Beauty Meets Brawn

Engage library users with a discovery service that combines a modern user interface and sophisticated search technology.

EBSCO Discovery Service anticipates end-users’ research needs through unique features:

• A modern interface that meets users’ needs, preferences, and research interests, including browsing the EBSCO Knowledge Graph ebsco.com/discovery

• Mobile-friendly design and functionality

• Quality data and precision search

• Integrations with key tools and interfaces

Kylie kylie.fiddy@alia.org.au

Christina

Welcome to the second edition of INCITE for 2023. We hope you have been enjoying the new look and feel of the magazine, as well as the submissions, new features and updates from ALIA.

In this edition – our biggest yet – we bring you everything from case studies on disaster preparedness to an interview with young adult novelist Holden Sheppard to conversations with and about the latest in AI technology: ChatGPT. Generative artificial intelligence is top of mind for many in the sector. Our two case studies, one from Dr Nicole Johnston on behalf of ALIA RAC and the other from Anand Kochunny, provide accounts of what it’s like to chat with the bot of the moment and what we might expect to see as it continues to evolve. The results don’t fall neatly into the categories of ‘pro’ or ‘con’, but rather demonstrate the complexity of this technology in application, and the urgent need to apply and hone our critical thinking skills when engaging with this tool.

In our regular column ‘Library stories’, we hear from teacher librarian Michelle Coxsen on her winding journey from being a library technician to a librarian to a teacher and back again. We also hear from TAFE librarian Rory Caddis on what he calls the ‘secret world’ of TAFE libraries. For our CPD spotlight we talked to Michelle Collins about her experience of the ALIA CPD scheme and her recent training in Rachael Robertson’s Extreme Leadership Academy. Current ALIA Board Member Mary Carroll is our very special guest writer for our ‘From the archive’ section, exploring Gough Whitlam, his government and libraries in Australia.

By Liz Bradtke Editor

Our features section for this edition is especially rich. In addition to the pieces mentioned earlier, we have articles on the new wave of Australian graphic novels, how to foster a love of research in printrich environments, and global and Indigenous trends in library design.

Finally, in ALIA News, you’ll find an advocacy round-up, a re-introduction from the continuing New Generation Advisory Committee, an account from ALIA Rainbow on their participation in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, and an article by inaugural Charlotte Henry Study Grant recipient Kaley Schelks on where her research has taken her since winning the grant.

We hope you enjoy this bumper edition of INCITE. Submissions for the next edition are open and will close on 17 July 2023.

Liz Bradtke, Editor incite@alia.org.au

Acknowledgment of Country

The Australian Library and Information Association acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters, cultures and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and to Elders past and present.

Jane Cowell AALIA (DCP) ALIA President

Thank you to all the ALIA members who got involved in the recent ALIA election – those who had the courage to nominate and all members who took the time to cast your vote. I am very honoured to take on the role of President for the next three years, listening to members’ concerns, responding to the challenges facing our industry in the coming years and pinpointing where ALIA can make a difference. For a strong ALIA we need an active membership and I want to acknowledge every person who volunteers their time to a committee, program or section, writes a conference paper or supports national ALIA events.

In my library we are committed to a co-design approach with our community, ensuring its strategic planning, activities and collections are meaningful and relevant. I look forward to taking this co-design approach with all ALIA members to ensure our industry remains a welcoming, valued and relevant industry supporting your careers and the work you do.

If you have been following some of the public library news around Australia, you might have noticed negative commentary from certain elements of the community regarding LGBTQIA+ collection items and library activities that celebrate gender diversity. ALIA Rainbow Members were represented at this year’s Mardi Gras and you can read about their float on page 18. The courage library staff across all aspects of our industry are showing in the face of this kind of community backlash is amazing to see, and I commend each of you for the important work you do in championing inclusion and tolerance. The ALIA team and some key volunteers are working hard to build some resources to support this work and help those who face challenges to collection items, rainbow activities or rainbow displays. Please reach out and support each other if you see a library being targeted in this way, as receiving emails and social media posts of support really does combat the weight and stress of the negative comments and complaints. Please remember that you can reach out to the ALIA team for support in professional and legislative matters if you are facing these types of challenges.

Enough of our challenges. Curiosity is the bedrock for all library staff’s journeys in the workforce as we explore new technology that can make our jobs easier. Here at Yarra Plenty Regional Library we are exploring ChatGPT in writing media releases, blog posts and social media posts. My team says it is not perfect yet but, as we train it in the tone of the writing, it is improving. Is it saving us time? Not yet – but it is fun to try. ChatGPT is clearly something libraries need to experiment with to determine how we will be using it in the future or risk being left behind. The case studies included in this edition demonstrate ways ChatGPT can be used in the library context, so check them out. Have you experimented with this technology? Don’t forget to blog about it and share your experience with us all.

Jane Cowell AALIA (DCP) ALIA President

At ALIA, we are fascinated by the stories of our colleagues in the sector: where they’ve come from, how they got to where they are and the professional journeys they wish to embark upon in the future. ‘Library stories’ is a regular column in INCITE that allows us to share these fascinating and varied accounts with our readers. For this edition, we chat with librarians Michelle Coxsen and Rory Caddis about their pathways into and through library and information science.