So you’ve just qualified as a library technician – what now? Do you want to learn about career options? Take on some professional development? Network with others in the same situation as yourself?
The 6th New Librarians Symposium (NLS6) can help you do all of this, and the great thing is, the conference is not just for librarians (despite the misleading conference title). Library technicians are more than welcome to attend and I believe they should. Why? Library technicians often have a unique perspective on the industry, and it would be great to see their fresh ideas and energy at the symposium.
Being a new graduate can be tough no matter which course you have graduated from, and events like the NLS6 can help technicians in so many ways. You can find out about the issues that are confronting the libraries at large, get unique perspectives from industry leaders and attend workshops that give you important workplace skills. Who knows it might even give you an edge answering a question in an interview or taking on a new project at work.
I’d love to see lots of new graduates at the conference, whatever course you have graduated from, and it’s not too late to register (ends 8th February)! Look forward to seeing you all there!
Claire has always been passionate about libraries and library work. She qualified as a library technician after leaving high school in 1997. Claire has held library assistant and library technician positions in academic, public, special and school libraries.
In 2011 she was the Social and Tours co-ordinator for the Back to Basics National Library and Information Technicians conference held in September. After graduating at the end of 2011 with a Graduate Diploma of Science (Information Services), Claire is currently working as Assistant Branch Librarian at Osborne Park Public Library. Interests outside work include sailing, scrapbooking and barracking for the Dockers 
. She is also delivering a presentation titled: ‘Know thy technician: examining working relationships between librarians and library technicians’ on the NLS6 showcase session.
