NLS2006: on-the-spot reports

From the convenors' chair

Well, we didn't have an actual chair. It's a metaphor. For our delegates, NLS2006 was two days in December. For us, NLS was two years of work which hasn't quite finished yet.

The most outstanding thing about those two days in December was a feeling of amazement - amazement that this theoretical concept we'd been working on was - well, real. The first moment was seeing the exhibition hire company truck outside the venue: here was something real, they were there because we told them to be there. And if they were there, the exhibitors would come. And then the speakers would come. And then the delegates would come. And guess what happened - they did. Everyone came, and this thing was suddenly real. That was a wonderful feeling.

Oh, we had our problems, sure...the fire alarm that went off in the venue at 7:30 on the morning of the first day, giving us all minor heart attacks. Or the panic that reared its head when we saw the weather on Saturday evening, and wondered what would become of our drinks on the racecourse lawn. When the heavens opened we looked at each other in horror, and then reminded ourselves that if only ten people turn up to the dinner, we'll just make sure those ten have the best dinner ever.

And we both do feel somewhat like we've had our heads in a little NLS sandpit for the last two years, and are only now coming up for air and blinking in the sunlight. Alyson says, 'So I'm not only catching up on all those fun things that normal people do (such as having an unplanned weekend once in a while) but also changing the way I manage my own professional development. Like most delegates, I'll be walking away from NLS2006 (when it is finally over for me) asking 'what did I get from that?' I don't yet have a simple, concise answer to that question, but I'm looking forward to finding one.'

Thanks for coming, guys.

Alyson and Adrianne

Conferences and committees:

NLS2006 from an NLS4 committee member's perspective

What a learning curve! As well as NLS2006 being my very first ALIA conference, I was attending as a member of the organising committee for the next New Graduates' conference in Melbourne in 2008.

My conference experience as a new graduate was sensational. I was immersed in learning and information opportunities while revelling in being among so many people from my profession. There were new faces to meet, a few familiar faces and, probably the highlight of the conference for me, lots of people attached to tags bearing names I recognised from forums, e-lists and inCite. Electronic communication is wonderful, particularly for librarians from the bush, but nothing beats face-to-face chatting, particularly when you've been communicating with a faceless name for years!

But I had a job to do. As well as soaking up the atmosphere, the sessions and social activities, I was observing; scribbling notes about organisation, from how the tables were arranged to how successful the speakers were. I was on a mission to learn from the 2006 committee.

Fortunately I am blessed with a brain that can run on three channels at once, so watching how the committee handled the technology for the speakers didn't detract from my enjoyment of each session. I could absorb the thought-provoking comments of the Leadership Panel, marvel at their range of experiences, appreciate the brilliance of Adrianne's moderation and still note how well the whole session had been organised and ponder the possibilities of placing peppermints on each table.

My observations have now been recorded and collated for the NSL4 committee. But it is impossible to collate the pleasure and delight I experienced during those two days. My head is still overflowing with information, ideas and impressions. And I am still overcome with awe and admiration when I think of the sheer scope of the organisation involved in presenting such a successful conference, which has set such a high benchmark for NLS4.

Ruth Barton

NLS2006: Taking the next step...

As I stepped up to the podium to address a crowd of my professional peers on why librarians should not be politically active, that little voice of doubt sounded in my head, 'What are you doing here? You've only been working as a professional for a few months, and you've barely even finished your qualification. You don't know that much about the industry, and the moment you open your mouth you're going to look like an idiot.' I ignored it - it was clearly too late to back down - and delivered my speech as planned. I could not have dreamt that it would have been received as well as it was, especially as I'd taken the less popular side of the debate that even I didn't quite agree with. As a new librarian, I had entered the profession thinking that I would have to keep my head down for a couple of years and learn my craft according to the procedures and policies that were already laid out for me in the workplace, before I could be taken seriously as a professional. But in two days, the New Librarians' Symposium totally changed this outlook. Through the diverse program there were two strong messages that really struck home to me.

The first was that, as new librarians, our ideas are instrumental to innovation and new directions for the library industry. We are in a progressive industry that needs to embrace new ideas to succeed. New librarians are in the best position to present these ideas, and we should not be afraid to revolutionise our workplace, whether by being early adopters of new technology, adapting to Web 2.0, implementing new frameworks for information literacy programs, or finding new ways to reach out to the community.

The other message that came through was that we are the future leaders of the industry, and now is the time to start thinking about leadership roles. We need to be adventurous, get outside of our comfort zones, and develop our skills by taking on responsibilities that might seem to risk being somewhat out of our depth. And 'leadership' doesn't necessarily mean being at the top, but being influential in effecting change in the industry, and creating new vision and direction for our organisations.

The New Librarians' Symposium was an excellent introduction to the LIS community of ALIA. I returned from Sydney inspired by the knowledge that, as a new librarian, it's never too soon to make a difference, or to take a step into the unknown.

Andrew Finegan

back