13-19 May 2003: Post Library and Information Week meeting will be held on 21 May at 12:00pm. Linda to book Cornucopia. Items discussed as ALIA's contribution to LIW included trying to get on the radio to promote what is happening in all libraries and engaging the Group Support Officer to look at options of a supplement in the Darwin/Palmerston Sun and/or NT News newspaper, as per previous years. Ideas were also expressed about a dinner or breakfast to be held during LIW although no consensus was reached. It was decided that this could be further discussed via the e-list to determine interest.
- Next meeting/Close
Next Meeting: 5:00pm Wednesday 16 April at NTU Palmerston Campus, Library.
Close: Meeting closed 7:50pm
