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AISWA
Libraries – A Short History |
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 Beginnings |
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The genesis for this association was
a letter in October 1981 from Shirley Campbell, Librarian at Scotch
College, to the President of the Association
of Independent Schools (WA). With the support of the parent
group, AIS (WA) Librarians group was launched on 8 March 1982. The
meeting was held at Cygnet Hall, Crawley and the inaugural committee
members were:
- President: Edis Hall (Christ Church Grammar)
- Secretary: Betty Shield (Presbyterian Ladies
College)
Committee members:
- Jean Rhodes (St Marks College Highgate)
- Pat Laidlow (Perth College)
- Ingrid Chidlow (St Thomas Aquinas College)
It is interesting to note the reasons for forming
the group (and these remain our goals in the 21st century):
· To provide mutual support
· To disseminate information
· To propose comments, recommendations and submissions to
AIS (WA) on matters of importance.
There is clear evidence in early correspondence that there were
strong connections to the parent body and frequent exchange on matters
of educational significance.
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| Early
Milestones |
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A workshop in June 1982 “Cataloguing
using Marc Specifications” reflects the professional development
concerns of the early 1980s. However, there was also interest among
independent schools in shared catalogues, union catalogues, networks
and resource-sharing. In 1983, AIS (WA) Librarians Group was invited
to participate in discussions for the Australian Schools Catalogue
Information service (ASCIS). By 1985, ASCIS subject headings became
available in hardcover format and the Librarians Group arranged
a bulk purchase. An “inservice training” session was
held in September 1985 for teacher librarians and librarians to
“manage the transition” from SEARS subject headings
to ASCIS. A technological leap forward was the microfiche reader
and the Group was proactive in providing assistance and guidelines
for school libraries.
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| Automation
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| Meanwhile automated library systems were
being keenly assessed in the early 1980s. A workshop held by the Group
in 1982, with guest speaker Dagmar Schmidaier, had the provocative
title “Automation in the School Library – Fact or fantasy.”
Sandra Naude, librarian at St Hilda’s demonstrated “to
a party of independent school librarians the beginnings of an online
catalogue system . . . software written by the Computer Science teacher
in close collaboration with the librarian.” (Shirley Campbell
Education Project Report 1983). The President’s
Report in March 1985 reveals how quickly library automation progressed.
A working party from our association attended joint meetings of
the WA Educational Computing Consortium and arranged demonstrations
of Micmarc. With library automation well underway by the early 1990s
in school libraries, school libraries were assessing the quality,
price and delivery of CD ROM software. A PD session held at All
Saints in June 1995 encapsulates this concern: “Everything
you wanted to know about CD ROM software but were too embarrassed
to ask.”
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| Initiatives |
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| By 1985 the AIS(WA) Librarians Group
had evolved from an informal contact group to a recognised sub-group
of AISWA. A constitution was
in place and a copyright working party had been set up largely due
to concerns over videotape use in school libraries. A regular newspaper
began distribution in February 1984 and Pat Laidlaw had established
contacts with AIS Library groups in Queensland and Victoria.
The constitution was revised in 1992 and the amended version renamed
our association “AISWA Libraries.”
The Jean Rhodes Memorial Award was implemented
in 1993 to honour the contribution to the profession of one of our
early members, Jean Rhodes. This Award for excellence in professional
service in school libraries was first awarded to Pru Mitchell in
1993.
In 1990 Norma Jeffery chaired a meeting
of representatives from WASLA
and AISWA Libraries to form a committee
to organise a Western Australian School Library conference. Known
initially as the SLOC Conference, this has become a successful annual
event that attracts metropolitan and country delegates to a 2 day
program, featuring school visits, a special focus evening for both
library staff and educators, poster and product displays and a full
day conference. Keynote speakers and authors are sought locally,
interstate and overseas.
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| Professional
Concerns |
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| In retrospect there appears to have been
considerable attention to library management in the early years of
the association, particularly in response to the challenges of new
technologies. However, newsletters and minutes indicate a wide range
of professional interests and concerns where the association has been
proactive, including industrial relations, staffing, library design,
resource and collection development, curriculum and literature promotion.
A recent development has been the formation of the
AISWA Libraries Online Database
Consortium – a group that meets regularly to explore available
databases, share and evaluate with colleagues and participate in
special pricing arrangements.
As with any dynamic organization, AISWA
Libraries is constantly evolving and developing. However,
the founding rationale of providing mutual support through professional
development, newsletters and advocacy
prevails. AISWA Libraries is constantly
seeking ways to assist all library staff affiliated with the association
and invites comments and suggestions.
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