23 Moble Things - Starting really soon!

Have you heard of the 23 things?  How about the 23 Mobile things?  This updated course is a great way of learning new skills, and new things about old skills. 

So what is the NZ/Australian Cohort for 23 Mobile Things all about?  Read on.

What are the 23 Mobile Things?

1. Twitter
2. Taking a photo with a mobile device:  Instagram / Flickr app / Snapchat
3. eMail on the move
4. Maps and checking in: Foursquare
5. Photos + Maps + Apps: Historypin / What was there / Sepia Town
6. Video: YouTube and screencasts
7. Communicate: Skype / Google Hangout
8. Calendar
9. QR codes
10. Social reading: RSS / Flipboard / Feedly / Goodreads / Pocket
11. Augmented reality: Layar
12. Games: Angry Birds / Wordfeud
13. Online identity: FaceBook and LinkedIn
14. Curating: Pinterest / Scoop.it / Tumblr
15. Adobe ID
16. eBooks and eBook apps: Project Gutenberg / Kindle / Overdrive / Bluefire / Kobo, etc.
17. Evernote and Zotero
18. Productivity tools: Doodle / Remember the Milk / Hackpad / any.do /  30/30
19. File sharing: Dropbox
20. Music: last.fm / Spotify
21. Voice interaction and recording
22. eResources vendor apps
23. Digital storytelling

You can view the 23 Mobile Things on the official blog here -http://23mobilethings.net/wpress/the-things/

What is this NZ/Australian cohort all about?

simple; it is just establishing a group of librarians in NZ and Australia who are keen to do the 23 Mobile Things at the same time. This cohort will give us mutual support and contact with each other so that we can learn together and keep each other motivated. Hopefully it will help you grow your own personal learning network (PLN) and have fun and great collaborations throughout the course!

Who can take part?

Anyone! This is not limited to New Professionals, but is open to anyone who would like to take part - whether newer or older to the profession. I have just put the contact form on the New Professionals blog as that is a place where I know many people will find it. We are creating another blog specifically for this NZ/Australian cohort that will be the hub of our conversations and connections. So please sign up and let's all learn from one another and have fun playing with mobile technologies! Over 250 people have signed up already; this is going to be such a fantastic group to be a part of :D  (It's mainly NZ'ers at the moment so come on Australian's sign up!)

What do I need to take part?

• Access to a mobile device (e.g. iPad, tablet, smart-phone, etc...) - if you don't have one yourself, you could borrow one or use the PC applications to understand the general principles.
• Time to dedicate to investigating the 23 things - it seems most people are keen to do 1 Thing a week so you can dedicate as much or as little time as you need to exploring that thing and engaging in chatting and collaborating with others on the course.
• Willingness to collaborate, experiment, and support each other - it's going to be fun!

How do I sign up?

So you're keen? Great! Here's what you have to do to get involved:

•  fill in the contact form on the blog
• vote in the poll for best time-frame for the course
• share the news with friends/colleagues

·         follow our twitter account @anz23mthings or the hashtag #anz23mthings

I'll be in touch as we create a blog as a hub for the group, a Facebook group (if you are keen) and organize some online real-time events such as Twitter chats and Google+ hangouts so that we can chat and collaborate. It will also give us an opportunity to put into practice what we have been learning!

We are hoping to start with Thing 1 the first week of May. If the course runs for six months (approximately 1 Thing a week), it will finish at the end of November. 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up today and we will be in touch again a bit closer to the date.

If you want more information please don't hesitate to email me (Kate) atmailto:skeetakate@gmail.com.nospam (take off the no spam) or on twitter at@katejf.

Abigail Willemse (NZ) and Kate Freedman (NGAC) (AUS)

Continue

Join the Victorian ALIA New Grad Committee

Hi passionate library enthusiasts

The Victorian ALIA New Graduates Committee is looking for a couple of new members.

Joining the committee is a great opportunity to become involved with the library and information community, support those starting out in the profession, build your own organisational skills and regularly meet with other library enthusiasts.

What does being a committee member involve?

Involvement in the committee is a sizeable commitment, You need to be:

• Available to attend regular events
• Available for regular email contact with committee members
• Available for occasional in-person committee meetings
• A financial member of ALIA

At the moment, we host two seminars each year (usually interview skills and key selection criteria). These are quite intensive, as we have to find the speakers, organise the venue and catering, collect RSVPs, advertise the event, MC and buy speakers' gifts, collect entry fees and prepare tax receipts and certificates of participation. We usually require all hands on deck for these events. 

We also host one social event every month throughout the year, which requires promotion, RSVP collection and venue booking but is comparatively low impact for the committee -- we don't expect everyone to attend all of these events. 

A couple of times per year we participate in teleconferences with the committee members in other states. The committee members also email each other frequently and meet in person as often as is required.

How do you apply?

Please write a brief letter of interest detailing why you would be suitable and email it to nyssa.parkes [at] gmail.com by close of business on February 23rd 2013.

Continue

Sharpen up your interview skills - QLD

Your amazing resume and selection criteria have gotten you that big interview. Now sweaty palms and the nervous twitches have set in.

Not to worry we have you covered.

Be prepared, confident and ready to wow your interview panel after attending ALIA New Grads Group QLD Interview Skills Seminar. We've assembled a panel of managers from diverse sectors including academic, public, medical and TAFE libraries. They will give you the goss on what interview panels really look for and how you can present your skills (transferable and library-related) to your best advantage. Bring your questions and concerns and get expert advice.

Nibbles provided as well as a chance to meet some friendly managers.

When: Monday April 23, 2012
Time: 5:30
Where: QUT Gardens Point Library, V Block, V714
Price: $5 for ALIA members, $7 for non-members
RSVP: newgradsqld.alia@gmail.com

Continue

April's Library folk at the Comedy Festival

This month our popular Library folk event is taking a slight detour.

Instead of gathering around for dinner and drinks, we are going to tickle our funny bone. Thats right the International Comedy Festival is in Melbourne again for short time only, so come along and hang with your Library friends for what will a good night if not the best night for 2012 so far.

When: Wednesday 11th April at 6pm Sharp

Where: Meet Ryan and the New Grads Committee at the corner of Little Collins street / Swanston Street, Melbourne.

Due to being a popular event and to make sure we get our tickets on time as there will be queues, we encourage all to meet at the designated spot at the right time so we do not miss out. Feel free to text or call Ryan if you are lost on 0409 020 109.

Please RSVP your attendance and any queries, concerns and requests you may have to to ryansiriwardene@gmail.com by Friday 6th April 2012

Your ALIA Vic New Graduates Group Committee
Lesa, Nyss, Rebecca and Ryan

http://www.alia.org.au/groups/newgrad/

Continue

First Library Folk in the Pub Melbourne for 2012

Meet new library friends or catch up with old ones at the first Library Folk in the Pub Melbourne for 2012!

When: Tues 6th March, from 6pm
Where: Three Degrees (No 1 QV square corner Swanston & Lonsdale): map. The table has been booked for 'ALIA'. For more information about the venue, see http://www.3degrees.com.au
Cost: at own expense
Vegetarian and gluten free options.

Please RSVP to nparkes@swin.edu.au by Friday 5th March 12pm so we can confirm numbers.

All are welcome, so bring your library and non-library friends.

Continue

QLD New Grads Lightning Talks - we need your ideas!

The November QLD New Grads event will be a lightning talks event, so we need your ideas and presentations!

The event will be a number of 5min lightning talks on any LIS topic you want to talk about and share with your peers. All new grads are invited to participate, this is your opportunity to share what you are passionate about with us and get some experience with public speaking at the same time.

Start brainstorming your ideas and if you want more information or feedback, contact Bonnie Dixon at bonnie.dixon@gmail.com

Event date and time will be announced soon

Continue

QLD New Grads October Event- Writing and Presenting at an International Conference

Have you ever looked at the international conference announcements and thought "I could never do that, but I wish I could"?

Well, the next QLD New Grads event is for you.

Writing and Presenting at an International Conference

Corrinne Hills and Rebecca Randle wrote and presented a paper at the recent IFLA conference in Sweden. Come along to this event to hear them talk about how they did it and how you can too.

When: Saturday October 30 10.30am
Where: State Library of Queensland Meeting Room 4A

RSVP to bonnie.dixon@gmail.com

Continue

ALIA New Graduates Dinner, Sydney

Planning an event is one things, but waiting excitedly for the event to arrive is another.

The ALIA NGG dinner, Sydney will be held on the 8th of October. The evening will give a chance for new graduates and students and all those who are new to the Library and Information industry a chance to meet others and discuss what is most important to them within their career and profession. I think it is also a chance for those who have been around a little longer to reconnect and engage with people within the profession.

Details are below; please forward to as many new graduates and students as possible.

Where: Cafe Kasturi (Golden Cinnamon Room)
767-769 George St. Sydney

When: 8th October 2010

Time: 6pm

Cost: $20 pp.

RSVP: 1st October 2010 to Hiba Kanj at hiba.kanj@gmail.com

Continue

ERC (The University of Melbourne) Guided Tour

The University of Melbourne Eastern Resource Centre (ERC) tour

Join us for the guided tour of ERC!!

The Eastern Resource Centre (ERC) is the first student learning centre on the Parkville Campus of the University of Melbourne (Building 171). It is the brand new and improved research and learning environment, as a part of the Melbourne Model.
The collections serve the study, teaching and research needs of the staff and students of Education and Engineering. The facility also houses significant Research Collections, the University of Melbourne Maps Collections and a multidisciplinary Media Collection.

When: Aug 10, Tue 5.30pm
Where: Main entrance on Level 1 (NOT at the Ground level entrance facing Grattan St)
Parkville Campus map is available from http://www.pcs.unimelb.edu.au/maps_locations/campus_maps
Cost: a gold coin (changes from larger note may not be available, we appreciate if you could bring $1 or $2 coins)

RSVP: noriko.kuchi@visionaustralia.org by Aug 6

Continue

NGG Topic of the Month Wrap -up - New Graduates Group

Thanks to those who responded to this month’s Topic of the Month about the New Graduates Group. They were each different, but at the same time there were commonalities between them. Be assured that the ideas generated will be seriously considered by the Committee to help us continue to/improve how we meet the needs and support New Graduates and students in the profession. It was good to hear though that we are already doing a pretty good job.

These were the questions I posed at the start of the month:

What do you like/dislike about the New Graduates Group and our events? Are we an important network for you?
What would you like to see us do, or do more of, that we may not do currently?
If you are a LIS student, or attended NGG events as a student, have we/how could we meet your needs?
Do you think we should continue to be a separate ALIA group? Or should we merge with state groups (i.e there would be New Grad. representatives on these committees)?

I don’t want to analyse things too much, or make any grand statements, because I am only one person on the Committee. Mostly I can only speak from the Victorian side of things. But I will attempt a “reply” of sorts.

It was interesting that most of the responses came from Victoria. I do know of course that the group is very active here, but that hard work and events are happening in other states. Mention was made of the need for more activity in Adelaide and Brisbane. Bonnie Dixon is the Co-ordinator in Queensland and Melaina Tate is in Adelaide. Their details can be found here, http://www.alia.org.au/vital.link/contact , and I know they would be happy to make contact and hear more of your ideas. Recently, Andrew Finegan and a few others also made a trip to Sydney to try and get things rolling up in the Harbour-city again. If any Sydneysiders are interesting in getting involved, let him know.

The need for better communication channels was also mentioned, as was the issue of living outside a capital city. We have recently set up a blog, New Grads News Online (http://alianewgrad.blogspot.com/) and have a Facebook page as well (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ALIA-New-Graduates-Group/311608470523?ref=ts), and would love it if you followed us. Keeping people in the loop on what we’re doing is something we will continue to work on, but also appreciate people using word-of-mouth too. Remember, this is your group. We are very aware of the need to make our regional members feel more inclusive by organising events in these areas. It is something that needs more discussion, so thanks for raising it.

In terms of start-times for events, and venues, I think this was very Melbourne-centred. 6pm starts are thought to be a good time, because it allows people enough time to travel from work, and we hope it catches more people than if events started earlier or later. I will admit that we run a lot of our workshops at RMIT University Library in Swanston Street, because two of the team members work there (yes, I am one) and we have a lot of a support from the organisation to do so. However, a lot of people also admit it is a very central venue. Others have been considered in the past though and we will put this on our agenda again.

Thank you for the event suggestions. These were:
Web 2.0 tools What you need to know
How to stay relevant in the Google age
Mentoring/being MentoredSkills sharing
Hearing from successful professionals
What does your library need to succeed?
More work- ready events

Mentoring is something that keeps coming to our attention. We hear you! Career events are always popular. And the others are worthy too. Keep sending them through.

It was great to hear though that you really like social-events too. Sometimes it’s just great to catch up with professional colleagues for the sake of it. ‘Library Folk in the Pub’ is certainly popular in Sydney and proving the same in Melbourne. They won’t be going away anytime soon. We like that the group is important to you, that it has expanded your networks, and you want us to maintain our own identity. But we recognise the need and the benefits of collaborating with other ALIA groups, making more professional contacts, and encouraging more students to join us by making ourselves known to LIS institutions.

We can do all this, or at least try, but we also need your contribution and participation as members. Again, it is your group. We can only support you if you support us. To contact your New Grads State representative or the National Committee members, see http://www.alia.org.au/vital.link/contact

See you on the e-list or catch you at the next event. Onto the next Topic of the Month! Happy August.

Daniel
ALIA New Graduates Group Victorian Committee member
ALIA New Graduates Group Website Co-ordinator

Continue

My name is Isobel and I am from Tasmania, as well...

... and we're not related (as far as we know).



Whilst I feel ashamed that I can't boast a beard as magnificent as Felix's, I have attached a photo (left).
And because Felix did (yes, if he told me to jump off a bridge I probably would too - or perhaps we are just similarly lazy/chronically short on time) I will copy and paste my bio from the ALIA page...

Isobel graduated from the Diploma of Information Management at UTAS in 2008 after a few years in the vocational wilderness. Since then she has worked in a variety of libraries, including the State Library of Tasmania, the University of Tasmania Library and the Tasmanian Parliamentary Library. Her current role is Manager of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Arts Library in Hobart.

Being a librarian satisfies her thirst for knowledge; being a library manager satisfies her lust for autonomy (read: power). Of particular interest is the high level research that comes with special library work. Educational development work at the University of Tasmania also encouraged a professional interest in developing and delivering training. Through her wide variety of work experiences Isobel has developed a network of professional contacts and hopes to be able to capitalise on this to benefit Tasmanian New Graduates.

Another interest is work/life balance: in her spare time, Isobel enjoys reading, keeping fit, travelling with her husband and navigating Clint Eastwood's back catalogue.

Please do get in touch with your ideas for a get-together for Taswegian New Graddites. Drinks? Sure. Love-in? Perhaps not, but we'll see...
isobel.clark@development.tas.gov.au

Continue

Sydney Event - NEWGRADS IN NEWTOWN

Yes, folks, you asked for it, so we're bringing the fun to Sydney.

As you may be aware, the New Graduates Group has been very quiet on the Sydney front for a couple of years. However, the time has come for the next generation of Sydney-based new grads, and so, it has been decided that, on the afternoon of Saturday 10th of July, there will be a combined event of The Desk Set Downunder and the ALIA New Grads Group, to bring you...

NEWGRADS IN NEWTOWN - A LITERARY CRAWL

Yes, that's right. Sydney's librarians will be spending the afternoon in the hipster capital of Sydney, with a guided tour of its many bookstores, as well as discovering the many unknown literary facts of the region. The itinerary currently consists of:

3:00pm - Meet at Gould's Book Arcade (32 King St, Newtown) and receive your instructions. By instructions, we mean our hand-crafted zine-guide for the tour.
3:30pm - Books on King (161 King St)
3:45pm - Berkelouw's Books (6-8 O'Connell St) and coffee.
4:15pm - Elizabeth's Bookstore (197 King St)
4:30pm - Modern Times Bookstore (199/201 King St)
4:45pm - Dickens readings at Camperdown Cemetary
5:15pm - Better Read than Dead (265 King St)

The tour will be followed by social drinks and / or dinner, depending on preferences - it's King St, so there are plenty of options for both. Then then possibly dancing.

So, the more, the merrier, really. It'd be great to see lots of new grads show up, as it's social events like these that are best for
forming professional networks. Feel free to indicate your attendance on our Facebook event page here.

Otherwise, if you're not on Facebook, feel free to leave a comment below, and I'll ensure that we have sufficient "supplies".

Continue

ALIA Access Update

It's lining up to be an exciting full day of papers and activities in the What Next! Information to Enhance the Career of New Graduates stream, with papers and assistance available for students, new graduates and not-so-new graduates! Check out the program for the full range of papers and the workshop that will be held on the day.

Students are reminded that they are eligible for a heavily reduced rate of only $400 (earlybird) for the whole conference, a great way to learn practical skills, hear about real-world experiences and network, network, network!

ALIA members with less than five years since graduation are reminded that the ALIA Board of Directors and the ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee are giving you the opportunity to attend ALIA Access for free, just fill out the application form that was sent out to the ALIAnewgrad elist and send it to enquiry@alia.org.au by Monday 21 June 2010. If you're not a member yet, get your membership in now and register!

Job seekers and those wanting to polish up their resume will have the chance to have their resumes reviewed by experienced library and information professionals in the relaxed surrounds of the on-site coffee shop.

And as for networking, networking, networking, in addition to those events that are part of the Access program, due to popular demand, the New Grads at the Pub event made so popular at NLS4 in Melbourne is being revived, with a special after-drinks dinner & drinks (self-funded) on the Wednesday evening at Brisbane's historic Plough Inn, only 5 minutes walk (600m) from the Convention Centre.

We can't wait to see you at the Conference!

Continue

Library Folk in the Pub Melbourne!!!

An event we would like to see become regular in Melbourne, is a pub-style event, perhaps with a speaker or two, giving people the chance to network, or just catch up with colleagues in the industry. This has been happening in Sydney for a long time and it’s such a good idea, we should be doing it too.
To get things started, come along on the 16th June to the Duke of Kent Hotel, 293 Latrobe Street, Melbourne from 6:00pm. The table will be booked for ‘ALIA’. For more information about the venue, see http://www.dofk.com.au/index.html
Cost: at own expense. Good company: free.
Please RSVP your attendance to danielg@elitenet.com.au by Monday 14th June at 12 noon.
All welcome.

Continue

Fancy attending ALIA Access for free?

Earlybird registrations for ALIA Access close in just over a month. If you haven't checked out the program yet, you should head over to the Access site now, where you can follow the conference on Twitter, Facebook and make sure you hashtag conversations with #ALIAAccess.

As part of the ALIA Board of Directors commitment to provide opportunities for professional development to new graduate members of ALIA, they have approved the New Generation Advisory Committee’s (NGAC) request for a free registration for a new graduate to ALIA Access, running from 1-3 September 2010 in Brisbane. This opportunity is open to current Associate members of ALIA with five or less years since graduation.

The purpose of this offer is to enable a new graduate Associate ALIA member, who would not otherwise receive funding from their organisation, to attend the What Next! Practical Information to Enhance the Career of New Graduates stream of ALIA Access. On the second day of the conference program the winner can choose from the many stream options available.

Eligible applicants who wish to be considered for this offer should send a completed application form by the closing date (Monday 21 June 2010) to enquiry@alia.org.au . Please ensure you address all criteria as set out in the form.

All applications will be considered on merit. A panel made up of the Chair of NGAC, the convenor of the What Next! ALIA Access stream, ALIA Director: Member Services and an ALIA Board Director will make a decision regarding the winner of the ALIA Access registration.

The application form is available to subscribers of the aliaNEWGRAD elist, or email Naomi for a copy.

Full terms and conditions are on the application form.

Good luck!

Continue

Officially launched!

So, it's Library and Information Week (or LIW) for 2010

As part of LIW, we have launched this blog as a means of communicating news of events, interactions, and issues related to the ALIA New Grads Group. You'll read correspondence from our regional counterparts, reflections on hotly-debated and emerging topics, and all the latest gossip on upcoming excitement in the library world.

For example:

Last night, an envoy of young new graduate librarians were seen lurking in the wings at the 3rd Annual Library and Information Careers Night. Another NGAC committee member was unfortunately absent in person, but present in two-metre-high splendour on an RMIT banner, and on the front of their course information leaflets. After an series of informative talks from Margie Anderson, Mary Manning, and Marion Slawson, these new grads were spotted seeking out the most "librariany" of the audience members, and encouraging them to join our professional ranks. They also raided the university tables for mints and caramels, followed by a swift getaway for beer, dumplings, and pink walls.

So, may I welcome you all to the New New Grad News Blog, and I look forward to many posts, and many more comments in the future!

Continue