Tour of interim ACU Canberra Library 24 October 2016

Proposed new library

A group of us gathered at  the Australian Catholic University (ACU) , Signadou campus Monday 24 October 2016 to visit the  interim library. ACU Canberra is  transitioning to a new library building but until that happens  some contingency  measures have been put in place. Helena Zobec the  campus library manager lead a tour of the interim portable library building . This building was needed so space could be freed up for the nursing labs and to house a growing collection.  The collection has been accommodated well in this  “big shed “ of a demountable and an airlock corridor put in place to link the library  access and computer  labs to the  demountable building. 

Helena  told us of the challenges in moving the collection into the demountable to make sure it was in the  correct  Dewey order when reshelved and the issues faced when using a demountable building that is  poorly insulated and can be very hot in summer. She recounted  how these issues had been managed and to some extent overcome to  make  the best use of the interim  building. Helena also  told us of the challenges of   planning for the new multi-use  building that is being designed to house both the  library and  to service other uses. The new building   will be a joy to work in for library staff  and well used  by   the students, offering   space to expand the collection, private and group study areas and  more room for  the information commons areas. What was  interesting was that  the new library will at long last have a separate tea room for library staff who currently eat at their desks or in the rose gardens if the  weather is fine. It was an enjoyable library tour  and I was glad I had gone along  to see the  interesting architecture of the former convent  building on the campus..

Helen Zobec Canberra Campus Library Manager

Parliamentary Library innovations synopsis 26 July 2016

A good  crowd turned up  to hear Sam Spencer and Liz Luchetti of the  Parliamentary Library present on the innovative products they have created or adapted to the needs of their politician  clients. Liz presented on the overview of what the parliamentary library does and how it must  rigorously meet the demands of their select clientele. She explained how the library  canvassed to understand the needs by surveying their users each year as well as keep  a finger on  the day to day pulse of what users requested . Sam  gave us a picture of the  new products they had created in the past year such as streaming news for their  clients to access on mobile devices in their electorates well outside the  infrastructure of the Parliament House. Sam gave a rundown on how he is morphing the Parliamentary Handbook in an elegant extensible online version that can harvest data on individual politicians from other sources .

The Parliamentary Library has recently recruited a Library Innovation Manager. The Parliamentary Library recognises that this is an important strategic position that has a significant information technology component. The appointment of a Library Innovation Manager continues an established program of innovation within the Parliamentary Library. Liz Luchetti, Assistant Secretary, Library Collections and Databases Branch and Sam Spencer, Library Innovation Manager, will talk about past, present and future Library innovation and demonstrate their favourite innovative products that enhance the delivery of library services  - the new parliamentary handbook data management system and the news services currently available via the mobile Web@Workapp. In addition they will provide some tips on how to engage staff in the innovation process. 

 Innovations in the Parliamentary Library presentation

Bring Up the bodies synopsis 21 June 2016

Many of you came to  our interesting and to me  very exciting Bring up the bodies expose on  gems in  two major archival collections here in Canberra. Kylie Scoope from the  National Library  Manuscripts collections and Rhonda King from the National Archives of Australia  catalogued for us  interesting items in their collections. Kylie focused on items that touched on body parts such as the locks of hair saved in the  Macquarie family collection or Patrick White’s beret and glasses.  Rhonda took a  gleeful look  at  gems like the Marmalade files and  intelligence reports on  suspected individuals, Many there said it was a fun  and illuminating session for  them as many are unaware of the great jewels held by the  various   archives. Now  those not present can enjoy these presentation as well. We are so lucky to have great speakers in Canberra

Bring up the Bodies: oddities and quirks in archival collections (Rhonda King, National Archives of Australia)

Bring up the Bodies: oddities and quirks in archival collections (Kylie Scroope, National Library of Australia)

Active ALIA Program of events

Date	Topic	Where	Who
June 21 2016 5.30-6.30pm	Bring up the bodies:  oddities and quirks in archival collections	Menzies  Room National Archives Parkes	Kylie Scroope NLA and Rhonda King NAA
July 25 2016 12.30-13.3opm	Innovations at the Parliamentary Library	Ferguson Room National Library	Liz Luchetti and Sam Spencer
August	MidWinter Dinner	Southern Cross Yacht Club
October	Visit to Signadou Library, Australian Catholic University	Signadou Campus, Watson	Helen Zobec Campus Library Manager
November	Visit to Noel Butlin Archie’s	Noel Butlin Archives ANU	Maggie Shapley. University Archivist (ANU)
December	Christmas drinks	ALIA House