1. DIANA SIMPKINS
PO BOX 465, KATOOMBA NSW 2780
katherinesimpkins@hotmail.com
12th Jan 2013
Notre Dame University (Sydney Campus) - HR
I am applying for the Library Assistant positions – either Darlinghurst or Broadway Campus. I am extremely passionate
about all forms of social media and assisting customers, but due to my employer terminating me due to budget
constraints I am now unemployed after more than 8 yrs service with Lithgow Council. My husband died of a heart attack
at 50 so I’m very desperate in seeking a job to support my family.
I was acknowledged in 2010 along with NSW State Library in our first participation of #FollowaLibrary worldwide Twitter
on Oct 1st 2010. The organisers mentioned myself @wanglibrary and the State Library for our contributions. I also
participated in the first worldwide library conference in a virtual world held by the NSW State Library which was in World
of Warcraft organised by Ellen Forsyth NSW State Library Consultant.
My Twitter accounts are under @kraznozem @CorruptNSW @EarthDreamTime (@Wanglibrary -I no longer use that
account – due to my ex-employer council not wanting social media – despite previously being encouraged by
management to participate). I use Google+ under Di Simpkins and I have a Facebook account as well as Formspring,
YouTube, Pinterest, Flickr, Blogger accounts. Started Foursquare at my branch library 2 yrs ago but interest in a small
town outside Lithgow was low,
https://foursquare.com/v/wallerawang-branch-library/4cbe70680d22ef3b7afa2b70 and I also use a myriad of different
social media tools eg HootSuite and Google Analytics to see where traffic/interest are originating from in the world as
well as Adobe Social to analyse statistics from various social media platforms.
I was employed as a Permanent Part-time Library Officer for Wallerawang Branch Library working for Lithgow City
Council. I began this position over eight years ago and enjoyed working by myself in the small community library.
Meeting and being able to care and help everyone in our small community of Wallerawang was rewarding and humble.
From children through to the elderly, I was able to provide information and learning especially through social media
projects such as “our Town” wiki with Wallerawang Public School in conjunction with Gosford Public Library who were
the organisers.
Previously I worked for nine years with the BMCC Library. During this period, as well as being in charge of Katoomba
library on Saturdays, I relieved permanent staff at solely manned part-time branches during any annual leave thus
receiving a higher duties salary and also I relieved staff at full-time branches for any RDO or sick days. During this period
when I hadn’t received work from the BMCC Library, I gained professional library experiences through Zenith and One
Umbrella contracts working at Bankstown Civic Library as a Reference Officer then Lithgow, Richmond, Kingswood and
Penrith TAFE libraries as well as at the Blue Mountains Grammar High School.
I am versed in using Explorer, Chrome, Firefox etc. to search the Internet. Accessing the NSW State Library’s databases,
are another aspect of my work at the library to which I impart information to the borrower. Cataloguing was also part of
my duties. I was also encouraged by my library co-ordinator and senior management (have email proof of those years)
of council to twitter and blog for Wallerawang Branch Library since 2009 after completing the Web 2.0 and 2.1 course
with the NSW State Library which allowed me to promote the library, council and community locally and worldwide
www.wallerawanglibrary.blogspot.com (Wallerawang Library Blog has had over 590,000 visits /hits over 3 yrs compared
to neighbouring Blue Mountains City Library’s http://readersinthemist.wordpress.com/ which has only 19,953) and see
also my entry for the Local Government Cultural Awards 2011 http://culturalawards2011.lgsa.org.au/projects/31-
promoting-wallerawang-branch-library-and-its-community-internationally (only cached copy as LGSA are redesigning
site).
Thank you for perusing my letter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely, Diana Katherine SIMPKINS