Library Technician

And to teach LTs you need:

2008-05-31T07:57:55+10:00

https://jobs.nsw.gov.au/JobDetails.asp?JobAdvertId=7251

Click on link for full details.

Teacher Library Practice

Job Summary

Agency Name TECHNICAL AND FURTHER EDUCATION

Branch/Division Sydney Institute

Job Classification Teacher Library Practice

Location Sydney CBD, Ultimo

Employment Status Permanent Full-Time

Vacancy Ref Job Reference No 08/077/CZ

Closing Date Friday, 13 June 2008

Total remuneration package to: $83,150.00 ($63,536.00-$75,352.00) Total remuneration package, including salary, employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.

Selection Criteria

Degree, Diploma or equivalent in Library Practice or a related discipline, which is acceptable for Associate or Technician level membership of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

Two years (post degree), or equivalent, relevant experience in a Library practice area.

Evidence of successful completion of Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or demonstrated equivalent competencies as a minimum teaching qualification. Equivalent education qualifications will be considered on application.

TAFE Teacher Common Core Criteria (see the attached advertisement in Information Package for details).

Position description fixed

2007-12-22T10:17:25+11:00

This information has been passed on to me so I can add it as a full post. The position description for teaching Library Technicians at TAFE has been reviewed and fixed.

"Technical/pro9fessional qualifications: Degree, Dipoloma or equivalent in Library Practice or a related discipline."

I guess that means the next round of ads will be fine. We never found out if there is a TAFE wide policy about technically trained teaching but at least we have this one, so close to us as LTs, solved.

Now we will just keep an eye out for the next round of ads.

Teaching LTs

2007-11-17T09:15:11+11:00

https://jobs.nsw.gov.au/JobDetails.asp?JobAdvertId=66557

Something has changed in our world and I don't know about the rest of you, but I've only just found out today. Up until this morning I've known, for years, that Library Technicians could teach Library Technicians. For a lot of years it's been having the industry qualification, 2 years experience and the Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (or whatever the name of the course is lately). This morning I was totally shocked to see an ad for part time teachers of the library course at Sydney Institute with this:

Selection Criteria

A degree in any discipline and a post-graduate qualification in Library Studies, or a Degree in Library Studies.

A minimum of 2 year’s recent industrial experience. Ability to teach in a wide-range of technical and reference units, with demonstrable high-level expertise in at least three of the above areas.

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from the Training and Assessment Training Package, or ability to demonstrate equivalent competencies to the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

... etc.

When did that happen?? Is this a TAFE thing? Across the board? Can other areas within TAFE teach their own or have we all been cut off? I'm so stunned. I know I have something else showing an ad asking for TAFE quals as well. I'll find it and post it here.

Learning 2.0 - very worthy!

2007-10-13T17:39:10+10:00

Ok, at last I feel I have something new to post about.

Learning 2.0, originally started by Helene Blowers, Public Services Technology Director, The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, taken up big time by libraries in Victoria (Oz). Come on already! There's only a small amount of pick up by other states. Everyone is going to fall behind Victoria very quickly.

If your library doesn't pick up on this go do it yourself. Don't wait for slow coach, freaked out, introverted managers and administrators to decide for you. I haven't started yet, but apparently we can do this through the original site: http://plcmcl2-about.blogspot.com/ :

If I'm not a PLCMC staff member, can I still participate?
Yes, by all means. However, PLCMC cannot award you any incentives or prizes for completion. You can track your progress through the 23 Things list found on the 43Things site -- I know it sounds confusing 23..43 ..23 doesn't it. ;) Anyway, we welcome participants from other libraries to join in the fun and follow along.

The most common concern I heard from people at the LT conterence was that they weren't sure what to write about in a blog. My advice is just find a subject you're interested in. Whatever takes your fancy. Does personal blogging do it for you? It doesn't for me, I always have to have a subject. So, do you grow roses? Do carpentry? Make porceline dolls? What about an issue you are involved in or feel passionate about? Environment? Disabilities? Bullies?

Do you want to be anonymous? Obviously I do. Get started. Don't worry, you'll be addicted very quickly.

I Got The Job.

2005-05-18T21:18:49+10:00

I got the job!

I'm exhausted from all the excitement. I'm starting to feel like it's real, it's actually going to happen. And I don't care if it turns into a strange workplace, I'll just be able to have paid holidays. I counted it up and realised it's been 5 years since I've had a paid holiday. Too long. Glad to be back in.

Not Really Interested Anymore

2005-05-11T19:55:00+10:00

And here I was thinking when I started this project that I'd never run out of things to say about libraries. I now feel that even thought I might continue to find stories of various sorts it would mostly be rehashing material I've already covered. I have learned more about my own connection with libraries through doing this blog. I love libraries, and will always have some connection. I will always recommend that people use libraries. I won't recommend that anyone trains for a library career.

My main points in this blog:

The bottom has dropped out of the library industry.

Too many library staff can't or won't promote library services.

Too many managers are short sighted about the value of information and therefore won't commit funds.

Too many library staff can't or won't promote library services (in order to stem the rot).

Too many librarians treat technicians with disrespect.

Too many managers treat librarians and technicians with disrespect.

If you work in a library there are (sometimes strange) ways to cope without a budget and still provide services.

Contracting is hell. The companies know that the bottom has dropped out and so they can get away with offering less pay and still no pay for leave of any sort. Only someone desperate does library contracting.

Some library systems are crap. Always go with a native marc system.

People should never work in a small library unless they are multiskilled. And that includes understanding cataloguing.

Don't catalogue unless you intend to follow standards. Basic standards are fine, no standards are not.

Small libraries usually suffer from Small Library Syndrome, very different problems to large libraries.

I think gov dept libraries are probably worse off than anyone.

If you are thinking of studying for a career don't do libraries unless you're a masochist. There just isn't enough work out there.

btw, I did ask my lib'n about deleting holdings for weeded material from the national database and she said it costs too much to search for them. This from the woman who today said we should return all our ILLs by registered post because one cranky lib'n in another library is hassling her about an overdue.

And the interview went well and I know I've been short listed because my referees told me they had been called for references. I'll probably post here if I get the job.

Job Interview

2005-05-05T22:36:57+10:00

I have a job interview for a library technician position on Monday. Wish me luck! My daughter keeps getting excited, but I'm not. I'm satisfied that I got an interview because that means my application was good. I'm not excited because they will probably have lots of applications. Stiff competition. It's for the position where the union was brought in to look at how the job was classified so they must have resolved it quickly. We'll just wait to see how this works out.

I Know I'm Avoiding It

2005-05-04T20:31:03+10:00

Yes that's right, I haven't asked madame about deleting holdings from the national database for material she's weeding. I grabbed the remaining books out of the box and deleted the holdings myself but she hasn't done any more weeding so that's my justification. She's not weeding, she's not making a mess. If she starts up again I'll force myself to say something. I promise. Really.

Library Jobs

2005-05-03T19:31:03+10:00

I'm finding myself running into people I haven't seen for a while. Inevitably we talk about employment and employment prospects. Everyone is feeling the pinch. Yesterday a friend who works part time casual in 2 separate library jobs because she can't get enough work in either. Today a friend who took some time off to travel to another city to see if could settle there and had to come back because she couldn't get a library job in 3 months. They were both horrified to find out I've been working for a year and I don't have paid holidays coming up. The whole thing about working contract and not getting paid leave is that you are suppose to be getting more money than other people in the industry to make up. Then you can save ahead for your hols. I don't get paid more than others. I get paid less. No one would work under these conditions unless they were desperate. And I guess that's me.

Peaceful At Work

2005-05-02T19:21:43+10:00

Madame was away today. Peaceful, friendly people visiting the library and seeming to feel comfortable chatting with me! Got plenty done, lovely relaxed day.

Didn't have to think about the weeding mess up. Tomorrow will do, if she shows up.