The Libraries Board will be undertaking its annual country tour on
Thursday & Friday next week. This tour will take us through libraries in
the Mid-North. Specifically the Board will visit Clare, Burra, Peterborough, Jamestown and Port Pirie
on Thursday, and then Port Broughton,
Snowtown and Balaklava on Friday.
As is customary, the Board will hold
it's meeting over breakfast on Friday morning.
This tour will be the first in 21 years that does not
include former Board member Janice Nitschke. I would like to pay tribute
to Janice who has represented library practitioners on the Board for as long as
most of us can remember. Janice's commitment will be remembered not just
because of her active & successful representation of the sector but
also for her dedication. The number of times that Janice has got up at 4 am to
drive to "town" as the airport was fogged in are beyond counting. And
her flights, attendance at meetings in Adelaide or staying in town to carry out
network business have been a real service to us all. Janice's championing of
"the country" has been a consistent part of her service, and her
unstinting service for "the network" needs to be recognised by all
within the network.
Janice has also been, and continues to be a mentor to so many in the
network. I am sure that with the "spare" time that she now has Janice
will actively use her experience to continue as a mentor to many.
Changes to State Government Board regulations mean that in future Board
members can serve for a maximum of 8 years. While I appreciate Janice's
dedication over several decades I also support the notion of regular renewal on
the Board and the opportunities for changes in representation. The changes in
regulations also mean that the number of Board members will reduce from 9 to 8.
I would also like to acknowledge the leadership of Dr Peter
Goldsworthy AM who has been Libraries Board Chair since 2002. Peter's last
meeting will be while we are on the mid-north tour.
Peter's time is precious - as he spreads himself across his medical
practice, his role as a successful, internationally recognised author and his
additional duties including chair of the Libraries Board. Despite this busy
schedule Peter has managed to juggle his commitments & travelled the State
meeting with people in public libraries and leading the Board's considerations
of public library and State Library matters. Under Peter's leadership the Board
has been so supportive of the State-wide LMS project as well as managing the
GFC's impact on the Board's investments as well as some positive outcomes on a
number of other State Library issues.
We will see a number of other changes to Board membership over the next
6 months. I will keep you posted regarding these changes as they occur.
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