Jan Richards AM
Jan is one of the two IFLA Measurement, evaluation, and demonstrating the impact of library services trainers for ASIA/Oceania has enjoyed delivering this program to colleagues across Australia..
Jan has extensive experience in the LIS industry at a senior management level, and a strong record of working with government and advocating for libraries. She is committed to actively participating in the profession, both in Australia and overseas. Jan is a past President and Fellow of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA); and past Chair of the Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA).
After a career based in NSW in 2020 Jan and her husband relocated to Lutruwita/Tasmania, ‘on a whim’, and now live on beautiful Bruny Island to the south of Hobart. Its from here that Jan runs her consultancy and Chairs the Tasmanian Library Advisory Board (TLAB) and the State Library and Archives Trust.
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
IFLA Measurement Evaluation and Demonstrating Library Impact
Knowing how to evaluate and measure the impact of public libraries, and how to use data to tell our stories, is crucial to ensuring the support of our stakeholders and our colleagues.
IFLA has developed a training program designed to increase capacity in public libraries to measure, evaluate, and demonstrate the impact of library services. Topics include:
- Evaluating and demonstrating Impact
- Identifying community needs
- Establishing outputs and performance metrics
- Demonstrating outcomes and impact
- Evidence based storytelling.
In this half day program, Jan Richards will equip you with the skills and confidence to effectively deliver evidence-based stories. An expanded version of the program will be offered to smaller groups at the Professional Development Event in October.
Beth Wahler
Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW is founder and principal consultant at Beth Wahler Consulting, LLC and affiliated research faculty and previous director of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina- Charlotte in the US. Dr. Wahler is a social work consultant, researcher, and experienced administrator whose primary focus is trauma-informed librarianship, library strategies for
addressing patrons’ or community social service-related needs, supporting library staff with serving high-needs patrons and reducing work-related stress/trauma, and various kinds of collaborations, services, and programs to meet patron, staff, or community needs. She has worked with multiple public libraries internationally- urban, suburban, and rural- as well as large library systems and state library associations to provide personalized training opportunities, conduct needs assessments and develop individualized plans to help meet the needs of their patron populations and staff. Her recently published book, Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons, focuses on strategies for supporting patrons with social service-related needs while simultaneously supporting library staff. She also co-hosts the new podcast, Surviving the Stacks, aimed at providing support to library staff across the globe.
Dr Jane Garner
Associate Professor Jane Garner is a Library and Information Studies academic researching and teaching within the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University, Australia. Her research focusses on the social justice role of libraries, and their contribution to the lives of disadvantaged individuals and communities, including people living in adult and juvenile prisons, and people experiencing homelessness. Jane is also interested in the safety and wellbeing of library staff as they work with these communities.
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Abstract: This presentation examines the impact of managing challenging and dangerous patron behaviours in Australian public libraries, from verbal abuse and threats to encounters with individuals in crisis. Drawing from studies across the country and first-hand accounts, it explores how repeated exposure to difficult workplace situations can lead to trauma among library staff. Through sharing personal narratives and collective experiences, the presentation demonstrates that workplace trauma is not an isolated phenomenon but a systemic industry-wide challenge. The discussion will highlight successful workplace wellbeing initiatives from United States libraries, advocating for a shift from individual self-care solutions to institutional and industry-wide support systems. Attendees will gain practical frameworks for advocating for organisational change and implementing trauma-informed workplace policies. Through acknowledging and addressing workplace trauma in public libraries, this presentation seeks to foster dialogue about organisational responsibility for staff wellbeing and identify practical strategies for creating safer, more supportive work environments.
Tui Raven
Senior Manager Indigenous Programs, Deakin University Library
Proudly Sponsored by James Bennett
Tui Raven, Yamaji Nyngar is the Senior Manager Indigenous Programs Deakin Library and operates a sole trader business that specialises in Aboriginal cultural advising, research, project management, and art curating. In 2023 Tui published the Guidelines for First Nations Collection Description for the Australian library, a collaboration between five organisations: the Australian Library & Information Association (ALIA), National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) and CAVAL. From 2020 to 2022, Tui worked on The First Inventors documentary as a remote and on-Country advisor, associate producer, and on-screen investigator.
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Abstract: This presentation and yarning sessions explore the intersection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights (ICIP) and Indigenous knowledge systems within library spaces. I advocate for practices that prioritise respect, reciprocity, and relationality. Drawing on my work as the Guidelines for First Collection Description author, I will discuss practical strategies for embedding ICIP principles in library practices, including culturally appropriate cataloguing, descriptive standards, and access protocols. I will address the ethical complexities of the re-use of Indigenous knowledges held in collections. And the innovative solution being used in open-access environments to record ICIP. Yarning sessions that honour Indigenous cultural respect and relational approaches will be used to encourage open and meaningful discussions. This will be an opportunity to discuss what does or does not work within your library space.
Martin Heppell
Partner/Facilitator, The Resilience Project
Martin Heppell has a unique background. He spent a
considerable amount of time growing up in Borneo
living with a Dayak headhunting tribe. He was also
educated in different parts of Southeast Asia and has
been heavily influenced by the morals and values that
he and his family were immersed in whilst living with
the Dayaks.
Martin spent 6 years in the AFL and SANFL systems playing for the
St Kilda, Melbourne and Norwood Football Clubs. After completing his degree, he taught for 4 years before being promoted to Assistant Principal at Auburn Primary, where he focused on Student Wellbeing, Educational Leadership and Change Management.
After 4 years as Assistant Principal, he joined The Resilience Project. Since 2016, he has conducted over 1,700 presentations across Australia to key stakeholders at schools and their communities, corporations and elite sporting organisations including the AFL, NRL and the ALeague.
Jules Allen
Jules Allen is a remarkable Australian with a truly moving story.
As a multi-Award-winning Social Scientist, Jules is guided by the philosophy that “your greatest adversity in life is your greatest gift,” Her address to TEDx Melbourne on The key to resilience was met with tumultuous applause and a standing ovation.
Pauline Nguyen
Pauline is one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs – but with difference. She is inspiration with substance. She teaches with warmth and humour, telling her own story of what can be achieved through key alignment of thoughts and intentions. She has a high-performing Western business background combined with an Eastern slant of spirituality.
Pauline is a best-selling author and award-winning businesswoman – and her achievements are all the more impressive for her having escaped Vietnam on a boat and survived a Thai refugee camp. She has overcome these adverse beginnings to transform her approach to success by re-engineering her beliefs, questioning the status quo and hacking cultural norms.
Tracey Spicer
Tracey Spicer AM is a multiple Walkley Award winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News.
The inaugural national convenor of Women in Media, Tracey is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers and emcees in Australia. In 2019 she was named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year, accepted the Sydney Peace Prize alongside Tarana Burke for the Me Too movement, and won the national award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership through Women & Leadership Australia.
Margaret Warren
State Library of Queensland
Margaret Warren is the Director, Content Management at State Library of Queensland. Her teams have responsibility for managing the lifecycle of collections, from selection and acquisition, through to description, access, discovery, storage and preservation for both physical and digital content. She is the Chair of the National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) Copyright Group and is an advocate for copyright reform and Creative Commons and the role of libraries as open access champions. She is excited about the potential of Artificial Intelligence technologies to improve access and discovery to collections and to develop innovative and engaging user experiences.