DPC library featured in National magazine

Batchelor Institute Desert Peoples Centre Campus Library staff (from left to right: Amanda Bethel-Donaldson, Library Officer; Melissa Raymond, Manager and Lynn Day, Library Assistant).

The March/April edition of Incite, the national library journal, published by ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association), has an article written by Batchelor DPC library staff:  “Serving users in Central Australia”.  Each staff member (Melissa Raymond Manager, Lynn Day Library Assistant and Amanda Bethel-Donaldson Library Officer) wrote about how they came to their roles via unique paths.  They shared their individual stories as library service providers, specifically relating to ALIA’s 2019 theme of “Indigenous matters.”

Below is an excerpt from the article written by Amanda Bethel-Donaldson:

“I came into the library and information service sector fairly recently, with a passion for books, reading, learning and sharing knowledge. My computer skills were basic, but I like any challenge that results in a greater knowledge and understanding. My position as a Library Officer has helped me get back on the learning journey that I have always enjoyed. I have had a lot of experience with being a library user in my life but being behind the desk has opened up a whole new world of knowledge and excitement. Batchelor Institute Library has been behind me from day one in my ambition to become a trained and skilled library professional. I have been encouraged to study in the library and information science sector and have recently completed studying for a Certificate II in Cultural and Information Services. This course was not offered by our institute, so my manager assisted me with looking elsewhere for a relevant course.

“Identifying as an Australian Aboriginal person, I am excited about 2019 being UNESCO’s International Year of Indigenous Languages. We have many dual language Indigenous students and I have started to research library display set-ups. We are now prominently displaying biographies and autobiographies of our Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Indigenous people, in both written and oral formats. My plan is to introduce common words used in the language groups from Central Australian country and interweave them throughout all displays and events that are held in 2019 at the Batchelor Institute Library.

“My personal learning plan for the next 12 months is to continue on the study path for professional development and to always be reading to keep my personal learning and growth on track.”

View Incite magazine here – https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-889217447/view