Subject Area: “Library Hacks”
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

Professional development and networking activity looking for further ways to improve client and staff experience for the client services unit of the University of Queensland.

Reason for attending

Working as an information professional I feel it is important to seek different opportunities to learn and meet with colleagues to share ideas that may benefit both our clients as well as specialist individuals within the LIS industry. The theme for this year’s conference “Library Hacks” was the main incentive for attending in the hope of learning new methods of creating an inclusive environment for our clients using new digital technologies.

Relationship to work or studies

The conference this year had a variety of papers presenting information on a numberer of methodologies using technology to assist clients to achieve their information needs. Presentations varied in topics from workload management software and techniques to improve team productivity, improving design spaces for engaging clients and encouraging them to use the library. Bond University’s demonstration of using different methods such as creating online gaming and quizzes to engage students to use other online technologies from functionality in eBooks to better use of available technologies such as email or even Google documents to improve service and engagement with clients.

What the activity achieved in terms of my learning outcomes

Attending this year’s conference again allowed learning from the innovative material discussed from the presents and allowed me to meet with a wide contingency of library staff from across all sectors of our industry.

As a client service officer with the University of Queensland attending such conferences is invaluable to my professional development and the networking activity provided by attending allows further ways to improve client and staff experience.

Planned implementation from knowledge gained

Implementation of new information gained from the conference proved to be not as successful as I had anticipated. This was not due to a lack of interest but more the restrictions placed by the information technology and communications networks, licensing agreements, and security we have in place that make the installation of new or freeware software difficult to implement. This still created interesting discussions among my colleagues on continuing to investigate the possibility of trialling new systems where opportunities allowed. As always, the best innovators are sometimes the students and watching how they work around the systems to their own advantage.

Evidence