InterALIA May 2005

Editorial

From the editor

Welcome to the new graduate edition of InterALIA. We meet some recent arrivals at Flinders University, and some of their trainees. Also featured are the award winners from University of SA library courses. Morgan Wilson discusses the idea that there will be a shortage of library staff in the near future, and how graduates see the situation. There are also reports from some recent events, more dates of upcoming activites and our first position vacant ad online!

Regulars

InterALIA asks

Name: Heidi Savilla
Membership level: Associate
Qualifications: Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in Information Studies
Employment: trainee librarian, metadata services section, Flinders University

What are you reading?
Great horror stories - a collection of short, suspenseful stories by some literary greats.

What are you listening to?
The CD with the most play-time at the moment is Roger Sanchez - very laid back.

What talent do you wish you had?
To dance - everything from jive to salsa to belly-dancing.

Who do you find inspiring?
Those people less fortunate than most who live life to the fullest, and those who help them lead a better life.

Where would you like to be in five years?
Still working in an academic library and looking forward to my next annual trip overseas.

Name: Sita Charlotte Austin
Membership level: Associate
Qualification(s): 2004 Postgrad Dip -Information Studies (University of South Australia), 1995 Honours - Sociology (Flinders University), 1992 Bachelor of Arts (Sociology and Philosophy) (Flinders University)
Employment: Trainee librarian, law and special collections, Flinders University. Previous: customer service, Adelaide City Council libraries. Other: David Jones (Foodchain), fresh food buyer (Sydney); Sheraton on the Park - restaurant manager (Sydney)

What are you reading?
My book club is currently in the process of voting for our next round of books, but I can't sleep unless I read first. At the moment I am reading Understanding law (Chisholm and Nettheim) and I have also just started The best thing that can happen to a croissant (Pablo Tusset).

What are you listening to?
Now that I am a commuter I take full advantage of the excellent CD selection at my local library - I go in and take anything that looks interesting so I always have lots of CDs floating around my car. My favourite recent purchase is by Antony and the Johnsons 'I am a bird now', which has some very interesting guests, like Lou Reed, Devendra Banhart, Rufus Wainwright and Boy George.

What talent do you wish you had?
I have always wanted to be able to sing - friends and family run like the wind when I try to serenade them!

Who do you find inspiring?
The people featured on Australian story - often they are everyday people who display great strength as they go through unexpected and traumatic events.

Where would you like to be in five years?
Happy and healthy.

Position vacant

2 x co-ordinators - library centres

1 x permanent
1 x contract to 30 June 2006

Adelaide City Council operates four key library and community centres in strategic points across the city, themed to meet the needs of the community and users of the service. The service extends beyond the traditional library role and into the delivery of community facilities, programs and infotainment.

We are looking for two highly skilled individuals with experience in customer service, supervision of staff, a commitment to team success and a desire to work in a high paced retail/infotainment environment. The positions are responsible for customer service, quality performance, risk management and housekeeping of a centre. Relief duties in other centres will be required from time to time.

Experience in supervising staff and co-ordinating daily operations in a busy customer service environment is essential, whilst previous library experience is not. Applicants will require a good understanding of the role of a public library and community centre within the community as well as the range of resources and services available.

Evening and weekend work will be required in accordance with library operating requirements.

Employees at the Adelaide City Council are committed to excellence in customer service and living out the council's values and behaviours.

Only applicants who address the selection criteria will be considered.

Applications close Monday 20 June 5:00pm.

Breaking news and don't miss this

27 July 2005 1:30pm-5:00pm
ARCoM seminar: 'After the flood: disaster management in action'.
Featuring guest speakers from the Barr Smith Library and the State Library of South Australia. More details coming soon.

9 August 2005 12:30pm-2:00pm
Acquisitions SA invites you to a lunchtime tour of The Performing Arts Collection, Adelaide Festival Centre.
RSVP Jenni Jeremy.

15, 16 August 2005
Public libraries: building communities conference.
Stamford Plaza, Adelaide.
Contact Teresa Brook.

October/November 2005
ALIA SA regional conference.
Kimberley Hargrave in Whyalla and her team of helpers from Port Pirie, Port Augusta and elsewhere are busy planning the regional conference, watch this space for more details soon!

Group in the spotlight

Introducing the ALIA New Graduates Group.

Have you just completed your library studies and looking for work? Just started working as a librarian or technician, but are uncertain about your career path? A library student about to embark on your career? If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, then look no further than the ALIA New Graduates Group (NGG)!

The NGG is a national initiative of the ALIA New Generation Policy and Advisory Group and was set up in 2003 to help counteract the isolating and daunting effects of being a new library graduate. As a new graduate how do you know what career options are available to you? Who can you ask for advice? How do you meet others in the profession? And how do you develop your skills and experience? Being a member of NGG can assist in the transition from student to being an active participant of the library and information profession.

NGG provides a forum for new graduates to communicate and socialise with colleagues and build relationships and networks within the profession. The NGG is a national group with a strong virtual presence through the web and an e-list. There are also active regional groups available which can assist you to participate in social and CPD activities that are particularly relevant to those new to the library and information sector.

Membership of the group is open to all ALIA members. The NGG is inclusive of librarians, technicians and anyone interested in the support and development of new graduates. The group does not have any restrictions that prevent people becoming members based on their experience or age. The NGG hopes to support those at student level, graduate level and others in the early stages of their careers.

The NGG:

• Facilitates networking for the new generation of library professionals;
• Organises meetings and events specifically relevant to students and new graduates;
• Provides a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to new professionals;
• Facilitates the introduction of new graduates into the wider ALIA community;
• Promotes the profession to future generations of library professionals; and
• Publish in Incite articles of relevance to new library graduates and students.

To find out more, join the e-list or to express interest at becoming involved just visit the ALIA NGG website or contact Robyn Ellard [South Australian regional co-ordinator] or Simone Hys [national NGG co-ordinator].

Robyn Ellard

Feature articles

Student award winners

InterALIA catches up with Laura Fisher and Heidi Obst, respective winners of the ALIA Prize and the ALIA SA Prize.

Heidi Obst, winner of the ALIA SA Prize, has just completed the Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies at the University of South Australia. Laura Fisher, making a career transition into the library and information management field, has studied the Graduate Diploma in Information Studies at UniSA part-time and externally over two years and is the winner of the ALIA Prize.

Inspiration to enter the library and information field can take many forms. For Heidi, it was a case of 'not-sure-what-to-do-itis'. The decision to enter the field was assisted by a chat with her school librarian and the realisation of the dynamic and multi-skilled nature of the profession, particularly in terms of technology. It was also influenced by the broad nature of the profession and the perception of increasing job opportunities.

Laura, with a study background in psychology and a 15 year career in research, primarily in the health field, desired a change in direction and decided to act upon her long standing interest in information management. Always liking the atmosphere of libraries and the team environment, Laura was strongly attracted by the nature of the people already in the profession.

Both Heidi and Laura enjoyed their respective university courses. Laura particularly enjoyed the digital publishing / website / desktop publishing component, although found external study to be somewhat isolating. Heidi would have liked a greater practical learning component, so as to make the transition from studying to working less daunting. Cataloguers take note: the cataloguing component was mentioned by both award winners as a highly positive aspect of the course.

The ALIA website was given the seal of approval by both Heidi and Laura. It was through the site that Laura found out about the UniSA course. When Laura began seriously considering librarianship, her husband brought home copies of inCite from the library at his workplace. Heidi, introduced to ALIA as part of the course, feels that it is good to have a professional body to connect people in the field, and provide support for issues facing the profession.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Heidi and Laura have quite different career aims. Heidi is currently working as a library assistant at the Renmark / Paringa Public Library, an organisation she praises highly for strong support of a new graduate. Heidi has a number of potential career pathways, being interested in archives, working as a children's librarian ' to 'set them up as library users for life' or as a school librarian (although she is a little ambivalent about the further study required). Laura, with a background in research and health, sees herself working in a corporate or health library.

Are we there yet? Waiting and waiting for the librarian shortage.

Morgan Wilson

It is a vexing issue for library students and recent graduates. Is there or isn't there a shortage of librarians in Australia? Will this shortage (or lack thereof) be more prevalent in 2010 or 2015?

For a phenomenon that has been widely reported in the mainstream media, I had difficulty locating the actual numbers upon which these claims have been based.

One source in favour of a librarian shortage is this short article by Mary Jo Lynch, 'Reaching 65: lots of librarians will be there soon', American libraries, March 2002 (available for download [45kb pdf]). Using numbers from the 1990 U.S. Census, Lynch predicts that mass retirement of American librarians begins in 2005-09 period, that it will peak during 2010-14 when 21 per cent of baby boomer librarians turn 65 and are expected to retire.

It is difficult to argue with such demographic facts, but they only tell one side of the story. For example, the baby boomer librarians might choose not to retire when they turn 65. Their jobs might leave with them, either deprofessionalized or eliminated entirely.

Even if there is going to be a shortage of librarians at the upper and mid levels of management, does that mean that other librarians will move into these positions and that their positions will be available for new graduates?

Possibly not. The most sobering recent research in this area was a paper published by Rachel Holt and Adrienne Strock, 'The entry level gap', Library journal, 1 May, 2005. This article can be viewed online here (requires registration) and here.

Holt and Strock conducted a survey of 900 librarian positions advertised between June and July 2004. Of those 900, only 230 were permanent full-time professional positions. Of those 230, only 99 were positions which could possibly be suitable for recent graduates. But it gets worse than this. The second component of Holt and Strock's research was to contact the libraries engaged in the hiring and ask them what sort of people applied for and were hired for these 99 entry-level positions.

There were as many tenured librarians applying for these entry-level positions as there were entry-level librarians. There were also as many tenured librarians being hired for these entry-level positions. Only in rare cases was a new librarian chosen over a more experienced colleague when there was such a choice. Keep in mind that these are jobs that require only the MLS and do not list any required and/or minimal preferred experience. These are the ideal positions for new professionals to gain experience and learn their trade, and they are going to people who already have significant careers.

It is abundantly clear that the actual degree is not the key to obtaining a professional librarian position. Yes, it is an essential qualification that will allow you to knock on an employer's door. But to actually have the door open for you, it is vital to have actual library experience.

As someone who has worked and looked for work in the US and Australia, I think that there are sufficient similarities between the two places to argue that these American experiences are relevant to the Australian library job market.

Not long after the Holt and Strock article was published, I asked the aliaNEWGRAD list whether the Australian library job market seemed particularly different from this depiction American library job market.

The responses sounded very similar to the anecdotes I have read from Americans, both from people with blogs (information wants to be free and Caveat lector) as well as people whom I had met while living there.

One recent Australian graduate spoke to me of the difficulties of being considered both over-qualified (from changing careers) and lacking practical library experience. 'I have performed very well academically, but employers seem to be interested in one thing - what experience I have.' Another person mentioned the lack of permanent full-time vacancies in her area and how hiring librarians are too quick to discount relevant related experience if it's not in their exact sub-specialty.

A common thread was not having sufficient library experience to be considered for a librarian position, trying to gain some library experience in a library assistant positions and being considered over-qualified for those.

On the other hand, one new graduate mentioned that his new job had actually involved replacing a librarian who had retired, showing that sometimes at least, the career path for new librarians is not broken.

I would like to conclude by saying that this current disconnection between supply and demand in the library job market is a complex problem which cannot be fixed by any one of the groups involved. That said, there are things which each of us can do.

If you are a library student or prospective student, have realistic expectations of your own employment prospects with a library qualification. The decision to go to library school is an important one and you owe it to yourself to do your own research about this. When you are in library school, the most important thing to do is to obtain some practical work experience in a library.

If you are a library school, please do not give prospective students the misleading impression that jobs will just fall into their lap after they leave or those jobs vacated by the baby boomers will be available to new library graduates. Educate your current students about the necessity of gaining practical library experience. Force them if you have to - my library school did this and I am eternally grateful.

If you are a librarian involved in hiring or management, ask yourself if you are placing too much importance on past accomplishments, to exclusion of future potential.

The library directors and leaders of the future don't just appear, they hired into entry level positions, and then mentored, promoted and groomed for management. Are you doing your bit to ensure that this happens?

If you are a currently employed librarian, are you gaining the skills and experiences which will help you move up the career ladder? Getting that first job is only the beginning. Think about what you can do to prepare yourself to the fill the gaps which will appear in upper- and mid-management positions. Doing so will not only benefit you but also the profession.

Visit to Ramsay's Medical Bookshop and the Supreme Court Library

Acquisitions SA hosted a visit to Ramsay's Medical Bookshop and the Supreme Court Library on Tuesday 24 May at 4:30 pm. The event was very popular with twenty six people attending including a number of enthusiastic TAFE library students. The visit to Ramsay's began with a talk by Michael O'Brien who spoke about the Ramsay Group, which has been operating for many years and has customers in all parts of Australia. The Adelaide base of Ramsay's is the only shop front with most orders being placed via their web site or by e-mail. Michael also spoke about services that Ramsay's offer to libraries, including the ability to order a wide range of health and medical related material published in Australia and overseas and often with the added bonus of a ten percent discount. Our visit to Ramsay's was completed by a very generous selection of light food and drinks courtesy of the company.

The group then proceeded to the Supreme Court Library, for the second part of the visit. Robert Elson provided a general overview of the Library and its services and discussed in some detail acquisitions information relating to library suppliers, materials ordered and the library budget. Bruce Greenhalgh, the historical collection librarian, gave a presentation featuring some of the more unusual items in the historical collection, including a recording made in the 1960's of a speech given by the chief justice at that time, Sir John Mellis Napier.

Copies of the Guide to the Supreme Court Library were distributed and the visit ended at 6:00pm when the group were escorted out of the building through the back entrance and into the dimly lit area at the back of the old supreme court which for most was a new and very interesting experience.

Robert Elson, convener, Acquisitions SA

Specials moving seminar

Some advice from those who have moved a library.

On Monday 6 June a group of special librarians met to discuss an issue that was close to their hearts: moving a library or a collection.

We heard perspectives from Lynn Drew from the History Trust of SA (via Hayley Gamble), Jenni Jeremy of the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library, Juliet Marconi from the Department of Health and Anna Tripodi from RAECO, a library supplier.

Advice to those planning a move included:

• Be prepared for emotion.
• Take lots of time to plan.
• Have food and drink provisions for your staff on the moving day.
• Keep up the close communication with staff
• Have back up plans for staff, weather, contractors, first aid.
• Log all incidents for future planning.
• Debrief after the move.
• Occupational health and safety is very important in both design of new space and the move itself.
• Library staff should oversee contractors who may do the physical work.
• Make sure your collection is still accessible to patrons.
• Allow 25 per cent more time than you think you need.
• Keep fighting for the grants, show management why you need money.

Those in the audience soaked up the experience and felt better for knowing they are not alone in the daunting moving tasks ahead!

Librarians and quiz nights

You know, there's an uncanny link between quiz nights and librarianship. And it's not just the fact that the inaugural ALIA SA library and information week quiz night was held the other week.

1. The reference connection
A quiz night is just like a stint on the reference desk. But with the added benefit of alcohol! This simile works better if the person at the reference desk is a generation 'x'er and Google is unavailable (ie: no reference materials).

2. Food
Library morning teas, vendor talks, copyright seminars. It's all about the food. The quiz night is no exception. As noted by Caryn Butler 'tables groaned under the weight of wine, cheese, lollies, nibbles and other treats. Indeed, certain tables took their themes that step further and brought themed food.'

3. Battle of the somewhat daggy stereotypes
You know the one, the response to mentioning you're a librarian is somewhat similar to mentioning you're spending your Friday evening at a quiz night.
Oh, [pause] really?

4. Productive team membership
There's nothing more bonding than arguing whether the Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened in 1931 or 1933 and then, of course, discovering that it was 1932. Darn you, curse of the one-year-off-for-the-entire-night!

Spooky quiz night / library connection aside, the inaugural ALIA SA quiz night was a resounding success.

In a tightly fought battle for library supremacy, the 'Boolean operators' came out on top with 117 points, with 'Ethel Merman eight' on 114.5 points just ousting 'Licorice allsorts' on 113.5 points for second place.

The wooden spoon went to the 'Marion marvels' on 84.5 points.

Surgical caps and masks, and a howling table mascot helped 'Go dog go!' take out the all important best dressed table prize. Legal Beagles, with very impressive legal regalia, received the consolation prize.

In the words of Caroline Frawley 'It was close to perfect - excellent venue, great prizes, terrific quiz master and a wonderful range of questions - not too easy, not too hard, just hard enough to separate the winners from the rest of us'.

Congratulations to Peter Flatman, quiz night host extraordinaire, Civica and all the sponsors, and the ALIA SA quiz night organisers for putting on a fantastic event!

Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library, Uni SA

The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library is pleased to announce its refurbished extension on Level 4 at the City West campus of the University of South Australia. Following a period of inadequate accommodation it is a pleasure to announce functional and attractive research facilities; that the collections of published material, audio visual and reference works are now accessible and the library archivist has storage and processing space. A small display featuring a re-creation of the Office of the Prime Minister as it was in Old Parliament House is a welcome feature and talking point for visiting community groups and students.

Groups visiting the library in the last month have included Friends of the State Library, ALIA Specials, ALIA SA, Women's information services and Ask about Adelaide. It is anticipated that Bob Hawke will be a visitor in July to an informal function to acknowledge the new facilities. With the forthcoming BHPML's 3rd national conference in September 'Simply the best: women's collections in libraries, archives and museums' the new look library is in a key position to support the information and research needs of users until its relocation to purpose built facilities in 2007.

Please contact the manager, Jenni Jeremy for further details or to plan a visit ph 8302 0318.

Flinders University traineeship

Janetta Mascilongo opens the doors to Flinders University Library and their trainee program.

The traineeship

The trainee librarian programme at Flinders University Library provides recently graduated, inexperienced professional librarians with an opportunity to work in a university library in a permanent continuing position. It is particularly suitable for those with no professional experience and who have a keen interest in a career in university libraries.

Appointees are classified at the Higher Education Officer 5 level, which is one level below the Flinders entry level for experienced librarians. They undertake a range of positions with the library and are rotated within the three years of their traineeship. As you will see below the trainees have been employed in all areas of the library. In many instances the trainees have moved on to positions in the HEO6 and HEO7 classifications.

There have now been more than a dozen trainee librarians appointed since the inception of the traineeship in 1994, many of whom have contributed our quick quiz below. For more information about the Flinders University Library traineeship please contact Bill Cations, University Librarian.

The trainees

Sita Austin

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
Three weeks! Currently: trainee librarian law and special collections.

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
The inspiring environment, the amazing and beautiful special collections, that I go home every day having learnt something new and interesting, the welcoming people, the interesting questions that students ask!

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
I'm sure my answer to this question will be different in a years' time, but so far it is the fact that every day brings something new for me to learn - and I find it very satisfying when I can use my newly-found knowledge to help students. I also really appreciate working with such a supportive group of people, who are always happy to make time for any question I have.

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
Having done my first degree at Flinders University I already knew how fantastic the library here is, and the concept of a traineeship which does not require previous academic library experience and gives the opportunity to learn how an academic library fitted every criterion in my dream job. Really, it is an opportunity that no new graduate could pass up.

What are your career goals?
My career goals are still developing, one of the fantastic things about my current position is that it will give me the opportunity to try different areas. Working in law and special collections I have already developed an appreciation of working in a branch library, which is something I had never considered before, and I imagine that I am going to continue to develop interests as the traineeship continues. My main long terms goal in terms of career is to be in a position through which I can continue to grow personally and professionally.

Janetta Mascilongo

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
I've been here almost 2 years. I am currently acquisitions librarian.

What other positions have you held since starting as a trainee librarian?
Cataloguer.

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
I think it's fantastic to work for an organisation that recognises potential and is committed to developing young professionals (young in experience not age!).
Also, the chocolate-coated raspberry liquorice found at the Whole Food Shop, completely addictive!

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
Having spent so much of my adult life as a university student, I love being able to work in this environment. I think there's something very rewarding in helping people prepare for their professional lives.

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
After graduating I found it very difficult to secure a professional position which paid a professional level salary. I was on the lookout for an opportunity where I could gain full-time continuing employment in a professional position that would help me to further develop my knowledge and skills. The traineeship fit the bill nicely!

What are your career goals?
My main goal in the short term is to continue to gain as much experience as possible in resource management. I consider myself very fortunate in my first two positions at Flinders University Library as they have helped confirm my interest and passion for this kind of work. I hope to find myself in a management role in the not too distant future. Long term, university librarian has a nice ring to it!

Debra Zott

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
Six years. Currently medical reference librarian / circulation supervisor and OH&S representative.

What other positions have you held since starting as a trainee librarian?
Cataloguer.

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
It's a great place to work because I can combine my research interests and studies with my working life. My experience as a casual tutor / lecturer, and as a student myself really helps me to understand and relate to the students we support in the library, and also helps me to understand the issues facing teaching staff. I've been associated with Flinders University for 16 years, so I feel really at home here.

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
Supporting students in their learning endeavours and encouraging life long learning. Being an advocate for our excellent document delivery service. And the opportunity to assist with reference queries. Not to mention trouble-shooting computer and printer problems.

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
I wanted to work specifically at Flinders University, and take on a professional position, with the aim of one day becoming a humanities liaison librarian or working in the IT department, or document delivery. I am also interested in human resources and library administration, so I felt that being employed as a trainee would allow me the opportunity to experience and develop skills in these areas.
I also felt that I could use my teaching and learning experiences to support the learning of others.

What are your career goals?
Humanities liaison librarian (combine teaching and personal interests with librarianship), complete my PhD (English), I'd like to gain a lot of IT experience, study towards a human resources qualification.

Tom Snook

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
15 years. Metadata services librarian.

What other positions have you held since starting as a trainee librarian?
Cataloguer, acquisitions librarian, science liaison librarian.

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
Being part of an organisation that has a strong commitment to service to the university community and more broadly being a part of the university with its teaching and research functions that provide a vital role in helping create an educated and innovative society.

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
The fact that the work of the library is so closely linked to the role of the organisation. That is, the library plays a crucial support role in providing access to the information resources and services that support the teaching and research functions of the university.

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
Working at the library whilst completing my undergraduate degree I had decided that I would pursue a professional career in libraries and particularly academic libraries. The traineeships were a perfect opportunity to gain the skills and experience of a professional without needing professional experience to apply for the position.

What are your career goals?
To continue to contribute to the library in whatever way possible. To continue to develop as a professional and gain the skills needed to help ensure that the library continues to function as an integral part of the university community.

Raechel Damarell

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
I began work at Flinders University Library in 1996. I am currently working as the executive assistant to the university librarian.

What other positions have you held since starting as a trainee librarian?
Cataloguing, reader services, reference librarian, circulation supervisor and liaison librarian for nursing and midwifery. I moved into my current role in library administration after returning to work part-time after maternity leave.

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
I enjoy working for an organisation that takes it mission as seriously as the Flinders University Library. This library is focussed on providing excellent customer service and does so in an extremely proactive way, by constantly seeking to understand the needs of its diverse client groups and by forging strong links with the academic sector. Staff here are encouraged to be multi-skilled and flexible and our management team is far-sighted and in-tune with changes in the tertiary education sector.

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
I particularly enjoy helping students and staff discover the tools and resources available to help them with their learning and research. It is also exciting to see the innovative ways in which technology is put into service in this library.

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
Besides having always wanted to work in a higher education environment, I saw the traineeship as an excellent opportunity to get experience in a range of areas within the library. This has certainly been the case!

Amanda Nixon

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
Ten years! (subtract a year's leave without pay, and a year on maternity leave - so eight years really.) Currently part-time liaison librarian for the humanities, plus dabbling in acquisitions.

What other positions have you held since starting as a trainee librarian?

1. Assistant to the university librarian (as trainee)
2. Collection development librarian
3. Flexible delivery librarian
4. Liaison librarian for law and legal studies
5. Executive assistant to the university librarian
6. Liaison librarian for the humanities

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
Opportunity to assist researchers doing really interesting things. Helping students who say at the end 'Oh - I wish I'd come to see you earlier in the year'. Learning new things in every new job. New opportunity to job share with Liz Walkley-Hall - what a great idea! And the cakes in the Wholefood Shop are pretty good too.

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
Coming into contact with researchers doing really interesting things. Dealing with (most!) students. Getting to know some students - and then seeing them graduate. That's it's a big organisation - with the opportunity to try different aspects of librarianship.

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
Within about a month of starting the Grad Dip, I decided that university libraries were the place for me. When the traineeship was advertised, it was definitely in the category of 'dream job'.

What are your career goals?
Can I answer that when I'm a bit more used to having a baby in the house?

Liz Walkley-Hall

How long have you worked at Flinders University Library and what is your current position?
More than ten years - that sounds like such a long time, but it's gone so quickly! I'm currently job sharing as the humanities liaison librarian with Amanda Nixon, another ex-trainee.

What other positions have you held since starting as a trainee librarian?
I began in cataloguing, then worked as a reference librarian and reserve supervisor, went on a job exchange for nine months to Scotland, came back and worked at the Sturt Campus Library as circulation supervisor, was promoted to education liaison librarian, had ten months' maternity leave, came back for a brief stint as a cataloguer, was then transferred to my current position (this might explain why the years have flown by!).

What do you like best about working at Flinders University Library?
I've been lucky enough to work in a variety of positions at Flinders, but the enduring quality seems to be the people I've worked with. I've had some very good teachers and mentors, and made some good friends too. I also like the Flinders campus - it's a beautiful place to stroll around at lunchtime, or to just sit and admire the view over the plains to the sea!

What aspect of working in a university library do you enjoy the most?
The intellectual nature of the university environment appeals to me. I like finding out about people's research interests, and assisting them with using the library's resources - whether online or 'offline' (as I saw the Google scholar web site recently describe books).

What prompted you to apply for a trainee position?
I'm ashamed to say that it was so long ago that I really can't remember what prompted it! But I should also admit that I applied for every job that was advertised, so maybe it was as pragmatic as that. Having said that, it was certainly my 'dream job' to work in a university library - maybe I conveyed that enthusiasm at the interview!

What are your career goals? As the mother of a young daughter (16 months), my 'career' goals have shifted slightly, and I now find myself looking for that elusive work-life balance. Ask me again when said daughter has started school!