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22 August 2002
Review by Alice Dodd
Speakers:
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Tania Paull, Associate Director, PLAIN
Central Services
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Bronwyn Halliday, Director, State Library of
South Australia
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Melissa Osborne, Recruitment Consultant,
Scansearch Library Placements
This event was a resounding success, with an
audience of sixty people from all sectors and levels in the field of
Library and Information Management. It was great to see a number of
LIM students, as well as management from special libraries, public
librarians, technicians, as well as those in the academic libraries.
The speakers shared valuable information and
knowledge which came not only from their positions in the industry,
but also their personal experience and perceptions. Equally valuable
was the opportunity to hear the questions and answers raised at the
end of the session.
The presentations, and discussions ensuing from
these, addressed how to break into the profession, move up in the
management structure, sideways within an organisation or into
another sector. As each speaker discussed the qualities and skills
looked for in an employee, as well as the trends in their sector,
common themes and some hot tips emerged. Below are the bare bones.
Tania Paull's career has included working in
the Peterborough, Pt. Lincoln and Salisbury Library Services before
her role as Associate Director at PLAIN. PLAIN (Public Libraries
Automated Information Network) provides centralised acquisition,
cataloguing, processing and distribution to 148 public and community
libraries.
Growth areas in this sector include Information
Sevices, Marketing and Promotion, and the Public Library's role
within their community as a facilitator and centre for life long
learning and education.
The qualities and skills particularly important
in working in public libraries are:
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people skills; being able to interact and
enjoy working with a wide variety of people
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technology skills; especially in using the
Web, records management and knowledge of the IT management system
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innovation, initiative, problem solving
skills and a 'can - do' team approach
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being multi skilled and prepared to take on a
variety of tasks, from devising IT user education to dressing up
as a fish for the local Tunarama festival.
If applying for a position in a public library,
one is considered favourably if they are a user of that library and
know that particular community. Be prepared to become involved in
the community. For example, a country library is more interested in
someone who is going to spend their weekends in the community. Look
at the automated library system and computing software the library
uses. A basic knowledge of the 'Library Skill Set'; use of the
PLAIN, Automated Library and shelving systems is also a good start.
Once in the Library: move ahead by learning
from others who do well, finding mentors, looking at the broader
picture of the organisation and its strategic directions and being
confident enough to share your ideas with those above you. As Paull
suggests, "don't be afraid of your boss."
In order to move into management in public
libraries and serve your community and council well you need to be
able to "speak the language" of other managers in the council. Know
your council's strategic vision and have one for the library within
that. Work on having an understanding of financial management
skills. Be able to talk about what your library can do for the
council and community, for example, in terms of life long education.
Postgraduate qualifications in Human Resources
or Management are useful.
For those wishing to break into the sector,
taking on a casual evening and weekend position is a good idea.
Voluntary and work experience positions are another realistic
option. Taking a position in a country library is an ideal
opportunity to learn the spectrum of skills involved in library
work.
Bronwyn Halliday's talk focused on the trends
in the services provided by the State Library and consequently, the
types of skills and qualities required in individuals working there.
She then described the recruitment process.
The Library's role in education is increasing
exponentially, with numerous school tours and activities planned in
the next year. Reference and Information Services is another
expanding area. Storage and management of materials is, literally,
ever expanding!
As you can imagine, the State Library requires
candidates with people, IT and Web skills and an interest in
marketing and promotion. However, the preservation of materials is
also a major role of the State Library and conservators will also be
required. In fact, there is a worldwide shortage of conservators, so
if that's an interest of yours, go for it now!
The Library will be recruiting fifteen
graduates from 2002/3. Technicians and Librarians will be required.
Watch out for the advertisements put out by the Office for the
Commission of Public Employment, in the Advertiser. These will
appear possibly as soon as the 7th of September. Unfortunately, a
graduate is classified as someone who gained their qualifications in
the last two years. This leaves a lot of us out, but it is part of a
deal with the State Government. Perhaps an opportunity for some
radical campaigning? Once again, going for a position as a Retriever
or Shelver at the SLSA whilst studying is a good way of getting your
foot in the door.
Melissa Osborne gained her Graduate Diploma in
Information Studies in 1999. Prior to becoming the Recruitment
Consultant for Scansearch, she worked at State Records, TAFE and in
the CPA Library. Her presentation featured "The Seven Deadly Sins"
of graduates and those recently entering the profession. She was
generously candid in relating examples from her own experience.
Perhaps the least obvious but most common one is that of having too
high expectations upon graduating. In short, be prepared to take on
work you might consider below your theoretical training; by doing
your work well and looking for opportunities with a positive
attitude, you will advance. Osborne also suggested that one should
identify an area they love; Web development, client services or
cataloguing, for example; and specialise.
And here's a hot tip: technicians are in demand
and there is a shortage of good cataloguers in Adelaide.
Positions that Scansearch do not fill
immediately are advertised on the Web at
Mycareer and
CareerOne.
The perennial question of whether a LIM course
prepared one adequately for a library position was raised at the end
of the session and the general consensus was that there is no
substitute for on the job training. Get in there and get some
practical experience!
Overall, the evening left me with the
impression that there are a great number of opportunities in the LIM
field and more importantly, that one could capitalise on their own
diverse interests within this. The speakers own histories
demonstrate that one should, to use a hackneyed phrase, think
laterally when considering their qualifications and the trends and
opportunities out there. After all, a Masters in Business
Administration can lead to managing a library whilst a Graduate
Diploma in Information Studies might lead to working in Human
Resources!
Thanks to Tania Paull, Bronwyn Halliday,
Melissa Osborne and the SALIN Executive Committee for a genuinely
informative and stimulating event!
Kate Sergeant speaking to the attendees
Attendees
Bec Van Diemen and Robyn Ellard
Brodie Millsteed and Sarah Townsend
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