Q&A: David Wylie Student Award Winners

LIANZA DAVID WYLIE STUDENT AWARD

The David Wylie Award has been awarded annually by LIANZA since 1986 in memory of the former Victoria University of Wellington Librarian, David Wylie (1925–1985), in recognition of his strong involvement with education for librarianship.

It is awarded to both Victoria University of Wellington and Open Polytechnic students who are judged by their institution to have completed the best piece of written work on an aspect of library and information studies. From 2019, each award is for one year of LIANZA membership or LIANZA Professional Registration.

Open Polytechnic have awarded the following students the David Wylie Award for the best piece of work. This was for the papers 72370 Library and Information Issues and 72371 Policy and Planning for Information Services:

■ Elizabeth (Lisa) Tobler – 2018;

■ Lucinda Tsun – 2017; and

■ Sarah Hewitt – 2016.

We caught up with these three and asked them a few questions...

ELISABETH (LISA) TOBLER - 2018;

Q 1. AS YOU KNOW, THIS PRIZE IS PROVIDED ANNUALLY BY THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND AOTEAROA (LIANZA) IN MEMORY OF THE FORMER UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN DAVID WYLIE (1925-85), AND IN RECOGNITION OF HIS LONG CONCERN WITH EDUCATION FOR LIBRARIANSHIP. IT IS AWARDED TO THE STUDENT COMPLETING THE BEST PIECE OF WRITTEN WORK ON AN ASPECT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STUDIES. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PIECE OF WORK YOU WROTE THAT WON?

A I got the award for an assignment I wrote with the title: Preserving the value of information – The role of Public Libraries in the Age of Misinformation

It focuses on misinformation, different forms it can take, how it spreads and what the Library’s role should/could be in fighting it.

2. WHERE ARE YOU WORKING NOW AND WHAT IS YOUR ROLE THERE?

I am a Library Assistant at Takapuna Library in Auckland. As a Library Assistant I do a lot of desk work, such as checking in and checking out books, signing up new members and helping patrons with their enquiries or digital problems. I shelve books, mend books, and look after certain collections such as the magazines and part of the community languages.

All in all the job involves a lot of tidying up. I’m the Health and Safety representative of the library and am also involved in training new staff members.

3. IS THIS WHERE YOU EXPECTED TO END UP BACK WHEN YOU WERE STUDYING?

I’m still studying and won the David Wylie award only recently.

4. WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES/ PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER?

I hope to finish my studies in the next year and will, at some point after that, start my professional registration. I hope to one day ascend to a more senior role than what I’m in now. Apart from that I have no concrete plans; I quite like to take life as it comes.

SARAH HEWITT - 2016;

Q 1. I won the prize for Assignment 3 in 72370 Library and Information Issues at the Open Polytechnic which I did as part of a Diploma in Records and Information Management. The assignment was 22 pages long (including a contents page)! Overall it is a number of smaller projects that summarise ongoing learnings over the course. We had to keep a journal of relating to some of the activities in the course. There were a lot of my own opinions and reactions to the course content in the assignment, as well as a self-reflection on my learning (which I hate doing!).

A 2. I’m currently not in paid employment. I’m heavily involved in the local genealogical community. I’m convenor of the Kilbirnie Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG). I have produced a series of learning resources for them called “Getting It Right”. I am currently working on some new resources for the series, as well as being a member of an education group reporting to the Board of the NZSG. I also teach genealogy through the Wellington High School Community Education Centre.

3. I only had vague ideas of where things would go when I was studying. I did my diploma at a time when I wasn’t expecting to be working and could fit it in with family commitments.

4. Ideally, I’d love to work at Archives NZ or the National Library. I spend a lot of time as a user of their services and think they would be fascinating places to work! So much history!

LUCY TSUN - 2017;

Q 1. I wrote about Māori in public libraries – why biculturalism is important; how biculturalism can be applied in libraries; the impact of the digital divide upon Māori people and how our libraries can reduce the divide.

A 2. I was a casual library assistant at Auckland Libraries when I started studying for my diploma and may have just become permanent part-time staff when I wrote that piece.

3. Yes, I have no real hurry to do more than part-time hours as I have another 6 papers before completing my Bappsci. The Open Polytechnic libraries study I’ve completed so far has really helped me search and try out new ways of communicating and sharing information. However, I’ve had little involvement with Māori customers, aside from those who step into our space. Being part-time means that I can apply myself to my learning. One of the truly valuable aspects of studying has been learning about what there is yet to know. Being in a customer facing role can sometimes leave little energy for professional development.

4. When I have finished my degree (or if I choose to stop studying earlier) then I will want to take on more hours in my community library branches. My manager has already offered me many refreshing responsibilities and opportunities (e.g. adult literacy outreach, union representation, collections reporting) and I don’t imagine that much will change over the next few years.