ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee

ALYSON DALBY

Alyson joined the NGAC in December 2006, after surviving two years as a co-convenor for the ALIA New Librarians' Symposium 2006. She has previously served on the New Graduates Group and was a founding member of the NSW Mentoring Group. Despite having a background in medical libraries, she now works at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, and tries to convince people that she knows something about accounting. Because she has an allergy to free time, she has recently started studying for an MBA.

KATE DAVIS (Chair)

Kate Davis is currently Electronic Services Librarian at Gold Coast City Council libraries, where her job centres on managing the online resource collection and implementing, administrating and evaluating various online services and customer training programs.

Her professional interests centre on the applications of emerging technologies for delivery of library services and for providing customers with opportunities to connect with each other and with the library. Kate also has a keen interest in professional development: she's a member of the ALIA continuing professional development scheme and keen to explore ways to increase new graduate participation in this program.

Kate's research interests in LIS include information and technology literacies and the value of user instruction (especially in the online environment) for developing those literacies. She also has a keen interest in virtual reference, particularly in opportunities for employing Instant Messaging as a communication channel for virtual reference transactions. And last but definitely not least, Kate has a (somewhat vested) interest in role of the Gen Y librarian in the future of library services (yup, she's one of those [apparently] over-indulged, slightly self-obsessed Millennials!).

Kate spends her spare time acquiring and playing with shiny gadgets, indulging in great coffee with friends, and reading anything from junk mail to Tolstoy.

NAOMI DOESSEL

Hi, I'm Naomi Doessel and I work as a Researcher for Ernst & Young in Melbourne. I have a background in academic libraries, but working in London changed my career direction slightly and I'm currently enjoying the challenges of the corporate information world. When I'm not exploring my new city or returning home to Brisbane to catch up with family and friends, I enjoy singing in my choir or snuggling with my cat. Professionally I'm interested in the role of new graduates in shaping the future state of the LIS profession, and opportunities for professional development and increasing the benefits of our association for non-traditional librarians.

STEVE McQUADE

I'm a librarian from State Library of WA and am currently wearing a few different hats. My substantive position is with our Information Services team who run all the physical and virtual reference services here at SLWA. However, I am currently acting in the role of Public Library Liaison Librarian (try saying that five times quickly!). In that role I undertake projects, consultancy, training and advisory work relating to our State's 240 public libraries. On top of all that I am the coordinator for SLWA's graduate program. Developing new librarians and promoting the profession to young people are my primary professional interests…one which started largely from a desire to get some people closer to my own age into the organizations I have worked for. I have developed my focus in this area thanks to spending time at Aurora earlier this year, where I had the privilege of meeting the lovely Kate and Leslie. Prior to working at SLWA, I worked for 5 years at Mandurah Public Library, an hour south of Perth. My first degree was a Psychology/History double major from Murdoch, before doing the Graduate Diploma in LIS at Curtin University. When I'm not being a librarian, I enjoy riding (or more recently crashing) my motorcycle, being tattooed (although I'm not sure 'enjoy' is the right word here) and practicing yoga.

KRISTEN RUMSEY

Kristen Rumsey is an Information and Research Services Librarian at the University of Wollongong Library, working primarily in information literacy instruction and collection development. Kristen was previously a Professional Cadet at the Library, gaining broad experience in all divisions of the library whilst completing postgraduate qualifications. Prior to working at an academic library, Kristen worked in knowledge and information management for a professional services firm. Kristen holds a Bachelor of Arts Informatics from the University of Sydney, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Applied Science (LIM) and Master of Applied Science (LIM) from Charles Sturt University. As a member of the ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee, Kristen is committed to developing opportunities for new library and information professionals.

GEMMA SIEMENSMA

Hey, I'm Gemma Siemensma and I work as a librarian at Ballarat Health Services (medical library). My interests include, sleep, more sleep and even more sleep (if that is at all possible!). I also love to read, play netball, watch the football (proper football aka. soccer), watch DVD's, walk my dogs and just relax. On a more professional level I am interested in continuing professional development and in strengthening the participation of all library and information professionals, especially those in regional areas.

LESLIE SHARPLES

Currently the 'New Technologies Librarian' at Yarra Plenty Regional Library, I keep an eye on emerging technologies and deliver online training programs for the staff, our community and other organisations. In addition I am employed as a researcher for our corporate clients. With a background in Literature and Archaeology, I enjoy science fiction, reading, camping, wine, anything medieval and my family (not necessarily in that order). As an older [only slightly, cough] new grad, I am passionate about professional development and raising the profile of the information profession within our society, especially for those people looking at it as a second career.