Work Shadowing

Claire and library staff.jpg (60486 bytes)

Work Shadowing Program

Mackay Regional Libraries &

Mackay West State School

The Library Staff at Mackay West State School and Mackay Regional Libraries completed a Work Shadowing Program over a four week period. Each participant spent one week working with their counterpart in their place of work.

Participants

· Margaret Spillman, Teacher-Librarian, Mackay West State School

· Lorraine Todd, Library Assistant, Mackay West State School

· Claire Grandcourt, Young Peoples Librarian, Mackay City Council Library Services

· Kate Bungay, Library Assistant, Mackay City Council Library Services

In the past two years we have begun to develop an excellent collaborative working relationship with staff from Mackay City Library and in particular, with Claire and Kate. Claire has been a wonderful support for our Library Monitor program. She has hosted many visits by our Monitors. During Education Week 2003, the City Library hosted a display of our library Monitor program. Claire used elements of this display during the recent Queensland Public Libraries Conference held in Mackay in June to detail the collaborative relationship which can be developed between school and public libraries.

What is Work Shadowing?

"Work Shadowing operates by an observer following (another) during typical work days; observations are followed by feedback sessions during which the (work shadowing pair) reflect on what occurred." Resnick & King 1995

Why Work Shadow? (Mackay Connects Workshadowing Program)

	Open up cross-sector relationships.
	Work across sectors, agencies and other organisations.
	Draw upon and value the expertise and experience of our leaders, leaders in other organisations and the community.
	Demonstrate the value of learning in partnership rather than isolation.
	Gain greater understanding of roles of others outside one's own workplace.
	Share information.

Connecting School and Public Library Professionals

	Collaboration is the key for public librarians to take advantage of the in-depth knowledge and expertise that school library staff possess.
	Jointly promote each other’s resources.
	To form network groups and share basic information.
	School libraries to make city libraries aware of curriculum changes.
	Shared vision of young people as information literate and independent life-long learners.
	Better and more successful use of resources available in public libraries.

Interesting Points

	In Norway cooperation between school and public libraries is mandatory.
	30% of all public library users are primary school students.