Subject Area: “Together We Are More”
Type: 1-day Conference
Length: 7 hours
Level: Library Technicians and Librarians
Organisers: Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)
Presenters: Multiple
Format: Multiple 15-minute sessions with 3 alternative 20-minute workshops of up to 20 people

Evaluation of the activity

Objectives

My main objective for attending the was primarily this conference was the to have the opportunity Ito attend an ALIA run conference and secondly was to attempt to try and network with some of the attendees to find out how other libraries operated and the meet the people who worked there. At the end of the conference, I would prepare a report and present this to my team at work to see if there were any ideas that could be implemented to support our own clients.

Reason for attending

My main objective for attending that this was the first chance to attend the Queensland mini conference as this was to be my first chance to attend such an event due to expenses and not currently being a member at that point in time.

Relationship to work or studies

To be honest at the time I was unsure how this would relate to my work, and I was only just beginning my first semester of studies with the Bachelor if Information Science with Charles Sturt university. This has become more clearer retrospectively as the information gained on the day has been able to be synthesised and distributed to either my colleagues or managers or in ideas for further reflection used in assessments to describe or generate new ideas for further research.

What the activity achieved in terms of my learning outcomes

Objectively I feel that the conference exceeded my expectations, the ideas gained from the different presentations went into my own report that was submitted to my colleagues and generated different ideas and responses as to if it was possible to implement such as the possibility of creating time away from front desk duties to implement some “Blue Sky” time to work on new ideas for workspaces or improving productivity.

Additionally, the importance of being able to meet colleagues in different fields or reconnecting with former co workers has created a network of people I have been able to call on for assistance when needed. More surprising was that I would later find myself working with some of the presenters which has further expanded my experiences and opportunities.

Planed implementation from knowledge gained

Overall, my planned implementation of taking this knowledge back to my colleagues at work was successful in generating discussion and some ideas were eventually tried out as well. An unexpected result was that more of my co-workers who had not been aware of the opportunity to attend have done so, with one even presenting at the conference two years later.

One unexpected implementation was from the knowledge gained on the day relating to the presentation on Creative Commons has now come into effect with the work I am currently doing for a work project in looking at ways to assist academics at the University of Queensland create and collaborate with others in their field in the creation of open textbooks and the importance of using CC licensed material in such endeavours.

Evidence