The first 6 months of 2024 have flown by! The impressive achievements of ALIA’s Groups, and those of people I have connected with through my regional engagement over this period are worth celebrating.
Below are some highlights of Group activity, as well as an acknowledgement of the wonderful library and information people who welcomed me to their libraries and archives and shared their stories. This activity shows what active and vibrant professional networks exist and the variety of ways people contribute to the GLAM sector.
January
In January, the
ALIA Students and New Graduates Group gave early career professionals the opportunity to participate in a Q&A Zoom webinar with Jane Cowell (ALIA President, and CEO of Yarra Plenty Libraries). The recording was added to their
YouTube channel, and can still be viewed and logged as CPD.
February
How did you celebrate Library Lovers Day on the 14th of February? I was invited to celebrate with the ALIA SA Group at the West Oak Hotel. This Group runs networking and CPD events throughout the year and is currently seeking new members for its executive committee, so reach out if you’re interested.
Photo: The ALIA SA Committee with the ALIA Regional Engagement Manager celebrating Library Lovers' Day
The ALIA Canberra and Region Retirees (CRR) Group held its first lunch for the year in February. ALIA CRR meets the first Wednesday of each month, February to December, for a pay-as-you-go connect and chat lunch, at the cafes of the cultural institutions of Canberra. They are always welcoming new members.
February also meant a visit to the new Flinders University Library (City Campus) with a library tour from Liz Walkley Hall (Associate Director, Engagement & Scholarly Communications). It's a wonderful new space for the Flinders community to study, collaborate, learn, engage, and 'experiment bravely'.
March
March began fabulously with the ALIA float at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. This year, the theme ‘Library Love’ was chosen, which was the perfect springboard to celebrate libraries with positivity and joy. Read more about ALIA at the Mardi Gras in the Radiant, proud, diverse and strong blog and get involved with the ALIA Rainbow Group to be part of Mardi Gras 2025.
Photo: The Library Love participants arriving for the parade (photo credit Shea Coffey)
Many of ALIA Groups have been launching new WordPress websites, and in March, ALIA West celebrated the launch of theirs at an icebreaker event at the State Library of Western Australia.
The ALIA Gold Coast Library Network hosted a meet-up at Miami Marketta (in the pink room with the dalmatian portrait) in March. If you’re in the Gold Coast region this Group is wonderfully fun, inclusive and vibrant. I recommend following their Instagram account.
Also in March, ALIA Schools held a ‘Censorship in a Changing World’ webinar. ALIA’s Deputy CEO, Trish Hepworth and Catherine Barnes (Endeavour College) delivered an impactful presentation about censorship that focused on collection development and care for students.
April
In April, the ALIA CEO had the opportunity to join the ALIA VIC Group’s ‘GLAMRous tour of Bendigo’. They visited the Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo Library and Bendigo Art Gallery.
Photo: The ALIA VIC Group with ALIA CEO at the Golden Dragon Museum
The ALIA South Coast Group organised a visit to the National Botanic Garden’s Plant House, Herbarium House, and the National Seed Bank Collection at Mount Annan – offering attendees the opportunity to visit collections outside the library space but within the GLAM field.
Photo: The ALIA South Coast Group has lunch during their National Botanic Garden visit
The recently formed ALIACT Group organised a tour of The Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) followed by Social Drinks. There has been plenty of positive feedback about the fact that a regional group in the ACT and surrounding areas has been re-established.
Photo: ALIACT Co-Convenor Brad Chugg passes important legislation (the Group’s Terms of Reference) in Old Parliament House
The final April highlight was the launch of the ALIA QLD Group's hugely successful ‘Playing for Keeps’ webinar series. This Group developed a series of lunchtime webinars to help library staff: discover more effective ways to engage users; teach information literacy without “Teaching”; build a sense of acceptance and belonging in Libraries; and master the art of Gamification. This 3-part series is now available from the ALIA shop.
May
In May, with many ALIA staff in Adelaide for the ALIA National Conference, Michelle de Cean the Coordinator of the SHINE SA Library and Resource Centre Services, invited us to visit. My ALIA Colleague Jacqui Lucas described this as “the most special of special libraries” – providing comprehensive information on sexual and reproductive health and relationships to people in South Australia.
Photo: Jacqui Lucas (ALIA), Michelle de Cean (Coordinator: Library and Resource Centre Services at SHINE SA) and the ALIA REM
Following the ALIA AGM, the ALIA SA Group hosted drinks at Bar 2KW for those in town for the ALIA National Conference and ALIA members in South Australia. Over 50 people attended this event and were treated to a stunning Adelaide sunset, views of the city skyline, and a warm and jovial atmosphere.
Coordinating the ALIA National 2024 Conference Volunteers has been one of my personal highlights for 2024. This dynamic, lively and enthusiastic group of people from around Australia, came together and ensured delegates had their best Conference experience. The benefits of volunteering can been seen in the feedback we received from these volunteers, who told us they enjoyed: “the people, the content, and the passion behind it all”, “the community that I got to be a part of and the connections I made”, and “Connecting with other people and with ALIA staff, being part of a bigger purpose, getting things done”.
Photo: The fantastic ALIA National 2024 Conference Volunteers
May’s ALIA National 2024 Conference was another wonderful way to showcase ALIA Groups. Many Group Conveners and Committee members were conference speakers; there were lunchtime roundtable sessions for ALIA Sustainable Libraries (ALIA Green) and ALIA Rainbow; a Special Interest Group panel session (featuring ALIA Digitisation and Preservation, ALIA Disability, ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics and ALIA Multicultural); and the opportunity for the majority of the Regional Convenor Network to meet face-to-face. ALIA LARK, in partnership with the Editorial team of JALIA, and the ALIA Research Advisory Committee (ALIA RAC) jointly held a pre-conference workshop which covered areas such as choosing your topic, finding mentors and collaborators, selecting an appropriate method, steps in conducting research, and how to apply findings.
Photo: The Special Interest Group panel session at the ALIA National 2024 Conference, featuring panellists from ALIA Digitisation & Preservation, ALIA Disability, ALIA Graphic and ALIA Multicultural
Photo: The ALIA REM with members (or their proxy) of the Regional Convenor Network at the ALIA National 2024 Conference
The excitement of the ALIA National 2024 Conference lived on as Groups hosted wrap-up events in late May. ALIA VIC held a ‘National Conference 2024 Wrap-up’ Kathleen Syme Library in Carlton, and ALIA QLD’s ‘National Conference Catch-up’ was at the TAFE QLD Southbank Campus. The ALIA GLAM Top End Group held a ‘National Conference Wrap-Up’ event in June.
In mid-May the TropicALIA Group organised a tour and networking event at Queensland Museum Tropics to explore the collections that tell the changing story of Queensland.
May’s regional engagement visit to Perth meant I had the opportunity to celebrate the National Simultaneous Storytime at the Ruth Faulkner Library. Belinda Dunkley, the Library Coordinator, gave me a tour of this library and the Belmont Museum, which showcases the local history through exhibits and interactive displays. I brough home some library pins and a tote bag from the library shop, and a colouring-in sheet of Dave Faulkner, local music legend!
Photo: The ALIA REM celebrates National Simultaneous Storytime 2024 at the Ruth Faulker Library
Joanna Andrew, Coordinator Library and Town Hall, showed me through the beautiful City of Perth Library, where I caught some of the afternoon Storytime session and learned about the Better Beginnings literacy program and free reading packs. I also had the opportunity to view the exhibitions at the State Library Western Australia – and now know more about the history of brewing and the forgotten history of cameleers in Western Australia!
Photo: The Liquid Gold exhibition at the State Library of Western Australia. Have you tried the Gilded Ale?
The key event held during my Perth visit was the ALIA West Group’s ‘Trends, Challenges and Triumphs’ forum. We heard presentation from Jane Cowell (ALIA President and CEO of Yarra Plenty Regional Library), Kylie Percival (University Librarian, Curtin University), Dr. Nicole Johnston (ALIA Director and Associate University Librarian, Digital Literacy and Library Experience, Edith Cowan University), Sophie Farrar (Manager Collection Care, State Library of Western Australia), Dr. Gaby Haddow (Discipline Lead for Libraries, Archives, Records & Information Science, Curtin University), Natasha Georgiou (Vice President of WASLA), and Atlanta Meyer (Learning Communities Manager – Community and Library Services, City of Swan | Public Libraries WA Executive | Chair, IFLA Literacy & Reading Section). Read more about the forum in ALIA West’s Blog post.
Photo: The ALIA REM with the ALIA West Committee at the ‘Trends/Challenges/Triumphs’ event
May was also filled with webinars from our Special Interest Groups. ALIA Disability ran a ‘Programming & Programs in the library’ webinar – the recording of this excellent CPD session is available to view; the ALIA Digitisation and Preservation Group ran a ‘Photographic Tools Tips and Techniques’ webinar where Andrew Yeo (Fryer Library, University of Queensland) and Bryce Doudle (Maitland City Council) discussed projects and practical ways we can implement some of the tips, tools and techniques they employ; Curator Sarah Morley (State Library of New South Wales) explored some of the surprising owners of the Library’s second edition of Shakespeare’s collected works in the ALIA Rare Books and Special Collections ‘People of the Folio: Owners of Shakespeare’s Second Folio’ webinar; and ALIA Schools hosted the ‘Fostering a Passion for Reading’ webinar where presenters shared how they are utilising social media, collection development strategies and wider reading initiatives to support the development of reading skills and foster a lifelong love of reading in their schools.
June
Winter did not slow Group activity down! The ALIA Gold Coast Library Network had a picnic rug out at the Gold Coast Rainbow Communities Pride Fair Day picnic, and we had the opportunity to meet the new ALIA National Lib Tech Executive Committee through this blog.
June also marked the conclusion of the 2023/2024 ALIA Mentoring Scheme. I was invited to Adelaide’s Prince Alfred College Archives to meet with the mentor/mentee pairing Kate Pulford (Prince Alfred College Archivist) and Ursula de Leeuw to hear their learning reflections and discover the ways the archives ensure the cultural heritage of the school is displayed, celebrated, documented and preserved.
Photos: ALIA Mentee Ursula, ALIA Mentor Kate Pulford (PAC Archivist) and ALIA REM
I also had the opportunity to visit the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society Archives at the Adelaide Showgrounds and speak with Museum and Archives Coordinator Erin Reardon. We discussed the archival collection and how its scope is broadening to highlight the cultural influence the Adelaide Showground has had as a host of concerts, music festivals, sport, and culturally significant ‘non-Royal Adelaide Show’ events.
Photo: Erin Reardon at the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society Archives
Earlier this year, ALIA Multicultural formed a working group chaired by Jacqui Lucas to develop Principles for Multicultural Collections and Services in Australia. The draft was completed in June and will go to the ALIA Board in August. Once ratified, the Principles will form the structure for Guidelines for Multicultural Collections and Services in Australia. Also for ALIA Multicultural, Ellie Sayyad Abdi presented a hands-on workshop that gave participants the opportunity to not only learn about IXD, but also to actively engage in implementing this approach. Participants all left with practical strategies to boost information literacy in their refugee and migrant communities and ideas to foster greater social inclusion.
For the ALIA Adult Literacy Group - Iona Johnson has presented the Draft Adult Literacy Group Getting Started Kit - once complete, this document will support libraries around Australia to get underway with supporting adult literacy initiatives in their communities.
Later in June, ALIA’s Senior Manager Communications Liz Bradtke and I had opportunity to present at the ALIA South Coast’s GLAMawarra 3.0 Symposium in Shellharbour. Travelling there provided opportunity to call in on Andrew White (Coordinator Library Services) and Catherine Owen (Team Leader) at Mittagong Library. The Library, built in the town’s historic 1865 schoolhouse, demonstrated how modern library design principles and be successfully applied on a very small scale. It has had a transformation is the last couple of years having air-conditioning installed for the first time, a new roof, specialised lighting, and wall panels.
Photo: Catherine Owen and Andrew White at the Mittagong Library
The journey to Shellharbour also allowed Liz and I to visit Georgina Konstanta and James Conroy at the University of Wollongong Library. Our welcoming hosts took us on a journey through the multilevel building where we admired the recently refurbished spaces and artworks.
Photo: The University of Wollongong Library’s James Conroy and Georgina Konstanta
The following day was GLAMawarra 3.0. The brainchild of Rob Thomson, and brought to life thanks to the ALIA South Coast Group, Shellharbour Library and RAECO sponsorship. This symposium was being held for the third time and the program was designed for galleries, libraries, archives and museum people to attend at any stage in their career. Speakers looked at the future of the GLAM industry and how we as GLAM professionals develop our communities both across the professions and within the communities we inhabit.
Photo: Rob Thomson and Elaine Glover provide a warm welcome to GLAMawarra attendees
The ALIA NSW Group hosted back-to-back library tours. The first was the University of NSW Library, where attendees were greeted by Director and University Librarian Martin Borchert and guided through the library by the Associate Director Peter Smith. The tour concluded with nibbles and networking.
Photo: attendees of the ALIA NSW Group’s tour of the University of NSW Library
The second ALIA NSW Group event was the City of Sydney’s Darling Square Library tour the following morning. This exciting hub for learning, innovation and creativity spans 2 floors of ‘The Exchange’ building. The tour group explored the library’s makerspace, children’s area and spaces to read, work and study.
Photo: attendees of the ALIA NSW Group’s tour of Darling Square Library
Finally, there were two training opportunities organised for ALIA Groups in June. The first was an upskilling session to thank those who are actively involved with ALIA Groups. This library marketing training was run exclusively for ALIA Regional and Special Interest Group members and gave attendees the chance to dive into library marketing with Misskoko the Librarian. Attendees learned how to unlock the secrets to a professional online presence, and discovered the power of Canva for creating promotional images. The recording is available to Group members until June 2025, so get in touch if you would like access.
The second training was an ALIA Groups Handbook information session. The Handbook, which is accessible via ALIA Member Resources is designed to assist and guide our Groups. It is filled with information on running professional learning and social events; financial processes; volunteer code of conduct; and the support you’ll receive from the ALIA office. The recording for this info session is available here.
ALIA Groups are all about connection, collaboration and community. Whether you are a library and information professional or someone from another discipline who loves working in the sector, there is an ALIA Group for you! This blog covered just some (not all) of the vibrant Group activity in the first half of 2024. There is plenty more organised for the second half of the year - discover more about ALIA Groups via the Groups and Communities section of our website, or follow your favourite Groups on social media.
Emily Wilson AALIA (DCP)
Regional Engagement Manager