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Last month, 76 academic library leaders gathered in Curtin Library’s beautiful Lantern venue for three days of inspiring and challenging presentations; thought-provoking ‘un-conference’ sessions exploring disruption to our institutions and profession; tours of the fully refurbished TL Robertson Library; plus some much-valued networking amongst other delights. This was the 2025 annual meeting of the Council of Australasian University Librarians (CAUL), a pivotal event on the CAUL calendar. The program also included the inaugural University Librarians Mentoring Program event and a celebratory cake-cutting ceremony in recognition of CAUL officially transitioning for the Council of Australian University Librarians to the Council of Australasian University Librarians with New Zealand members now recognised as full members.
CAUL Board Director Michelle Blake (University Librarian, University of Waikato), CAUL Board Chair Nicole Clark (University Librarian, QUT) and CAUL CEO Jane Angel cutting the celebratory cake.
University Librarian Kylie Percival was delighted to welcome colleagues representing almost all universities across Australia and New Zealand, many of whom were envious of our diverse and abundant student study spaces within the Robertson Library. The CAUL meeting is a rich opportunity for both University Librarians and Deputy Librarians to learn from one another, share best practices, and explore strategic approaches in response to our current sector challenges. Many interstate colleagues have parent institutions experiencing acute financial pressure in 2025, so there was heightened interest in sharing approaches to managing and containing costs and exploring the role that CAUL’s content procurement strategy could play in delivering improved return on investment through its publisher negotiations.
Libraries are natural collaborators, and that was very much evident across our Library focussed discussions which also centred on student experience and research support, both flavoured with emerging AI opportunities. Coincidently ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) also held its AGM in Perth that same week in May, so there was a rare opportunity for both Boards to network with each other and share information. Finally, there were also opportunities for attendees to visit other WA universities with tours to the updated Reed Library at the University of Western Australia, the recently fully refurbished University of Notre Dame Library and the noteworthy Boola Katitjin at Murdoch University.
Written by University Librarian, Kylie Percival
