This month we invited Brad Chugg, a Librarian, Systems Support and Delivery with Libraries Tasmania to give us a look into his working life.
Why did you decide on a LIS career? Describe the path you’ve taken to get here.
In a past life, I was studying accounting through TasTAFE and had been doing some volunteer work to build up my experience to try and secure my first paid job. As I had not been successful in securing any work for a few years and after having a chat with my accounting teacher, I went down to Launceston LINC to enquire about the different volunteering roles. After a few conversations, an induction and a some more training, I started out as a DigiBar Volunteer. After a few months of doing that, I started doing some relief work at Launceston Library (as the name had changed halfway through 2018).
Whilst I was a relief Customer Services Officer, I realised that I was enjoying working within the library environment and, never wanting to be an accountant, I decided to enrol into the Diploma of Library and Information Services through Swinburne University of Technology as something to do study wise. It wasn’t until I started working at the Launceston College library as a Library Technician and part-way through my diploma that I settled on a career within the LIS industry. The decision to become a qualified librarian was a bit different and started out with a ‘well why not as I have nothing else to do after work?’ whilst I was at Launceston College.
How does your current role fit with your reasons for joining the profession and your career goals?
My career goals have not been fixed since starting out with the profession, as I have been bouncing around positions. However, the longer-term goal for me is to have the opportunity to work within the profession in different parts of the globe and to experience the different cultures that are out there!
Being a Librarian with Systems Support and Delivery helps me achieve that goal as I am having the opportunity of being able to develop an understanding of different library professions (such as TasTAFE). Also, because of some of the projects I am working on, I have been exploring how different libraries globally tackle different issues, such as children memberships (and how we could improve the renewal experience for guarantors) and manipulating information through SharePoint to improve user experiences. These, along with working on the administration side of the library management system, is providing me with experiences that I can take to other libraries and other industries.
What are the key issues you face in your role? What are the rewards?
One of the key issues that I face in my position is the need to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders (both within the Department of Education but also externally such as suppliers). This is particularly relevant for the selection of the prison library management system, which has been a product I have been working on over the past month since I started in the role. The added difficulty is explaining what a library management system does and how it supports library staff to perform their work. It becomes rewarding when everything falls into place, or you manage to find a solution so you can progress forward with the plan.
What are you doing to support diversity, equity and inclusion in the sector?
One of my strong beliefs, which has really strengthened as I’ve worked in different libraries within the Tasmanian Library and Information Sector, is the need to make sure that there are as minimal barriers for people to access the information that they are after, and that their experiences are as inclusive as possible. This was in particularly whilst I was working within the school libraries at Launceston College and Kings Meadows High School, where school libraries are one of the few places where young people can access information.
The way I generally go about this is by asking ‘stupid questions’ (very ironic in our realm of work) when I notice something that doesn’t seem right, makes no sense or if something is missing. From these stupid questions grow discussions which leads to changes which, whilst are sometimes very small and minor, can make a major impact for library users. Some of these have included:
- Identifying inappropriate call numbers in the Launceston College non-fiction collection and rectifying the issue.
- Having the ‘Mx’ honorific included when members join Libraries Tasmania online.
- Figuring out ways to help young people to become Libraries Tasmania members when their parents are not physically present.
What career strategies and skills are important for a graduate starting out?
Being a graduate starting out, it has been important for me to maintain an open mind and always keep up to date with what is occurring within the industry. I’ve done this through:
- participating in the ALIA Mentorship Scheme (which I am very grateful for having my mentor, Jan Richards)
- attending/watching information sessions provided not just by ALIA, but also CILIP and ALA for an international perspective on the industry
- participating in networking opportunities so I can know who’s who within the industry (as library professionals never work in isolation, even if they are the only one of their kind within the library)
- always asking questions to find out why something happens the way it does
Additionally, I have always gone for whatever job opportunity that I could go for to have different experiences and not restricting myself to a specific library environment. Whilst my permanent positions have been Customer Services Officer and Library Services Officer at Launceston Library, I have found myself spending most of my career thus far working in different positions within Libraries Tasmania (such as the COVID-19 Response Coordinator and currently a Librarian) but also within the schools and colleges. These all have provided me with unique experiences which I have been able to draw upon when working on services or information for colleagues and clients. The experiences also have provided me with a better understanding of the joys and challenges that people face, from both a client and staff prospective, when interacting with different libraries for their information needs.
In addition to the above, I’m also the group secretary for the new ALIA Rainbow group, which was formed after the success from ALIA’s entry to Mardi Gras 2022. The aims of the group going ahead is to facilitate networking, support and professional development for library staff, particularly LGBTQIA+ and allies. Monthly meetings are held with plans to have discussions about different topics at the meetings in the future (such as representation within the industry, safe cataloguing, reading groups, etc).
The view from my desk
Seeing that the view from my immediate desk is a wall, that is a bit boring. Though if I take a couple of steps to the other side of the office, I get a stunning view of kunanyi / Mount Wellington!
ALIA Island 