Proudly sponsored by SAGE Publishing

Our thanks to VALA2022 Inclusivity Partner, SAGE Publishing for their ongoing support of VALA to provide equal access and inclusion to opportunities and resources.

The VALA2022 Diversity Scholarship, sponsored by SAGE Publishing, goes to…..

VALA is pleased to introduce our VALA2022 Diversity Scholarship recipient:

Teresa Köhne – Sunshine Coast Libraries

“Attending VALA2022 would be a fantastic opportunity to build on my digital skills and hear about the great things my peers are doing across the country and the world. I am excited about the chance to be immersed for three days in current and future digital innovation, grounded in core GLAM values.

VALA2022 would also be a great networking and connection opportunity to support my desire to work towards growing into a more senior role. I can share my learnings and enthusiasm with all our 160+ staff in my digital role and training role, and through my involvement in shaping our future locations and services. I am always looking forwards and out to expand yet optimise services for all our library users – the young, the old, the students, the visitors, the online community, everyone!”

Read Teresa’s post-event report below:

“Travelling to Melbourne in the depths of winter to attend VALA2022 as the Diversity Scholarship recipient sponsored by SAGE Publishing (along with the locals returning from their long weekend in the sunshine state) was well worth it.

The atmosphere was somewhat electric with attendees soaking up the face-to-face contact and recharging with in-person connections.  It was clear that people are very keen to move on from the COVID dominated world and focus on the good that the GLAM sector is valued for.

Here are the key concepts that were interwoven across many sessions over the three days.  They apply to many aspects of any professional role.

• Humans are adaptable and creative. We need to be curious and respectfully disruptive.
• Choosing the right technology for your purpose is vital. Consideration must be given to privacy, accessibility, equity, inclusivity, social justice, digital literacy, agility, environmental impact.
• We must work with our customers and community, focussing on their needs, not ours.
• Be aware of limitations, assumptions, preconceptions and practices that can impact our community now and well into the future.
• Don’t lose sight of the need for empathy and social connection, the value of vulnerability and the joys of self-care.

Attending VALA2022 was an amazing opportunity to be immersed in a positive professional space.  I have shared details on sessions with my colleagues and am consciously applying some principles and ideas in my daily and ongoing work.  The opportunity to connect with professionals from a variety of GLAM organisations and see the commonality of challenges and ideals was invigorating and inspiring.  I would recommend attending VALA’s next conference if you have the chance!” – Teresa Köhne, Sunshine Coast Libraries

Read Teresa’s full VALA 2022 report where she shares her session highlights and think-points from VALA2022.

Our thanks to VALA2022 Inclusivity Partner, SAGE Publishing for their ongoing support of VALA to provide equal access and inclusion to opportunities and resources.

VALA recognises that regional, rural and indigenous members of the Library community face additional barriers to participation in both library and technical events. The Diversity Scholarship is offered to individuals who in normal circumstances would not generally attend a VALA event or would struggle to attend due to financial or other hardship.

The VALA2022 Diversity Scholarship would not be possible without the support of SAGE Publishing. Please thank them by dropping in to Stand No. 10 in the Exhibition Hall at VALA2022.

Proudly sponsored by SAGE Publishing

SAGE Publishing is committed to supporting efforts that reflect our core values in our local communities and across global higher education and scholarly communities. Our efforts support programs and initiatives that further social and behavioural science, education, human services, and community life, including the arts and cultural organizations. Believing passionately that engaged scholarship lies at the heart of any healthy society and that education is intrinsically valuable. SAGE Publishing remains true to our mission to build bridges to knowledge, being the harness to every contributing role in the academic ecosystem. Internally, we are committed to being an inclusive employer where all individuals are treated equally with fairness and respect. We are honoured to sponsor the Diversity Scholarships at VALA 2020.

The VALA2020 Diversity Scholarships, sponsored by SAGE Publishing, go to the following three deserving recipients…..

From a strong and large field of contenders, VALA is pleased to introduce our VALA2020 Diversity Scholarship recipients:

Luisa Fapiano – Fiji National University Library – Suva, Fiji Islands

Read Luisa’s post-event report HERE.

“Attending VALA2020 would be a privilege to meet others as it would be my first attendance outside Fiji, thus, an opportunity in building professional networks. A great benefit in learning new techniques and technologies from professionals that offer skills and knowledge.

On a personal level as life changes, the need to adapt both professionally and personally is as real as the changes themselves. VALA2020 will provide a significant step toward career advancement where a continuous improvement would help benchmark my library by measuring against others.”

Anaseini Jese – Library Services of Fiji – Samabula, Fiji Islands

Read Anaseini’s post-event report HERE.

“Our main challenges here in Fiji is our attitude towards reading and we are trying our very best to cultivate the habit of reading to our children through the setting up of school libraries in schools and community libraries in rural villages. I provide training to teacher and school librarians on Basic Library Operation skills. Most of our school librarians in rural dwellings are not qualified and that is the way we believe we can help to furbish them with the basic knowledge needed to help students in school.

I strongly believe that the knowledge acquired from this conference will provide me with appropriate and practical ideas to advocate more on the importance of libraries to our young generation of future leaders.”

Zoe Wilkinson – Beverley Community Resource Centre and Library – Beverley Western Australia

Read Zoe’s post-event report HERE.

“As a new Librarian with no experience, and no real mentor to teach me, I am trying to learn as much about the whole library system and all the technologies available.

Beverley is only a small town, but the library is a vital part of our community. If I was able to attend this conference, I know that the information and skills I would gain would be invaluable to everyone.”

VALA recognises that regional, rural and indigenous members of the Library community face additional barriers to participation in both library and technical events. The Diversity Scholarship is offered to individuals who in normal circumstances would not generally attend a VALA event or would struggle to attend due to financial or other hardship.

The VALA2020 Diversity Scholarships would not be possible without the support of SAGE Publishing. Please thank them by dropping in to Stands 28-29 in the Exhibition Hall at VALA2020.

By supporting these four recipients with a diversity scholarship and a trip to Melbourne for VALA2020, we hope to not only support their career and academic pursuits but also empower them to encourage, inspire and impart knowledge to those in their own community.

VALA would like to extend a massive congratulations to all four deserving recipients, we cannot wait to see what you do with this opportunity.

The VALA2018 Diversity Scholarships, sponsored by EBSCO, go to following three deserving recipients…..

Many high-quality submissions were received, and after careful consideration, the following three applicants were selected.

Lisa Harth – Library Services Coordinator for nine branches of the Western Downs Regional Council – Dalby, QLD

“I am new to leadership of a Library service and find that my skills and contacts in technology are just enough to “keep the ship afloat” but I believe that with exposure to a forum such as VALA I would gain insight into possibilities which could propel our Library service into one of the leading regional services in our State.

I believe Libraries are well-positioned to offer opportunities for learning, experimentation, co-creation and business incubation in an area with little access to any of these.”

Read Lisa’s post-event report HERE.

Donna Kellion – Mackay Regional Council Libraries

“The beautiful Mackay region is a member of the GW3, or the Greater Whitsunday Alliance, so we work very closely with our neighbours to the north in the Whitsunday region and the Isaac region to the west, so anything that I bring back from VALA will also be of benefit to those regions and further and beyond.

I have also just completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Audio Visual Archiving with Charles Sturt University which was fabulous and I’m very keen to get my hands down and dirty into some severe digitisation and would appreciate some direction on how to begin some of those programs.”

Read Donna’s post-event report HERE.

Joyce Williams – City of Karratha – Karratha, WA

“As a lone librarian working in a remote region of WA, I spend considerable time connecting with peers and professionals online via user networks… trading valuable information in regard to the latest cutting edge library technology and ideas but rarely have the opportunity to share ideas and pick brains of tech-savvy professionals in person.

Our Pilbara world features some of the most innovative technology in the mining and gas industries and we believe our library is a space where young people of diverse origins can (and should) experience the exciting world of open technology. Providing such a space will seek to put us on par with other major centres.”

Read Joyce’s post-event report HERE.

VALA recognises that regional, rural and indigenous members of the Library community face additional barriers to participation in both library and technical events. The Diversity Scholarship is offered to individuals who in normal circumstances would not generally attend a VALA event or would struggle to attend due to financial or other hardship.

The VALA2018 Diversity Scholarships would not be possible without the support of EBSCO. Please thank them by dropping in to Stands 75-76 at VALA2018.

EBSCO is “committed to providing professional development and networking opportunities for librarians looking to advance their careers. The 2018 VALA Diversity Scholarship presents an opportunity for librarians to share ideas, challenges and best practices with their peers. We look forward to attending VALA2018 and meeting our partners in the Australian library community.”

By supporting these three recipients with a diversity scholarship and a trip to Melbourne for VALA2018, we hope to not only support their career and academic pursuits but also empower them to encourage, inspire and impart knowledge to those in their own community.

VALA would like to extend a massive congratulations to all three deserving recipients, we cannot wait to see what you do with this opportunity.