18 Berwick/Caulfield/Gippsland/Peninsula Libraries
The highlights of the year included the implementation of Voyager and Monash
Messaging Service, the incorporation of the Berwick, Caulfield, Gippsland and
Peninsula Libraries into one Division, building projects, the increased use of
web-based learning resources by the staff and students of Monash University and
a demonstration of the e-book, the "monograph of the future".
In late 1998 and early 1999 one of the major challenges for staff in Serials,
Lending Services and Information Services was the implementation of the Voyager
library computer system. Workloads for the staff increased substantially in most
areas during this time. The majority of the serials records had to be
individually loaded by site staff and many bibliographic discrepancies were
exposed. However, a very successful cooperative effort by all Serials staff
across the MUL system helped ensure that almost all the records for the
Division's sites were loaded by early December, with a minimal disruption to
Library services.
The introduction of Voyager also had a major impact on the Lending Services
and Information Services areas. In addition to attending training sessions and
implementing new procedures and practices, staff in these two areas were at the
same time leading Library patrons through the routines of the new system. Some
of the sites rostered "roving" staff to provide on-the-spot help, as
well as running Voyager training sessions for students and university staff.
Orientation sessions were organised on all campuses to demystify Voyager and
offer new students assistance with accessing print and electronic information.
The Divisional staff were involved in several major collection transfers,
including Librarianship serials and monographs from Clayton to Caulfield, Art
& Design materials to Caulfield from Peninsula, and materials from the
Ambulance Officers' Training Centre Library to the Peninsula Library to support
the new Monash University Centre for Ambulance and Paramedic Studies (MUCAPS).
The Berwick Library substantially increased its print collection with the return
of 13,000 books from the Chisholm Institute of TAFE.
The Southdoc Heritage Index, a local history database of the people of
the Mornington Peninsula, including their activities and organizations, was
launched on 15 April. The Index is a joint project between the Monash University
Peninsula Library and the Frankston Library Service, and currently contains over
27,000 records, including cemetery records, state school records, newspapers and
donated items of local history. The database can be accessed on a computer at
the Peninsula Library or the Frankston City Library.
Berwick
Work which began in 1998 to extend the Berwick Library was completed in first
semester, 1999. The project, which doubled the size of the library, allowed
additional print copies and study spaces to be added to the library.
Caulfield
In 1999, the University allocated funding to renovate the Caulfield Library
and move the entrance from level three to level two. Nigel Jenkins was
commissioned to plan the renovations, as well as recommend improvements for use
of the current library space. All Caulfield Library staff had an opportunity to
meet with the architect and the Working Party to exchange information on needs,
and give feedback on proposals.
Gippsland
The official opening of the new Gippsland Library took place on 19 July 1999.
The Hon Phil Honeywood, the then Minister for Tertiary Education and Training,
opened the building, which had won the Master Builders Association of Victoria
South Eastern Region Building Award for projects over $2,000,000.
Peninsula
The Peninsula Library was officially opened on 30 April by the Deputy Vice
Chancellor, Professor Alan Lindsay. Professor Edward Lim congratulated the staff
of the Peninsula Library, especially Judy Hopley and Michael Barry, and the
award-winning architectural firm of Williams and Borg on the success of the
project.
Customer Satisfaction Survey
During the week of 26 April, Monash Library conducted a Customer Satisfaction
Survey based on the CAUL Clientele Congruence Survey. The Survey highlighted
concerns about the age and lack of breadth in the Gippsland collection, the need
for more print materials at Berwick and the need to expand and modernise the
facilities at Caulfield, as well as identifying areas of quality services on the
various sites. As a follow-up to the Survey, the major issues raised were
addressed in open letters to the patrons, displayed in the libraries.
Staff Perception Survey
In September 1998 the Staff Perception Survey was distributed to Monash
University Library staff. The results of this Survey were distributed in late
1998, and throughout 1999 the staff on the four sites met to discuss the issues
raised and to implement plans of action. A Monash University Library Working
Group, convened by Barbara Jacoby, was organised in June, 1999 to revise the
1998 questionnaire and administration procedures and address library-wide issues
raised by the Survey. Three other Divisional staff were members of the Working
Group: Andrew Dixon, Cheryl Kilgour and Janet McGarry.
The commitment of the Divisional staff to the Library was evident in the quality
service that was offered on all sites. Three Divisional staff, Bronwyn Dethick
Caulfield Library, Joyce Jenkin, Peninsula Library and Myles Strous, Gippsland
Library, were recognised for their excellent contributions by being awarded
Personal Development Awards. Heather Marshall was selected to attend the joint
Monash University/University of Melbourne residential program, "Learning
about Managing". In the Gippsland Library the secondment of one of the
Reference Librarians to Language and Learning Services for 12 months provided an
excellent career development opportunity for five other Gippsland staff to work
in another area of the Library.
Divisional staff participated in numerous other local and national staff
development activities, including Online & OnDisc 99 Conference, the ALIA
Victoria Branch Committee, ALIA Technicians Conference, the RAISS Conference,
CRIG Information Literacy seminar and various Voyager and SAP training sessions.
Also, staff participated in team building sessions at three sites.
Despite the increased use of the Web for information, large numbers of users
continued to come to the Library for print materials and access to electronic
information. In 1999, the Caulfield Library recorded 494,301 people entering the
Library, with 143,682 at Gippsland, 123,072 at Peninsula and over 78,000 at
Berwick. Gippsland and Berwick libraries recorded an increase in loans, and
Caulfield, Gippsland and Berwick answered more reference queries in 1999 than in
1998.
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