Resource Evaluation Sheet

Resource type

Online database resource. Australia New Zealand Resource Centre, TAFE

library.

Harvard
referencing

Orbell-Smith, J 2014, Staying in the learning game, INCITE, vol. 35, no. 4, pp.
18- 19

What is it about?

This article makes the observation that professional isolation can be a barrier
to ongoing learning and career development. The author encourages readers
to engage more fully with others in their work environment. By actively
participating, they can maintain or gain skills, build professional and social
networks and lift their profile in the organisation. The author provides a list of
suggestions the reader can use to participate in their workplace more fully.

Currency

The article was published in 2014 and is adapted from an earlier version
published in 2012. Therefore it can be assumed to have been revised with new
content and can be considered to be an up to date resource.

Accuracy

Relevance

The author is the state manager for ALIA in Queensland and sits on the ALIA
Careers Advisory Committee. Given the content of the article, it can be
considered to be very accurate information, despite it being simply
observations and advice by her and other industry professionals.
The information is very relevant to the topic at hand, and provides useful
information to library workers at any level. It points out that professional
isolation is not an unusual condition and that taking steps to become more
fully engaged with others in the workplace is vital to any workers
professional development.

Scope

The article is written for a target audience of trained library workers by a

library professional and is published in an industry specific journal. However,
the advice imparted could be useful to almost any workplace or type of work.

Objectivity / Bias

There is no bias to this article. It is a series of observations by the author and

suggestions to overcome the problems discussed.

Location

The author lives and works in Queensland. The article appears in an

Australian journal. The issue of professional isolation is a worldwide one, and
the information contained would be relevant anywhere.

Was it a good
resource?

I think this is a good resource. It tackles one aspect of hindering career

development, professional isolation, and shows readers some steps they can
take to overcome that isolation. The suggestions are helpful and achievable
and are borne from the authors own experience and those of her colleagues. I
think the tips would be particularly useful to people who are just starting out
in library work and might not know how to start developing their career.