Janet Jones

Department of Tourism Sport and Culture

I arrived in Darwin with an RAAF partner and 3 young children on 2nd January, 1990 following a 2.5 year stint in Katherine.

After settling the family into our new home and schools, I set about finding a job.

I gained employment with the Northern Territory Library & Information Services in the acquisitions area, and a few months later applied for and won a Library Technician Traineeship.

With no former experience of libraries and back to studying with a young family I was on a heavy learning curve.

Four years later I was qualified and started many years undertaking work in Acquisitions, Cataloguing, Public Library Services, Reference Services, Community Library Services and currently Education Services.

There have been many highlights during my time but those that stand out for me are:

• travelling to and working with local Library Officers in remote indigenous communities
• the many friendships I have made all over the Territory through my work
• meeting and gaining knowledge from staff throughout the NT Government
• In 2000 receiving the Australian Library & Information Association NT Library Technician of the Year award for working with Special Needs Children on Work Experience classes.