LEP goes Way Out West
Battling flocks of marauding birds, braking for kangaroos, swerving to miss turtles and giving way to snakes were all part of an LEP training trip late last year by Queensland LEP Coordinator, Tanya Lucas.
Tanya drove 2,047km to train at LEP member libraries in Chinchilla, Roma, Charleville and Cunnamulla.
Roma Town Library - Tammy Bohnet, Ellen Smith and Joanna Weinert
Notes from Tanya's diary will take you through the major stops on her outback training adventure:
Day 1: I traversed the Darling Downs region to Chinchilla, 300km west of Brisbane. Chinchilla Municipal Library recently took up the eLEP service, therefore the visit provided a timely training opportunity. Judy Bell, Chinchilla library manager, invited librarians from other district libraries to attend the day's training which covered eLEP, LEP and CLIB. Staff from three other libraries attended the training sessions, including Alastair Silcock from Pittsworth Shire Library and Gaylene Sheridan from Chinchilla State High School Library. Helen Swendson and Katrina Hills from Kingaroy Library travelled two hours to attend the LEP training day at Chinchilla. "We really gained from what you explained to us about how to use and access the material," Helen said.
Day 2: My visit to Roma Town Library, 484km west of Brisbane, coincided with Prince Harry's stay in the area, but I didn't see him! Roma Town Library staff, Tammy Bohnet and Ellen Smith, and library assistant Joanna Weinert from Warroo Shire Library, Surat, 90km away, attended ABS web site and CLIB training. "Not more than 10 minutes after getting back to work when a local student walked in with homework questions," said Joanna. "After my day of training it took only minutes to connect to the ABS web site and find the answer." Tammy and Ellen said they found it easier to retain knowledge of training that involved hands-on learning.
Day 3: At Murweh Shire Council Municipal Library in Charleville - 'the hub of the south west' 760km west of Brisbane - CLIB and web site training proved beneficial for library staff Lyndy Steer and Gail Terry, who said that, "we definitely feel more confident when helping clients". They also plan to promote the use of CLIB and Census data in their library by displaying a series of 'Do you know? information tasters' about their town and shire.
Day 4: In Cunnamulla, 815km west of Brisbane, Paroo Shire Library librarian Penny Jackson said the CLIB/ABS web site training was useful and practical.
Tanya's thoughts: "The highlights of the trip included sitting under the night sky in Charleville looking at the stars, meeting the library staff, chatting to the friendly locals and watching an outback storm in Cunnamulla."
Print Page
Print All