Postgraduate library studies at University of Canberra

It seems like a few nights ago that I stood as a guest of ALIAActive at its Midwinter dinner, prattling on about the joys of moving to Canberra to take on development of the Librarianship specialisation in University of Canberra’s new online Master of Information Studies; now I’m marking the final assignments of Semester 1. The wonderful thing is I’m still having a great time – the students are essentially doing a fifth year (twelve months full-time equivalence) of tertiary studies and it has been marvellous to work with them.

There has also been the opportunity and support (which is important) to progress a couple of new research projects:

In the field of information ethics, I delivered a seminar during Information Awareness Month at the National Library organised by Jan Bordoni of AGLIN. The presentation, entitled “Who Knows What You’re Reading: Surveillance Technologies, Libraries and Privacy”, was a work-in-progress seminar, based on early findings into a study of the ethical implications of RFIDs in libraries. It is a collaborative project, involving work with Professor Forbes Gibb (University of Strathclyde), Dr Clare Thornley (University College, Dublin) and Professor John Weckert (Charles Sturt University and the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Professional Ethics, based here in Canberra). We’ll shortly be meeting as a group to present a panel discussion at an computer ethics conference in Corfu (http://cepe2009.ionio.gr/), which sadly will mean missing part of the lovely Canberra winter.

Another research project in its early stages is a study into the application of Knowledge Management guides such as the Australian Standard in Australian government and industry. The researchers are Sally Burford (University of Canberra) and I. Knowledge Management is a discipline in which the University of Canberra has a significant history, with its Master of Knowledge Management having commenced in 2002.

Sally Burford’s research is in the area of effective Web Information Architecture and how it is achieved in large organisations,

We offer PhD programs and a Master of Information Studies (Research) so please contact me if you are interested in researching in the Knowledge and/or Information fields of study.

I’ll be course convenor while Sally Burford is on sabbatical in Semester 2 2009 and will be preparing for an ALIA Course Recognition visit in December. Because University of Canberra has formally applied for course recognition, you will now see the course listed on ALIA’s website: http://www.alia.org.au/education/courses/librarianship.html

I’m sure you’ll agree that, after a few years absence, it’s great to see an ACT program listed up there among the country’s Postgraduate Courses!

Stuart Ferguson, University of Canberra