Dr Alison Gregg - life member CBCA (WA Branch)

Dr Alison Gregg is well known for her work on the Orana editorial committee for many years as well as IBBY Australia and the Children's Book Council of Australia (just to acknowledge a few of her roles). It is great to hear that she was recently made a life member of the Western Australian branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia.

Retirees at Dreaming 2008

In the months leading up to ALIA Dreaming 2008 at Alice Springs early in September the ALIA Retirees had been planning a get -together for members interested in staying connected during retirement. Robin had arranged a "spot" in the schedule and we hoped to meet colleagues and friends in amongst the busy program.

As it turned out there were only three of us who met...Mylee, Robin and Val had been talking in teleconferences for nearly a year and finally had the opportunity to see each other, have a celebratory drink together and get acquaninted in person. It was a real joy!

The conference was a wonderful experience. The quality of speakers and the range of topics was superb and enough to keep all of us enthralled for the whole three days. We met colleagues old and new from all over the world and found, as usual, that we share a passion for our profession even though we are officially "retired" (but still working part time or as volunteers).

All three of us who attended were amamzed at the range of projects being undertaken by librarians in large and small communities all over Australia and the world. As could be expected with the venue being Alice Springs many of the conference papers and presentations had a focus on indigenous culture and library services to indigenous communities. These examples were inspiring.

The venue and the social events were just spectacular, taking advantage of the unique features of the unusual location. We met local wildlife, stargazed at a clear desert sky and danced in the red dust. The convention centre caters well to such an event and the whole population of the town showed us real outback hospitality.

We thoroughly recommend attending ALIA conferences as a way of keeping contact with colleagues and in touch with our profession, especially at the bargain price offered to Retiree members! We look forward to another great time at ALIA Brisbane in 2010, in conjunction with IFLA! See you there.

Regards, Val Hooper

Greetings from Ex Libris - Canadian retirees

[transcript]
Dear Mrs. Hooper:

As President of the Ex Libris Association, the Canadian national association formed in 1986 for retired persons whose careers have been in libraries and related areas, I would like to congratulate you on the formation of your ALIA Retirees Group.

Like the ALIA Retirees Group, ELA provides a forum for library retirees to keep in touch and up-to-date on library issues. We advocate for libraries in stress and support research in library history. Our web site at http://exlibris.fis.utoronto.ca/ describes our activities in more detail.

We at ELA wish your association all the best.



Yours truly,
Janet Jacobson, President
Ex Libris Association
352 Mountbatten Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1H 5W3
jdgj@rogers.com

Lorna Prendergast ~ ALIA Retirees committee

Due to living all of my life in the beautiful south-eastern corner of Australia, at Bairnsdale, I found obtaining further education extremely difficult to say the least. The nearest university was at Melbourne, about 280 kms away. So on turning sixteen I passed the Commonwealth Entrance Exam and became a telephonist at the Bairnsdale Telephone Exchange during the last year of World War 11. After six tremendous years, I had no option but to resign when I married Jim, in 1950, as that was the policy.

We raised four great kids, two girls and two boys, and then in 1967, I had the opportunity to work at the East Gippsland Public Library, following in the footsteps of the famous Australian author, Hal Porter. Our library service covered 21,056 square kms. over some of the most rugged and isolated areas in Victoria. People in these outlying districts loved to see the "Bookie" coming (Keith Ridout has recently completed 45 years on the Run).

I was studying for the ALAA by correspondence when our fifth baby notified us that she was on the way. So after two wonderful years at the public library I was despatched back home again. I continued to study for the ALAA and had two lovely years with our baby girl who won all our hearts. In 1972 I was invited to join the staff at the Bairnsdale Technical School Library and remained there for about 15 years until the Senior School became a TAFE College.

During my time at the Tech, The Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education (now a branch Of Monash Uni.) was established at Churchill (about 160 kms away) which afforded me the opportunity to complete a BA and B Ed there; and a Grad Dip Ed Admin from Hawthorn Institute of Education. This stood me in good stead when I was appointed Librarian in charge of the East Gippsland TAFE College Library. Establishing a new library was a challenge which I thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the help I received from the VATCL librarians and the computer groups. Jim and I love to travel, so while on leave I took every opportunity to meet overseas librarians and check out their libraries, this was particularly useful when setting up the internet as they were a little ahead of us at that time.

I enjoyed every aspect of my library work. Remarks from proud mothers that their children had excelled due to the books available at the public library; or seeing the Technical school girls and boys take their positions in the workforce: or helping provide an opportunity for older TAFE students, like the one who said, "TAFE has given me another chance in life", was the icing on the cake. I still marvel at the changes in information dissemination in my lifetime....it is a long way from when the library was a few books held in the sports cupboard during my school years, to the internet and the wealth of knowledge, so readily available, affording people the opportunity to study almost any thing any where in the world.......it even beats the old adage ‘The right book in the right hand at the right time!’

I retired in 1993 and have continued to enjoy my family, travel, research and voluntary library work with the East Gippsland Family History Group and the Public Library. My husband, Jim is a military historian, author and artist, so between us we rarely have a dull moment.

Vale ~ Jean Hagger

Jean Hagger (11 October 1917 – 16 July 2008) was one of the foundation members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Indexers (then the Australian Society of Indexers) and was a life member of the Society. more

Roxanne Missingham - ALIA Fellowship

The ALIA Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Roxanne Missingham has been awarded the distinction of an ALIA Fellowship. The Fellowship will be conferred at the ALIA 2008 Biennial Conference in Alice Springs.

Roxanne Missingham has made a distinguished contribution to ALIA and to librarianship over several decades. Roxanne’s professional contributions throughout her career have been characterised by implementation of best practice, development of customer-focused services and transparent processes for collaboration and cooperation within the library community.

Roxanne has demonstrated untiring energy and enthusiasm in contributing to ALIA groups, committees and events and in being an advocate for librarianship in professional and government settings.

Roxanne has worked in a number of special libraries, at the National Library of Australia (NLA) and now as Commonwealth Parliamentary Librarian. Her career has involved a focus on customer services, including implementation of services to remote users when she worked in the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, and CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology. Roxanne has been an early adopter of technology, successfully implementing systems to support customer-focused service models – including automated systems, electronic databases, full-text electronic resources and websites.

On behalf of the library community, we congratulate Roxanne on her ALIA Fellowship.

Christine Mackenzie - ALIA Fellowship

Christine is seen here with library legend, Stephen Abram.

The ALIA Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Christine Mackenzie has been awarded the distinction of an ALIA Fellowship. The Fellowship will be conferred at the ALIA 2008 Biennial Conference in Alice Springs.

Christine Mackenzie has demonstrated sustained high achievement and leadership in library and information services during her career. Christine is an innovator, collaborator, networker, motivator, risk taker, strategic thinker and developer of others.

As a strategic leader, she has introduced new technologies and reinvented library service using Web 2.0 tools to change organisational culture and embrace the future. She has developed staff and encouraged innovation and enthusiasm for new directions and the opportunities that new technologies offer.

Christine has been an active ALIA member for over 20 years. She has served as ALIA President and Vice-president, and has had a commitment over several years to the ALIA Online Content and Regulation Advisory Committee and Public Libraries Advisory Committee. Her international representative work has contributed to a positive reputation for Australian libraries overseas.

Christine is currently a member of the IFLA Metropolitan Libraries Section (MLS) Standing Committee, and was a former member of a select group of international public librarians on the Bertelsmann Foundation’s International Network of Public Libraries.
On behalf of the library community, we congratulate Christine on her ALIA Fellowship.

Vale ~ Olive Riley ... World's oldest blogger

Olive Riley - the "world's oldest blogger" passed away this week at the grand age of 108. Mrs Riley was born in 1899 in Broken Hill, Australia, when Queen Victoria was still on the throne, and survived two World Wars and the Great Depression.

Her blog is "The Life of Riley" at Olive left school in 1914 and was introduced to blogging at age 106.

For more information see this feature from the Google Blogger team.

Beverley Giegerl ~ Queens birthday honours

Congratulations to Clr Beverley Giegerl, past President of Public Libraries NSW-Metropolitan who has been honoured in the Queen's Birthday awards. Bev has received a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to local government and to the community, particularly through the provision of library services.

Further details.

Vale ~ John Merewether

John Merewether, one of the State Library of NSW volunteers, supporters and benefactors died late last week after being in ill health for some time.

John had a special affection for and devotion to the Library. He was very proud of his family heritage and relationships with David Scott Mitchell, who was his great-great uncle. In 2007, the centenary year of David Scott Mitchell's bequest, John gave a most generous benefaction to establish two annual fellowships, the David Scott Mitchell Fellowship and the Merewether Scholarship for the study of Australian and New South Wales history.

In Memoriam ~ Jean Helena Collins

It is with heartfelt thanks that ALIA acknowledges the kind bequestof $2,000 from the estate of Mr Stanley Collins who died last year. The gift was given in memory of his late wife Jean Helena Collins. Jean,who died in 1987, was a member of the Association when she was a young woman, while working at the NSW Public Library, Macquarie St, Sydney.

Vale ~ Harrison Bryan

ALIA is saddened to inform members and the library community of the death of Harrison Bryan AO MA Hon LLD FASSA FLAA, on 12 February 2008 at the age of 84.

A pillar of the Association, he served as a member of the General Council for a record 25 years including two as President in 1973 and 1974. His many other important contributions to the Association, also included a period as Editor of Australian Library Journal (1954—1957 and 1980-1981).

Harrison Bryan’s career in libraries began at the University of Queensland where he later held the position of University Librarian from 1950 to 1963. In that year he moved to the University of Sydney as University Librarian until 1980 when he became Director General of the National Library of Australia, a position he held until 1985. Throughout his career Harrison Bryan was always concerned with the development of library services in Australia.

In 1984, in recognition of his outstanding service to the library and information profession in Australia, the Association conferred on him the HCL Anderson award, the highest honour that can be bestowed on an Associate member. In the same year he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for public service, in particular in the area of librarianship.

The funeral will be in Melbourne.

Kay Poustie OAM

Congratulations to Kay Poustie, previous chair of the Library Board of Western Australia and ALIA Fellow, who received a Medal (OAM in the General Division) in this year's Australia Day Honours’ List. The award was given for service to the library and information services sector, and to the community through the Zonta International movement and aged welfare.

Library commemorates life of Sir Edmund Hillary

Christchurch City Libraries has created an information page about Sir Edmund Hillary in response to the many enquiries they have received since his passing was announced.

Don't miss Paul Brunton's TV appearance!

Paul Brunton of the State Library of NSW appears in the first Australian episode of the exciting new genealogy detective series Who Do You Think You Are? Tune in to SBS Television this Sunday night (13/01) at 7:30pm. The premiere follows actor Jack Thompson as he unearths more than a couple of surprises from his past and features Paul Brunton, unveiling some of Jack's family secrets held at the State Library.