This paper discusses the nature of online identity over the past twenty years, since Australians began to use the internet extensively in the mid-1990s. It highlights the growing role of Facebook, Google and other social software in providing frameworks for online identity, considers the ways people find this unsatisfactory, and then examines possible future developments. The paper concludes by raising the possibility of libraries playing a role in supporting Australians in the future as they develop their online identities, as libraries did in the beginning through Vicnet and other programs.
Libraries are in the midst of a transformational change that is driven by complex shifts in their operating environment. Libraries are responding to these shifts in creative and novel ways in order to stay relevant and financially viable. Today’s library leaders must be prepared not only to transform their libraries, but also to transform themselves. Readers are invited to imagine their library in 2020, and to set out on the journey to transform their career in preparation for this future.
The cloud is an information technology metaphor to inspire and frighten us all, but what does it mean? Is there a cloud at all? This presentation looks at how libraries, almost unawares, have taken to the cloud enthusiastically and ahead of the others. The paper looks at the cloud from the vantage points of an IT manager, a copyright officer and a librarian. It traces its development from opportunistic vendor-provided hosting and management of software and content, to the current cloud environment. It considers the clouds we all use. It looks at benefits and problems. And it looks ahead to a cheerfully cloudy future.
First, Gulliver is described and put into a Victorian Government policy context – what is it, and what does it aim to achieve?
Gulliver is part of Libraries Online, a Victorian Government program which links with the Commonwealth’s Rural Libraries Online.
Gulliver builds on these development initiatives by adding content to the network. Gulliver is one of a group of Victorian Government information society initiatives. It will ensure that quality, easy-to-use and up-to-date information on a diverse range of topics is available to all Victorians.
Second, the global context – is Gulliver head, shoulders (and knees) above the rest? The Gulliver initiative will be placed in a wider context and linked to the Virtual Victorian Library.
The 2000 Robert D. Williamson Award went to Derek Whitehead from Swinburne University for his outstanding contribution to librarianship.
The 2000 Robert D. Williamson Award Citation for Derek Whitehead reads as follows.
VALA’s most prestigious award is the Robert D. Williamson Award, which is in memory of one of the early pioneers of our industry, Bob Williamson. This biennial award is presented to an individual or organisation who or which, in the opinion of the judging panel, has made and is currently making an outstanding contribution to the development of information technology usage in Australian libraries and is positively and significantly influencing development in information technology usage within libraries.
The recipient of the R.D. Williamson Award for 2000 has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in library and information services, despite having entered the field after a change of career. Starting in technical services in the seventies he has been witness to, and part of, many of the technological innovations that have made library services what they are today. At the same time his career has been marked by an abiding interest in facilitating information access in the broadest sense.
During the eighties he pursued his professional interests to national and international levels, developing a reputation as a key player in the national library scene and long term lobbyist for libraries. A member of many and varied committees, he also found time to complete a Master of Librarianship on library management issues and has occupied senior library posts since 1988.
This year’s recipient is highly regarded for his professional vision and his capacity to sense, and act upon, emerging trends in the library profession. His long experience in lobbying governments, both state and federal, and the private sector, together with his success in forging working partnerships have led to his playing a central role in the development and use of new technology by libraries across Victoria. This is best demonstrated by his pivotal involvement with Australia’s most significant community networking enterprise and his efforts to achieve Internet access throughout the Victorian public library system, again underlining his commitment to equity and access.
Launched in 1995, VICNET has proved to be a unique achievement both within Australia and internationally. It is Australia’s largest and busiest community web site, playing host to over 200 virtual Web servers and nearly 2000 Websites for Victoria’s community groups, while attracting around 10 million hits per month. A commercial operation of the State Library of Victoria, VICNET generated a turnover of $1.7 million in 1998/99. It has also provided the foundation for innovative projects such as Skills.Net and Libraries Online. A $5 million program, Skills.Net is creating a network of more than 100 community-based centres throughout Victoria to provide free or affordable Internet access and training to those Victorians who would otherwise miss out. The result of a far-reaching policy document developed by the recipient, the Libraries Online program has helped to advance the goal of an integrated Victorian library system, increasing access to online communications, information resources and multimedia computers.
His collaborative approach also led to the formation of the Artsvicmm group, bringing together arts organisations to discuss the latest developments in digital technology and multimedia. Beginning with the State Library and the Museum of Victoria it now includes representatives from 8 organisations and 3 government agencies. In 1998 this group ran a major research project, ZAVIER, utilising the Z39.50 standard to allow cross searching of paticipating institutions catalogues. He was also instrumental in the digitisation of the State Library’s pictorial collection and subsequent participation in the Image Search project, allowing searches of distributed image collections from a single site.
In addition he has been a member of ABN Network Committee, the Information Society Committee, the Victorian Government IT and Telecommunications Policy Committee, convenor of the CAVAL Digitising Working Group, chair of the Digital Access and Preservation Task Force and a member of the ABA’s Task Force on Children and the Internet, and the board of Net Alert – the Commonwealth Government community advisory board on Internet content.
For his involvement over time with many aspects of library automation, his efforts in lobbying and promotion and his influence on the conception and development of several major automation projects, this year’s recipient of the R.D. Williamson Award is Derek Whitehead.
The paper arises from the PictureNSW project undertaken in 2004 and 2005 by the State Library of New South Wales in cooperation with New South Wales public libraries. The paper sets out the goals of the project, the processes followed, and the rationale and nature of the Guidelines produced by the project. It sets out some lessons of the project, and some suggestions for the future.
