April 2006
Friday 28 April
LGMA forum
I attended a two-day forum organised by the LGMA to discuss skills shortages in local government. Presentations from a range of professions including the Public Works Engineers, Planners and ALIA gave perspectives on the current situations and issues. Both of the professions mentioned have very useful resources regarding skills shortages [ works | planners ].
It seems that the library industry ranked (collectively) older than some of the other professions - not news to us [ see: here, here and here].
Those attending were therefore able to get a better picture on what the local government labour market will look like in the future and the competing forces and issues that can and cannot be controlled or influenced. A response to the Minister for Local Government (who opened the forum) will be made following further meetings of delegates. Information sharing gatherings will also be arranged as part of a Local Government Professional Associations Network.
Friday 21 April
Click 06
Have you started planning your trip to Perth yet? Earlybird registrations are now available to the ALIA Biennial Click 06. Get your proposal ready for your manager/director and plan to have a few extra days holiday or alternatively keep on going with satellite events after the conference.
Thursday 20 April
LIW merchandise
Our Library and Information Week merchandise is now arriving into National Office. We love the wristbands (in pink, blue and red) and the posters and bookmarks are alive with colour too. Get in early with your orders for LIW at so that they arrive by 22 May 2006.
If you are hosting a Library Week event please let our Events Manager, Jane Hardy (please remove .nospam from address) know who will add it to the main LIW information website which should go up next week.
Tuesday 18 April
Easter in Canberra
Our family braved two very cold mornings to nearly see the big bees fly, a huge scotsman with a gammy leg and the Liberty House Balloon which my daughter renamed the 'Library Balloon' at the amazing Canberra Balloon Fiesta.
It really was worth the early mornings.
Thursday 13 April
Election results
As the red Autumn Leaves start to fall outside ALIA House, Elections results are now in.
Our new vice-president is Roxanne Missingham. She will serve as vice-president from the AGM 2006 to the AGM 2007, and is president-elect AGM 2007-AGM 2008. The two new directors elected by the membership at large are Helen Partridge and Michelle Brennand, to serve until AGM 2008. The director elected by the institutional members is Philip Keane, who will serve until AGM 2008.
Wednesday 12 April
Craig Grimson
Craig Grimson who's funeral was today was a dedicated member of our profession who served on various regional, section, state and national committees of ALIA from 1979 until his retirement in recent time. He will be well remembered for his energy, hard work and good cheer. He was NSW Branch president in 1994 and 1995, NSW General Councillor in 1996 and 1997 and also on the Association's Executive Committee during those years, where he held the finance portfolio. He subsequently served on the Association's Copyright Review Committee and was also active in CAUL.
Friday 7 April
Award winners
Congrats to our ALIA Award winners at the Charles Sturt University Graduation.
Director, Roxanne Missingham and I had a lovely (but windy) day at the ceremony.
Thursday 6 April
Wagga
What a great turn out at Wagga for the Riverina Group Evening Meeting and our presentation of a Silver Pin to a surprised Stuart Ferguson.
Monday 3 April
Innovations...
The NLA Innovative Ideas Forum was an interesting day, beginning with Richard from Yahoo!7 talking about new products of interest to librarians. One that really caught my eye and got me thinking is Yahoo!Answers in Beta if you are a yahoo member search under questions using the keyword 'librarians'.
... And take a look at some of the questions... scary...