Current events in TAFE Libraries across Australia
[posted 27 July 2006]
Australian Capital Territory | New South Wales | Queensland | Northern Territory | South Australia |Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia | National Centre for Vocational Education Research |Old news |
State report for TAFE Libraries Australia - June 2006
TAFE Tasmania
TAFE Tasmania commenced the development of “FlexiTrain Centres” in 2004. A combination of libraries and teacher delivered instruction within a large PC based self-directed study area. Thus offering students more flexible ways of learning. With the development of the Devonport, Clarence, Launceston and Burnie sites during 2004 and 2005 the model has been redefined. Evolving into “The Learning Centre” providing innovative learning spaces that will accommodate a mix of resources and attractive areas for relaxation, individual study and group discussion as well as more formal learning. The 2006 Hobart redevelopment will include an email bar, Internet café, wireless technology, breakout rooms and formal learning areas.
During 2005 TAFE Tasmania Library Services developed the CD Library Services for Off Campus Students. The CD begins with an overview of library services and then takes the user to all the options available on the Library Services Web page - quick guides to searching online databases, guides to Internet searching and links to resources lists. There are also tutorials on topics including study skills, information literacy skills, using the catalogue and referencing. Wherever possible, information is contained within the CD as pdfs so the students are not required to be online. However hyperlinks to the TAFE website are also provided.
Debra Hannan
Senior Librarian – NW
Institute of TAFE Tasmania
7-Jun-06
TAFE NSW Libraries June 2006
New South Wales
E-resources
A project has been undertaken by TAFE NSW libraries to test the provision of access to a range of e-books as well as indexed journals for TAFE NSW staff and students. With collaboration from the Department’s Information Technology Directorate and the electronic product vendors, Net Library, Safari and Ebscohost, a statewide solution has been engineered to provide secure authentication for all students and staff utilising the corporate identity management system. This solution has allowed our libraries to implement a successful consortia licence agreement to provide all TAFE NSW staff and students secure 24X7 access to an array of electronic resources via the TAFE NSW libraries online catalogue TAFEcat (which can be viewed at HYPERLINK "http://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/tafecat.html" \o "http://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/tafecat.html" http://tafecat.tafensw.edu.au/tafecat.html).
All TAFE Institute library services across New South Wales contributed to the selection of appropriate titles to meet the growing needs of our customers for electronic, on-demand resources. The main subjects for e-books are Business, Information Technology and Art whilst the journals cover a broad spectrum of subjects with Australian content featured prominently.
Access to these electronic products was launched on 6 March and there has been very positive feedback from both students and staff. Students have praised the convenience of access especially for remote or distance students and the integration of records for both the physical and electronic resources - the one-stop-shop approach while staff have recognised the potential applications for their teaching, especially for online courses.
Teaching and Learning Conference
On August 4th, TAFE NSW Libraries will be participating in a statewide Teaching and Learning Conference called The Learning Powerhouse. The participants in this annual conference usually include teachers, educational managers, librarians, researchers and educational service providers. The library team will be hosting a showcase booth with the title of “Information skills – a part of workplace learning”, showcasing initiatives such as statewide access to eResources, an IT skills passport and collaboration with Curriculum Centres.
Lucy Hill Manager, TAFE Library Services TAFE NSW
June 2006
NCVER
NCVER released a new version of VOCED at HYPERLINK "http://dev.voced.edu.au/" http://dev.voced.edu.au/ on 1 February 2006. The database is now updated monthly rather than quarterly, has improved search functionality and allows for printing, saving and emailing of results.
Changes to the National VET Clearinghouse Network:
NCVER was unsuccessful in finding a new home for The Adult and Community Education (ACE) Clearinghouse, and is now negotiating with the Melbourne City Library for the transfer of the collections to the NCVER library
the South Australian Clearinghouse located within the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology is no longer able to provide a local clearinghouse service and this collection will also be returned to the NCVER library.
NCVER has taken over responsibility for the management of the collections and databases associated with the Workplace English Language and Literacy Programme (WELL) and the National Adult Literacy Project (NALP) previously located with the Melbourne College of Advanced Education. The collections have been integrated into the NCVER Library and the databases are to be added to the VOCED database.
MIRIAM SAUNDERS
South Australia
June 2006
In 2005 TAFE SA Institutes were reduced from eight to three, with each having roughly the same student numbers. TAFE SA North covers Northern metropolitan Adelaide, TAFE SA South covers Southern metropolitan Adelaide and TAFE SA Regional covers all of country South Australia including semi rural towns such as Gawler and Mount Barker.
Structural changes are impacting on TAFE SA library staff to different degrees at each Institute. While TAFE SA North has merged it’s library service with minimal impact on staffing numbers, TAFE SA South’s library staff are still operating under uncertain conditions. TAFE SA Regional has endured some budget cuts and has lost some staffing, but these have been minimal so far.
The LEARN Network of TAFE SA library staff is still active and the LEARN Planning Group (LPG), which represents library staff at a planning level, has reviewed membership in line with the three new Institutes. LPG and library staff are currently working on several projects: The Desktop Library will be a ‘one stop shop’ for lecturing staff featuring LEARN and Institute Library Services, catalogues and links. The Overdues Project seeks to produce guidelines that standardise, as far as possible, the process of sending overdue and payment notices to library borrowers across TAFE SA. There is also a Marketing Group working on a LEARN marketing plan and a ‘Big Picture Policies’ Group combining and updating policies like ‘Collection Development’. Service Level Agreements between TAFE SA libraries are currently being updated and statistics for 2005 are being collated.
In May, staff of TAFE SA North hosted a LEARN meeting attended by about 50 library staff. The meeting examined ‘Partnerships’ and, how they happen and how to nurture them. Speakers included Educational Managers, the Director of Public Library Services, and library staff who have moved out of TAFE either to another librarian position or to a different role in another government department. Workshops on Metamarc (our library management system), Centra (an interactive Internet based teaching & communication tool) and how to make the most of TAFE SA’s print and media production services were held in the afternoon.
ANNETTE DORNIN
Western Australia
WA has just updated their Voyager System to Voyager 5, which is the Unicode release. This provided additional capability in the circulation module, plus a new version of media scheduling which is being implemented in some colleges.
Implementation of Endeavor Curator system is still occurring happening. This will be badged locally as DiGiLib (Digital Resources). The company has revised its product plan with a new software platform being used for federated searching.
State serials tender was awarded to DA Books with 5 colleges participating in the joint tender.
TAFEWA colleges are over whelmed by demand for training following the resources sector boom. Apprenticeship numbers have increased dramatically, with waiting lists for training now around 1000.
Victoria
Not available
Northern Territory
ACT
