18 July 2006

Excellence in virtual patient care support wins award for SA Library manager

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Dr Jennie Hanisch has won the inaugural South Australian Library Achiever of the Year Award. The Award recognises her role as chair of the South Australian Health Services Libraries Consortium, a group formed to facilitate access to electronic information for patient care for the state’s health professionals.

As chair for the last three years, Dr Hanisch has acted as the Consortium’s principal negotiator for the joint purchasing of electronic products on behalf of 14 libraries within the portfolios of Health and Families and Communities. She has also provided leadership on strategic planning and policy and managed the operations of the Consortium, whose members range from major teaching hospitals to community care agencies across the state. And all of this was on top of her full time ‘proper’ job as library manager for the Children’s, Youth and Women’s Health Service.

Sponsored by library suppliers Raeco, the South Australian Library Achiever Award has been established to recognise excellence and innovation within the library and information profession in South Australia.

Dr Hanisch was presented with her Award and a cash prize of $500 at a special ceremony at the State Library of South Australia last night.

Dr Hanisch was nominated by her colleagues in the Consortium. The judging panel included State Library of SA director Alan Smith, Raeco’s area manager for SA, Paul de Boer, local Australian Library and Information Association Board member Philip Keane and co-convenor of the Association’s South Australian group, Liz Walkley-Hall. Ms Walkley Hall said the competition this year was very high calibre, making it a hard task for the judges, but Dr Hanisch’s work was outstanding.

“Dr Hanisch’s activities as chair of the Consortium demonstrate significant success in establishing collaborative ventures or partnerships in the sector,” Ms Walkley-Hall said. “She has also shown an extraordinary dedication to the advancement of libraries, especially as these responsibilities are all voluntary, with no paid administrative support of any kind, and Dr Hanisch has given so much time and expertise on top of holding a fulltime senior position.” “The judging panel felt Dr Hanisch is a perfect example of what this Award, and our profession, is all about,” she said.

Presentation of the Award also coincided with a meeting of the Board of the Australian Library and Information Association in Adelaide yesterday and executive director of the Association, Sue Hutley, said the Board was delighted to be able to attend this inaugural event.

“There are many unsung heroes in the library and information sector, helping people every day,” Ms Hutley said.

“It’s our business to put people and ideas together,” she said.

“Helping regional communities get the best services available through libraries working together and using technology effectively is a great example of how we can make a real difference in people’s lives.”