QCAT Librarian Anna Clark and CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark.

So what’s it like to have the Chief Executive follow you around at work for a day? Not as scary as you might imagine, writes QCAT Librarian Anna Campbell.

I’LL ADMIT TO FEELING A FEW NERVES before Megan Clark arrived. After all, it’s not every day you get to host the boss for a day and share your job with her.

This unusual opportunity grew out of a discussion with Megan at the most recent meeting of CSIRO Consultative Council, which I attended with the Staff Association.

I was there to present the findings of a survey conducted by the Staff Association into Library Services. The results demonstrated the value researchers place on CSIRO libraries and their staff and revealed concerns about a proposal to reduce current support levels.

I had read an article in BRW which detailed Megan’s program whereby staff could shadow her. I suggested that a reverse shadowing program would be of value as well, and became the first participant in the scheme on the spot, when Megan proposed a visit to QCAT to spend a day ‘shadowing’ me to better understand the work and support librarians provide.

Less than three months later I found myself greeting an enthusiastic Chief Executive, ready for a day on the library front lines. So how did it go?

Read the full story in the Spring Edition of Wavelength.