NLS4: Venue Confirmed

Back in late November I headed to Melbourne for an NLS4 Meeting and we had some exciting news - the venue has been confirmed. This is the announcement email sent by Andrew (and let me just say that I love the venue and think it is perfect for a NLS4 crowd - very funky):

The NLS4 Committee are incredibly excited to announce the venue for the 4th ALIA New Librarians Symposium - Citiclub on Queen.

CQ is a delightfully modern venue, located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, and easily accessible by public transport. A stone's throw from all of Melbourne's major attractions, it is the perfect place to be in December 2008.

The CQ Functions centre provides ample space to accommodate concurrent sessions, with state-of-the-art presentation technology, so that we can truly break through those MS-Powerpoint barriers! Furthermore, the function space contains its own bar, if you need a little Dutch courage to spur you into networking with the industry's movers and shakers.
CQ also provides a range of comfortable inner-city hotel accommodation - details of accommodation deals for conference delegates will be confirmed as we draw closer to the event.

For more information about the venue, check it out at:
http://www.cqmelbourne.com.au

We're sure you'll be as excited as we are about this venue.

Book: So many books, so little time

I don't know why but I love reading about books. I mean I have hundreds of books at home that I haven't read yet so why do I read about more books??? Hence my "To read" list keeps getting longer and longer and I think if I was locked up for ten years in my house I still wouldn't get through all the books I have to read! Anyway, I do love reading about books and thinking that I should "try that one" to push myself further. (In fact I have joined a bookgroup starting early next year so I should read some things I have never dreamed of). Anyway, this was a great book as it reminded me that so much of what I read can be related back to certain situations in my life and that books have helped to shape me and the person that I have become.

ALIA Victorian LT Christmas Dinner

Top: Me and Kim

Bottom: The steak! The food looked devine (not sure if it tasted all that good though)

Last Friday (the 7th) Kim and I headed down to the Melbourne Docklands to the James Squire Brewhouse for the Victorian Library Technician's End of Year Dinner. (BTW - Kim drove - how awesome!). Anyway it was a good night. I haven't really been to the Docklands but it was great looking at the multi-million dollar yachts from the restaurant! Anyway, we also managed to raise $82 for the Mobile Donkey fund too!

ALIA Vic End of Year Christmas Party

Last night I headed to Victoria University Learning Commons (aka Library) on Flinders Street. As you can see from the top image we were 15 floors up. What an awesome view! Don't know if I could work in a library like that as I would forever be staring out the window people watching! They had some great spaces though and one I definitely think I could incorporate into our new library (yeah - the one they keep promising!). Anyway it was a good night and you can see Michelle playing host to the very well dressed (LOL) Trevor and the lovely Alex.

ALIA Vic Specials End of Year Celebration

On Thursday 15th November I headed to the MCG for a tour of the MCC Library and Museum. What can I say but WOW! The staff did us this awesome newsletter which chronicled the history and showed photos of them moving and renovating. The library is open whenever there is an event on (like the Boxing Day Test, AFL etc.) They have 5 paid staff and 15 volunteers!

After the tour we headed into the members room for dinner and boy was that lush (I only ever sit in the cheap seats!) This was just a wonderful night, awesome tour, great people, and I won a prize! Check out Donna's blog for her thoughts (mainly about the food) and some more pictures!

Book: Jane Eyre

So my hubby was away and I was flicking channels and Jane Eyre had just started on the ABC. I watched it for a couple of minutes and thought - this looks good! So I quickly turned the telly off, went to my bookcase and pulled it off the shelf (I have hundreds of books which I am yet to read!). So I started Jane and boy was I hooked. Oh - what a wonderful story. Naturally it was a bit hard going with the language (and small print) but I chomped through it in about a week. I am so in love with it now. I also feel really good because I always say to myself that I should read one "classic" per year (hence when I am old will have got through lots of them!). So anyway I am on the "classics" brigade at the minute wondering what to pursue next!!

Book: Game, Set and Match

I picked this one up at an op shop too! Good book (but for 10 year olds - I thought it was for teenagers!). However, as it was a short read I read it anyway. One of those ones that teaches kids how to play fair and how to conduct yourself etc. Naturally the nasty girl was taught her lesson!

Book: Father Frank

I picked this one up while secondhand bookshopping and boy was it great. I loved it! Father Frank drives a taxi to raise money for the church and one day beautiful Sarah hopes into the back of his cab. The story goes from there...should he stay with the church...follow his feeling??? Just a wonderful read! Sort of like chick lit but not because it was from the boys perspective. Am now scrounging about for Paul Burke's other works!

Book: Rough Diamonds and Real Gems

I tend to love stories about the outback and country life so thought I would enjoy this one. It contains nine captivating stories about ordinary bush men and women who lead extraordinary lives. There's the island cattleman who swims his herd past toothy sharks and beady-eyed crocs; the pineapple grower who builds a stone church for his community; the timber worker who becomes a champion woodchopper; and a dairywoman who, at eighty-eight, is still rescuing birthing cows from the brink of death. Naturally some of the stories were great whilst others were a bit pointless. I definitely love those uplifting ones though where you are left to question what you have achieved in your own life?

Book: Odd One Out

This book was written exclusively for the Australian market and was offered as a freebie for the Booksalive campaign (but I picked it up at an op shop!) I have read lots of her other books but you could tell this was quickly thrown together. Typically story, where there is a sister who is left out of everything whilst her other siblings are famous artists etc. It was a nice little cute story though (only 150 pages) so you could whip through it in a few hours. Tended to lack the substance of her other books though and I didn't like the ending very much!!

Library furniture

And you are actually trying to convince me that this is comfortable? Ok it looks really funky but how long could you realistically sit there and read?

Library on the Internet

I wonder how many people use this service? Seems awfully expensive when you can pop down to your public library for free?

Writer's rooms

So speaking of writers, I feel like I have a connection with them. Not sure whether it is because I am a librarian who works with books, or whether it is because I think surely "I have a book in me!!". But anyway, I love to delve into the world of writers (and not necessarily reading their books - not enough time!). So this website is cool because it has links to writer's studies etc. I love the difference between the super messy, the ultra neat, the libraries etc. My study at home very boring compared to these!

Book: Unpolished Gem

Back in August I went to an author talk about this book in nearby Daylesford Library. You know when you go and you just love sitting and listening to authors talk about their works? Anyway, she (Alice Pung) was a great presenter and there were lots of things that bonded me to her - like the fact that she is my age. Anyway, the book sounded great but I resisted and didn't buy a copy, instead I reserved it. So after all the hype what did I think? You know I am a bit unsure - it has had rave reviews and I felt like during the talk I would love it to bits (as most others in the room had read and loved it) but I'm not too sure myself. I can't decide if I liked it because I was meant to, or if I didn't like it all that much? Anyway, I suppose I did enjoy it to an extent but it was one of those books that jumps back and forth through her life and you get all confused at what age she's meant to be? So, the verdict: Undecided!!

Up-to-Date (well sort of!)

OK, so now that brings me up-to-date (well sort of!) I may have finished Uni but I have so many other things I have to do! I have to proof read my husbands last two assignments for the year, I have to do Technotes for the Vic LT Group and help promote the Christmas Party (not sure where it is yet), Write an article for Vic Specials and New Grad News, I have to type up the minutes for ALIA Vic, I have to chase up come contacts for NGAC and prepare a paper for the Board, I have to hunt out some info for NLS4, I have to focus on the Ballarat Library Group for 2008, I have to burn some DVD’s, I have to write some letters then finally I want to do some of the things I enjoy like reading some books, doing some jigsaws, watching some trashy DVD’s from my school days, sleeping lots more, eating lots of yummy food, cooking – well attempting to, exercising, more than I currently do. And the list goes on…

Finished Uni

Yeah for me! Big claps! I have just submitted my last assignment for Uni and I feel fantastic. I can just about say that now I have my Masters! (OK – I need to wait for my results but close enough!). Now I have to decide what I am going to spoil myself with. Last night when I finished I opened a good bottle of wine to celebrate (By good I mean $16 compared to my usual $8!) I am definitely thinking of buying a whole TV series on DVD but also I think a facial or some sort of pampering is in order! Now that I have finished Uni though I can get back to all the ALIA and Library stuff that I have been shoving aside for far too long! So yeah for me and lets hope this blog can stay a little more updated now!

Ballarat Library Group Dinner

On Thursday November the 1st, 35 people from Ballarat and surrounds gathered at Gee Cees in Ballarat for dinner. What a fantastic evening. There were representatives from Ballarat Health Services Library, University of Ballarat, ACU National – Aquinas Campus, University of Melbourne - School of Forestry Library and another handful from different primary and secondary schools in the region. It was a super night. We were extremely lucky that the University of Ballarat paid for the private upstairs room so we had a great gathering away from everyone else. I had previously nabbed some ABC “The Librarians” bookmarks from Margie Anderson, Victorian Local Liaison Officer for ALIA, so each person got one of these, plus a few extras scattered about. The team at SMB (University of Ballarat) had also printed off some Librarians’ posters from the ABC website so these were intermingled on the tables too, plus the provided us each with a little bag of fine chocolates from our boutique chocolate shop (once again, many thanks to UB – they went down a treat the following Friday afternoon whilst at work!). I also had four ALIA shopping bags and placed hidden ALIA stars under seats as lucky prizes. Plus one contained an ALIA book journal too! Many thanks to Margie for these. But, the best thing was just meeting and chatting to everyone from the different library. There are some great people out there and there was much excitement behind the idea of starting a local library group for next year. Naturally I stayed until the end, but guess what – I was home within 10 minutes! Big difference to that long drive back up the highway!

ALIA Vic Meeting and The Librarians Screening

On Wednesday October 31st I headed down to Melbourne for an ALIA Vic Committee Meeting at RMIT. It was good as we discussed our upcoming Christmas Party. Stayed tuned to the ALIA list-serves for more information! After that we headed over to Melbourne Central for a bite to eat before heading back to RMIT Library for the encore screening of The Librarians.

My thoughts? Mixed. I did enjoy it and laughed out loud but I am not sure if it was because it was funny or because I was in a room full of other ‘library people’ who were all laughing. Anyway I will definitely be watching it to see how it progresses. The first episode just introduced everyone. I read an interview about it today that said the working title of it was “Shelve this”. I wonder if it would have been so popular and so widely discussed if this was the title. Anyway, I will stick with it – it did remind me of certain public librarians I know!!

NAC Teleconference

As you have previously read, I attended the Ballarat NAC and I was chosen as the representative for the National NAC Teleconference. So on the night of Tuesday October 30th, I dialled into the ALIA Teleconference from the comfort of my own home. We each had two minutes to comment on the top two issues raised at our meeting, and then later to comment on the most important issues ALIA needs to focus on in 2008. I was a bit sceptical at first thinking ‘I wonder if this will work’, but it did! It was really great. The best thing was that I was about 5th in line to talk and I followed other regional areas such as the Riverina, Alice Springs, Rockhampton and Townsville. The great thing was that I wasn’t made to feel so isolated by living in Ballarat. I saw lots of other places struggling just like Ballarat due to their distance from a capital city. It actually gave me a great deal of comfort knowing I wasn’t alone and that others were in the same position as me. I am hoping to get in touch with other regional areas to gain an idea of what library events work for them and to see how many people they usually get turning up to events to gain an idea of what to expect in Ballarat. I do think that ALIA needs to focus on Regional areas more and get out there and be proactive! But all it all it was really good!

Book: The Wrong Way Home

(This is a different book cover to the one I read. It's funny isn't it that a book cover can say so much!)

I just finished the book “The wrong way home” by Peter Moore. If you like travel humour then I suggest you give this a go. I picked it up whilst secondhand book shopping a few months back and I will definitely be reading more of his works. He is an Aussie and it follows his journey from London to Sydney without stepping into a plane! Can you imagine? It took him like eight months and yes he did have to catch one tiny little plane but it was still a great read. I think the thing I love most is that he visits so many interesting places that I can never imagine myself venturing to. Just the adventure of it all. That whole – oh I wish I could do that - when nothing is really stopping me except myself!

NLS4 Meeting

On Saturday morning, the 27th of October I woke early so I could have some breakfast with my mum. I figured I better see her considering I had stayed there for two days and just used her house as a backpackers! So anyway it was great to catch up with mum as now I have moved a few hours away, life is busy for both of us, so we hardly get to bond anymore and she is one of my best friends! After lunch I headed into the city for our next NLS4 meeting – and boy was it a long one. We are in the middle of picking a venue so it is all very busy. Plus we all have so many ideas that we are just itching to discuss. I promise you it will be an awesome event so stay tuned for further information!

HLI Conference

So on the Friday morning (the 26th) I caught the train in and had my favourite Boost Juice for breakfast and headed to the HLI Conference for a great day of networking with those in health related libraries. Here are my notes from the day:

‘Gen Y’: are they really that different? David Chalke

Single, unmarried, live at home (but will move interstate), take gap years, 1/3 come from broken homes – so they are non-committal.
Very funny presentation but he didn’t ask if there were any Gen Y’s there – like me! My boss had a chuckle though as she said she recognised many of the traits in me!

Wikis for knowledge communities. Bernie Lewin

Gave a general overview. Use them for sharing – a collective mind. Use wikis to nurture, not control.
His talk reminded me that there is so much out there like the discussion page son wikis, forums on Bookmooch. Too many things to be a part of and not enough time – How do you be selective? He reminded me very much of the work my friend Jill does at Urbis.

Delivering the evidence to the client. Terence Harrison

This was about clinical librarianship and the fact that to do this you need to know a little bit about all disciplines (allied health, medicine, nursing, psychiatry etc.). He mentioned databases and resources such as CATMaker, PICO, DARE (UK), DUETS. And the bliki he is working on: www.clinicallibrarian.wordpress.com

So much great information but he whizzed through everything so quickly and we could have learnt so much more. If the presentation was one hour long it would have been better.

Integrating Web 2.O applications into the OPAC. Toby McAleer.

They got all staff (ATO) to do the Learning 2.0 package. Then they split things into phases:

Phase 1: included book covers, chapter descriptions, book summaries (enriched content). And they added single search (federated search option on Sirsi Dynix)

Phase 2: News/RSS Feeds, Wikis, Your own library account etc. All in one page with the catalogue in the middle.

Testing Phase: Tagging (via Library Thing) and Del.ico.us

It reminded me that we should really run an RSS session, but it was also one of those moments where you go ‘Oh – you can do all that because you have the money, the time, the staff and a great ILMS!’. Such is life!

Awards

SLA presented to Stephen Due from Geelong Hospital. I mean the work he has done for use with consortium's is amazing. Definitely well deserved.

Pat Nakouz Award was not awarded as no one applied! Think of a topic!

Feeds and mashups: a healthy diet of live content. Andrew Pentecost.

Mashup – like on Realestate.com where it has Google Maps. (mashing two products together).
He gave a live example which was great as we could easily take this back and add it to our intranet page.

Library 2.0 @ Curtin University Library. Dianna Blackwood

SMS queries. Podcasts. Look up David Rothman blog.

Podcasting is something I definitely want to learn how to do next year!

Austin Health Libraries Survey. Dominique Collins

Was very interesting in that they used consultants but in reality there is no way we could afford to do that. However it looks like they got good results from it!

Reel Librarians. Andrew Rooke and Marijana Bacic

Great way to end the conference by looking at Librarians in film. Good snippets and some really old movies. The only current one mentioned that I haven’t see is Possession (2002). Rent his one!

Dinner

Many headed home after a few drinks but the usual crowd stayed on for dinner. What a great night. Gee I love Margaret from Box Hill and Kathryn from Western is always a great laugh. Not forgetting my trusty sidekicks Michelle and Laura! I caught the train back to mum and dad’s and didn’t get in until gone midnight! What a huge day but an excellent one at that!

New Grad Group Event: Key Selection Criteria

OK, so I headed to this event at RMIT University Library on Thursday 25th for a Vic NGG event. I am not looking for a job so KSC wasn’t really up my avenue but boy what a fantastic event. This was definitely one of the most practical I have been to all year. If I was looking for a job there was so much great information to take away from it. In fact I left thinking how on earth did I get a job because I am sure my KSC were no way near as good as what was discussed on the night! So here are my notes from the night with the following panellists:

Ian Smith (Library HR at LaTrobe Uni),
Jenny Baran (One Umbrella),
Meka Mellers (Hume Library Council).

KSC tell you what employers are looking for. So tell them what they want/need to know about you. Don’t expect them to hunt out the answers. Get to the point – give examples. Stand out (in a good way) be accurate, write clearly and in a positive voice.

If you don’t meet a KSC, say you don’t have these skills but you have…. Don’t leave anything out!

Less is more – fewer words, quality not quantity. Use bullets pints (some say yes – public, some say no – academic). Don’t use ambiguous words. Be succinct!

It is a time consuming process – give it your full focus. Use the KSC list as your headings. Use concrete terms: I organised…I edited…I liaised with…I instigated…I investigated…NOT I was involved in …or I assisted…

Picking out particular words like abilities (could do) or experience (can do) evidence/demonstrate (means give examples).

Break each KSC into parts.

Skills are transferable – good word to use.

State your achievements. I improved time frame by….

Suggested book: How to address selection criteria by Anne D Villiers.

Treat each application separately (for when you are applying for multiple jobs).

In public/government/universities etc. the interview then revolves around the key selection criteria.

Cover letter/KSC/Resume. Use same fonts/sizes/underlines/bolds etc. so there is a uniform look. An RTF Format document opens the same as you saved it (ie. When submitting via email).

Overall this was just a fantastically well run event. Big claps to both Michelle and Laura who organised it – just superb!

After the event I headed to the soccer club to follow my dad to the mechanics (to get his truck serviced). He was off to QLD the next morning for an old farts soccer tournament! Good on him – I hope I am as active as him when I get old!

Conference: Friday - Day Three

(Me and Tricia from RMIT who I am the Victorian LT Committee with)

We staggered to the conference venue on Friday morning, a bit weary after our night of dancing. I forgot to mention that at lunchtime on days two and three of the conferences there were massages!! They had these "3 minute angels" and boy were they good! Anyway...

Keynote: Reaching Beyond the Library Walls - Empowering Workers through Information Literacy, Anne Lloyd (CSU)

Anne is one of my lectuerers at the minute so it was great to put a real face to a name! She discussed a research project that she had worked on too so it was really interesting. Take risks, work in collaboration with others. Remain committed to success regardless of format. Acknowledge that libraries are now physical and virtual spaces. Enable! Empower! So go beyond the library walls to empower power. Use other opportunities, expand!

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Panel: Libraries in 2017

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Need to be more creative and proactive with funding. Retiring workforce - succession planning etc. we need research skills, marketing skills etc. There are lots of different grants out there - apply! How is the stuff created today going to be available tomorrow (like emails from soldiers in Iraq - will these be at the War memorial?) Unfortunately there wasn't enough time given to this discussion, it could have gone for another hour!

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Concurrent: Libraries as a training nexus, Andrew Thurley

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We have the skills, people, place, power so use it! Empowerment (self reliance, self assessment) Confidence (promote Q&A'a, increases productivity, utilises goal setting) Flexibility (different learning styles, different personalities, we observe/learn then adapt), Rapport (bonding, apprachability), Patience (encourages further questions, ensures training is not compromised).

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Keynote: Who do you think you are? Mary Carroll, (VU)

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Mary discussed the history of the LT Course and is doing a PHD on it. It was really interesting, lots of photos etc. No notes - I just listened!!

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Keynote: Our future - the 21st century library and information workforce, Gilliam Hallam (QUT)

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I think this was brilliant and she broke down her survey to focus on LT's. Again a great insight into research for me. No notes - I just listened!!

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There were then the usual closing remarks, thanking of the commitee and handover to the next conference committe in Adelaide 2009!

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Overall I really enjoyed the conference and am still exhausted from it!

Conference: Thursday - The Dinner!!

(Me, Jill and Kim - warming up for the dinner)

(Jill, Tania and me - feeling very warm!)

(Kim, Deidre and me)

(Shannon and me - capturing our selves!)

Ok - the night was smashingly good! Jill came to our hotel room (she wasn't attending the conference - just came to dance) and Kim, Jill and I got ready. We headed to the hotel bar for a few warm up drinks before heading off to the Melbourne Aquarium. We started with finger food in the walk through fishes bit. So there were lots of sharks, stingrays etc. Really cool, then upstairs for dinner. It was funny though because they served fish! I didn't think it would be on the menu! But there you go. The band was great - lots of dancing, lots of wine! We even tried to get the security guard dancing (I mean - there was a limited supply of males!) Thanks to everyone for dancing with me - I just loved it. My poor feet were a bit tired the next day though!

Conference: Thursday - Day Two

(The Ballarat clan - six on the one day - had to get a picture!)

Again, just some of my thoughts. There are fewer mentioned today because I found a few of them uninteresting so I have just included the ones I got something out of (I won't rubbish the boring ones in public!)

Dunn and Wilson Scholarship Oration: Multi-skill us - Library Technician National Secondment Opportunities, Sharon Uthmann

Sharon was awarded the scholarship at the Sydney LT Conference and presented her findings at this one. She discussed that many Universities and Government units have job exchange or secondment policies but that there are not many in the library world. She discussed QULOC and VITLS but really there are so few out there. I enjoyed most about hearing of the problems she faced (apart from having a baby in the middle of it). Things like maybe not using the right words in the first place (for instance taking on higher duties), and also about not approaching the right people. I think it was great that she discussed these as foraying into the world of research is huge - and not easy!

Presentations/Awards:

Rebecca Evans from Tassie was presented with the next Dunn & Wilson Scholarship. She plans to create an image database of the activities and contributions Library Technicians have made to the Library sector since they were established in 1979. This would form the beginnings of an historical record which could be built upon and expanded over time and would be ready in time for the 30th anniversary of Library Technicians. It sounds really interesting. She has started a wiki devoted to it.

Jennifer Dwyer a school library technician was awarded the LT of the year.

Concurrent: Spoilt for choice - a comparison of two aggregations and the use of ScholarlyStats and Ulrich's Serials Analysis, Jennifer McMeekin

I missed the start of this one but wrote a few notes down for me to check up on later. COUNTER which is publisher/vendor generated stats. Ulrich's can be very customised (place of publication, peer reviewed, publisher, language, print versus electronic etc).

Keynote: Crossed wires - management, communication and culture in public libraries, Bob Pymm and Damian Lodge (CSU)

We tend to overestimate our abilities (otherwise known as the "above average" effect). We need 360 degree feedback from staff, colleagues, managers, supervisors etc. A good manager needs: leadership; administrative abilities; cognitive skills; interpersonal skills; personal traits; technical skills. I liked how the managers always rated themselves higher than the staff did! It was interesting as I am doing a research subject as Uni and it helped to put certain things into context.

Conference: Wednesday - Day One

(Des, from Darwin Medical Library and me!)

So we fronted up at the Grand Hyatt ready for a day of learning. Below are my notes (and thoughts if I had them written!)

We had the welcome by Gail Schmidt (Convenor), the Welcome to Country by the indigenous community. They had wonderful dances and an awesome didgeridoo player! Then the Welcome to Melbourne by Judy Maddigan, a Parliamentarian (and one time Librarian). She was really funny. Great energy, great quotes - perfect! Then lastly a Welcome by ALIA President Roxanne Missingham. She did an overview of objectives etc. As always Roxanne is wonderful to listen to.

Keynote: Future Directions for libraries, Anne Beaumont (SLV)

She discussed blogs (like Inside a Dog Blog who bring teenagers and books together), Ask Now! Virtual library services, Digitisation projects like Picture Australia, Google Images, Coming to libraries via other means (like the internet) and having things like Libraries Australia through World Cat. Wireless internet, wifi, and getting in people who access things like wifi who wouldn't normally enter libraries (ie. businessmen). Being where the user is - Facebook, 2nd Life. That there are lots of different initiatives out there like the SLQ The Garage where car manuals have been digitised! So try and experiment, its all part of the learning process. We are constantly running to keep up with expectations of our users but things change (live with it). Remember core values of libraries will stay the same though!

Concurrent: Obtaining Library Qualifications via workplace certification, Carolyn Werner

This was good in that it made me think that many libraries could do that within their workplaces. Sometimes people just need a little push! The trainer visited every few months. Supervisors had to do written references/progress reports. It isn't at the Diploma level yet but sometimes people need that push to get started and they may feel compelled to finish it themselves. Good possibilities - not pie in the sky stuff!

Concurrent: Don't judge a book by its cover - Lismore's Living Library Project, Louise Somerville

Naturally I had read about this so it was more just an overview of the program. Its a great idea though and great publicity. They have it as a monthly event now and one "book" is featured per month in the local paper. They have 60 "books" which are all volunteers. They have also been given funding to help spread the project across the country by doing "information" packs or something. Interesting.

Concurrent: Books behind bars II, Kevin Dudeney

Typical Kevin talk - very interesting and funny. Discussed that the most popular books had "hard language" in them, also a Sydney based writer Robert ? was popular as he was a crim (or maybe just writes about it in the local setting). They prefer male authors (thrillers). $5 shelf fillers - due to high attrition rate. Sex - but no romance! Thin paper books (bible etc) get used as Tally Ho papers! They get lots of donations (public libraries, book drives etc.) - they had 9,000 in 18mths.

There are 48 libraries across 33 centres. They get typical magazines (National Geographic, Motorcycle/Car mags). LOTE books and LOTE newspapers. They censor as in no "naked" photography books, no martial arts etc. They use there own classification scheme. They are running Cert. III in LIS. Ten long term inmates are doing it but they use CDROM's not the internet. If they don't return a book there could be a reduction of privileges. Really interesting - very different special library!

Keynote: The Connected Library, Suzette Boyd

Boy was she funny! Great talk. I mean some of things were irrelevant to most libraries as Scotch College has heaps of money, where as most libraries are struggling but anyway she was great. She talked about having FUN! Being efficient, flexible, professional, people focused, service centered, share ideas, under promise - over deliver, helpful, knowledgeable, person of action. Do quizzes, have staff displays "Getting to know your library staff", " A few of my favourite things" etc.

Keynote: Interior Design for Libraries, Kevin Hennah

OK, so he is a salesman who redesigns libraries but boy does he speak well! Signage very important! Use ends of isle to display books (Slatwall), Go around the pillars - incorporate them. Think from the customer's perspective. Instead of Information or Reference what about ASK! Or Your Library instead of just Library?

Workshop: Internet access and participation for people with a disability, panel

OK, I didn't take notes on this one as I chaired the session (My first Chair!) It was really interesting though (pity the crowd wasn't very big) but anyway it was about a research project undertaken by Vicnet. So we heard about the project then representatives from Yooralla, Scope and Vision Australia spoke about ways we can help. As I said my library is different than a public library but I still took a few points away like keeping language simple, ways to get help etc. It was a really great session if its an area that interests you.

So all in all the first day was brilliant. Really good speakers. So Kim and I headed back to our hotel, got changed then headed out to China Town for dinner with a few other interstate delegates. Got back to the hotel exhausted, jumped into bed then continued to chat for hours, and hours, and hours!

Conference: Tuesday - Welcome Reception and First Timers & Friends Dinner

(Me and Shannon from Canberra's Parliamentary Library)

So I quickly went back to my hotel after the tours, met Kim and we got changed and headed up to the Grand Hyatt for the opening of the Trade Exhibition and the Welcoming Drinks. It was really good to be able to catch up with people who I hadn't seen since the last conference and also those friends from interstate who I chat to and see on a more regular basis. It was also great to meet so many new people!


After the Welcoming Reception we headed off to the First Timers & Friends dinner at the European Bier Cafe. There were even more people there who weren't at the drinks so it was just awesome to see everyone. The meal was awesome and the company even better! We staggered back to the hotel down the hill ready for the conference program to begin bright and early the next day!

Conference: Tuesday - Gratisnet Training and Library Tours

(Chris, from the Alice Springs medical library and me)

On the Tuesday morning I headed out early and caught a tram to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. There was a training session (separate to the conference) on the use of Gratisnet. Gratisnet is the ILL system used by medical libraries around Australia. It was a great chance for those coming from interstate, or for those who live in a rural area to get some hands on training. When we arrived at RMH we got a tour of their new library. It was very nice - lots of space! Then we had the training session. There were some familiar faces but also some from interstate so it was great to be able to put a NUCOS code to a face!

Then I headed off to the SLV for the afternoon library tours. I was leading the Medicos Group (Tour 6) with the assistance of Kelli who is studying to be a LT.

First off we headed of to The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Anne gave us an overview of the library which looked very much like a gentleman's club! Then, we were fortunate to be taken upstairs to look at the rare book collection and given some background insights into it by the person restoring and cataloguing it.

Next we headed off to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Library where we were warmly greeted by Imeri, Caroline and Adam. They gave us lots of handouts a a really cute RVEEH stuffed owl. We got to look at their collection, ask lots of questions and discover more about their connection with RANCO. The interesting point to this library is that we had to enter through the loading dock!

Our last port of call was the library at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. This was housed down in the basement. We were warmly greeted by Aina, Jo and Heather and most importantly a wonderful afternoon tea! After learning all about the library we had a tour and were told of the renovations about to take place.

We then headed back out into Melbourne and off to our hotels to quickly get changed for the Welcome Reception and opening of the conference. Thanks to all who willingly shared their libraries with us, it was an excellent afternoon and I have stolen many ideas to take back to my own workplace and implement!

Conference: Monday - Library Technician NAC Meeting

(Kim and I)

So after the tour of the City Library we headed back up to RMIT (who are always so wonderful at giving us rooms) for the ALIA NAC Library Technician Meeting. It was chaired by Damian Lodge who did an excellent job of keeping us on track and focused. It was very different to the Ballarat NAC and more of what I expected. And my conference buddy Kim had shown up by this time so all was good!

Anyway, there was a pretty good turn out with members from QLD, NSW and VIC present (sorry if I forgot anyone else!) It was a good chance to vent some issues and to discuss some possibilities! Also, to look at things from an LT point of view. We were asked of our main concerns and mine was to members in regional, rural or remote centres - in particlular lack of ALIA services.

By the time we finished we wandered back along the city streets, grabbed some dinner and some munchies and checked into our hotel at about 10pm - exhausted! But, ready to enjoy the week!

Conference: Monday - Visit to the City Library

(Matthew Griffiths from Sydney and me!)

Ok, so after the relaxed Overachiever session me and a few mates headed down to the new City Library (alright so it isn't really new anymore but I just hadn't made it there yet!). We got a personalised tour (thanks Brann) and it was just such a cool library. It was so busy! The collection was great - nice and new and they had a cafe and a gallery. It was awesome! I highly recommend a visit.

Conference: Monday - How to be a relaxed overachiever

(Me and Margie - our lovely ALIA Local Liasion Officer for Victoria)

OK - so it has taken me forever to get back to my blog and writing about my adventures at the ALIA Library Technicians Conference in Melbourne but I feel like I should at least make a start.


On the Monday (October 8th) I caught the 7:00am train down and lugged my bag to the State Library of Victoria for a pre-conference session. It was called How to be a relaxed overachiever: reconnecting with the big picture. It was facilitated by Geraldine Barkworth who was excellent. OK, so I arrive at SLV and I see the person who first gave me my break in the library world. When I was studying the LT Course you had to do placement so I trundled off to Box Hill Library and by the end of the week I was resigning from Safeway and entering the library world. Anyway, it was really great to catch up with the person who gave me a chance and has really helped develop me to the person I am today.

Anyway, the session!! So we did lots of group activities etc. but the best thing I took out was the 80/20 rule (yes, heard it before but this time it stuck!). OK, so I write down 10 things I have to do and I circle the most important two (the 20). And in reality, if I complete these two, the other eight sort of fall by the wayside or are consumed within the initial two anyway! So 20% of the total will give 80% of the value! OK - so probably a really BAD definition but that's what I got out of it! (Plus, I got to have some Boost Juice which sadly we don't have here in Ballarat!)

Banned Book Week (US)

Its banned book week in the USA (Check out Jessamyn's post for her views).

Just thought this was cool though as ALA lists the 100 most frequently challenged books from 1990-2000. http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm

Plus, how awesome is the Hatcher Graduate Library in Ann Arbor Michigan making a Flickr photoset of their staff reading banned books. Cool huh!

Personally I don't have strong views on banned books. I suppose as I don't work in a school or public library environment that it isn't an issue. I do remember when I worked at Whitehorse Manningham though that we had 4 or 5 copies of a book and they had all been stolen - can't remember the book though - I think it was something religious. I actually thought it was pretty impressive that someone drove to all 5 branches and procedeed to steal the book! Obviously someone with strong views and too much time on their hands!

Victorian Library Technicians Group

As most of you will probably know, the National LT Conference is on in Melbourne starting next week. As I co-edit Technotes and write lots of snippets about the group I was asked to do a summary to be handed out at the LT Conference. So I just thought I'd share what the Vic LT's have been up to since the last conference:

The Victorian Library Technicians: 2006/2007 Overview

2006 was a bumper year for the Victorian Library Technicians Group with 11 events occurring and rapid developments to the Victorian Library Technicians webpage. The season kicked off with a visit to the University of Ballarat in February to help library technician students ease into the new academic year. A panel session was conducted which heard professional library technicians discuss the real world of libraries and the roles library technicians play in them, including the importance of ALIA.

February also saw a visit to the Mornington Peninsula Library Services Mobile Library. Attendees heard about their floating stock, the Mornington Library network, the satellite communications, and the bus itself. April saw an after hours, behind the scenes tour of the State Library of Victoria’s current exhibition “National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries”. With SLV’s Claire Williamson as tour guide (who also happened to be the curator), delegates were in for a WOW of a time!!

March brought Hot of the Press in which the first stop of the day was at Stomp in Abbotsford, a specialist AV supplier which boasts a large range of music and film titles all at wholesale prices. The second stop was at Vision Australia in Kooyong, where we learned about the services provided to clients and the ways in which technology is advancing to better assist the blind with accessing the written word. The afternoon was spent at Raeco in Scoresby where we were treated to a delicious lunch. While at Raeco we saw a presentation on the cataloguing of non-book materials by SCIS (Schools Catalogue Information Service), learned about the services that Raeco provide to the library industry, and heard about RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) from 3M Library Systems. The day provided delegates with the opportunity to learn about non-book materials from a variety of angles including the production, processing, storing and loaning of these materials.

May brought Library Week and National Library Technicians Day was celebrated with a visit to library technician students at Victoria University. Again the role of library technicians was discussed and the important role ALIA plays in library technicians lives. That night, library technicians from around Victoria gathered in Melbourne for dinner to catch up with old friends, to meet new ones and to simply chat about life in libraries.

Techs on Tour (in its 9th year) again took place in June. A behind the scenes look at work in libraries with tours of the State Library of Victoria’s Genealogy Centre, stacks, Rare Books, Mirror of the World exhibition and an overview of SLV 21st century strategies. Afternoon tours included guided visits to the RACV Library, University of Melbourne Rare Book Collection, SLV Manuscript Collection and RMIT’s Greek Resource Collection.

August fast approached and Victorian technicians gathered for their Annual General Meal in Southbank, to catch up at the halfway mark of the year. In October a fully booked tour group headed to the Public Records Office of Victoria in North Melbourne to learn more about the Victorian Archives and this wonderful resource valued at more than $140 million.

The year was rounded out with the 4th River of Opportunities weekend workshop in November, a collaborative event from the Victorian ALIA Library Technicians Group and the NSW ALIA Library Technicians Group. This year it was held in Albury, NSW. The Saturday saw a full program of informative speakers in the morning with library tours in the afternoon. The Sunday kicked off with more great presentations before we all bundled back (up or down) the highway home.

And last but not least, 20 enthusiastic Library Technicians, 2 Raeco representatives and about 200 Santa’s (male and female) met at the Clare Castle Hotel on the 15th December for an end of year celebration dinner.
Before we knew it 2007 was again upon us. The committee had decided on a quieter year as it would be capped off with the 14th National Library and Information Technicians Conference in Melbourne.

However March rolled around, and so did Hot off the Press: Children’s Literature Style. The day included talk by author/illustrator Trudy White, a presentation by Sue Flockhart, editor at Allen & Unwin, a presentation from the Little Bookroom, a tour of Dromkeen, presentations by the Centre for Youth Literature, plus many more interesting talks and tours. Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors, Raeco.

In May we celebrated Library and Information Week and in particular, National Library Technicians Day. On National Library Technicians Day, staff and students of Victoria University's Library and Cultural Studies department were treated to a morning of guest speakers and fun to celebrate the day. Speakers included Kerrie Kelly; convenor of the Victorian Library Technicians section of ALIA, Gail Schmidt; convenor of the ALIA National Library and Information Technicians Conference, Trish Murray; treasurer of the Victorian Library Technicians section of ALIA, James Owen; technician at the State Library of Victoria, Jenny Barron; representing the One Umbrella employment agency and Margie Anderson; a teacher at Victoria University and Victorian Local Liaison Officer for ALIA.

That night, 23 library technicians from around Victoria gathered at the Silky Apple Chinese restaurant in Armadale to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and simply chat about life in libraries. With a library related quiz and some fabulous prizes from One Umbrella, the night was filled with a lot of laughs and plenty of stories.

In July, delegates gathered at the State library of Victoria to celebrate the 10th Techs on Tour. The day covered presentations on marketing and Web 2.0 as well as those fascinating tours of usually inaccessible areas of the SLV, such as Conservation and Preservation. The day concluded with a choice of 3 off site tours, Victoria University – Flinders Campus, Freehills Law library and the Melbourne University Bookshop.
August fast approached and Victorian technicians gathered once more for their Annual General Meal, this time at the Casino, to catch up at the halfway mark of the year. It is a good chance to simply drink, eat and chat about life in libraries.

As you all know, Melbourne is the host of the 2007 National Library and Information Technicians Conference. So on behalf of the organizing committee, and the Victorian Library Technicians committee, welcome to Melbourne and we trust that you will enjoy all that it has to offer. We are sure that you will benefit from this conference immensely and learn lots about the way things are done in different library sectors, along with a list of things to take back and implement into your own workplace. We look forward to meeting and mingling with you throughout the week.

Once again, the Victorian Library Technician committee will finish the year off with a Christmas dinner to toast and reflect the year that was! More in-depths articles have been written regarding our events in our quarterly publication Technotes. Check it out at: http://alia.org.au/groups/libtvic/ and whilst there, look up some happy snaps on our social pages.

NGG & CSU Dinner

After the LT Conference volunteer meeting, I headed to the European Bier Cafe for dinner with the ALIA New Graduate Group of Victoria and the Charles Sturt University Melbourne Study Tour students. As I am still studying at CSU, it was a great chance for me to meet some fellow students, and of course lecturer Damian Lodge. It consisted of undergraduate students, teacher-librarians and masters students. A great mix! I always love to hear where people work and in what environment. I mean to me school libraries are so alien! I don't think its a job I could do but I really admire those who do! Just to listen to the different issues facing libraries across different sectors is always amazing.

Plus, I was in a position to offer advice to students doing the undergraduate course as I had done it through CSU too. I told them what subjects were easy, hard and how to get credits! In the CSU course you also study a non-library major which is always interesting to hear why people chose certain areas. Also we discussed the choice of electives - I mean I personally wouldn't touch an IT subject but others felt there weren't enough!

There is always the discussion of "When are you finished?". Many of the students were finishing this year, or next year. There are always a few unfortunate souls who have 3 more years left to go! I suppose though as the CSU course is by distance education, it's just nice to sit down with fellow students who are going through the same as you. Most people work full time, study a couple of subjects and either have kids or other commitments. It's nice to know you aren't the only one who spends a Saturday night at home completing assignments!

Library Technicians Conference

This conference is coming up next week (very exciting), but I was in Melbourne last Thursday night for the volunteers meeting. I am chairing a session and taking a tour group (more on that after the conference). Anyway, I got to see where the conference will be held - at the Grand Hyatt. WOW! Very plush and impressive! Anyway, I got a groovy ALIA polo shirt to wear as well. More on this next week, it looks set to be a fabulous week!

The Information Professional: Do we have a culture of learning?

Last Wednesday night (The 26th of September), I headed down to Melbourne for the State Library of Victoria's next talk in the Outside the Box series. Here are my notes (far too much effort to properly transcibe!):

Damian Lodge, CSU Lecturer, and Board member of ALIA

• discussed his PHD (in Universities)
• leadership, technology, staff motivation, staff development
• supporting staff, funding them and giving them work time to write conference papers etc.

Many Manning, from SLAV

• they have selected topics for groups to pick from and help get speakers (this could be good for regional groups of ALIA)
• gain PD from formal and non-formal activities, like reading journals
• schools pressed for $
• mainly offered PD to librarians and teacher librarians but have now moved to assistants, LT's, audio technician's etc.
• credibility - putting yourself out there, giving a presentation

Craig Anderson, Director of RMIT Libraries

• going to different events (or sector events) to broaden your view
• first aid, OH&S, fire safety (standard training)
• open program (whole uni - 100 sessions), things like IT, excel etc.
• on site training (databases, ILMS)
• external training (conferences, other events)
• full time staff development trainer
• doing the learning 23 things
• who's responsible? management or staff?

We also discussed the ALIA PD scheme.

• selling the scheme to both employers and employees
• making it compulsory? but if so numbers would drop
• major problem. they are aiming for 10% involvement

Comments (from the crowd!)

• people don't know what they don't know!
• the need to discuss change and informing others by having 'strategic conversations'.
• some people just go to work for the $ - they aren't interested in PD
• regional PD - the distance!
• you need to upskill for internal promotion, or an external job
• I would take 3 years of a star, than 10 years of a dud!

It was a really interesting talk, however we discussed that people were preaching to the converted!! All those interested in PD were there already! How do you get the others interested?

Rex Libris

On the Friday I headed into Prahan to visit Alternate Worlds. How cool is this shop! Especially if you are into comics! Anyway, I went with the intention of ordering all the copies of Rex Libris and to my amazement they had them all there! I was so stoked. I bought all 8 issues for about $50. Issue 9 is yet to arrive but they do mail order so I am thinking of setting up an account. It was really cool though because I thought that I would have to order in from overseas and that then it would cost a fortune, but no - all copies were there and they were cheap! So if you have thought about getting copies (and you live in Melbourne) I recommend a visit to Alternate Worlds. I have hardly started reading them though as I am savouring every word (and I really have to do homework!).

Second hand bookshopping

On the Thursday I decided to head into the outskirts of Old Melbourne town and do some therapeutic shopping by going second hand bookshopping!! I bought a book years ago on "Guide to Bookshops of Victoria" so decided to hunt some of the shops out. In total I bought about 15 books (which have just been added to the massive pile of hundreds of books I already have to read)!!

Some bookshops worth visiting are:

Book Affair
200 Elgin St Carlton

Already Read
98 Scotchmer St Fitzroy North

Merchant of Fairness
300 Whitehorse Rd Balwyn

MJ's Bookshop
77a Boronia Rd Boronia

These are just a few of the dozen or so I visited. However, these ones I will definitely be returning to!

More meetings

Boy have I been busy. Last week I headed to Melbourne on Tuesday night for an ALIA Vic meeting. It was held at Blake Dawson Waldron and boy do they have a great view!! I took the minutes (which I only managed to type up last night while watching All Saints). Planning is currently underway for the annual Christmas Party so stayed tuned for more info!

On the Wednesday I again headed into the city (but I stayed in Melbourne - for 5 days actually!). The local Libraries Australia User Group had a training day on using the Document Store function within LADD. The session was OK. I learnt what I needed to. Not sure we will use the function though as there are so many steps involved (all confusing - especially when we barely use LADD as it is). But anyway, it was great to catch up with some fellow ILL Officers from health and academic libraries. I had lunch with Margaret from Box Hill Hospital and we caught the train back out with Margaret going to work and me starting my 4 days of no work and relaxation mode!!

Book: Kartya's Story

Now I read this one on Sunday (whilst still recovering in bed). This was another great book. I think there were a few elements that swayed me though! It was set in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, in the suburb next to the one I grew up in. So I was very familiar with the setting etc. (I always love that about a book). The story was about a young girl (born only a few months after me - again, I love similarities), who was adopted. It was about the struggle with her identity from her adoptive mother's perspective. The young girl turned to the streets, petty crime, drugs (in particular heroine). This also hit a close cord as I am very close to someone who is a recovering drug addict. Anyway, the adoptive mother ended up trying to track down the birth mother in Taiwan as this was one of the main problems of Kartya - not knowing where she came from or why she was given up. It ended up with a successful media hunt in Taiwan for her birth mother. The family all met, Kartya was happy - free etc. However, she was still on drugs just before she left to go to Taiwan and the story ended about 4 weeks after that. The epilogue was about 6 months later. I would be fascinated to see if it all turned out well or if she returned to Australia, drugs, family etc. A good read though. 4/5 stars

Ballarat NAC

Last Wednesday night Ballarat held one of ALIA's regional NAC's. It was out at the University of Ballarat, Mt Helen campus. The UB library put on some really yummy food (thanks guys!). The most encouraging thing was that there were 14 representatives present. OK - only three weren't employed by the University, but still, it was a great start. There was me from health, and two from schools and the rest UB. One however, was a TAFE teacher (UB teach library technicians) so I think she can be counted separately too as she isn't in the library. Derek Whitehead was the chair, with the lovely Margie Anderson as minute taker.

Having never been to one before I must admit it wasn't what I expected. Anyway, we got to discuss lots of issues. In particular the skills required of the profession and the image of the profession. We also discussed a local library group in Ballarat. A dinner has been organised for November 1st so hopefully we will be able to kick start something from there. It will be really interesting to read Margie minutes as I didn't necessary get the idea of where all our discussions are headed. We also skipped other parts do to lack of time. Anyway, I will be interested to see where these discussions head, but most importantly, the turnout was a great start to reforming a local group.

Book: St Judes

I read this book on Saturday (while sick in bed) and it was a great read. It is about an Australian girl who goes to Africa to volunteer and help teach the locals. But her plans changed when she went on a safari to the Serengeti and fell in love with her Tanzanian safari guide, Richard Sisia. Despite the reservations of some of her family, they were married in 2001, some six years after first meeting (and they have two children). Meanwhile, she had started a scheme to sponsor the education of African children. With the help of Rotary, the scheme grew to the point where she decided it would be better to build her own school. Her father-in-law donated a block of land in the town of Arusha, Tanzania and the School of St Jude opened in 2002. Built by Australian volunteers and sponsors, the school now boasts more than 700 students with a second campus and secondary school currently under construction.

*

It was one of those reads where you feel like a lot of what you do is so self obsessed. I mean I jumped on the web and found out more about the school and sponsorship etc. but realised I couldn't really afford it (one of those caught up in the moment things). Plus, I have been sponsoring a child in Mozambique for years so those feelings disappeared. It was just one of those inspiring reads though where you were really touched. I highly recommend it! Plus they mention the library and how wonderful librarians are - plus the website says they are looking for volunteers, including librarians (but a minimum of a one year stay).

*

That always brings me back to thinking too. I would love to volunteer overseas, but again financial reasons stop me. I mean, I could easily pay for airfares etc. but it is everything else you have to continue paying for here (like a mortgage - but yes, I have chosen this path). I would love to do a short stint somewhere in the future. Maybe six-12 weeks like my friend Marg in East Timor. That may be doable....one day.

Beautiful libraries

The following link was sent to me from a friend:

http://www.curiousexpeditions.org/2007/09/a_librophiliacs_love_letter_1.html

Check out some of the most magnificent libraries in the world. I am very jealous. I mean I love my library and am very proud of it but compared to these, mine is not as aesthetically pleasing!!

I posted the link to some e-lists and Andrew wrote back saying "Imagine doing story time in one of these". Loved it!!

I can't decide which one I most want to work in. I have visited two of them in the flesh (OK - one was the State Library of Victoria) and the other was Trinity College in Dublin. Just amazing...

Next assignment down

I have just finished my next assignment for INF513: Research Methods in Information Studies. Because I had a big weekend - BBQ Friday night, Melbourne all day Saturday and Saturday night - and cause I was still hungover on Sunday, I had to stay up until 1am this morning trying to finish it. Anyway, it's done! All I have to do now is read through it and make changes. You know when you get to that point where you don't really care if it's any good you just want it to be over and done with? Well I am at that point. I am contemplating whether to bother reading it or just submit it (it is due today btw). Anyway, at least I can have a bit of a breather now. Only 2 more assignments left until I finish my Masters (fingers crossed) and the first one isn't due until late October. Yippee!!

Not happy!! Bloody IT!!

I am really annoyed - they have just banned Facebook, You Tube and MySpace at my work. I can't get into anything! I have been arguing with the IT guys all afternoon trying to convince them that we need it - not on my computer, but on the other ones scattered throughout the library.

OK - on You Tube the med students have been looking up operations - NOT ANY MORE
On Facebook/MySpace - people are part of groups that help them with their everyday work practices (OK - maybe not really). But, it does have email which then can no longer access. BUT NOT ANYMORE.

I mean, they get all these clinical staff from overseas, shove them in little houses or in an old ward and provide them with nothing! Hardly anyone has internet access from home and we don't have internet cafe's anywhere. The public library closes at 6pm. So frustrating, they are tearing them (and me) away from family and friends. Not happy Jan!!

And IT tells me it's not a good enough "business case".

OK - so I am really doing this for all the other poor unfortunates - not me!!

Book: Stealing Stacey

I have just finished reading the above book, Stealing Stacey by Lynne Reid Banks. Again this one was reviewed in Good Reading magazine. It was in the junior section of my local public library but probably felt it was more appropriate to the teenage section. It was one of those things where it was sort of stuck between two different age groups. The author has it listed as "Older readers" on her website though so am going to go with the "I am right - public library is wrong" scenario! Another book about the outback (a bit of a fetish for these at the minute). Very simply written though. My one concern was that they talked of an aboriginal story (and unless I am wrong, the girl got raped). The main character didn't understand her story (talking about goannas under the doona etc.). Anyway, not a book I would recommend but good for a boring train ride!

Good reading magazine

The reason I read the "Knockabout Girl" was because it was reviewed in Good Reading Magazine. When I was at the Alice Pung talk at the Daylesford Library I got to browse while we were waiting for everyone to arrive etc. And, I came across Good Reading. I borrowed a couple thinking, oh yeah - I'll have a flick through, and boy was I surprised. It is a great mag and I plan to borrow it every month now (am currently working through the back issues). I just love reading about all the books I will never get to read!! There are so many great stories out there. My "to read" list is now constantly growing thanks to this great mag. Check it out at: http://www.goodreadingmagazine.com.au/. Now I have to get back onto the classics. I have been promising myself for years to read one per year so that by the time I am 50 I can say, oh yeah - I've read that!! Maybe I'll start one after uni (wishful thinking!!)

Book: Knockabout Girl

I have just finished reading the "Knockabout Girl" by Pip Newling. It is an biography of a 23 year old Sydney sider who works as a bar maid in the Australian outback for a year, back in 1990. It tells of her adventures serving Aborigines, being the white girl, remoteness, adventure, drinking, friendships, romance etc. It is a really easy read as there are like a million short chapters (like 3 pages each) so you can always put it down and come back to it later. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who dreams of living the outback life. I mean it's not a literary marvel by any means but a good easy read none the less. 4/5 stars

Bloody libraries

Sometimes libraries can be so disappointing. Yes I am talking about Grey's Anatomy. It wasn't in my mailbox and it never arrived. Who knows why?? It should have been there but now it has been taken off my library card and given to someone else!! So, I have to go to the bottom of the waiting list again which means the second half of the series will arrive before the first!! Bloody frustrating!! And of course, no one can explain why!! I must say though it is the first time this has happened with the uni library and it has happened quite a few times with the public library too!! I hope we don't do it too much to our patrons!! But alas, it made we do other things (like watch all three Fast and Furious movies in a row!)

Doodle meeting scheduler

This was just bough to my attention as we are trying to organise a meeting where everyone can make it. It's pretty cool.

http://www.doodle.ch/main.html

How does Doodle work?
Create a poll.
Forward the link to the poll to the participants.
Follow online what the participants vote for.

Just another one of those technologies that is meant to make life easier for us all!! But, I must admit - very simple to participate, not sure about setting it up though.

This weekend...

Yeah - 5pm is almost upon me and that means it's the weekend!! And a well deserved one I think.

Not that I am doing a great deal (except another bloody assignment). But I am hoping that there is a special DVD waiting for me in my mailbox when I get home. I never watched Grey's Anatomy when it was on TV, but I borrowed the first series a few weeks ago from the library and devoured it in a weekend!! The second series is three times as long but I am hoping I can watch an episode as a reward for writing a bit of my essay, then maybe another bit of writing, another episode etc.

I also have to run around and do all those things I don't get to do during the week like buying father's day presents, getting photos developed and framed for my mum to take back home to the UK next week, shopping, going to the gym, reading my book, sleeping, eating, cooking, gardening etc. There are only so many hours in each day though - and never enough of them.