ALIA EXECUTIVE Cathie Warburton, CEO cathie.warburton@alia. org. au
Kylie Fiddy, Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary kylie.fiddy@alia.org.au
Zola Maddison Director of Events and Training zola.maddison@alia.org.au Trish Hepworth, Deputy CEO trish.hepworth@alia.org.au
Cover: Trotter, Alex, 1914–2009
Original version photographic print: black and white, 10 February 1961
Negative number: 171873. Ginger cat ‘typing’ a letter on a vintage portable Underwood typewriter. Photo: State Library of Queensland
Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.
— Ray Bradbury
As I compiled and edited the stories for this edition of INCITE, I was struck once again by the extraordinary ways in which libraries not only provide access to the past but also activate it, apply it, and ensure its relevance and resonance for the future. This observation is neither as pithy nor as poetic as Ray Bradbury’s above, but it shares a point of view. The stories within these pages reveal a sector that is not only future-focused but also deeply engaged in the dynamic interplay between history, innovation and the present moment, in ways that provide significant benefits to communities.
Across the LIS landscape (and in the pages of this edition), our workforce is expanding and diversifying existing collections so that more people can be reading more often. We are establishing new professional networks to address changes to our digital landscape, using archives to illuminate untold stories, and rethinking library spaces via consultation with patrons. These projects embody the essence of our work: evolving through collaboration, harnessing technology and embracing change with purpose, strategy and vision. This issue of INCITE is a testament to a workforce that doesn’t just adapt to change but shapes it, and this is something I am very proud to showcase in this magazine.
In this edition
Our regular ‘Library stories’ feature introduces us to Isobel Bevis. Isobel is a Wilman, Ballardong Noongar woman who has been visiting public libraries all around WA with her book, Nedingar: Ancestors, not only for library storytimes, but to share Noongar language and culture with people in that community. Isobel’s work is powerful example of how library spaces can facilitate this type of meaningful and essential connection between our cultural past, present and future.
By Liz Bradtke Editor
Our ‘From the archive’ piece comes to us from Nathan Hobby from the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, who tells us the fascinating story of the propaganda battle in the 1916 conscription referendum, told through letters and notes John Curtin wrote on the back of anti- conscription flyers he was distributing.
In the ‘ALIA updates’, we unveil ALIA’s new Digital Literacy Group, spotlight the brand new Institutional Membership Handbook and hear from our 2023 FA Sharr Award winner Elena Smirnova, who has achieved extraordinary things in her library career to date, including bringing LIS services to WA mining sites.
In our feature stories we highlight innovative projects happening in the sector, including the revitalisation of Indigenous collection metadata at Trinity College, a Trove initiative exploring Australian literature translated into languages other than English, and a case study from Southern Cross University about incorporating user experience into redesigning academic library spaces. We also celebrate milestones, such as Charles Sturt University’s LIS education golden jubilee; get the lowdown on the VicTerCats group — a community of practice in Victoria that exemplifies practical cooperation and collective expertise among cataloguers — and talk to Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell, the author and illustrator of this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime book, The truck cat.
From the June 2025 edition onwards, we’ll also be adding a new regular feature all about what’s happening in LIS research, so keep an eye out for that.
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.
Artwork: Richard Allan Jr.
Welcome to the first edition of INCITE for 2025. I hope the year is off to a good start for all our members and colleagues in the sector. If you’re anything like us, you’ll have hit the ground running! This edition of INCITE appears on the eve of ALIA’s virtual conference, Information Online: Transformation & Disruption, which offers unparalleled opportunities to become stronger as professionals and as an industry with engaging programs and a forum to collaborate, network and build partnerships amongst our colleagues, peers, industry leaders and corporate partners. Each day will cover a specific theme for discussion: Indigenous Knowledges, Greening GLAMR, and AI and the Future of Library Technology. Better still, all attendees have the flexibility to attend any number of days that interest them and will have access to the conference recordings for six months. You can read more about this on the ALIA blog
A key focus for the ALIA Board this year is further developing and communicating membership benefits (of which INCITE magazine is one) and how you can make the most of your ALIA membership all year round. At the December board meeting, the directors were delivered the report from the latest member survey. The full report on the results can be found in the Member Resources section of the ALIA website. I would like to thank all members and institutional members who took the time to fill in the survey, as it helps the ALIA Board and office to plan our work and efforts. We were pleased to see significant improvements from the 2022 baseline survey and the data shows that ALIA is performing strongly in the areas of membership satisfaction, communications, professional development and advocacy.
Already in 2025 we’ve taken early steps to address your feedback, especially when it comes to our social media communications. With the majority of respondents telling us that they ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ use social media to receive news about ALIA and the LIS sector, we have consolidated our social media to three platforms only — LinkedIn,
Write for INCITE
Instagram and Facebook — in accordance with member needs and preferences. We will use the survey data to shape other key aspects of our work this year, including enhancing and communicating member benefits, refining our advocacy focus, guiding professional development opportunities and content delivery, and addressing member support needs related to AI, to name a few key areas.
I look forward to updating you on our progress here in INCITE, so be sure to keep your eyes on this space. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this edition — you can read more about what’s inside in ‘From the Editor’ on page 4.
We hope you find inspiration in these pages as we embark on another year of professional growth and innovation. If you do, and you’d like to be a part of INCITE as a contributor, submit your story idea or get in touch at incite@alia.org.au. INCITE is a platform for collaboration, a space to celebrate achievements, and a record of the ever-evolving role of libraries and information professionals. If you have a story to tell, we want to hear it.
Jane Cowell AALIA (DCP)
ALIA President
Jane Cowell AALIA (DCP) ALIA President
Photo: Pexels
‘Don’t pass up opportunity for growth (within reason!)’
Throughout 2024 we heard from a number of fascinating people from within the LIS workforce about their journeys into and throughout the profession. In this first edition of ‘Library stories’ for the year, we speak to someone whose work regularly takes them into public libraries — author Isobel Bevis. Isobel, a Wilman, Ballardong Noongar woman, has been visiting public libraries all around WA with her book Nedingar: Ancestors, for library storytimes and to share Noongar language and culture with children and patrons.
Library stories
Isobel Bevis
Hi Isobel – thanks for talking with us. To start off, can you tell us about your journey to becoming a children’s book author?
IB: I didn’t set out to be an author, it was not something I planned. During COVID, to stay connected to Boodja and Moort (Country and Family), I wrote down stories my Kabarli (Nana) shared with me growing up. Listening to her stories as a kid and remembering them as an adult is special. After encouragement from a good friend, I sent the story to Fremantle Press, and lucky for me they loved the story. I do know that my Ancestors led me here, to this journey I am on!
Your most recent book Nedingar: Ancestors, a dual-language Noongar–English picture book, tells the story of a young child who wants to meet their Ancestors — to know them, learn from them and follow their ways. Could you talk a little bit about what compelled you to write this book, and how you wanted it to connect with readers?
When I was growing up, my nan always said that if you connect to Boodja, you will always be with family. We spent a lot of time at the river, in the bush. Even as an adult, I still do that with my own family, visiting Minningup (in Collie) and camping, especially during marroning season. So writing this book was to acknowledge and honour my nan, her stories, and the relationship she taught me to have with Boodja and the power that comes from that. I would like my book to connect with readers — for them to fall in love with Country but also have a sense of responsibility to look after it. The book will explain to readers (children and adults) that Aboriginal people have a strong connection
and belonging to Country because that’s where our Ancestors are. I hope readers will understand that they can join us in looking after Country; we all have a shared responsibility to care for Country because looking after it means it’s going to be there for a very long time.
You’ve been touring with Nedingar around school libraries and public libraries for the past year and a half. Can you talk about this experience and the role you think libraries can play in fostering not only a love for stories among young readers, but also in deepening their connection to Country, language and community?
I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing Nedingar at school and public libraries — the opportunity to share Noongar language and culture in this forum has been exceptional. There are some amazing librarians who have embraced books that showcase Aboriginal people. They have invested in providing books written by First Nations authors and illustrators so young readers are able to understand and appreciate who we are, that we come from strength and power, and that there are many generations of stories and history. It is vital for all libraries across Australia to undertake the same journey as the libraries I have visited so all children have the opportunity to read our stories, written by us — there is no better way to learn.
Do you have any standout memories of visiting libraries, either as a child or during your career?
What I have noticed during my tours of libraries, and what wasn’t in libraries when I
was a child, is the way libraries are so much more a part of their community. Libraries are no longer a quiet place; they are a hub of activity and events. They are full of different people, but also the libraries cater for different people, which is beautiful to see. Books that are available in the library today were not when I was a child. The stories I heard from my nan were not the same stories that were in books, because those books were written about us and, in most instances, it was a negative viewpoint of us. And so I struggled as a child to find a book that I could relate to or want to read. That is not the case today, and it is great to see libraries celebrating and embracing books that cater for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers.
Are you working on anything new at the moment that you can share with us?
I am currently liaising with an editor regarding a piece of writing I submitted for an anthology that is due to be published in November this year, which is exciting and something I loved being involved with. It is a pinch-me moment, as a few of the authors involved are those I have followed and been in awe of for their writing. It really is special. As for another children’s book, I am hoping to have something finished in a few months — I’m just trying to juggle teacher and author responsibilities. For the moment, watch this space!
We like to finish our ‘Library stories’ column with some recommendations. Is there anything you are reading or watching at the moment that you would recommend to INCITE readers?
During the Christmas/January school holidays I usually spend the time reading books for professional learning — information that I add to my teaching toolbox. So I’m currently reading Antoinette Lattouf’s book How to Lose Friends and Influence White People. I recommend the book for those wanting to unpack racism, understand the complexities for people of colour calling out racism, but more importantly, the need for Australia to acknowledge racism exists. To balance the heaviness of this reading, I am binge watching a TV series on Prime, Cross, based on the books by James Patterson. If I’m being honest, I only watch during the day — I can’t handle anything scary at night.
Isobel Bevis Photo: Supplied
and the 1916 conscription referendum
By Nathan Hobby Special Collections Librarian/ Archivist, John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, Curtin University Library
From the archive Ephemera and democracy: John Curtin
How does collecting political flyers and other ‘throwaway’ items contribute to democracy? Why do we keep collections of political ephemera in Australia? What kind of stories might these items help us to tell? These questions and many more were discussed by Nathan Hobby (Curtin University Library), Kathryn Dan (Noel Butlin Archives, ANU) and Conor McCarthy (National Library of Australia) in the ‘Discovering Democracy’ session during last year’s Library and Information Week. In this special ‘From the archive’, Nathan Hobby expands upon his presentation by delving into a particular story about ephemera and democracy that leapt out at him from the collection at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library: the propaganda battle in the 1916 conscription referendum, told through letters and notes John Curtin wrote on the back of anti- conscription flyers he was distributing.
Above
John Curtin in his thirties.
Photo: John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library
The Western Australian Institute of Technology became Curtin University of Technology in 1987, named in honour of John Curtin (1885–1945), who was Prime Minister of Australia during the Second World War. To mark the new identity for the institution, the University established Australia’s first prime ministerial library, which opened to the public in 1998. In developing a new collection, we sought material about John Curtin from around the world and received many significant letters, documents, photographs, books and artefacts, including a donation from the Curtin family of letters written to them by John Curtin.
The conscription debate
When the Great War began in 1914, many Australians volunteered to enlist with the Australian Imperial Force. However, by 1916, the death toll was high, the war had no end in sight, and there were no longer enough volunteers enlisting. Labor Prime Minister Billy Hughes attempted to gain a mandate to conscript young Australian men to fight, despite the opposition of his own party, and the conscription referendums (more correctly, plebiscites) in 1916 and 1917 were key events in Australia’s political history. The heated debate about conscription during the referendums divided not just the Labor Party but also Australia as a whole, and it tested our democracy, especially the nation’s commitment to freedom of speech.
John Curtin, then 31 years old, was one of the leaders of the anti- conscription campaign in Victoria. Recognised as a powerful orator, he had been working as a union organiser, but the campaign came in a difficult period of his life — he had just spent two months in a sanatorium for alcoholics in Lara, near Geelong. The propaganda battle was central to the anti-conscription campaign, as seen in this letter he wrote to his fiancée in Tasmania, Elsie Needham, on 14 October 1916, two weeks before the referendum:
We are fighting this battle with our hands tied & our mouths gagged. Every newspaper opposed to us can say what it likes: — all the papers on our side are censored out of existence. We cannot get a poster passed, an article unaltered. So it is a case of desperate remedies. From Monday we will — in addition to the paper activity — circulate vast quantities of leaflets which will not be submitted [for censorship]. It is a work of supreme difficulty. There are only four men who know the nature of the leaflets & only one knows where they are printed. Distribution is a stupendous task & one possible because of the wonderful loyalty of our army of men & women who in the hour of difficulty have sprung to life. (JCPML00402/13)
Above
‘Labor starts a newspaper’ flyer, back of letter from John Curtin to Elsie Needham, ca. November 1916, JCPML00402/12.
Photo: John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library
Censorship and the freedom of speech
The distribution of posters and leaflets is an important way to exercise freedom of speech in a democracy, but there have been moments in Australia’s history like this one where it has been under threat.
The ephemera itself is only preserved in our collection because Curtin wrote four letters to Elsie on the back of flyers, including on multiple copies of a flyer titled ‘Labor starts a newspaper’. The labour movement had decided to distribute copies of the Ballarat Evening Echo in Melbourne. It was a four-page daily newspaper, edited by another future prime minister, James Scullin, and it was one of the few newspapers opposing conscription. On the back of one of them, Curtin wrote, ‘Police just raided two printers and are on their way here. We are off.’ (JCPML00398/5) It is a vivid example of the curtailing of free speech.
The campaign used humour for this cartoon flyer, with the pro- conscriptionists each holding up an excuse why they themselves would not be fighting: the woman who would fight if only she were a man; the businessman who wishes his business responsibilities were lighter; and the moustached man who wishes he was twenty years younger. Curtin wrote on the back of this one, ‘Our last newspaper is on the streets so nothing is left to do but clean up the fag ends [sic] & generally prepare for Friday & Saturday. We have issued our final instructions & only an immense variety of battle-eve leaflets await distribution.’ (JCPML00402/14)
Dating a few days later, we have another copy of the ‘Labor starts a newspaper’ flyer with Curtin writing after the 28 October referendum, ‘We have won! Won! Won! It seems a wonderful dream and half the time I am afraid I will wake up to the stern reality of disaster.’ (JCPML00402/15) The referendum was indeed narrowly defeated nationally. Three states voted ‘No’ and three states, including Victoria, voted ‘Yes’, with a nationwide vote of 51.61% for ‘No’. However, there was not much opportunity for Curtin to celebrate. During the campaign, Curtin had written on the back of another copy of the ‘Labor starts a newspaper’ flyer that he intended to ‘enthusiastically ignore’ his call-up notice for compulsory military training (JCPML00402/12). Despite the defeat of the referendum, prosecutions continued against men who had refused to report for training. After failing to appear in court in November, he was sentenced to three months’ prison and a warrant was issued for his arrest. For three weeks, Curtin moved from house to house, evading arrest. When the police finally caught up with him, he served three days in the Melbourne Gaol before the Minister for Defence ordered his release.
The importance of ephemera
This brief story of democracy through flyers is, of course, incomplete because democracy relies on us hearing both sides of the story. Thankfully, a number of libraries in Australia have built wide-ranging collections encompassing pro-conscriptionist ephemera as well, including a collection of posters digitised by the State Library of NSW.
The rest of Curtin’s career had resonances with his role in the anti- conscription campaign in 1916. In 1917, he moved to WA to become the editor of the Westralian Worker, continuing what he unabashedly saw as ‘propaganda’ work. (‘Strictly speaking, Labour weeklies are not newspapers — they are propagandist sheets,’ he wrote in 1921. ‘Their business is to convert and to confirm …’) Later, as a politician, one of his great achievements as Opposition Leader from 1935 was to unify a party that had been torn apart by conscription and then the crisis of the Great Depression. Ironically, as Prime Minister in December 1942, he put his leadership on the line in pushing his party to agree to send conscripted Australian troops outside Australia into the south-west Pacific area.
In Martin Andrews’ essay, ‘The importance of ephemera’, he writes, ‘[I]tems of ephemera … can throw a very particular light on history, offering not only factual detail but also an atmospheric and evocative direct link with the past.’ John Curtin’s hastily scrawled notes on the back of the material at hand give us a sense of the intense time he was living through. The accidental preservation of the ephemera that meant so much to the campaign adds an extra dimension to this critical moment of strain in our democracy.
In recent decades, the historical value of ephemera has been widely recognised and libraries and archives are now intentional about collecting it. In doing so, we are fulfilling one of our most important functions in a democracy: to be the collective memory for a society, remembering accurately what was written, drawn, printed, photographed or recorded, including the throw-away items with revealing details, which are so easily forgotten.
Works cited
Andrews, Martin. ‘The importance of ephemera’. In A Companion to the History of the Book, 434–50. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470690949.ch32.
Curtin, John. ‘The Labor press and “The Worker”’. Westralian Worker, 16 December 1921, p. 4.
Personal correspondence of John Curtin Family, John Curtin
Prime Ministerial Archive, Curtin University, JCPML00402. Personal papers of John Curtin Family, John Curtin
Prime Ministerial Archive, Curtin University, JCPML00398.
Left Letter from John Curtin to Elsie Needham, 30 October 1916, JCPML00402/15.
Photo: John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library
Left Back of letter from John Curtin to Elsie Needham, October 1916, JCPML00402/14.
Photo: John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library
A new ALIA Group is born: Introducing ALIA Digital Literacy
Photo: Supplied
By Jasmine Pugh Convenor, ALIA Digital Literacy
I was a library professional for several years, and I’ve recently stepped back into the profession after working in an administrative role since 2022. Securing a role heavily focused on digital literacy, I quickly noticed that a lot of things had changed during my time away. Honestly, I didn’t know what to focus my attention on. So, I looked at similar library services interstate and overseas — something I’m sure you have done too — but I came up empty-handed. Getting in touch with ALIA, I was surprised to learn that there were no library groups focused on digital literacy or where members could collaborate, share information and gain support. Basically, I’ve now roped myself into creating such a service.
Writing this on the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration affirms my belief that digital literacy is an important area not only for LIS but also within society. Online safety and media literacy are constantly in the news and are key focus areas for political parties
as we gear up for election campaigns both nationally and within my home state of SA. Rightly so, as our communities are experiencing unprecedented volumes of media from uncredited sources, and of equally unknown quality. I feel it is a pivotal time for our profession to reaffirm our existence and welcome you to get in touch if you are interested in understanding more about the ALIA Digital Literacy special interest group or can offer your expertise to us on these (and other) digital literacy subjects.
The aims of the group are very much the above: an opportunity for like-minded professionals with an interest in digital literacy to share information, network and collaborate, but mainly to learn and feel supported. Oftentimes librarians who specialise in digital literacy are the sole specialists within their team, and for those who don’t solely work in the space, it can be hard to find dedicated information, news or professional development opportunities focused on the topic.
For me, having an avenue for this through ALIA makes sense. So many of you agree, with the support so far being rather overwhelming (in a good way).
If you join the group and get to know me, you’ll quickly learn that I am very laid-back, so if you are reading this article and have an idea or reason for joining, I’d love to know. Some ideas that I have and that have already been shared focus on collection development in a time of misinformation and disinformation, as well as using the group to develop and channel professional development opportunities. Other than that, the group is very much in its infancy, with details such as when and how often meetings will be held still unknown.
MORE INFORMATION
Express your interest in getting involved with ALIA Digital Literacy.
Maximising your ALIA membership:
New resource for our Institutional Members
As the peak body for library and information services in Australia, our strength lies in the collective power of our members. Each individual and organisation plays a vital role in advancing our shared commitment to fostering literacy, knowledge and equitable access to information for all.
To better understand and respond to the needs of our members, the ALIA Membership Survey 2024 was conducted from 14 October to 1 November. The survey results are available in the Member Resources portal on our website, and throughout the year we’ll be sharing how we’re acting on your feedback — through INCITE and across our other communication channels.
When we received the results of the 2024 and 2022 surveys, we were very encouraged to see that, according to the data, ALIA has seen significant improvements in the areas of membership satisfaction, communications, professional development and advocacy. But there is always more that we can do, and one area we are focused on based on your feedback is the way we are building and communicating member benefits, particularly to our ALIA Institutional Members and their staff.
We now realise that some institutional staff may not be aware of the full range of benefits available to them (including reading INCITE magazine!) and, to help address this, the ALIA Institutional Member Handbook has been developed to help you get the most out of your investment in ALIA, providing key information for accessing and managing your institutional membership.
Some highlights include the following.
• Institutional membership benefits: Learn who can access your institutional membership and how to make the most of it.
• Company administrator role: Manage your institutional membership effectively, including adding staff contacts and registering on their behalf.
• Access to ALIA resources: Explore valuable member benefits such as INCITE, JALIA, ProQuest ebooks and Beamafilm.
• Freedom to read resources: Access tools and materials to support intellectual freedom and advocate for open access to information.
• ALIA events and training: Stay updated on professional development opportunities and national events.
• Employment advertising: Discover how to utilise ALIA’s platform to advertise library and information sector job opportunities. … And more.
Institutional company reps and institutional staff can access the handbook in the Member Resources section of the ALIA website. Simply log in using your username and password. If you are unsure of these details, you can contact our friendly membership team at membership@alia.org.au
From big ideas to mini libraries: How one FA Sharr Award winner is bringing LIS services to Western Australian mining sites
The FA Sharr Award has been given annually since 1976 to a Western Australian librarian or library technician within the first three years after graduation who exhibits the most potential to contribute significantly to the library profession. The recipient of the 2023 award was Elena Smirnova, who was recognised for her enthusiasm for and dedication to the Western Australian library sector and her ‘FIFO Library’ project, which aims to introduce library resources to remote mine sites. In this piece, Elena writes about her long-held dream to work in libraries, the steps she took to make that dream a reality, and her award-winning initiative.
By Elena Smirnova
My fascination with libraries and information services started in early childhood. I was born into a family of teachers, and we had a great home library. Also, my local library was next door and I loved to spend my time after school classes there. I still remember our library officer, the shelves, the books, magazines and papers. I enjoyed helping the library staff with everything from repairing and labelling books to helping prepare for library events.
However, as my professional life got underway, I didn’t find myself working in a library. When I arrived in WA in 2017, one of the first things I did was to head to South Metropolitan TAFE to take English classes. Around this time, I decided to fulfil my childhood dream of getting any library role and, in June 2018, I became a volunteer at the Birtwistle Local Studies Library in Armadale. Moreover, in 2020 I started volunteering at the State Library of WA. Thanks to my English teacher in the AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program) in WA who nominated me, I became a winner of the 2019 WA Culture Diversity Training Award. This prize enabled me to take on LIS studies at North Metropolitan (NM) TAFE. The next year I undertook work
experience at the City of Perth public library and the Parliamentary Library as part of my Diploma of Library and Information Services. I couldn’t believe I got to work in these places! Before I finished my LIS diploma in November 2020, I joined ALIA and started my third volunteering stint, this time with the ALIAWest Committee.
Being part of the ALIAWest regional group, and serving on the committee, is a great opportunity for professional networking and development. I love being a part of the team, attending all the events, and learning from all the wonderful library people who are contributing to the LIS professional environment in WA.
After years of hard study and enjoyable library volunteering, I achieved my diploma and my dream of getting a library job came true. In 2021 I got my first casual job — a contract position — at the State Library of WA. Two months later I got a job offer from the Parliamentary Library. Unbelievable! Furthermore, one month after that I had a casual contract with the NM TAFE library in Joondalup.
When I am off-duty, I am working on my own idea to provide library and information services on mining sites in WA.
Above
Elena Smirnova volunteering at the State Library of WA.
Photo: Supplied
Top
Elena Smirnova at the State Library of WA.
Photo: Supplied
FIFO workers are trained professionals and should have access to today’s newspapers, magazines and books in their workplaces, as well as opportunities for online learning, professional development and training. Thanks to the support of the ALIAWest Committee, I was able to run pilot projects at the Mount Holland lithium project site in the Goldfield region in 2023, the Wodgina lithium project site in the Port Hedland region in 2024, and the Western Range iron ore site in the Pilbara region in 2024 in their recreation rooms. I am passionate about providing support for workers who love reading — to maintain daily reading behaviour, encourage positive outcomes for mental health in the working environment, and provide social connection for workers during their roster of three weeks on and one week off.
Nicola Carson, as the ALIAWest Committee Convener, convinced me that my idea and pilot program activities were on an award level and supported my nomination for the FA Sharr Award. And, in August 2024, I was announced as the winner! Now I have a huge desire to bring my idea to life. I can see the ways that the FIFO Library project could link with the ALIA Strategic Plan 2024–26, in terms
of the ALIA purpose and beliefs such as ‘libraries are for all’ and equal support for all communities in Australia. It also assists achieving three of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals — goals 3, 4 and 16. I am sure that there are many complex tasks with logistics and other difficulties I do not know yet, but I am more than sure that there are many advantages and benefits to be had for Australian remote communities and LIS professionals.
Above left Elena Smirnova and Victor Alyvayev (FIFO mechanical fitter) at the State Library of WA for the FA Sharr Awards Night, 1 August 2024.
Photo: Supplied
Above The ALIAWest Committee at the State Library of WA for the FA Sharr Awards Night, 1 August 2024. L–R:
I love being a part of the team, attending all the events, and learning from all the wonderful library people who are contributing to the LIS professional environment in WA.
Nicola Carson, Kerry Smith, Elena Smirnova, Melissa Pettit, Camille Peters and Amy San Martin.
Photo: Supplied
Cultivating respect: Revitalising the Indigenous collection metadata at Trinity College
By Juan Wen
Technician,
It has been 10 years since the University of Melbourne’s Trinity College separated Indigenous resources from their non-fiction collection. With the Indigenous collection ever-growing in the college’s Leeper Library, we needed to revisit and improve how we manage this collection into the future. As the library technician at Leeper Library, I would like to share my experience in working with the Indigenous collection and how our team is carefully considering and approaching its management of the reparative description process.
At the ALIA Library Technicians Symposium held in March 2024, Renate Beilharz presented on ‘Revitalising catalogue data and standards to cultivate respect’, which was one of my key takeaways from the event. I then discussed what I’d learned from the session with my manager, Heather Bailie, who fully supported me to conduct a review of our Indigenous collection based on Renate’s presentation and the recommended resources from ALIA, including the AIATSIS Thesauri (AIATSIS, 2019), Guidelines for First Nations collection description (Raven, 2023) and AustLang search for controlled vocabularies.
The catalogue review project officially started on 1 May 2024. The primary goals were to enhance the accuracy of existing records, improve the searchability of Indigenous resources, and eliminate outdated or offensive terminology — all part of a broader university- wide effort to move towards a more respectful inclusive community engagement model.
I began by conducting research on using inclusive language in content description and reviewed our cataloguing in descriptive fields and subject headings. Our collection includes a diversity of content relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait people, especially in DDC 300, 700 and 900. Many of our resources are from before the 1990s, and many of the descriptive fields of our catalogue records contained terminology that is no longer used or no longer appropriate to be used.
The Reparative Description for Indigenous Section Task was then created in Microsoft Teams to document the process and track project progress. The task included a step-by-step workflow and instructions on how I would review and update the cataloguing records as well as all reference sources I used for this task.
First, I created three primary subject headings to be subdivided into Australian people, Australian language and Australian place. For example: ‘Australian language — Bundjalung’, or ‘Australian place — Budj Bim’. Since our current library management system cannot edit the MARC records directly, I used this structured format to ensure consistency and alignment with the controlled subject thesaurus from ATATSIS. This approach helps us easily extract and sort records using Excel or CSV documents, enabling better interoperability with other systems. Updated subject headings now comply with the AIATSIS subject thesaurus and align with the Guidelines for First Nations Collection Description.
I then removed inappropriate terminology from the notes and other descriptive fields. To enhance accessibility, I simplified subject headings where needed to ensure they could be easily understood and that the catalogue included fewer duplications. I am now in the process of reviewing and updating other inclusive language terms in descriptive notes to minimise harm, including addressing terms related to LGBTQIA+, culturally diverse groups, disability or age biases.
For documenting and better organisation, I created an Excel spreadsheet to sort and track our Indigenous collection by call number, making it easy to measure the progress of the project.
I added a progress bar column at the front of the document. After completing a review of each catalogue record, I highlighted the corresponding cell in the progress car column, visually tracking the progress of the project. This helped to keep the workflow organised and up to date for colleagues, who might need to review the progress.
To maintain a record of how our Indigenous resources have been cataloged and used in the past, I created a separate Excel document to store the ISBN of each book, along with its corresponding subject headings in one column. Whenever I identified subject headings that needed review, I documented these for future reference. This ensures that we have a historical record of past decisions, which can be valuable for future cataloguing or study purposes. My main reference sources for subject headings were the AIATSIS subject thesaurus and the Library of Congress.
As I worked through the project, I welcomed feedback and suggestions from our users and colleagues, and I regularly consulted our Indigenous Outreach Team for advice and input.
MORE INFORMATION
This is an ongoing project, so please feel free to reach out to me at jwen1@trinity.unimelb.edu.au if you have any concerns or questions about the changes being made in our catalogue. Your input is always valued and will be carefully considered.
Below Juan Wen at Trinity College, Leeper Library.
Photo: Supplied
Below
Project progress was tracked in Excel.
Beyond English
Australian literature in other languages: A Trove lists project
By Joey Chung and Alice Chik
Australia is home to many culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, with 27.6% of the population born overseas and 168 migrant (or non-Indigenous languages other than English) languages recorded in the 2021 Australian Census. Among the people who responded that they use a language other than English in the Census, 15.1% said that they did not speak English well or at all, which accounts for more than 850,000 people across Australia. However, most people who use a language other than English at home speak English very well (68.2%).*
To meet the needs of this diverse population, public libraries across Australia stock books in more than 50 languages in their multicultural collections. Frequently, however, multicultural collections are thought to primarily reflect popular and current publishing trends overseas. For instance, many library titles in the Korean language are bestselling fiction and non- fiction in Korea. There is, therefore, a tendency to identify the multicultural collections as non-Australian, not because they are in languages other than English, but because these titles could be of regional interest only. In this sense, as Abby Dawson suggested in ‘Books that speak your language’ — published in the autumn 2024 edition of the State Library NSW magazine,
Openbook — multicultural collections are viewed narrowly as enabling CALD communities to stay connected to their cultural and linguistic heritage.
What if the coin is flipped the other way? Instead of viewing the multicultural collections as relevant only to those from culturally diverse communities, what if they were viewed as a window into Australian literature and culture? In 1990, Rudine Sims Bishop’s study, ‘Children’s books and parallel cultures’, has already suggested librarians and educators urge the inclusion and use of multicultural books in English as mirrors and windows: mirrors when CALD communities see books that represent their cultures and languages, and windows when all library users see books from different cultures and languages are on the shelves.
With a strong demand for multilingual editions, it is no surprise that in the 2022 National Survey of Australian Book Authors, 34% of 1,152 publishing authors in Australia indicated that their work had been translated into a language other than English. Among the languages of translation, 41.8% of authors said that their work has been translated into German, followed by French (40.5%), Chinese (30.6%), Spanish (26.1%) and Korean (20.8%). Take Chinese translations as examples. While translated work is promoted in overseas markets, a growing population of Australians
could be interested in reading these titles in Chinese. The 2021 Census shows that more than 980,000 people in Australia use Chinese (Mandarin and other Chinese dialects) at home. Chinese readers may not even know that many popular Australian titles have been translated into Chinese or are available in public libraries.
Sharing spoken Cantonese and written Chinese as their first language, Joey Chung (Holmesglen Institute) and Alice Chik (Macquarie University) collaborated and started two reading lists on Trove — Australian fiction translated into Chinese and Australian non-fiction translated into Chinese. The two lists feature more than 400 items published by Australian authors, translated versions of which were mainly published between 2014 and 2024. Librarians and readers can easily use the lists to access bibliographic information about the translated editions. The fiction list features much-loved popular Australian novels and authors, including many award-winning titles and works by First Nations authors.
When we published the fiction and non- fiction lists on social media, much- loved children’s author Christopher Cheng prompted us to expand our work to include children’s picture books translated into Chinese. We soon expanded the Trove lists to children’s picture books translated
into 11 languages (Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish). At this point in time there are more than 2,300 picture books across the 11 Trove lists. The full list is available on the ALIA Multicultural website.
Joey initiated the project because she strongly believes that reading works published by Australian authors could help CALD communities get to know Australia from various perspectives. She also hopes that by reading Australian publications in their first language, migrants will settle better into their new lives in Australia, with greater chances to read the popular titles and join in discussions with family, friends or colleagues. Alice believes that translated Australian fiction and non-fiction could be a focal feature of the multicultural collections in public libraries. This would be an excellent way to promote the Australian publishing industry.
Both Joey and Alice were excited to see that there are a significant number of children’s picture books translated into Chinese (625), Japanese (208) and Korean (276). There is a growing trend of grandparenting, with many migrant grandparents involved with early childhood learning. Australian picture books translated into languages other than English enable migrant grandparents to know more about and get involved with their grandchildren’s schooling. The same goes for parents who may not be familiar with Australian children’s literature. Australian works published in English may be difficult to access for many readers who speak and read in languages other than English, but reading Australian authors in a familiar language may open up new avenues for intercultural understanding and harmony.
Joey Chung
Website and Systems Librarian Holmesglen Institute, Vic joey.chung@holmesglen.edu.au
Alice Chik
Associate Professor Macquarie School of Education Macquarie University, NSW alice.chik@mq.edu.au
*About 15% of respondents either did not state their language use or proficiency in spoken English.
Photo: Pexels
VicTerCats: A pioneering community of practice
By Lesa Maclean
Information Resources Librarian, Victoria University Member, ALIA Community on Resource Description (ACORD) Advisory Committee
In the world of library science, where technology and practices continually evolve, it’s easy for valuable initiatives to drift into obscurity. One such example in the cataloguing sphere is the VicTerCats group, a community of practice (CoP) in Victoria that exemplifies practical cooperation and collective expertise among cataloguers. If you’re unfamiliar with VicTerCats, here you will be introduced to a network that has been making a significant impact on the field for many years.
The genesis of VicTerCats
A quick Google search on VicTerCats doesn’t yield much in results — just brief listings in a few of La Trobe University Library’s old annual reports, and one LinkedIn profile that mentions it. The origins of VicTerCats is somewhat elusive, with a history that may never be fully known. However, minutes from a 2008 meeting provide insight into its foundational purpose: ‘VicTerCats is a forum to promote practical cooperation between cataloguers of large learning and research institutions of Victoria, enabling practical comparisons of workflows and systems applications with a focus on effective information access and standards.’ These records suggest that the group was established to facilitate an informal yet impactful exchange of ideas and strategies among cataloguers from major Victorian institutions.
VicTerCats is understood to mean Victorian Tertiary Institution Cataloguers or Victorian Tertiary Cataloguing group. According to an email exchange between a current and former member, now retired, VicTerCats is believed to be approximately fifty years old. A sole instance of the group’s minutes from 1996 are captured in Trove’s web archive and confirms the group has been in existence for
over twenty years. Despite the lack of detailed historical records, the essence of VicTerCats remains clear: it serves as a collaborative space where cataloguers come together to share insights, troubleshoot issues and refine practices without the constraints of ego, formal structures or bureaucracy. The group fosters an open environment where knowledge is freely exchanged and assistance is always available, making it one of the pioneering CoPs in the Australian library sector.
A unique community of practice
VicTerCats operates not as an official body but as a collective of like-minded professionals dedicated to improving metadata practices through mutual support and shared experiences. Membership is typically by personal invitation, reflecting the group’s informal and personal nature.
Photo:
This informal structure has allowed VicTerCats to remain agile and responsive to the needs of its members. Cataloguers can engage in candid discussions, exchange practical advice and collaborate on solving real-world problems. Whether dealing with emerging technologies, changing standards or specific workflow challenges, VicTerCats provides a platform for members to gain actionable insights and assistance that are directly applicable to their work, and contribute to the success of their individual organisations.
For example, the group has discussed issues with record mapping and loans to Libraries Australia, the implementation of Resource Description and Access, linked data integration, cataloguing ebooks with video content embedded, system migrations, and data cleaning processes.
Over the years the group has garnered some interest from librarians in other states and territories eager to join, as no similar CoP existed in their regions. This highlights VicTerCats’ appeal and relevance beyond Victoria.
In today’s environment, where cataloguers and metadata specialists are increasingly a rare commodity in Australian libraries — often reduced to just one or two members with combined responsibilities — this CoP offers a vital forum for these professionals. It allows them to connect with peers who understand their specialised language and challenges and provides opportunities for informal professional development, which is increasingly scarce in modern institutions.
The current state and future directions
Currently, Amanda Steen from Federation University Library serves as the convenor of VicTerCats. Her role is essential in keeping the group operational, including the task of documenting brief, informal minutes to capture discussions and insights. Under her stewardship, VicTerCats continues to thrive as a vital resource, offering a warm and welcoming environment that is particularly supportive for cataloguers, who tend to be more introverted. This inclusive atmosphere encourages members to speak up, ask questions and share their expertise. Undoubtedly this group has provided a platform to improve the confidence and professional voice of many cataloguers in Victoria. The group includes members from Victorian universities, CSIRO, CAVAL and the State Library of Victoria.
Photo: Supplied
Originally, the group met in person. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it transitioned to a Microsoft Teams environment. This shift has proven advantageous. It has made it easier for members to participate, regardless of their work commitments or locations. This flexibility has helped maintain the group’s functioning and accessibility, ensuring that all members can remain engaged and benefit from the collaborative spirit of VicTerCats. In the future, the group may consider adopting a hybrid meeting model or instituting an annual in-person meeting. This approach could offer the benefits of both virtual and face-to-face interaction, providing members with diverse ways to connect and collaborate effectively.
Conclusion
VicTerCats is a testament to the power of informal collaboration in professional development. In a time where official organisations often dominate the landscape, VicTerCats reminds us of the value of grassroots communities that thrive on shared knowledge, mutual support and practical problem-solving.
Current members are reaching out to past and present members of the group to gather more information about its history, key moments and any documents that might provide further insights into its evolution. If you have any information, memories or documents related to VicTerCats, we’d love to hear from you.
Your contributions will help preserve the legacy of this valuable CoP that today remains a vital part of the Australian cataloguing landscape.
If you’re interested in other opportunities to develop your cataloguing skills, ALIA has a number of Communities of Practice you can get involved with.
The Reparative Description Community of Practice, sponsored by ACORD, is an informal peer-to-peer discussion and learning about technical aspects of reparative description practices in library and archives, as well as effective practice working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and community on collections and descriptive work across Australia. To join, email education@alia.org.au with ‘Reparative Description CoP’ in the subject line.
To support continued development of rare book cataloguing skills in Australian libraries, ALIA Rare has established a dedicated rare book cataloguing elist. You can opt in to this list here
A Schools Cataloguing Community of Practice is currently in development and we will share more information in the next edition of INCITE.
CSU celebrates LIS education golden jubilee
By Professor Tina Du, Dr Sindiso Bhebhe and Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Carroll
This year, the School of Information and Communication Studies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) — previously the Riverina- Murray Institute of Higher Education and, before that, the Riverina College of Advanced Education — celebrates 50 years of library and information science (LIS) education. Beginning with an initial intake of around thirty librarianship students in 1975, enrolments grew to over 1,800 by 2024, spanning fields such as librarianship, information studies, data management, records and archives, and communication and media.
This growth has established the school as one of Australia’s leading providers of library and information education and one of the largest globally. The school has also distinguished itself as a specialist in distance education (now online learning), offering all its LIS courses exclusively in this mode, and it is accredited by ALIA, Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia, and The Australian Society of Archivists.
Early years
The Department of Library and Information Science at Riverina College of Advanced Education was established in 1974, with Mr Edward Reid-Smith as the foundation Head of the School. The Diploma of Arts (Library and Information Science) was introduced between 1975 and 1977, supported by four key academic staff members: Mr Reid-Smith, Mr Oliver Mann, Mr Brian R Howes and Mr Digby Hartridge, alongside around thirty students.
Above
Brian Howes, one of the first four staff members, photographed the Hut, Department of Library and Information Science, in July 1976.
Photo: Brian Howes
Supplied
The Bachelor of Arts (Library and Information Science) was introduced in 1978, and Mr Syd Davis was the course coordinator. That same year, Brian D Plummer was awarded the first Diploma of Arts (Library and Information Science).
In 1982, Riverina College of Advanced Education introduced the Graduate Diploma of School Librarianship. In 1988, this program was replaced by the Graduate Diploma of Teacher-Librarianship. In her 1983 article ‘School librarianship at Riverina College’ published in ORANA, Laurel Clyde noted that students enrolled in the course attended two residential schools at the Wagga Wagga campus, participated in a study visit to Sydney and completed an individual project to explore a specific aspect of school librarianship in depth. Interestingly, many of these components remain part of the curriculum today, though taught in much more varied and enriched contexts.
International relations
In addition to these components, the then School of Information Studies partnered with the University of Hong Kong’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) in 1989, after HKU SPACE visited CSU
to explore opportunities for collaboration in library science. The partnership currently takes the form of a course support arrangement, whereby HKU SPACE provides tutorial support for a range of approved CSU courses delivered at HKU SPACE campuses in Hong Kong. The program aligns with the university’s International Strategy and considers innovations in delivery mode and program/discipline diversification.
Modern foundations
In 2007, the School of Information Studies transitioned from the Faculty of Science and Agriculture to the Faculty of Education. The Doctor of Information Management program was introduced in the same year. In 2009, Dr Joan Ruthven became the first graduate of the Doctor of Information Management program. Her doctoral thesis, titled Characteristics, preferences, and needs of adult internet users in a New South Wales public library environment, was completed under the supervision of Philip Hider, who served as Head of the School of Information Studies and later the School of Information and Communication Studies from 2008 to 2023.
There was a significant curriculum revamp in 2010 to include various specialisations. The
Bachelor and Master of Information Studies (with specialisations) were constructed. One of these specialisations, taught for the first time at CSU, focused on records and archives management. The late Sigrid McCausland spearheaded this initiative by developing the records and archives studies. This advancement positioned CSU as one of the few institutions in Australia offering this specialisation.
In 2021, communication academics from the dissolved School of Communication and Creative Industries joined the School of Information Studies as part of the university’s Sustainable Futures program. Now known as the School of Information and Communication Studies, it comprises 27 permanent academic staff, along with a number of adjunct and casual academics, who teach and conduct research across diverse LIS and communication areas while supervising a substantial cohort of PhD students. The Information Studies discipline encompasses librarianship, archival studies, data management, knowledge management and other related information fields, while the communication discipline focuses on the news and media industry and strategic communication.
Right
The School of Information and Communication Studies Retreat, January 2024, Bathurst, NSW.
Photo:
Charles Sturt today
As the nation’s largest LIS school and a member of the elite network of international iSchools, we are both privileged and responsible for equipping our students with the knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing digital era. We strive to nurture future leaders in the library and information professions by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving and a commitment to lifelong learning. Ongoing upskilling and reskilling of professionals are essential for maintaining the profession’s relevance in the face of constant change. This involves integrating emerging technologies into curriculum development and reinforcing fundamental LIS values such as access to information, information integrity and information ethics. Furthermore, we are committed to delivering the economic, social and cultural value of LIS education and research to a wide range of stakeholders and communities.
The school’s 50 Years and Beyond working group is organising special industry, student and alumni events in 2025 as we celebrate. These include an upcoming special issue on LIS education in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, a distinguished public lecture series, the RAILS 2025 Conference — the Australasian Conference on Library and Information Science — at the CSU Sydney Campus, and the Online Public Libraries Conference, which will be held both online and in person at the Wagga Wagga and Bathurst campuses, where the school is based. We warmly invite all alumni, current students and colleagues connected to the school to join these celebrations.
You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or via email for a virtual reunion. We would love to hear from you!
Professor Tina Du
Head of the School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University
Dr Sindiso Bhebhe
Lecturer in Records and Archives, School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University
Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Carroll School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University
Top Charles Sturt Bathurst campus, today.
Photo: Content Charles Sturt, Wikimedia
CC BY-SA 4.0
Above
Charles Sturt Wagga Wagga campus, today.
Photo: Content Charles Sturt, Wikimedia
CC BY-SA 4.0
Patron voices and real impact: UX design at Southern Cross University
By Emily Munro Education and Research Librarian, Southern Cross University
In October 2023, selected Southern Cross University (SCU) library staff members participated in two days of user experience (UX) training with Andy Priestner, an experienced consultant and trainer in UX research and design. Following the training, a project group was established to engage with library patrons to gather valuable user perspectives. Drawing on Priestner’s UX Toolkit (2022), the group designed guerilla interviews and graffiti walls and used the collected data to inform changes to the library spaces and services that truly reflect user input.
The 10-month project spanned across all SCU campuses (Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour) and was a collaborative effort between librarians and library technicians. The research began with guerilla interviews, and while these did yield some data, it was challenging to integrate this task into busy workloads and term times and, sometimes, to even find willing interviewees. In contrast, the engagement with the graffiti walls (accompanied by suggestion boxes) was incredibly active with conversations, notes and illustrations taking place. It was fascinating to observe the interactions and read the suggestions as they developed and, looking back at the project, it is amazing to see the amount of research data that resulted from these two methods.
The next stage was affinity mapping, which involved transcribing the research data onto coloured sticky notes and categorising them into problems, behaviours, ideas or praise. The notes were then sorted into themes and eventually generated ideas
Setting up the UX graffiti wall in a new location in the Gold Coast campus library, with a prompting question for feedback about our online services.
Right
Photo: Emily Munro
Photo: Pexels
and prototypes to test. This resulted in a colourful display on a window in our staff room — sparking lively discussions about whether, why, how and when to implement certain requests.
Some requests were easily actioned, for example, adding extra pillows to seating areas, reviewing air conditioning temperatures and sourcing single study desks. Other feedback took more prototyping and investigation, such as placing permanent whiteboards in study rooms, installing docking monitors, fitting a cold water drink station within the library and providing blankets for students to further mitigate minimum temperature requirements. We also used posters to update patrons about actions taken and explain why we may not have been able to provide, or fix, what was requested. The library wanted all students to feel that their contribution to the research was valid
and heard, even if it was not actioned. The impact of this project has been reflected by the patrons’ appreciation, who often directed positive feedback and illustrations towards library staff.
This UX research highlights the potential of user-centred data in shaping library spaces and services. By providing patrons with the space and opportunity to give feedback, the library effectively prioritised resource allocation and ensured that the changes aligned with patron needs. Importantly, it shows that small, meaningful changes can significantly impact library patrons. Beyond driving changes within the library, the project also inspired meaningful conversations about what the library represents to its patrons — through their own voices.
Emily Munro Education and Research Librarian, Southern Cross University emily.munro@scu.edu.au
Above
Patrons have been incredibly receptive to this project, with some leaving us compliments and drawings on the graffiti board or submitted into the suggestion box.
graffiti wall at the Gold including suggestion box and a feedback poster to inform students of our decisions.
Photo: Emily Munro
The truck cat takes the wheel: An interview with Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell
By Liz Bradtke
Firstly, congratulations on The truck cat being selected as the book for National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 2025. I was wondering if you could start by telling me a little bit about what you’re most looking forward to about the event and how you felt when you knew that millions of children around Australia are going to be reading your book at the same time?
Danny: It was amazing. It’s difficult to comprehend how many people are going to be enjoying our book all together at the same time, and it’s fantastic to know that it’s going to be reaching so many people and contributing to their learning. It’s very exciting to be able to head over to Melbourne and to meet Deb finally and to meet the publishers.
You haven’t met yet? I didn’t realise that!
Deborah: This is the first time we’ve gotten to even chat online.
Deborah: Writing children’s books can actually be quite a solitary process, and it’s rare to see people appreciating your stories in real time. So the idea that there’ll be millions of people reading and enjoying The truck cat together? I don’t think my brain can even compute that!
How did this story come about? Did it develop in tandem with the illustrations or did the story come first?
Deborah: The story came first. I independently wrote the manuscript and pitched it to Hardie Grant. Fortunately, they loved it and agreed to turn it into a book. After some back and forth, they told me they adored Danny’s illustrations and asked if I’d be happy with him as the illustrator. I was thrilled — of course, I said yes! From there, the process was still somewhat separate. The publisher managed most of it, and Danny and I didn’t have direct contact. By then, the manuscript was locked down, and it was over to Danny to work his magic with the illustrations.
And Danny, what was that experience like to receive a complete manuscript and start thinking about how to give it a visual life and aesthetic?
Danny: I always love the initial process of sitting down, reading a story and imagining how it might look — piecing things together. Picture books are collaborative, but not as much as people often think. Most of the time, authors and illustrators don’t work closely
together. As Deb mentioned, authors usually send their manuscripts to a publisher, who refines them and finds an illustrator. Most of the communication happens through the publisher. That said, I really enjoy those early stages when everything feels fresh — exploring ways to visualise and imagine the story and contributing something small to the narrative visually. That’s always exciting.
You’ve developed a striking colour scheme for The truck cat, in particular your use of lilacs and pinks. Danny, how did you decide on that colour palette and how did you and Deborah work together to decide on the final vision for the book?
Danny: I’ve always found that [part of the process] a bit challenging and I’ve gradually developed a palette that I work with over time. And because I work digitally, I’ve gathered together colours that I know will reproduce well because often what you see on the screen doesn’t translate to the printed page. When it came to Yacob, I wanted to soften the more traditional burly image that people might have of truck drivers. I decided to give him softer tones and from there the palette just grew.
Illustration: Danny Snell
Deborah: This a book that spans categories. It’s a truck book, but it’s also a book that is quite gentle and I think Danny captured that perfectly through his illustrations. It’s also an emotional book and Danny’s illustrations brings new depths of meaning to those emotions.
What was the inspiration for The truck cat?
Deborah: I started writing this story toward the end of 2021. A few months earlier, a strange cat kept appearing at our back door. At first, we realised it belonged to the neighbours behind us, so we kept returning it. But one day, it showed up injured — its eye was wonky and it was bleeding, likely from a fight. I took it back to the neighbours and
said, ‘He needs to see a vet.’ That’s when they told me, ‘We were going to ask — do you want to adopt him? We’ve already ordered another kitten and were planning to take him to the pound.’ Of course, I couldn’t let that happen. So I brought him home, told my husband, and off we went to the vet. We didn’t have a carrier, so I held the cat on my lap in the car, expecting chaos. But as soon as we started driving, he completely relaxed — almost as if he belonged on the road. My husband joked, ‘He’s like a truck driver’s cat,’ and I thought, ‘There’s something in that.’ That idea stayed with me, and it eventually became the inspiration for this picture book.
Illustration: Danny Snell
Thank you for sharing that incredible origin story! And readers will be pleased to know that the cat is now a happy member of Deborah’s family. Why is this an important story to tell, particularly for younger readers?
Deborah: I think the book explores a number of important topics. It touches on xenophobia. It touches on loneliness. It touches on different kinds of ‘homes’ and what that could mean. When I was writing The truck cat and when I was pitching it to Hardie Grant, I read a statistic that something like 7.5 million Australians have emigrated from another country. That made me think of the many kids around the country who might read this story and who
have an experience of migration or would have a parent or a grandparent who has an experience of migration.
As you both know, NSS is about promoting the value and joy of reading and the importance of literacy of all kinds. It is also an event that brings awareness to libraries and the work they do in encouraging and fostering those literacies. A question for both of you — what role have libraries have played in your life, both as artists and members of the community?
Danny: I enjoy reading now, but, as I always say in my bio, I used to be a reluctant reader! I was one of those kids for whom reading didn’t come particularly easily. But I was
always a very visual person, so I loved looking at picture books and still do. So I’ve always enjoyed and gravitated towards libraries for this reason. Once I was at uni, then I was obviously using the library as a crucial resource — looking at artwork, finding new resources and getting inspiration.
Deborah: I went to libraries as a kid, but I sort of forgot about them until I became a parent, at which time they became a very important part of my life. My daughter is seven and even when she was a very tiny baby I would take her to weekly story time at our local library. As a new parent, I enjoyed that socialisation, particularly with other new parents. I’m pleased to say that then once my daughter was old enough to know what was going on, she really enjoyed it, and from that point on I’ve always spent a lot of time with our kids in the local library. They know it’s a safe place where they can go, where they can choose what they’d like to read and take it home, which I think is amazing in a world where we’re told to consume more and more and more. A library is a resource that is for everyone and is free. It’s good for the environment and it’s an amazing thing for the community.
We couldn’t agree more. Thanks for talking to us Deborah and Danny. We can’t wait to see you on 23 May for the 25th National Simultaneous Storytime.
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about the event and to register head to the NSS page on the ALIA website
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