Which is exactly what the writers told us the first time round. I prefer not to think I am a slow learner, but I do now get that better than I did last time when there was so much conversation around the roles, the qualifications and the things that went on in the library. I guess we were all a bit new to it and of course, like workers implicated in every other such setting (think council staff dealing with the biting sarcasm in Grass Roots, dog lovers portrayed mercilessly in Best in Show, the long suffering Olympics volunteers watching the too-close-to-the-truth-for-comfort reportage style of The Games back in 2000, and more recently, public servants cringing under the scrutiny of The Hollowmen), we had our buttons pushed. But good. (And frankly, as familiar as we all are with Yes, Minister, perhaps we ought to have known better!)

To be honest, I am not sure where this line of thought will take me - I’m still thinking it. But I am glad a library finally made it into a tv series just because it got people talking. I like the way Robyn and Wayne used this and their experiences in libraries. I love that they and the whole crew ended up adoring the generosity and support of the library community in Victoria for the show. They were amazed by us as a ‘breed’. They may well continue to share good and happy library stories with their friends and if they do, then that’s great for libraries everywhere.

And the writers and crew were very generous to us too. We had ALIA members on set as extras, we had signed merchandise to give away, we had footage to share and special messages from the cast. I’d like to thank everyone involved for all of that. So, on to the next thing for all of us. May all our new friends in tv land continue your emerging love affair with all things library, and may all the folk in libraryland enjoy your memories of fleeting stardom!

 So work with me here, I am going to toddle down memory lane for a sentence or two. Cos if there’s one thing in this world I love, it’s public libraries and all the madness that goes on in them. With the possible exception of working out staff rosters.

 That special buzz when you know you’ve really helped someone and made their day better. The shared enthusiam for a new author or book in a series. The lengths some people go to to hide a book so others won’t get it (ok, that’s maddening but at least we know they’re passionate!) The way you simply never know what’s going to happen today or tomorrow - and sometimes you’re not too sure what happened yesterday. But we do know that most of the time, for most of the people - and this goes for libraries of all types I reckon - some library person somewhere has done something helpful, useful and maybe even downright inspiring. Every day there’s a chance to change someone’s life for the better - and I include finding them a new book by their favourite author right alongside ‘midwife-ing’ a spectacular moment in research in this category.

 Folks, it’s the coolest job in the world.

 So, a quick dash on to episode 5. All I can say, having read the synopsis on your behalf, is that it’s a gas… And I am waiting to hear what Ky decides to do about that bathroom renovation.

 And now, a teaser. Next week, on 9 September, the final episode goes to air. Trust me, it’s an episode you won’t want to miss. For a lot of Victorian librarians, this one will be .. well.. personal. Enuff said.

Here’s a question for you: would Frances, that self-proclaimed arbiter of all things library, ever be persuaded to join ALIA? Well, if anyone can do it, Sue Hutley can.

http://gallery.me.com/waynehope/100228
(Username: gristmill Password: Librarians)

Now where were we? OK, so this week the show has taken a turn that rivals Bold & Beautiful in complexity it would seem. The Middleton Interactive staff are frankly looking like some of the typically pressured parents I’ve met and Frances’ paper bag gets more relevant every day. (I’m still relating strongly to the IT issue by the way, given we’re in transfer mode at work at the moment and for a while this morning I thought we’d have to buy in some pigeons and vellum to get anything done.)

And then there’s Vince. Mr Colosimo as library association (my lack of caps) ‘big wig’? I dunno, does it work for you?

After the last series we heard a lot of stories about what turns up in return chutes in our libraries. (Got a story to tell? Share it here.) Tonight’s episode features something I haven’t seen before. Thank goodness. Given that Wayne and Robyn included  that scene of the woman wrapping up her fish in the library newspapers in Series 1 after actually seeing it happen in their local library, I am just a little concerned about how the idea about tonight’s ‘donation’ to the return chute came to them… dare we ask?

Happy viewing everyone!

I was having flashbacks of my own from being on set with the crew and cast and our own Sue Hutley back in February. (It’s fascinating watching tv being made. If you ever get the chance, do it - but wear sneakers so you don’t annoy the sound guy - and so you can still walk the next day. Standing around is THE occupation de jour on a film set..).

But I digress. Here’s what I learned this week: library relocations, even in the wonderful world of tv, are messy and inevitably result in the IT going horribly wrong before it goes right. Having a library card is the ultimate statement of citizenship (”I have a membership card, therefore I am?”). And always open your mail, there might be good stuff in there. One day.

The Culture Pod, that mysterious centrepiece of the new Middleton Interactive Learning Centre, has not been revealed, yet. But you know, that’s not what Sue and I wanted to pinch off the set if we’d had the chance. If you can guess which bit of the library we wanted to take home I won’t give you a prize but I will give you my respect. Here’s a clue, it’s on a wall.

 Now, all you folk in Libraryland, talk to me! Talk to each other!

(Note: who’s me? I’m Lee Welch, I am a librarian-turned-lots-of-things-turned-consultant and through Porter Novelli Adelaide, provide strategic corporate communications support to ALIA. Which means I get asked to do things like this from time to time.)

Those lovely people at the ABC have made a Librarians ’soundboard’.

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.abc.net.au/tv/librarians/ABCTV_LibrariansSoundboard.pdf

It features little clips of audio and little pictures of Library staff (and Terry). On the whole it’s rather fun…I hope you enjoy it…

Oh and don’t forget Series 2 premiere 9pm Wednesday ABC1…THIS WEDNESDAY August 5th

Frances O’Brien

Head Librarian

Middleton Interactive Learning Centre is spick and span for series 2, props again provided by the many generous folk in Victorian Library Land. (Wayne, who also directs the show, says the book mobile loaned to the program by Yarra Plenty Library Service is the best prop he’s ever had.) But we can’t tell you about that yet.

On one of the main shooting days around 40 librarians also joined the crew to film scenes for the final episode. I was also lucky enough to be on the set. Cast and crew alike shared their personal happy library stories with me through the day and sent their thanks to the library community for their great support of the show. Also on the set was comedian Felicity Ward, who is making a ‘making of’ program for the series DVD. The ‘ALIA extras ‘ have also shared many library experiences with Felicity and have given her the rundown on how one gets to be a librarian in this modern age. But we can’t tell you about that either.

What we can tell you is that amongst all those involved with the program are many library champions, some of whom may well help ALIA’s advocacy campaigns in times to come. Amongst the feedback gleaned was a description of librarians as uniformly ‘kind’ and libraries as playing important roles in many developing careers. So, while these guys are making a comedy, behind it is some significant respect for the sector. They’re playing the show for laughs but they’re loving libraries – and librarians - for real.

There’s absolutely no prize for spotting the Library Week posters on set, or for identifying your Victorian colleagues who may have been extras. No prizes either for figuring out where the disco glitter ball, blow-up kangaroo and that bookmobile fit into the storyline. But you will be able to join the conversation on the ALIA The Librarians blog again when the series goes to air.

The Librarians - Series 2 will air on ABC1 at 9pm starting on Wednesday 5 August 2009.

Sue Hutley, ALIA Executive Director