The future! in a library near you…
PROFILE | Susan Taylor, TAFE NSW Western Institute
Susan Reid’s personal and professional emphasis is always on the future, but public perception of her current role as Library Manager at the very busy Newcastle Tighes Hill TAFE campus, does not always match this image.
‘I’m still asked if stamping books all day is boring…’ she quipped. ‘Some library users don’t realise that the image and work of a library, and librarians, has undergone dramatic changes.’
Government House, Sydney on 3 May 2006 was alien territory for Susan Reid and the impression of formal gardens, lots of police and security people, a formally dressed aide de camp displaying plenty of bullion braid did nothing to calm her nerves. She was here to receive the Public Service Medal for organisation, leadership, change and innovation.
‘It all seemed just a bit surreal. There was quite a crowd but we went up to receive awards in groups of 50. Marie Bashier was delightful and charming.
‘Later we met her husband, Nick Shehaddie, and he told me I should tell her my family came from the same town as hers.
‘I then came back to the reality of the library desk.’
The silence and tomb-like atmosphere associated with libraries is a thing of the past – at least at TAFE libraries. 21st century technology is embraced and Susan has procedures in place to ensure that every library user, whether a first time computer user or experienced database apparatchik, has access or appropriate help.
‘Libraries’ delivery point has moved from being a reference and research centre to becoming a part of educational delivery at TAFE. There is now more focus on integrating learning activities with research or mentoring staff in computing skills,’ Susan commented.
‘Libraries are now integrating with student learning and delivery so it is now much more a place where students and teachers come together. Libraries are information centres.
‘Liaising with staff and faculties has driven an impetus to an involvement in online and flexible learning. We developed resources (for online use) in consultation with a Faculty Director at Wyong. Among other things we discussed internet access, best resources for referencing and presentation. We then uploaded all the information to a web site.’
Libraries are now integrating with student learning and delivery so it is now much more a place where students and teachers come together. Libraries are information centres.
Sue Reid
Susan and her library staff have also been involved in what is now becoming a major concern in all centres of tertiary education. ‘We were called upon to develop a policy on plagiarism and set up five links. It was clearly something that was needed.’
In her daily role, Susan manages her staff, attends meetings and plans. As a manager, her track record is exemplary but it is these meetings and planning sessions where Susan really shines. She is an innovator and believes that ‘you can do things’. Her secret to success, apart from lots of hard work, is preparation.
When writing briefs for new projects she thoroughly researches her topic, fully relates all the benefits and generally puts up a good case. ‘TAFE is now a business and needs a return on investment so the first major issue is what are we (TAFE) going to get out of it? – if you can show benefit to students you are likely to get a much better response.
I recently put in a submission to install video conferencing facilities and it was considered and approved. We had to make decisions about where the facilities would be located, available access for everybody, minimum cost and find a suitable room.’
We were called upon to develop a policy on plagiarism and set up five links. It was clearly something that was needed.
Sue Reid
Susan thinks of her notable successes with innovation as just part of her job and credits her colleagues with great insight but it is certainly more than that. It is no coincidence that over her years at TAFE she has been involved in substantive projects bringing great benefit to all TAFE students and staff.
Both these projects not only required an intimate knowledge of libraries and how and where information is stored but also required the ability to foresee how users would comfortably access information and how that information would be applied.
Among her many success are involvement in the infancy of online learning in 2000 partnering Microsoft Corporation to develop a platform to deliver online course materials and the metadata project. This project enables data linking for easy access and is sourced with key word operators.
Both these projects not only required an intimate knowledge of libraries and how and where information is stored but also required the ability to foresee how users would comfortably access information and how that information would be applied.
Recently Susan’s hard work has been acknowledged at the highest level by the award of the Public Service Medal for Excellence. ‘I received a letter from the Governor saying I was being considered and I didn’t think it was meant for me. I told my husband it must be a mistake but he told me to look at the name on the top of the letter…,” she said. ‘I was completely overwhelmed.’
More recently, on 3 May 2006, a further substantial award by the Governor General acknowledged her hard work and innovation. Susan was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2006 Australia Day honours list for ‘organisation, leadership, change and innovation within an organisation’.
In a more recent telephone conversation, Susan was happily planning the implementation of a new video conferencing facility, and it is a certainty that she is already planning her next initiative.
See also
Check out Susan Reid’s base at the TAFE NSW Hunter library
