Michael Hawks ALIA SNGG Profile

Welcome to our GLAMR Professional Profile for April 2018.

This month we’d like to introduce Michael Hawks!

Like many of us, Michael came to librarianship in a very round about sort of way.  Since graduating from Curtin University in 2013, his career has developed in leaps and bounds.   Known and loved by all at QUT library for his kindness and cheer (and his unparalleled ability to bake something utterly fabulous for staff morning teas at a moments notice!), Michael has truly found his calling in GLAMR.

 

What lead to you librarianship and where has your career taken you so far?

Like so many things, the road to librarianship began with my Mum. After graduating with an Honours degree in English and Communications, I was fairly aimless and unsure about what I wanted the next steps to be – and it turns out potential employers were less impressed about my ability to write an Honours thesis about Survivor than I had planned. Then one day my Mum turned to me and said “I met a librarian today. I think you could do that” and something just clicked in my brain, and 2 weeks later I was enrolled in the Graduate Diploma at Curtin University. After graduating, I moved to Brisbane to take on the 2014 QULOC Graduate Librarian program, and then started at QUT in 2015. I mainly live in the Law Library, but I’m currently acting as a Liaison Librarian in the Science and Engineering team.

 

What advice would you give to students and new graduates entering the industry?

To butcher a grossly overused cliché, the GLAMR industry is like an iceberg – there is so much happening beneath the surface that you don’t know until you get started. So my advice would be to just jump in head first, seek out and be open to all the new opportunities that come up for you. There is scope for you to figure out where your professional interests are and really build a career around your interests and skills. Part of that is figuring out what you love, but it is equally as important to pay attention to what you don’t love. But the only way you’re going to figure that out is to delve in and experience it all.

 

What is your favourite thing about working in GLAMR?

This is a hard question as I have many favourite things about the GLAMR industry and being a part of it. But I think my number one favourite would be the people – GLAMR draws in people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. I feel like every day I learn something new from the people I work with, both about the information industry but also just different perspectives about the world. I have made so many amazing friends from within the GLAMR sector, which have enriched the experience of working in the field.

 

You can connect with Michael at @mikeyh177.

You can now view the Draft Program for ALIA Information Online 2025 – Transformation & Disruption.

Interested in attending? Register via this the ALIA Information Online Event link.

RSVP Date: 17th March

Cost:

Members $400 | Non-Members $500| Institution  5 attendees $1800 | Institution 10 attendees $3500 | Unlimited $6000

 

One Day ALIA Member Price (includes ALIA personal members and institutional staff members): $150

One Day Non-Member Price: $200

Two Day ALIA Member Price (includes personal members and institutional staff members): $275

Two Day Non-Member Price: $375

 

 

When  is this on?

Tuesday 18th March – 20th March

Location: Online via Zoom 

Time Zoom begins: 9am AEDT

 

Program Summary:

Day 1: Tuesday, 18th March – Indigenous Knowledges (Program highlights Dialogue Session: Libraries and their Intersection with Indigenous Knowledges held on 13th October 2024).

Day 2: Wednesday, 19th March – Greening GLAMR

Day 3: Thursday, 20th March – AI

Download the Draft Program for more info.

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Poster reads draft program for Alia information online is available.

The Truck Cat Simultaneous StoryTime

Now is the time to find yourself a copy of The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel from your local book shop, library or department store.

Save the date for #librarystorytime on May 21st from 12pm – 1pm (AEST).

A man pats a cat on the head. A truck is behind him.

ALIA CPD Scheme Skills Audit Focus Group EOI

Are you an ALIA Student or Graduate Member?

Add to your ALIA CPD Scheme hours by joining the ALIA CPD Scheme Skills Audit Focus Group.

ALIA are in the process of reviewing the ALIA CPD Scheme to meet the ALIA Skills, Knowledge and ethics Framework.

As a member of the ALIA CPD Scheme focus group you can provide feedback on gaps in library skills in the Library and Information Service Workforce.

The Focus Group will begin in March. You can add the 2-3 hours contributing to the Focus Group as ALIA CPD Scheme hours.

Interested?

Email education@alia.org.au with the subject line ‘Skills Audits Focus Group’ to let the team know your interest in participating.

The front of the Ngutungka Henley library. South Australia's newest library.

RSVP by 12 February to join ALIA SA on their library tour of Ngutungka Henley Library.

When: Thursday, 13 February 2025

Location: 

Ngutungka Henley
378 Seaview Road
Henley Beach, SA 5022

Time: 6pm – 7pm (ACDT)

Cost: ALIA Members & Non – Members: FREE

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