InterALIA, June 2005

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.