Celebrating Excellence at the ALIA NSW Awards Night  

The second NSW Library & Information Excellence Award was presented at the ALIA NSW Group’s End of Year Networking and Awards Night on Friday 6th December. To attend the event, shortlisted nominees travelled from right across the state to join industry peers on lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation at the State Library of NSW. Almost 80 people filled the Library’s Dixson Room. Vicki Edmunds, the ALIA NSW Group Convenor, was MC and guests were welcomed by Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon, the State Librarian.  Keynote address by Damian Webb, Manager Indigenous Engagement Branch, State Library of NSW.  Damien Webb is a proud member of the Palawa Diaspora, originally from Lutruwita (Tasmania). He has worked in state libraries for over 13 years, and he is currently Manager of the Indigenous Engagement Branch at the State Library of New South Wales.  Damien shared a story of his ancestors, connecting it to his present, from crossing oceans to preserving stories and the role that libraries can play.  

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ALIA CEO Cathie Warburton and Keynote speaker Damien Webb     State Librarian Dr Caroline Butler-Bowdon 

Drinks and canapés were served and there was hearty applause as the winner, and two highly commended awards were announced.  

Congratulations to the 2025 NSW Library & Information Excellence Award winner:

Samantha Figueroa - Wollongong City Libraries  

ALIA CEO Cathie Warburton with winner Samantha Figueroa

Samantha was awarded the ALIA NSW Library and Information Award for the Hill 60 Stories initiative. Hill 60 is a collection of oral history interviews preserving the knowledge and memories of Aboriginal Traditional Owners, custodians, and knowledge holders with deep connections to Hill 60, Port Kembla, NSW. These stories are available via Wollongong City Libraries’ Illawarra Stories online and can be listened to on site at Hill 60 via QR codes—creating opportunities for visitors to reflect on the continuous connection of local Aboriginal people to this significant site and the impact of dispossession. Led by Sam Figueroa from the Local Studies team, the project involved close collaboration with Aboriginal community members and Wollongong City Council. Sam’s culturally sensitive approach built trust and enabled the sharing of deeply personal and spiritual stories, contributing significantly to the region’s cultural record and public understanding. Hill 60 Stories shows how libraries can collaborate and actively contribute to truth-telling. 

From the judges: “Recognising the need for this local project, (the judges were) very impressed to see the Sam working in with Elders and sharing the understanding of Aboriginal connection to this significant place in the community and the impacts of dispossession”. 

Congratulations to 2 Highly Commended winners: 

Rubaiyat Howlader - Burwood Council 

ALIA NSW Convenor Vicki Edmunds and ALIA CEO Cathie Warburton with runner up Rubaiyat Howlader 

Rubi was commended for the delivery of a series of partnerships and events at Burwood Library that focus community building through gaming and game design. A chance meeting in the library with a local resident who is an indie game designer started a partnership that has made an impact in our young population’s life and continues to grow into new services for the age groups most effected by loneliness in our community.  community. Rubi and Jason, of ToToTam Games, started Burwood Game Club (Instagram: @BurwoodGameClub), a 3-monthly mini gaming con co-hosted by the two in the Burwood Library Community Hub. This mini gaming con is designed to build community through games, while supporting local game creators through highlight and showcasing their games.  Each gaming con provides a curated selection of board, card and video games with guest game designers there on the day to promote and play their own games they’ve designed. There is a real sense of community and the people who attend are not traditionally those libraries find easy to reach. The event was also featured at SXSW Sydney! 

This is just one example of the great partnerships that Rubi has established around gaming that are contributing significantly to creating social connections among groups in our community who can be susceptible to loneliness and isolation.  

From the judges: “Lovely to see simple solutions attracting people to the library to build social capital. From the partnerships with local gaming communities through to the nearby businesses, what an excellent initiative that builds and inclusive space for young adults.”

Theresa Lock  - Blue Mountains City Council 

ALIA NSW Convenor Vicki Edmunds  with runner up Theresa Lock 

Theresa is a thoughtful, strategic and exceptional library leader whose work has transformed the Blue Mountains Library. She consistently delivers exceptional outcomes across programming, outreach, technology, and collaboration, all while working with limited resources and supporting her team with care and clarity. Her leadership is defined by integrity, creativity and a deep commitment to public service. She inspires those around her and drives lasting impact. Examples of her work include establishing the cross council events team, targeted HSC support programs and leading the Library 2 U locker service Theresa’s leadership is grounded in values: equity, service, collaboration, and care. She sees the big picture but never loses sight of the people at the heart of it. Her work has made the Library more accessible, more visible, and more connected.

From the judges: “ Very impressed to see a Library staff member leading the idea of the Cross-Council Events team keeping everyone in touch with local events, working alongside each other rather than in silos. New initiatives also impressive, Home Library Service and Library 2U Lockers are much needed solutions for this spread out community.”

Thank you to the 2025 Judges for this very hard decision:

• Dr Carolyn Butler-Bowdon – State Library of NSW
• Associate Professor Bhuva Narayan - University of Technology
• Beatriz Aroche – TAFE NSW
• Dr Mary Caroll – Charles Sturt University

Samantha Figueroa, Vicki Edmunds and judges Beatriz Aroche (TAFE NSW), Dr Caroline Butler-Bowden (State Librarian) and Dr Bhuva Narayan (UTS). Not pictured: Dr Mary Carroll.