Last week, I was often asked how I feel about living in Darwin, and whether I like living there, especially in light of fact that I’m leaving.
Now, it’s quite apparent to me that I’ve been unsatisfied with my life in Darwin for a little while now. If I were to pinpoint the moment when things started to become undone for me, it would have been around May last year. Which is quite ironic, because it coincides with when I started working with the Northern Territory Library, where I’ve probably gained the most substantial amount of job satisfaction in the library industry.
To be honest, my desire to leave Darwin has been entirely about me - where I am in my life, and where I want to go. This was also the case, when it came to my reasons to moving *to* Darwin, back in 2006. Back then, I really didn’t have much of a focus for my life. Sure, I loved books and technology, but I didn’t have a feeling for the industry, or know how I could go about contributing to it.
These things I know now, which is why I need to go back to Melbourne.
But, back to the original question - how do I feel about Darwin? Do I like living there? Well, last Friday afternoon, sitting in my hotel room in the Gold Coast, the television was playing a Missy Higgins music video from 2007. There’s something so evocative about pop music, and I was reminded of a period of time from living in Darwin in early-to-mid 2007. It was a time where the weather was, for the first time, becoming bearable. I had begun to make friends. It was festival season - the dry season. I started developing slight crushes on people around me. I was “in the zone” with my creative endeavours for the first time! I had discovered the biblioblogosphere, and was regularly bombarded with new ideas for libraries.
And I really enjoyed my life then. Yes, there were frustrations, but I was up to the challenge, and wasn’t afraid of causing offence for the sake of the greater good.
Life was an adventure of discovery, and Darwin was a catalyst for this. I was seduced into a world of discomfort and contradiction, where I needed to make my own fun, and find the beauty in the sublime, because nobody else was going to do it for me. If anything, I really learned not to take anything for granted.
So, what’s changed since then?
Well, firstly, me. I know exactly where I want to take my career, and Darwin can’t do that for me. I need to surround myself with other like-minded people. I derive so much strength and inspiration from others who share the same passions as me.
But more importantly, I have so much that I want to share with the rest of the world. I want to get out there. And I’m not the only one - most of the friends that I’ve made over the past two and a half years have left for the same reasons.
So, Darwin, please don’t take it personally. It’s not you, it’s me. We had some good times, but it was never going to last forever, and frankly, I haven’t been happy with you lately. Yes, you’re still beautiful, and there are plenty of people who love you. We’re just better off apart.
I won’t forget you, though.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
March 24 - Ada Lovelace Day
Today is Ada Lovelace Day, celebrating women in technology, so I'm (unsurprisingly) going to talk about librarians.
Firstly, I don't think I need to mention that the library industry is very much a female dominated sector. Around 85% of library professionals are women. However, this wasn't always the case. A century ago, the library profession, like most, were exclusively male. One of the most famous of librarians, Melvil Dewey, became a leading advocate for employing women in libraries, setting up a library school that *only* accepted women, sparking major controversy amongst the library industry.
Then again, it is also reputed that Dewey was a misogynist anti-semite, who only employed women for their lower wages. Nevertheless, this was the turning point for the library industry.
Now, one thing that really does irk me - on a par with people who say that YA literature isn't "real" literature - is that library science isn't "real" science. However, the main thing that attracted me to this industry is my personal passion for (a) literature, (b) technology and (c) working in the community.
Working in libraries, and pursuing studies in library science provides ample opportunity explore all of these areas, with the major academic focus being on scientific methodology with information access, in terms of classification, usability, software design, information architecture, information seeking behaviour, trends in content creation, etc.
Yes, it's a science. It's not rocket science or nuclear physics, but the technology of information science is very much at the core of our society. Humans are social creature, dependent on constant access to information, as an authoritative source, and as a means of maintaining community with our peers.
And librarians are the information scientists who work in building and facilitating the libraries, as machines that provide this access to our community, through our physical and virtual spaces.
And the vast majority of those are women.
It is unfortunate that librarians have such a poor branding when it comes to technology. Personal mentors and those who I most admire most in my field have been (with the exception of a handful) women, and their achievements and visions for technology in our community have been absolutely inspirational.
And last December, at the ALIA New Librarian's Symposium, I met dozens of young female graduates who are intelligent and savvy, and ready to embrace innovation and the technology on which libraries needs to be on the forefront.
Some people say that "it's a shame" that there aren't more men in the library industry, and there are certainly marketing campaigns attempting to attract more guys, focusing on the technological aspects. However, speaking as a male, I have never felt professionally isolated in this industry because of my gender. The industry is fine, just as it is, and those of you who say that libraries need more guys, because of the growing focus on technology, need to get your heads out of the dark ages!
So, Ladies of Library Science, thankyou for being amazing. I owe pretty much everything I know about libraries to you, and look forward to working with you in making this world an awesome place.
Firstly, I don't think I need to mention that the library industry is very much a female dominated sector. Around 85% of library professionals are women. However, this wasn't always the case. A century ago, the library profession, like most, were exclusively male. One of the most famous of librarians, Melvil Dewey, became a leading advocate for employing women in libraries, setting up a library school that *only* accepted women, sparking major controversy amongst the library industry.
Then again, it is also reputed that Dewey was a misogynist anti-semite, who only employed women for their lower wages. Nevertheless, this was the turning point for the library industry.
Now, one thing that really does irk me - on a par with people who say that YA literature isn't "real" literature - is that library science isn't "real" science. However, the main thing that attracted me to this industry is my personal passion for (a) literature, (b) technology and (c) working in the community.
Working in libraries, and pursuing studies in library science provides ample opportunity explore all of these areas, with the major academic focus being on scientific methodology with information access, in terms of classification, usability, software design, information architecture, information seeking behaviour, trends in content creation, etc.
Yes, it's a science. It's not rocket science or nuclear physics, but the technology of information science is very much at the core of our society. Humans are social creature, dependent on constant access to information, as an authoritative source, and as a means of maintaining community with our peers.
And librarians are the information scientists who work in building and facilitating the libraries, as machines that provide this access to our community, through our physical and virtual spaces.
And the vast majority of those are women.
It is unfortunate that librarians have such a poor branding when it comes to technology. Personal mentors and those who I most admire most in my field have been (with the exception of a handful) women, and their achievements and visions for technology in our community have been absolutely inspirational.
And last December, at the ALIA New Librarian's Symposium, I met dozens of young female graduates who are intelligent and savvy, and ready to embrace innovation and the technology on which libraries needs to be on the forefront.
Some people say that "it's a shame" that there aren't more men in the library industry, and there are certainly marketing campaigns attempting to attract more guys, focusing on the technological aspects. However, speaking as a male, I have never felt professionally isolated in this industry because of my gender. The industry is fine, just as it is, and those of you who say that libraries need more guys, because of the growing focus on technology, need to get your heads out of the dark ages!
So, Ladies of Library Science, thankyou for being amazing. I owe pretty much everything I know about libraries to you, and look forward to working with you in making this world an awesome place.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Somerset
I’ve just returned from an awesome week on the Gold Coast. No, there weren’t any theme parks, or lazy days on the beach relaxing in the sun, or partying with intoxicated teenagers.
I speak, of course, of Somerset (aka. The Somerset Celebration of Literature).
“Oh? What’s that?” I hear many of you library folk ask. “I’ve never even heard of it!”
Don’t worry, neither had I, until I was invited to speak there. However, it’s been, like every other library / literature-related event that I’ve been to in the last few years, pretty much totally awesome.
The week-long Celebration is split into two main parts - the International Conference for Librarians and Teachers on Monday and Tuesday, then the writers festival from Wednesday to Friday. These were both excellently attended (all in spite of the impending recession doom!), with a fascinating and wide range of presenters.
Summing up the highlights…
The International Conference
- Lea Giles-Peters talked about how the State Library of Queensland is one of the most awesome state libraries in Australia, especially through it’s diverse learning programs for pre-school and school-age students. Tammy Morley from SLQ gave a further in-depth workshop on the learning programs provided.
- Helen Partridge discussed Reflective Online Searching Skills as a framework for information literacy competencies of undergraduate students at QUT. I personally thought that these skills were a given, but clearly not in this Google generation. I’m sure that filters in schools don’t help at all.
- Jane Viner at MLC outlined the services that they provide - the physical library looks strangely unchanged from what I remember 12’ish years ago, but the programs that they offer are up there in the 21st century. I’d love to work there!
- Paula Eskett discussed taking over and preparing a school library in Christchurch (NZ) in order to be integrated into a Public Library service as a joint-use library. Fascinating (and mindboggling) stuff, considering all the hurdles that need to be overcome.
- Shamini Flint and Kate McCaffrey talked about their personal experiences working with youth and these influences on their writing. They are both awesomely entertaining people.
- I also presented on my experiences working in the NT, as well as Librarian Idol , and how these aspects of my life have affected and steered my attitude towards my career.
- Tour of Bond University. Wow, that place is swish!
- An expurgated and unplugged performance of “Librarian Idol”
The Festival
- Meeting lots of writers. They are all awesome and friendly.
- Watching them work with school groups. Man, I could seriously see myself doing that. There’s my motivation for doing more writing. I wouldn’t care about literary integrity, or bestselling titles, so long as I got to be a bit crazy in front of a crowd of kids and get them excited about reading, writing, and creating stories.
- Performing at the Cocktail Party (and grateful that the crowd was prepared to indulge my needs to bag Twilight and sing Rihanna filk about libraries)
- Stage adaptation of Suzanne Gervay’s “I am Jack”. It was seriously, seriously good.
- Chatting to Alice Pung, whom I hadn’t seen in about five years. She also gave an awesome speech at the Literary Dinner on Friday night.
- Otherwise relaxing in the pool at the resort.
So, I've come out of the past week with SO MUCH inspiration and clarity about where I want to take my career. The conference confirmed my suspicions that I want to pursue my library work in learning programs for school-age students, and the festival was an absolute delight to attend. These are the worlds that I want to inhabit as a librarian.
James Roy has also written his thoughts on Somerset over at his blog.
So, library folk, if you get a chance to attend Somerset in the future, DO IT. Writer folk, I’m sure you already know this.
I speak, of course, of Somerset (aka. The Somerset Celebration of Literature).
“Oh? What’s that?” I hear many of you library folk ask. “I’ve never even heard of it!”
Don’t worry, neither had I, until I was invited to speak there. However, it’s been, like every other library / literature-related event that I’ve been to in the last few years, pretty much totally awesome.
The week-long Celebration is split into two main parts - the International Conference for Librarians and Teachers on Monday and Tuesday, then the writers festival from Wednesday to Friday. These were both excellently attended (all in spite of the impending recession doom!), with a fascinating and wide range of presenters.
Summing up the highlights…
The International Conference
- Lea Giles-Peters talked about how the State Library of Queensland is one of the most awesome state libraries in Australia, especially through it’s diverse learning programs for pre-school and school-age students. Tammy Morley from SLQ gave a further in-depth workshop on the learning programs provided.
- Helen Partridge discussed Reflective Online Searching Skills as a framework for information literacy competencies of undergraduate students at QUT. I personally thought that these skills were a given, but clearly not in this Google generation. I’m sure that filters in schools don’t help at all.
- Jane Viner at MLC outlined the services that they provide - the physical library looks strangely unchanged from what I remember 12’ish years ago, but the programs that they offer are up there in the 21st century. I’d love to work there!
- Paula Eskett discussed taking over and preparing a school library in Christchurch (NZ) in order to be integrated into a Public Library service as a joint-use library. Fascinating (and mindboggling) stuff, considering all the hurdles that need to be overcome.
- Shamini Flint and Kate McCaffrey talked about their personal experiences working with youth and these influences on their writing. They are both awesomely entertaining people.
- I also presented on my experiences working in the NT, as well as Librarian Idol , and how these aspects of my life have affected and steered my attitude towards my career.
- Tour of Bond University. Wow, that place is swish!
- An expurgated and unplugged performance of “Librarian Idol”
The Festival
- Meeting lots of writers. They are all awesome and friendly.
- Watching them work with school groups. Man, I could seriously see myself doing that. There’s my motivation for doing more writing. I wouldn’t care about literary integrity, or bestselling titles, so long as I got to be a bit crazy in front of a crowd of kids and get them excited about reading, writing, and creating stories.
- Performing at the Cocktail Party (and grateful that the crowd was prepared to indulge my needs to bag Twilight and sing Rihanna filk about libraries)
- Stage adaptation of Suzanne Gervay’s “I am Jack”. It was seriously, seriously good.
- Chatting to Alice Pung, whom I hadn’t seen in about five years. She also gave an awesome speech at the Literary Dinner on Friday night.
- Otherwise relaxing in the pool at the resort.
So, I've come out of the past week with SO MUCH inspiration and clarity about where I want to take my career. The conference confirmed my suspicions that I want to pursue my library work in learning programs for school-age students, and the festival was an absolute delight to attend. These are the worlds that I want to inhabit as a librarian.
James Roy has also written his thoughts on Somerset over at his blog.
So, library folk, if you get a chance to attend Somerset in the future, DO IT. Writer folk, I’m sure you already know this.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Teacher and Librarians
I've always had a passion for school programs.
Back in my uni days, I worked with the Schools Liaison Unit at the University of Melbourne, taking school groups around campus, and showing them the sights.
More significantly, I was also heavily involved in the MUSU VCE Summer School, where, after a few years, I ended up as one of the organising directors, and, another year, running the residential program for school students from out of town, staying at University College. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my university life.
And over the last few years as a librarian, again, some of the most rewarding experiences has been with school groups. From showing primary school children the public library and reading them picture books, through to taking secondary school groups on tours of the Northern Territory Library, and running research skills sessions. And talking to teenagers about YA literature. Those are pretty much the most awesome aspects to being a librarian.
Now, over the past couple of days at Somerset, I've been hanging out with librarian who work in learning programs, teachers, teacher-Librarians, and writers-who-have-been teachers, and I'm starting too think "Oh yeah, this is where it's at!" I'd love to be a librarian who specialises in working with school and youth programs. That's pretty much my dream job, and I know that I'd be awesome at it.
Here's the problem.
I'm a librarian. I'm not a teacher.
I want to work full-time in libraries. I do NOT want to work full-time in classrooms.
Today, I looked into what I would need to do to become a teacher librarian.
1. Quit my full-time job. (done)
2. Enrol into a two-year full-time course in teaching.
3. Work in schools as a teacher for an additional year.
THEN
4. Apply for a one-year graduate course in Teacher Librarianship.
5. Graduate as a qualified Teacher Librarian.
Question: Where's my motivation? Am I prepared to postpone my career in libraries, to work for four years in school classrooms, which is for me a special kind of hell, unpaid for the first two years, paid at a graduate salary for the next two, for the sake of being able to work in school libraries?
Answer: NO. For starters, I wouldn't be able to support myself financially. Secondly, did I mention that I don't want to be a full-time classroom teacher?
I have a newfound respect for Teacher Librarians.
P.S. Is there an easier way to get there? HALP!
Back in my uni days, I worked with the Schools Liaison Unit at the University of Melbourne, taking school groups around campus, and showing them the sights.
More significantly, I was also heavily involved in the MUSU VCE Summer School, where, after a few years, I ended up as one of the organising directors, and, another year, running the residential program for school students from out of town, staying at University College. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my university life.
And over the last few years as a librarian, again, some of the most rewarding experiences has been with school groups. From showing primary school children the public library and reading them picture books, through to taking secondary school groups on tours of the Northern Territory Library, and running research skills sessions. And talking to teenagers about YA literature. Those are pretty much the most awesome aspects to being a librarian.
Now, over the past couple of days at Somerset, I've been hanging out with librarian who work in learning programs, teachers, teacher-Librarians, and writers-who-have-been teachers, and I'm starting too think "Oh yeah, this is where it's at!" I'd love to be a librarian who specialises in working with school and youth programs. That's pretty much my dream job, and I know that I'd be awesome at it.
Here's the problem.
I'm a librarian. I'm not a teacher.
I want to work full-time in libraries. I do NOT want to work full-time in classrooms.
Today, I looked into what I would need to do to become a teacher librarian.
1. Quit my full-time job. (done)
2. Enrol into a two-year full-time course in teaching.
3. Work in schools as a teacher for an additional year.
THEN
4. Apply for a one-year graduate course in Teacher Librarianship.
5. Graduate as a qualified Teacher Librarian.
Question: Where's my motivation? Am I prepared to postpone my career in libraries, to work for four years in school classrooms, which is for me a special kind of hell, unpaid for the first two years, paid at a graduate salary for the next two, for the sake of being able to work in school libraries?
Answer: NO. For starters, I wouldn't be able to support myself financially. Secondly, did I mention that I don't want to be a full-time classroom teacher?
I have a newfound respect for Teacher Librarians.
P.S. Is there an easier way to get there? HALP!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Homecoming
skipping girl vinegar
Originally uploaded by lorryx3
Less than a month from now, I shall be living a block away from here...
Totally FTW.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The idol mission...
It has, of late, been disputed that I was ever on Australian Idol. Nor do people actually believe that I sang "Librarian Girl" by Michael Jackson (possibly misheard). Some believe this to be simply a tall tale, exaggerated to make my show "Librarian Idol" more entertaining...
I wish that were the case...
I wish that were the case...
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