ALIA Top End Group

2007 annual report

Key activities held in 2007

2007 was a busy year for ALIA Top End (ALIATE) with a good balance of activities both social and professional. Membership of the group stood at ? by the end of the year.

PD events and activities

• Workshops

  A number of highly successful workshops were held through 2007. Each workshop was quickly filled and there was a good mix of Alia and Non-Alia members attending. The range of libraries represented was also quite wide.

  The job searching workshop attracted 6 people and covered the skills needed in addressing selection criteria when applying for positions within the library industry.

  The blogging workshop was very popular and places were quickly filled. 15 People attended the first workshop and 5 attended the workshop when it was run a second time. Participants were introduced to the theory of blogging and also shown how to create their own site.

• 5th Alia Top End Symposium "Evolving education"

  October saw ALIA Top End's major event of the year: the 5th ALIA Top End Symposium. The symposium was held over two half days and attracted approximately 75 participants from the NT and interstate. Once again, it was a well-attended event with a great program and excellent feedback was received.

Membership recruitment:

• Careers Expo

  The ALIA Top End stall at the NT Careers Expo in August attracted a steady stream of visitors, and leaflets and brochures were handed out predominantly to year twelve students. The sub committee once again the top ends own generic brochure on the variety of libraries, roles of Library workers and the qualifications required. A positions vacant board was also included this year to highlight the jobs that are available in the industry.

• Alia Top end garden party

  The Garden Party was held at the Chinese Gardens at Charles Darwin University on 25 July. Fifty members and non members attended this very successful event. This year CDU Library Studies students were encouraged to attend to meet their future employers and encouraged to join Alia.

• New Graduates

  At the Christmas function on 28 November Alia Top End presented certificates to 2 new NT library studies graduates and one post graduate student. This was seen as a way to encourage non members to join Alia. This year the group also presented certificates to Alia members enrolled in the Alia PD scheme. Approximately 15 people were recognised. 33 people attended the Xmas party held at a local Mexican restaurant. A number of donated items were raffled and used as prizes for a very competitive quiz.

Other

• National Advisory Congress

  The Regional ALIA National Advisory Congress consultation was held on 6th October and generated a lot of interesting discussion. 18 members attended which was a record.

• Library and Information Week

  Library and Information Week was held 21- 27th May and deemed a success. An ALIA stall was staffed at the Saturday Parap markets highlighting the various events. Drinks and nibbles were put on by the NT library to celebrate LIW and a very successful quiz night was held to celebrate the end of LIW with some of the proceeds being donated to the Solomon Islands tsunami appeal.

Group communications

Communication with members was carried out predominantly via the e-list, the web page, the quarterly newsletter as well as bi-monthly face-to-face meetings, and bi-monthly library tours. The format for monthly events was altered this year to encourage greater attendance and participation.

In 2007 meetings were held monthly and combined with a library tour. Many members attended for the tour but did not remain for the meeting leaving the committee and a few regular faces to sit through agenda items. It was felt that a change to format was required to encourage people to attend the monthly events. Meetings are now held bi-monthly at different venues including restaurants to improve accessibility for members and non members, and to enhance the socialising aspect of the group. Bi-monthly tours of various libraries have been introduced with the hosts of the respective sites providing a tour and presentation of special services. The events are informative and social once again with the aim being to encourage attendance, networking and professional development.

• Group meetings and library tours

  21 February
  Tour - Museum library

  21 March
  Meeting – Cool Spot Fannie bay

  18 April
  Tour - Health library

  16 May
  Meeting – Sailing club

  21-27 May
  LIW – various activities

  27 May
  LIW Quiz Night, CDU

  7 June
  Job searching for library workers - Workshop

  20 June
  Tour - National archives

  25 July
  Meeting – Karama Public Library

  18 July
  Garden party – Chinese gardens CDU /visit from alia national office

  15 August
  Tour – Cridlands law library

  23 August approx
  Careers Expo
  Blogging Workshop

  19 September
  Meeting – Charles Darwin University Library Palmerston
  Call for 2008 committee

  5-6 October
  5th Alia Top End Sympoisum – 'evolving education'

  6 October
  National Advisory Congress

  24 October
  Tour – Darwin High School library

  6 November
  2nd Blogging Workshop

  21 November
  Meeting – Northern Territory library

  28 November
  Xmas party
  2008 committee announced

  20 November
  Budget due

  December
  Group hand over

Office bearers

Convenor: Sarah White
Vice-Convenor: Sue Chilman
Secretary: Andrew Finegan
Treasurer: Suzanne Young

The Office bearers met on a monthly basis to progress business of the group separately from the monthly group events. This enabled the bi-monthly group meetings to be short and to the point allowing for additional time to be spent on professional development and networking activities.

Other

Local Liaison officer: Jayshree Mamtora

Group Support officer: Alison Brown

Sarah White
Convenor
November 2007