with Shine, V (2004)

Performance measurement as promotion: demonstrating benefit to your significant others (new window) . Paper delivered at the School Library Association of Queensland Conference, Southport, June 2004.

ABSTRACT: Traditionally, school libraries, in common with other libraries, have judged their effectiveness on flows, which are more a measure of workload than of library effectiveness. Libraries have to come to terms with the idea that converting knowledge to value might require that the amount and speed of the information that flows out of the library be reduced in order to provide users with quality “just for you” services. 21st century teacher-librarians need to be able to define and demonstrate value in the context of their libraries and demonstrate return on investment in terms of academic outcomes. A conceptual framework for value measurement is proposed, the deficiencies of current performance measurement practice are discussed, in particular, the tendency to gather information about process and to report in a way which obscures the value of the library to the parent organisation. A case study on designing, modifying and using a transaction based multi-faceted performance measurement mechanism is described. The rarity of linking personal performance evaluation to organisational performance is discussed and methods of doing so are proposed.

____ (1998)

Behavioural aspects of advocacy. Access 12(2), 20-23

____ (1997)

Advocacy and the teacher-librarian: a behavioural guide. Keynote address to the Sunshine Coast Teacher-Librarians Network Conference, Brisbane.

____ (1997)

Practicality: how to acquire it. (new window) Paper delivered at the Seventh Asian Pacific Specials, Health and Law Librarians' Conference, Perth.
Published in: On the Edge: Proceedings of the Seventh Asian Pacific Specials, Health and Law Librarians' Conference Held in Perth 12-16 October 1997.Perth: Special Libraries Section, Health Libraries Section of the Australian Library and Information Association and the Australian Law Librarians Group, 1997, 23-32.

ABSTRACT: Congruence between the ends special librarians hope to attain and the means they commonly adopt to attain them is often lacking. The organisational context and definition of practicality that often places librarians in the position in which Michael Faraday found himself after he had demonstrated his induction coil to a meeting of the Royal Society is examined. The deficiencies of current performance measurement practice are discussed, in particular, the tendency to gather information about process and to report in a way which obscures the value of the library to the parent organisation and the rarity of linking personal performance evaluation to organisational performance. The performance reporting requirements of both budget-based and fee-based services are outlined, a model of performance measurement both for libraries and for individuals is suggested and the importance to both of being able to measure and quantify the value of what they do is stressed. The question "Are librarians of any practical use" is posed. Some methods of establishing the value of a librarian are fantasised about. Analogies are drawn with methods of valuing library collections and establishing the value of a library service to an organisation

____ (1996)

No permission needed: librarians and the PPC factor.  (new window) Australian Special Libraries 29(2), 39-47

ABSTRACT: Librarians assume that a weak power base in the organisation is a function of their role. The fallacies of this perception and the failure of librarians to recognise and use their personal power are discussed.

____ (1995)

Every word counts: the do's and don'ts of addressing selection criteria. Address to the ALIA Queensland Branch "How To Get That Job" Seminar, Brisbane.

____ (1995)

Why can't librarians address selection criteria? (new window) Australian Special Libraries 28(1),3-8.

ABSTRACT: New public sector rules on merit-based selection require that all positions have selection criteria which applicants must directly address. Applying for a position by addressing selection criteria is a refinement of the functional resume. The personal skills audit, development of a functional resume, and analysis and addressing of the selection criteria are discussed. Examples of how to spell out the links between the applicant's skills and experience and the needs of the employer are given.

____ (1993)

Mana,manna, manner: power and the practice of librarianship (new window) . Invited keynote address to The New Zealand Library And Information Association Conference, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Published in Conference Papers: Whakakotahitanga Bridging The Gap Tauranga 3/7 October 1993. [Wellington], New Zealand Library & Information Association
Reprinted in
The Australian Library Journal, 43(2), 132-148, 1994
Progressive Librarian 16, Fall, 1999, 1-25.

ABSTRACT: Powerlessness may be a reaction to the awesome size of a problem, or may be created by fear of the consequences of action. Some organisations have a culture in which fear of action inhibits provision of a quality level of professional service. Powerlessness is reflected in low self image of the kind that has induced many librarians to drop any reference to libraries or librarianship from their titles, and in appeasement of the kind that has led to the introduction of the user-pays principle for some aspects of library service. The impression that power comes from force or violence, and that alliance with a hero figure or a centre of power in an organisation will allow us to achieve our ends, is all too common. By contrast, organisations should encourage individuals to take the initiative. Real power comes from knowledge; coalitions that will benefit both parties; positive, powerful behaviour and "the power of one" in overcoming self-imposed constraints. Children provide an object lesson as powerful negotiators. The Maori concept of mana recognises that power is not positional, must be earned by service to others, and is inextricably linked to self-esteem. This is a far healthier view than the Western concept of power.

____ (1991)

"I've never seen a sexy librarian ..." Paper delivered at a meeting Of The Australian Library And Information Association Central Queensland Regional Group, Rockhampton

____ (1991)

Self love and joy and satisfaction in librarianship (new window) , Australasian Public Libraries And Information Services, 4 (2), 75-81.
Reprinted in
Issues 17, 1991 4-7

ABSTRACT: A review of factors affecting the image of librarians which concludes that librarians feed and support negative images of themselves. Basic to the promotion of libraries is the need to ensure that every library worker believe in his or her own worth.

____ (1989)

Challenging our self image (new window). Invited keynote address delivered at the First National Forum On Library Promotion, Adelaide
Published in Promote ... And Flourish: First National Library Promotion Forum Adelaide 4-5 August 1989 Proceedings. Canberra, Australian Library And Information Association