[LINK] Changes at the State Library of NSW

[Kevin McKern]

I was service development officer for several years and for the last twelve
months acting manager but I'd like linkers to know I am no longer with
ILANET. I just want to say how fine it was working at the State Library of
NSW for eight years and to tell you I have had my contract paid out and have
left the library. Lucy Arundel, the newly appointed Assistant State
Librarian Electronic Library Services made the decision. Christine Davie,
A/Manager of NSW.net, which provides federally funded database subscriptions
to public library staff & patrons was also terminated the week before. In a
letter to the Executive & Library Council I noted in part:

"The stream of innovation that supported the small success that is ILANET
arose out of the creativity of the team, which was motivated to maintain
high service levels by our understanding of the needs of the clients and the
role ILANET still plays in addressing issues of access inequity by providing
casual access to a range of database services many of our clients could not
otherwise afford. Whatever commitment, passion and effort I bought to ILANET
was motivated mainly by my desire to contribute to an institution that had
been generous to me...

The newly appointed Assistant State Librarian Electronic Library Services is
currently changing the structure of that Branch. Whatever the as yet
unexplained justifications for those changes, I would like you also to note
my profound personal objection to the abrupt, disruptive and deliberately
humiliating manner whereby the then A/Manager NSW.net, Christine Davie, and
I were terminated. To be asked to pack up and leave the building in thirty
minutes after years of service might be considered occasionally justifiable
in the cut throat and philistine world of commerce but it is hardly
appropriate for an institution that should reflect and uphold the best and
most noble and liberal traditions of both western civilisation and
Australian public service.

I understand that the State Librarian was recently awarded an Order of
Australia for her contribution to online services. I should like to suggest
that as it was clearly the highly creative work of the talented, if
sometimes occasionally eccentric, group of individuals that make up the ELS
branch that made that honour credible, we had already earned the confidence,
support and respect of the library and the right to be party to rather than
simply victims of whatever changes the new Assistant State Librarian,
Electronic Library Services plans.

I very much miss my team and all my colleagues on level nine as well as my
friends throughout the library and would like to take this opportunity to
wish you all the very best for the future."

Business matters should be referred to ilanet at ilanet.net.au

All the best.
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Kevin Sydney McKern
kevinmckern at iinet.net.au
Telephone: 061-02-97978310
Cell: 0411796277
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