LIS Courses and Qualifications (5/4/22)

This month ALIA NGAC wants to hear your thoughts and feelings on courses and qualifications. Tell us what you think is working and what you’d like to see done differently. We want to know if your LIS education is everything you imagined it to be and how well prepared you feel for the workplace!

Questions:

1. Are you currently enrolled in an LIS course or have you completed one in the past? If so, what course? What are your general thoughts on the course you studied?
2. What are your feelings on formalised LIS qualifications generally? Are they necessary or do they simply provide good background knowledge? Do you feel that most skills can be learnt on the job?
3. For those in LIS jobs or those currently studying, was there anything you wish your course had covered? Or anything you wish it hadn’t? Why?
4. Do you feel that your LIS education prepared you for an information industry role? Or if you’ve chosen not to complete any formal LIS education, do you feel that has negatively impacted your career in any way?
5. What other skills have you found to be useful that you’ve brought in from elsewhere? Have there been other experiences outside of formal qualifications that have helped prepare you for an information industry role?

If you’re new to Twitter, and/or #AusLibChat, be sure to check out this blog post and/or watch this video on how to participate.

Comment anonymously? Email your questions or answers to aliangac@gmail.com or PM @aliangac and we’ll include them on your behalf.

New Year New Opportunity in 2022!

#ALIAStudentsandNewGraduatesGroup #Commitee #ALIAStudents #NationalSecretary #CallOut.

The ALIA Student and New Graduates Group support and connects with students and new information management professionals. We aim to foster a supportive community that promotes the interests of the people who are the future of our industry.

The ALIA SNGG National Secretary is part of our Executive team. They play a crucial role in providing administration support for our Conveners and ensuring the smooth running of our national team. This role enables SNGG to continue to provide support to students and new graduates across Australia via our online channels, Resume Review Service, and face-to-face events.

As our ALIA SNGG National Secretary, you will have the opportunity to:

• Become part of a national group that is passionate about assisting new information professionals in their careers;
• Develop your administration and communication skills
• Have the opportunity to create, and be a part of planning online events and activities, E.g. 12 Days of #GLAMR. 
• Establish and expand your professional network by liaising with the professional community

Plus, you can add the role to your resume/CV and demonstrate your active engagement in the profession!

*Please note that this is a volunteer role, and you need to be an ALIA member to be a Coordinator. 

If this sounds like you, please send an email to alianewgraduatesgroup@gmail.com, for more position details; let us know why you are interested in the National Secretary role.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sustainability in Libraries (7/12/2021) – Presented in Partnership with ALIA Green

For December’s #AusLibChat, NGAC is partnering with ALIA Sustainable Libraries Group (ALIA Green) to discuss sustainability. We want to know about the things that you, your workplace, local library or study institution are doing to combat climate change and champion sustainability within the community. We also want to know what more we can ALL do to ‘green up’ our libraries!

Join us for our next chat on Tuesday 7 December at 9pm AEDT.

Questions:

1. What can libraries do in terms of their interactions with their users (eg programs etc) to promote sustainability within the community?

2. From an organisational standpoint, what is your workplace or study institution doing to combat climate change?

3. What kind of community recycling opportunities have you seen in libraries? Have you thought of anything else that could work within an LIS setting?

4. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that the general population (including libraries) has been utilising more single use products, such as masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and cleaning products. What can we do to combat this?

5. How can ALIA support your organisation’s sustainability programs? Is there something more or different that ALIA could do?

If you’re new to Twitter, and/or #AusLibChat, be sure to check out this blog post and/or watch this video on how to participate.

Comment anonymously? Email your questions or answers to aliangac@gmail.com or PM @aliangac and we’ll include them on your behalf.

Finding and Starting an LIS Career (2/11/2021)

For November #AusLibChat, we will talk about finding and starting a new Library and Information Services (LIS) career. A quick look shows the main paths include Libraries, Records Management, and Information and Knowledge Management. There are many exciting specialisations within the LIS sector, as well as other “non-traditional careers” where LIS skills are an asset. Where are you in your LIS career? Let’s share. Maybe your journey will inspire others in their search. 

Join us for our next chat on Tuesday 2 November at 9pm AEDT.

Questions:

1. Where and how did you start your LIS career?

2. Does your role in the LIS field match what you expected before starting out? Did you have any misconceptions about the industry?

3. What career strategies are important for a successful LIS career?

4. What do you think are the key issues in relation to entering or switching directions within the LIS sector?

5. What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about starting a LIS career?

If you’re new to Twitter, and/or #AusLibChat, be sure to check out this blog post and/or watch this video on how to participate.

Comment anonymously? Email your questions or answers to aliangac@gmail.com or PM @aliangac and we’ll include them on your behalf.

Ask a Mentor (5/10/2021)

Have you ever thought “Ooh, I wish I could ask a mentor that”? Now is your chance!

For October #AusLibChat, ALIA NGAC have handed the question asking over to you and are very excited to be joined by mentors from the ALIA Mentoring Scheme to share their wisdom in answering your questions. 

We know, however, that the ALIA Mentoring Scheme mentors aren’t the only people at #AusLibChat who have wisdom and experience to share, so join us at 9pm AEDT on Tuesday 5 October 2021 to share your thoughts on the questions below and find out what the ALIA Mentoring Scheme mentors have to say!

1. What do you enjoy the most about being in the LIS industry and what is your greatest challenge at the moment?
   
2. In a sea of great candidates, what makes one stand out? What are the most important skills that new LIS graduates should look to acquire in order to improve their employability?
   
3. Is there any advice you would give to future proof a career in the library sector?
   
4. Has there been a time in your career where something has not gone to plan or you were in a role or workplace you didn’t like? What did you do in this situation and did you learn anything from it?
   
5. Do you have a resource, be it a book (fiction or non-fiction), manual or other that you would recommend for mentees?

Join us for #AusLibChat on Tuesday 5 October at our daylight savings time.