After leaving 3 weeks ago I've been back to Swinnie twice this week. Susan, Emma and I gave a 'Tribute to Lilydale' presentation at the annual Big Day In for cross-campus library staff. We got a very warm reception although we boasted our heads off about all the great stuff we'd done in information literacy.
We reflected on the 2000 merger with Eastern TAFE and the chilly 'welcome' we got from our new colleagues when we moved into their space. My reputation as a know-it-all had preceded me and I got a particularly frosty reception.
The TAFE teachers were even more negative, anticipating (rightly) that we would put a stop to the flagrant copyright breaches, the sweetheart agreements and the amateurish manual processes they were accustomed to. For a couple of years many TAFE teachers would come into the library and walk straight out again if they couldn't see one of the old brigade on duty.
It took a long time but now both TAFE library and teaching staff are among my BFFs.
Eight of the 15 departing library staff were awarded our set of coveted and cherished Swinburne spoons to more thunderous applause. It was emotional but good.
The second event was the campus breakfast which was fine while I was there but I felt unsettled for the rest of the day. So I've withdrawn from the Christmas party at the winery but am steeling myself to the farewell for my 4 library colleagues next week. The number of attendees dwindles at each event and this is going to continue until July. The Staff Association president who organises all these events is finding it very dispiriting. So are we all.
