ALIAWest invited guest bloggers to write about their experience attending the Connect, Create, Collaborate event at the State Library of WA in September. Jenny Lucas welcomed the invitation and although we’d like to think we organised a great event, it’s best to hear it from Jenny! Jenny works as Coordinator of Library Services in the Shire of Mundaring.
Last Friday, I had the pleasure of attending Connect, Create, Collaborate at the State Library of Western Australia—and what a fantastic day it was!
The event brought together library professionals from across WA, all eager to share ideas, celebrate innovation, and explore new ways to work together. From the moment I arrived, the energy was uplifting. It was clear we were all there for the same reason: to connect, learn, and grow.
A Huge Thank You to the Legends Behind the Scenes
Before diving into the highlights, I want to acknowledge the incredible effort that went into making the day such a success:
- ALIA West – for organising a seamless and engaging event.
- SLWA – for being such welcoming hosts.
- All the staff – your hard work kept everything running smoothly.
- Presenters – thank you for generously sharing your time, resources, and insights.
- Sponsors – your support helped bring this inspiring day to life.
Collaboration: The Heart of Innovation
One of the strongest themes of the day was the power of collaboration. Whether it was partnerships between libraries and schools, or cross-departmental teamwork, the message was clear: working together leads to better outcomes.
The session on Partnerships Between School and Public Libraries was particularly memorable. It highlighted the importance of persistence and adaptability—when something didn’t work, it was reimagined, not abandoned. I also found the insights from Driving Collaboration with DCWA and UWA fascinating. It’s exciting to see how specialised partnerships can unlock new opportunities for libraries.
Youth and Literacy Initiatives That Inspire
The creativity and impact of youth-focused programs were truly impressive:
- Narrogin Libraries’ Paint the Town Read embraced inclusivity with Key Word Storytime, sign language, and support workers. Their mascot, Nelly the Numbat, was a crowd favourite! It was inspiring to hear how staff undertook Auslan training to make the program more accessible.
- City of Joondalup’s Reading Ready Project introduced borrowable literacy kits developed with the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation. With hundreds of loans in just 12 months, it’s clearly meeting a need—and I loved that they’ve created guides for other libraries to replicate the initiative.
- Better Beginnings & The Kids Institute’s A Rhyme a Day session revisited the history of the program and introduced the Bright Tomorrows App, which offers over 1,000 brain-building activities for families. It’s a fantastic resource I’ll be promoting to our patrons.
Internal collaboration also shone through in Spines and Ladders, which gamified library engagement in a fun and effective way. And the Intergenerational Books and Collaborative Work session gave me a new appreciation for the logistics of stock coordination across sectors.
Access, Law, and the Future of the Profession
One of the most eye-opening sessions was Access to Library Resources for Incarcerated Students at Curtin. Len Nielsen’s and Lydia Dawe’s explanation of Section 200AB of the Copyright Act was a game-changer—it reminded us that libraries have powerful tools to expand access, and we shouldn’t be afraid to use them.
Other highlights included:
- New Insights Through the State Archives – a compelling reminder of the importance of record keeping.
- Students in Industry – Grace Muir and Holly Munt delivered a thoughtful presentation on applying theory to practice.
- My Prac Placement Experience – a great session that highlighted the mutual benefits of student placements.
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going
The closing session, Public Libraries: Leveraging Collective Success, was the perfect wrap-up. It reinforced the value of ongoing conversations and collaboration—because you never know when someone will share an idea that changes everything.
I left feeling energised, inspired, and proud to be part of such a passionate and forward-thinking sector. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to connect, create, and collaborate.
Cheers!
Jenny Lucas
Images supplied by ALIAWest Committee
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