My NSW public library conference was in May 1994 in Deniliquin and I had not long been appointed to the position of Manager Central West Libraries. The minute I arrived I knew I had found my ‘tribe’ and 27 years later I still feel the same. Of course in 1994 the conference I was attendingContinue reading “Remembrances of NSW Library Conferences past”
Author Archives: Jan
Switch 2021
Only a week to go and your SWITCH 2021 packets should be arriving via mail including this card alerting you to an exciting SWITCH Trivia competition that I’ll be running. Now I know that some of you have already popped on by to see if anything is here already (where’s that Playschool Magic Mirror? IContinue reading “Switch 2021”
Global Goals Week
Global Goals Week ( 17-26 September) is a time for us all to come together to mobilise communities, demand urgency, and supercharge solutions for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whether it be digitally or physically. Our shared future and the achievement of the Global Goals will be determined by us working together, locally, nationallyContinue reading “Global Goals Week”
Stories That Matter
Yesterday we encouraged everyone to take some time out of their day to mark the Australian Reading Hour – it doesn’t matter if your ‘hour’ is in the morning, afternoon or evening and really ‘hour’ is only a concept, make it longer or shorter it’s about making the time to turn off the world andContinue reading “Stories That Matter”
A new chapter
The past couple of weeks has been a whirlwind of all things IFLA – the wind up of the 2019-21 term; the World Library and Information Congress; and the start of the 2021-23 term. Normally IFLA in August would signal an overseas trip to some wonderful location (think Milan, Puerto Rico, Helsinki, Lyon, Singapore, CapeContinue reading “A new chapter”
Reflecting on IFLA
Today I was looking for something in my IFLA files and found myself heading fast down the rabbit hole of memory. And what memories! My first IFLA WLIC was Milan in 2009 when I went in my role as ALIA President. As gigs go it was pretty good! My friend Vicki McDonald ( who isContinue reading “Reflecting on IFLA”
Members!
I am currently engaged with colleagues from public libraries across New South Wales in talking about members, how we engage with and retain them, and how we expand our membership base. It’s a timely discussion as, in many communities, use ( and membership) has been significantly affected by COVID. This is an initiative of theContinue reading “Members!”
What’s on your bedside table?
I had a phone call late last week from an ABC journalist I knew from my Orange days. She was looking for someone to speak on ‘the books on my bedside table’ for drive time radio. She too has left town and so wasn’t aware that I was no longer a Mainlander (to use theContinue reading “What’s on your bedside table?”
Reflecting on COVID
I’ve been checking and re-checking my diary as I head into this week which features the International Federation of Library and Information Association’s (IFLA) Literacy and Reading/Public Libraries Mid-Term Seminar. While my first IFLA Congress was in 2009 when I was ALIA President (‘Milan darling’- I know but someone had to go!) it wasn’t untilContinue reading “Reflecting on COVID”
Chatterbox!
Remember making these when you were a kid? I do – and also the angst about what ‘clever’ actions to write inside! This is a Chatterbox created by our Australian Children’s Laureate, Ursula Dubosarsky and her fabulous team. It’s available on the resources section of the Laureate website. https://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/laureate-resources. and sends clear messages about reading.Continue reading “Chatterbox!”
Jan Richards Consulting 