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Michelle has had a non-traditional entry to the library world and works at Penrith City Library as the Library Children’s Inclusion Officer.

You had a non-traditional entry into libraries, can you tell us about your background and how you began working in libraries?

My professional background is in Early Childhood Education; I have a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood, and worked as an Early Childhood Teacher & Assistant Director for 10 years, then worked for SDN Children’s Services under the Inclusion and Professional Support Program for 5 and a half years prior to commencing this position in 2011.

8 years ago in 2011, this role of Library Children’s Inclusion Officer (previously known as Toy Library Coordinator) was advertised with Penrith City Library and as I was looking for a job closer to home, and the role listed the qualifications and skillset I had obtained over the previous 15 years as essential, I thought I would give it a shot and apply! It also enabled me the opportunity to work closer to home as we were looking to buy and raise our family in the Penrith area.

 

What skills and abilities did you bring with you from your previous work, that have been an asset when working in libraries?

Having a teaching background, and working with children and families across a variety of early education and out of school hours settings, I had built up a strong skillset and knowledge of available supports for children and youths with disabilities and high support needs.

In the Inclusion and Professional Support Program, my role as an Inclusion Support Facilitator, my role was supporting educators in both early childhood and school age care services with supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities/ and ongoing high support needs.

We prepared and submitted applications for government funding for additional staff to support the inclusion of these children due to their significant differing needs, as well as practical strategies and applications for sourcing additional appropriate resources and/ or equipment as well as professional development opportunities to build their capacity, skillset and knowledge required to support the inclusion of these child/ren day to day within their care.

I had experience with developing networking partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders within the area and had to effectively manage outputs in a fast paced environment.

This experience enabled me to obtain the necessary skills required for the operations of managing the operations of both the Toy Library service for both our stay and play sessions open to the public cross the week, as well as the Outreach service component which we operate, which is specialised and unique to Public Libraries.

Day to day in public libraries is busy and fast paced and ever changing. The community grows and develops, as do people’s needs and we need to be able to move with these needs and remain flexible to work with them; and continue providing programs and services which are reflective of these growing needs, trends and changes.

 

What has been challenging about working as a librarian, without librarianship qualifications?

As with every new role there are always different operational tasks, management systems and skills to learn, and obviously there were several new tasks and responsibilities which I had to learn, some of which are particularly relevant to libraries, but we have a really good training system and I was very actively supported by management and my colleagues, so I was able to pick them up quite quickly (such as cataloguing, which is also an integral part of my role in the operations of maintenance and upkeep of the toy library resources and stock). We have many staff here who as part of their role don’t have any cataloguing duties for example, as part of their role requirements, so apart from course subjects or modules completed at Uni or TAFE, they have never had to actually catalogue items in their entire careers!

But in all honesty, the most challenging aspect for me personally, is most likely the customer service aspect of my role when I am rostered onto a desk shift. I hadn’t had to deal with serving the general public since I was in high school working in retail.

There are many various professional development opportunities both internally and externally available with dealing with challenging customers and people which I have attended over the years.

We have all faced a significant change and shift in the role of libraries and how we can support and service the changing needs of the community.

Many people require ongoing assistance with computer and technology services, so we have incorporated new programs and initiatives as a result of this. The resources available within my collections have certainly evolved and changed over the past 8 years, and it is important to stay on top of the current needs to ensure the clients and community needs are met.

What advice would you give to students and new graduates looking for a career in libraries?

Libraries are an integral community hub these days, so don’t hem yourself into what one thinks a traditional library should be.

The world is a big place and is ever evolving and changing, as community needs grow and change explore all opportunities to grow with and provide for them.

We are diverse, and everyone is a part of the community and has a right in this place, including young, noisy children!

 

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

Stay updated on ALIA SNGG, ALIA Special Interest Group (SIG) & ALIA News by bookmarking our ALIA SNGG Newsletter WordPress page.

Help promote ALIA SNGG by following  us on Facebook, Instagram, X and Linkedin.

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