The Big Read, at Ballarat Library

Yesterday I headed to the Ballarat Library with the kids for the Big Read event. Adam had lots of fun as he got to do some colouring in and he made a bookmark for his Nanny. He even got to draw on his hat so that was great fun! We then listened to some stories, and danced to some music. Then we sat down to read altogether. We last about 10 minutes so that was pretty good. All in all a fun time was had. Hoping they have it again next year :)

Tuesday Night Bookgroup: Notes on a Scandal

Summary: When the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...

What I thought: I quite enjoyed this book even though all the characters are ghastly! It will be interesting to see what everyone else thought!

Library Camp 2012

In the same week as VALA I was lucky enough to head back down to Melbourne on the Friday for Library Camp Australia 2012. Here are my notes from the day:

Hamish @hamishcurry

Partnerships essential. Talking is free. Inkind.
Filter bubbles. There is a whole world outside our own.
Help people build networks (beyond the first 10 results)
Problem vs Potential. Innovations have risks.
Empower your followers/staff.
Networks are powerful.

Mobile apps talk

Android - Google Ap Inventor
iPhone - Must be Mac Inventor

Instead do a "mobile version" of our website... Often through LMS.

Leadership talk

Macro level - change culture
Micro level - the "one" person

Involve HR
Keep the big picture in mind,
Leaders different to managers.
Look outside your workplace for advice.
Never one solution that fits.
Mistakes are OK. We learn from these.
No problems - only opportunities.
People are important - we're not going to leave you behind!
CULTURE. CULTURE.
Ask! Ask! Ask!
Leaders inspire.
Mangers mange the details.
Must communicate with staff.

Lightning talks (notes from 3 I got most out of)

Self promotion - Talk about yourself in a positive way. Use your strengths. Take up opportunities offered. Use your networks.

Put in applications for grants and research.

Ask - don't be hesitant. Nothing to lose.

Research talk

Do more professional reading.
RAILS.
Publish more in Incite, HLI etc.
Collaborate with others (just need ideas)
Conference - ie. HLI
What do others want to know?

Creativity talk

Libex (icon in Amazon that says if your library has book).

What I thought:

I had a fabulous day especially as I got to catch up with Sherrill, Jill, Tan and Margie. Plus I finally got to meet Steph! Then I got to touch base with lots of other library colleagues, twitter friends and interstates friends who I rarely see in life! I also came home with several good ideas and am in the stage of implementing some within my workplace :)

VALA 2012

I was lucky enough to go for a full day this year thanks to Health Libraries Inc. I caught the early train. Here are my notes from the sessions I attended:

Jason Griffey - Libraries and the post PC era

Website usage. 80% access online 20% in person
Can we get stats?
How much time is spent on your website...not 80%!

Apple iOS - what we need to pay attention to as it is the device people are buying.
Look at getting iPad for work.

Most popular way for people to interact is TOUCH. But we don't have any TOUCH options for library users...

X-Box - great for Adam... using gestures. GESTURE based interface is coming...

Twine - generic device which can tell you all sorts of things like a door opening, machine stopping, book moving...

Future:

Flip scanning: digitising book. 200 pages in 1 minute! Could eventually work on a phone. Are we then redundant?

Transparent smart windows - amazing!

3D printing - printing physical objects, not just paper.

Contact lenses with low resolution printed on them!

Though everything seems expensive now IT WILL GET CHEAPER...

Look outside of libraries. We are not unique. People are doing it better than we are.

Look at mobiles first.
Design website for your core users
We need to be ahead of users as they don't necessarily know what they want.

Annie Yee - Mobile Technology

Horizon report which looks at trends in academic libraries in 3-5years time.

Lots of Uni Library's have apps. Possibility?

Look at doing subject guides.

Card Star - all your membership cards in one app. So not in your wallet!

Jeremy Taylor, Jay Glaisyer & Julia Ryan - Mobilising patient care and research
(Download paper when available)

Impediment to access decreases efficiency

Mobile apps for Point of Care resources

Benefits: Access from anywhere; attracts next generation of clinicians; facilitates consultation, remotely; Eases pressure on hospital infrastructure; information when and where it's needed; 80% of clinicians use smart phones.

Challenges: Rapidly changing technology; costs of development - who will pay; security issues;complexity frustrating to clinicians; providing technical support - who is responsible?; Management/usage data distorted (once application downloaded no more data from that user); blurring boundaries - education needed for clinicians.

Some hospitals looking at banning androids due to security issues...

Toby Burrows - Supporting research in an era of data deluge

Should we have a digital repository? Thesis, e-prints, conference papers??

Benefits and opportunities of being involved in research:

Cross fertilisation of knowledge and services;
Closer integration and coordination of similar functions;
Better informed decision making;
Cross training;
Multiskilling of staff;
Identifying opportunities for closer and more active involvement in developments and solutions;
Holistic view of all these areas

Research profiles on BHS website... ie Dr Hurley?

Stephen Pugh - Harvesting relevant content

ICOLC - International Coalition of Library Consortia

Consortia - some wanted, some relevant, but lots of trash!

Collection profile - on areas of interest for academics. Profiling tools (companies such as YBP??)

Set up alerts for the Clinical Trials BHS have been part of...

Edmund Balnaves - OPAC as a meta data hub

Check OPAC. Is it up to date. Do all links work?

Add mash ups etc.

Load freely available e-books.

Load subscription e-lists (A-Z?)

Need more IT Skills (Do CSU still have IA course? Or IT at UB)

Add annual reports into catalogue. Plus other internally produced documents (link and PDF)

Why I love going to VALA:

I had a fantastic day. It helps to reignite ideas. Gets the creative juices flowing. You go away with things you want to implement overnight! Also the opportunity to network with fellow health library colleagues and those from other library industries.

Book: Under Southern Skies

Summary: Cate Perry's future couldn't look brighter. She's learning about life on the land, and has just completed her first solo flight over the vast Northern Territory cattle station she calls home. And she's falling in love – with handsome, gentle Alf. Then a tragic freak accident changes Cate's life forever.

Grief and shame drive her to Tamworth, where she meets the talented Nat and quickly stumbles into a singing career. But fame beings to take its toll, and just when Cate least expects it, Alf steps back into her life. Will Alf and Cate face up to their feelings, or forever live with the consequences?


What I thought: I did enjoy this and will read more of hers but I have read better. It did tend to jump very quickly with LOTS going on. But still a good trashy outback romance!

Book: Listening to Country

Summary: 'This big land, Australia. It's big enough for everyone!' calls Annie Karrakayn across the pre-dawn campfire to the other Law women stirring from the perfect quiet of a still, desert night. 'Strong Dreamin' ' she whispers.
So begins the intimate diary of Ros Moriarty, a white woman married to an Aboriginal man, as she takes an emotional journey across country and culture to the Northern Territory's Tanami Desert with Annie and the other matriarchs of her husband's Aboriginal family to perform ceremony. Interwoven with her desert journal are personal and family stories of black and white Australia - from the shameful and painful to the ordinary and everyday, to the glorious and awe-inspiring - illuminating the deep connection humanity shares, regardless of race and place.


What I thought: I did enjoy this book but didn't think it was neccessarily worthy of all the acclaim it has received. She was very sensitive to indigenous issues so I think I learnt a lot from it in that respect...