History
Beginnings
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), the Librarians group was launched on 8 March 1982. The first meeting was held at Cygnet Hall, Crawley and the inaugural committee members were:
· To provide mutual support
· To disseminate information
· To make comments, recommendations and submissions to AIS (WA) on matters of importance to the library profession.
Early Milestones
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.
Automation
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.”
Initiatives
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 became a successful annual, and now bi 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.
The AISWA Libraries Inc. Database Consortium was established in 2003 and was originally created to share and evaluate with colleagues and to help lower the cost of online databases to WA Independent Schools by forming a group to negotiate prices with various suppliers.
Professional Concerns
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.As with any dynamic organization, AISWA Libraries is constantly evolving and developing. However, the founding rationale of providing mutual support through professional development and advocacy prevails. AISWA Libraries is constantly seeking ways to assist all library staff affiliated with the association and invites comments and suggestions.
These can be addressed by email to the Secretary of AISWA Libraries at [email protected]
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), the Librarians group was launched on 8 March 1982. The first 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)
- Jean Rhodes (St Marks College Highgate)
- Pat Laidlow (Perth College)
- Ingrid Chidlow (St Thomas Aquinas College)
· To provide mutual support
· To disseminate information
· To make comments, recommendations and submissions to AIS (WA) on matters of importance to the library profession.
Early Milestones
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.
Automation
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.”
Initiatives
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 became a successful annual, and now bi 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.
The AISWA Libraries Inc. Database Consortium was established in 2003 and was originally created to share and evaluate with colleagues and to help lower the cost of online databases to WA Independent Schools by forming a group to negotiate prices with various suppliers.
Professional Concerns
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.As with any dynamic organization, AISWA Libraries is constantly evolving and developing. However, the founding rationale of providing mutual support through professional development and advocacy prevails. AISWA Libraries is constantly seeking ways to assist all library staff affiliated with the association and invites comments and suggestions.
These can be addressed by email to the Secretary of AISWA Libraries at [email protected]
AISWA Libraries Constitution
The AISWA Libraries Constitution was reviewed in 2016.
The revised Constitution of AISWA Libraries Inc. was accepted by its members at the 2005 Annual General Meeting. Download here.
The revised Constitution of AISWA Libraries Inc. was accepted by its members at the 2005 Annual General Meeting. Download here.
