ETL510 Study Visit Day 1

What a fantastic, though rather tiring, day!

I am totally impressed - note, NOT 'surprised" - by the breadth and professionalism of the library staff at the State Library. I was unaware that there were so many different departments of specialist librarians. Working as a T/L I'm used to one librarian (not yet fully trained) and one Library Assistant - and that's only because I'm in a secondary school! Admittedly SLNSW is a trifle larger than ours, so they probably need the battalion of staff they have.

When I do the sums I get $1,900,000,000 (I'm sure that they use the Americian billion rather than the real one) divided by 6.5 million (population of NSW) = $229.31 per head of population, plus 'I-don't-know-how-much' for each local library (but I'll forget about that) and compare it with $[confidential] divided by [confidential] I get $[confidential] - but actually considerably <$20 but [confidential], it suggests the necessity for some creative prioritising.

The presentations were excellent, relevent, interesting and quite diverse in topic. Loved the Shakespeare room but that was pure self-indulgance. Fascinated by the research into original materials.

It seems to me that the State Library is probably the state's most important cultural resource. It contains the very essence our society's existance, both pre- and post- European habitation.

I find that I'm becoming increasingly enthused by librarianship. There was a time when I saw the job as a "minder of books". I don't any more!

"Books" = technological miracles for storing information which can then readily be retrieved for use. (adapted from Cox, M, 2002. The incredible internet, London, Scholastic Children's Books)

Just rambling, but it was James McKenzie in an issue of his Now on: The educational technological journal, who suggests that we worry too much about the technology but ignore the inservicing of teachers in how to use it "TO TEACH" - remember the kids can use the technology better than most of us but it is we who can teach the kids how to utilise the base date that they can so easily access.

I'll get out of our hair now.

noel