Report Writing at the WA State Library

I prepared two reports during my fortnight as a practicum student at the State Library of WA (November-December 2011).

Report for the client services team
The client services team was considering ways to provide online tutorials and reach more patrons. I was able to make use of a document I'd written for one of my classes (INN333, Information Programs) to jump-start an evaluation of screencasting tools. My studies at QUT have noted the following applications for screencasting in libraries:

• Distance learning
• Information Literacy
• Concrete instructional tutorials
• Self-directed learning
• Introduction to library tools
• Marketing

I chose two popular screencast programs, Jing and Screenr, and evaluated them based on cost, accessibility and ease of use, features, and tech requirements. The evaluation included a table that compared the free and paid versions of Screenr and Jing. Though the resulting report was not exhaustive, it gave the client services team a starting point, should they decide to invest time and effort in creating screencasts.

Report for the participation and learning team

On 20 September 2011 the State Library of Western Australia presented Keeping Up: engaging clients and developing readers.  Panelists discussed cultural institutions as learning spaces and places, social media as a learning space and place, and how the two converged. SLWA conducted a survey through SurveyMonkey to learn what the attendees thought of the library seminar.

I was tasked with collating the survey responses and writing a report to show whether it would be worthwhile to plan similar events in 2012. In addition to providing graphs with quantitative data, I pulled quotes from the attendees as qualitative data. Overall, the seminar was a success. The majority of negative responses concerned the venue, while comments concerning the speakers were positive.

I analysed the responses and comments to determine common themes and suggestions, which would enable SLWA to tailor future seminars to suit their expected audience. Marketing and financial matters were also included in the analysis. To round out the report, I made recommendations for the format, venue, and technical issues encountered on the day.

The manager of the participation and learning team was very pleased with the report I prepared, and e-mailed the following:
Thanks so much for this – it’s a far more comprehensive piece of work than I ever expected, particularly considering the scant information I was able to provide you with in the first place. I recall it went something along the lines of “Here’s the link to the Surveymonkey results, now please could you get on with it”. You’ve written a great report which will really benefit the organisation and provide us with an evidence base as to why we should continue with a third Library Seminar in 2012.

Print vs Pixel at SLWA

I was invited to share my Kindle experience at a "lunch box" session for staff at the State Library of WA. As a practicum student and guest of the SLWA, I was honoured to be asked. Print vs Pixel: How will you read tomorrow? was a panel session, designed to introduce a variety of e-readers. Following our presentations, there was a technology petting zoo.

Approximately 30 staff members gathered for the lunch hour information session. I was seated at the front of the room, with five others on the panel. We each represented a device - Kobo, Sony Reader, Kindle, iPad, Android and...gasp! a real book. We were treated to a reading of It's A Book by Lane Smith. If you don't know it, enjoy this YouTube version!


I love the flexibility of reading on my Kindle. It's lightweight, it fits in my purse, and I can bring more than one book with me at all times. Mine has wifi, which has been a godsend; once I was on vacation and finished the first book in a series, and I was able to download the next book in no time! Browsing the Amazon website allows me to discover new authors based on my purchasing habits. I find the e-ink screen easy to read, and the device itself is a breeze to use. It was nice to contribute to the session, and share my love of the Kindle.

On the Floor at the WA State Library

At the close of my first library conference, the New Librarians' Symposium (NLS5), I plucked up the courage to ask Steve McQuade if I could come back to WA and work with him at the State Library. Happily, he said yes, and in November/December 2011, I spent two weeks doing fieldwork in Perth.

Working with clients

When the children's section has a book totem and costumes, you know you're in for a seriously fun morning. I helped out at story time, where we read Hattie and the Fox - my first Mem Fox book. We sang songs as well, but some of the kids were more interested in playing dress-up or running around the play area. At the end of story time, we handed out stickers.

I really liked that The Place, as the children's area is called, is its own space. The parents don't have to worry that their child is being too noisy or disruptive, and everything is set up for kids to enjoy themselves - books, toys, child-sized chairs and bright colours.

Working with the team
Even though I was only at SLWA for two weeks, I joined up to its fledgling Yammer community. I liked the options for attaching files, links or people to posts. It baffled one of the older part-time librarians, who wanted to know what all this “activity” in her inbox meant.

When I explained that it was a daily digest and she could safely delete it and just read it on Yammer instead, she got even more confused. (Many Yammer postings were copied from emails in the first place, so there was a lot of overlap.) How was she supposed to keep up? How would she know what was important? Would it be compulsory? These are all valid questions, but I didn’t have any answers for her, aside from skimming the posts to see what was of interest. It will be interesting to see whether Yammer is used in my first position, and how another team might use it to communicate. Aside from email and Yammer, team meetings brought everyone up to speed.

The staff were fantastic: very welcoming, eager to help, and willing to answer my questions about working in the library. I didn't feel like a fifth wheel at all, and I was sorry to leave. There are so many great programs and events at SLWA, including exhibitions, the book cafe, story time and Better Beginnings.

Observation: Special Collections

As part of my practicum in November/December 2011, I shadowed the music librarian at the State Library of Western Australia. I have always been interested in becoming a subject specialist or a librarian who works with a special collection, and wanted to observe what skills and knowledge are required in that type of role.

I first viewed theThe WA State Library's music collection on a tour, as part of the 5th New Librarians Symposium. The collection is one of the largest in the country, with over 70,000 scores available for loan, and not all of it is on the shelves. In addition, there are books and recordings on vinyl and CD.

The music subject specialist, Allison Fyfe, was very patient as she showed me how to search the catalogue, locate items in the stacks, and check that all the parts of a score had been returned. It is not as simple as checking things off on a list. A background in music and the Romance languages is desirable,  as the scores are often titled and catalogued in other languages, with parts of music labeled klavier, not piano.

When a patron needed a score that wasn't on the shelves, Alison would put in a request for someone to pull it from the stacks. I was surprised that this process only took place twice an hour, and even more surprised that most people were content to wait. My customer service training balked at keeping someone waiting, but I'm sure it is more efficient for staff to perform retrievals at set times of the day.

Allison has come by her considerable knowledge through studying music throughout her life. I observed her responding to a patron's request by humming the answer. I can certainly appreciate the specialist knowledge and research skills needed to fill this position - you never know what a patron may ask.


Allison Fyfe has since retired.

Library Camp 2011

Library Camp was fantastic, and I wish more people had come to it. It was an opportunity to let our hair down a little, kick some ideas around, and get to know other librarians and info professionals in a more relaxed setting than a symposium. I was fortunate to have booked extra time on the end of my trip to Perth for NLS5, which allowed me to attend, even though I hadn't known the date in advance. It took place in several rooms at the State Library of WA.

Library Camp was an "unconference," meaning it was loosely organised - date, venue, food, attendees and rough schedule. The topics and speakers were chosen on the day. To my surprise, I bounded down the stairs of the auditorium (fuelled by coffee!) and took the microphone. My suggestion was to discuss ideas for connecting librarians around the world, and it made the final cut of topics. And so it was that I found myself chairing a session in a full boardroom.

Along with the professional topics, the most popular was work/life balance. Hoi (better known as @librarianhoi) brought buttons, half-finished owls, and other crafty bits, and several of us sewed together over lunch. Other topics included literacy, PLNs (personal learning networks), e-books, blogging, QR codes, building a better web presence, and the GLBTQ community in libraries.

Next year, I'll be involved in "unorganising" Library Camp in Brisbane!

How to Get THE Job

It’s time for practicum applications and job hunting, so with that in mind, I thought I’d share some point-form notes from a workshop I attended in Perth. In “How to get THE job” (September 16th, ALIA's NLS5 weekend) Karen, Michelle, and Emma shared their tips on resumes, selection criteria, being prepared, and staying positive.

Resume
Use the CCR model – be Clear, Concise, and Relevant.
Include an overarching statement (some call this a summary or snapshot) that gives the employer an idea of who you are.
The first half of the first page is the most important. Don’t be generic – make it stand out!
Include professional memberships and highlight key skills, tech skills, and achievements.
Adding “contact details available on request” alongside names & job titles of your referees is better than the standard “References available on request” because it shows you have people on hand as referees, but if they call you to ask for their phone numbers, you’ll have the advantage of knowing they’re interested!

Selection Criteria
Provide evidence of how you can meet the criteria with previous experience. Use the STAR method – Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Use the same language as the potential employer. Imagine them going through your selection criteria with a highlighter.
Be reflective.

Before the Interview
Prepare, prepare, prepare!
Research the company/industry
Have examples ready for job situations – they’ll look for how you handle problems in the workplace
Remember, you’re interviewing them as much as they’re interviewing you
Have questions or comments ready for them – it shows your interest, respect, and thoughtfulness
Have a “wrap-up” comment or pitch ready for the close of the interview
Presentation: be early/on time, dress well, use non-verbal cues like a smile and a handshake.
I asked whether you should meet the interviewer on their level if they are more casual in their approach or dress, but Michelle said to maintain professionalism.
If you don’t get the job, call and ask for feedback (but be respectful and polite).

Other Tips

• Highlight your transferable skills and consider life experience as skills
• Don’t forget the cover letter, and tailor it closely to the application/company every time – it tells the employer why you’re applying
• Call ahead and ask questions; eg, What software do they use, or why is the position vacant
• It’s okay to say you’re open to training if you don’t have the qualification they’re asking for
• If they ask about your greatest weakness, turn it into a positive and mention an area you’re working on
• Take a pen and paper with you so you can take notes – it’s terrifying to receive a double or triple-barrelled question and be unable to recall the whole question when you’re halfway through replying!
• Don’t underestimate or undersell yourself