I came into these study visits with trepidation – how much can I gain from listening to someone online? Turns out, quite a lot was to be gained from these experts in their respective fields. So many Libraries are doing so many inspirational things that it has given me something to consider in the development of my own library space. I have very recently taken over a particularly old, musty, and mismanaged library – one of the oldest in NSW and have gained so many tips and tricks from these study visits that I cannot wait to implement them into my professional repertoire. Building from the ground up has been a struggle but knowing how others have gone about this gives me hope that I can make my space something “that kids want to be in.” It was incredibly valuable to hear about the experiences, triumphs and tribulations shared by so many information professionals out there in the trenches Some of the key points I took away were
- Advocacy! Advocate for your role, and your space and commit to evidence-based practice.
- You are more than just your books
- The library space is so important for wellbeing
- You are a curator, collaborator, and trendsetter
The main thing I will take away from these visits is advocacy – every single one of these professionals felt that advocacy for their space and role was one of the most crucial factors of success. Libraries no longer must be a dying breed, but I must use evidence to back my value up! Immersing myself into leadership roles and groups will keep me visible, and relevant, and building staff capacity through training and collaborative practice means that that I will be able to achieve my goals.
