New appointment at the State Library

I'd like to congratulate Shane Cathcart who has been appointed to the position of Associate Director, State Library Services. Shane comes to the position from his current role as Manager of Community Services at the City of West Torrens.  Shane's leadership at West Torrens along with his library experience in four States and a previous period at the State Library see him well placed to take on this key State Library role.

Some of you may know Shane from the time when he was the Manager of the West Torrens Library as well as a member of the Public Libraries SA Executive.

Shane arrives at a time when the State Library has just completed and published its 2014 - 2017 Strategic Plan.  This plan sets a clear framework for much of the work that Shane will be leading.

Having been acting in this role since April I am well aware of the work that is ahead for Shane.  However I believe that there is considerable goodwill within the library which will enable meaningful progress in a number of areas.

I have loved much of my time in the State Library & enjoyed working with staff on the Strategic Plan, setting up a process to develop a new information architecture, contributing to the new space which will open once the City of Adelaide vacates their current site on the ground floor and working on so many other fronts.  

I am looking forward to returning to my role as Associate Director Public Library Services, as there is so much more to be done within the public library network. (I will be acting State Library Director for all of January  & be delighted to find my way back to my PLS desk on 1 February.) 

Having Shane as a nearby colleague provides the public library network with a great opportunity to build closer links with the State Library.  In most other States around Australia the links between the public libraries and State Library are closer than they are here in SA.  So any opportunity to improve relations and outcomes locally will be most welcome.

Welcome on board Shane - looking forward to you arriving on 6 January.