Tasmanian Library Advisory Board

Jan has extensive public library experience (30 + years) at a senior management level, and a strong record of working with local, state and federal governments in advocating for libraries. In late 2020 she moved to Tasmania from NSW, making the change from managing a large, multi-council, regional library service into consultancy (Jan Richards Consulting). Jan thrives on working with colleagues, giving them the proficiencies and confidence to make positive change.

Jan is a past President and Fellow of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), and past Chair (2008-2020) of the Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA). In her APLA role she worked closely with colleagues from Libraries Tasmania and has a clear understanding of the history, successes and challenges that face the network.

Jan is an engaged affiliate of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), and have held a number of elected positions over the past decade in the areas of Public Libraries, Literacy and Reading and Standards.

Beth Warren has a lifelong passion for information and good communication, having completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Information Science (later called IT). She has a keen interest in the appropriate use of technology as the foundation for streamlining business processes; and is focussed on providing high quality data to support informed decision making. This was gained through many years working in the software development industry, business analysis and project management of software systems.

She has built a career based on explaining complicated concepts in plain English.

Beth is currently a Councillor on Clarence City Council and sings with the TSO Chorus.

Ceilidh Newbury (they/she) is a queer writer and community service worker based in Pataway/Burnie, who moved to Lutruwita/Tasmania in 2021. Ceilidh works for Working It Out, Tasmania’s LGBTIQA+ support, advocacy, and education service. Ceilidh has also been on the executive committee of North West Pride, helped establish the Pride group at Smithton High School, and volunteered with Burnie Library.

Ceilidh is passionate about the celebration of marginalised identities through storytelling and the importance of libraries and archives as safe, inclusive community spaces. They hold a Master of Creative Writing among various other qualifications in education, culture studies, and technical production.

She writes and reads across genres from young adult slashers, adult fantasy rom-coms, and strange short fiction, to angsty poetry and LGBTIQA+ history. Their short fiction has been published in several anthologies. Their poetry was recently exhibited at Queer Art Collective’s 2024 Pride in Arts exhibition at Artscape in Wynyard.

Dr Snowden is a professional historian, heritage consultant and genealogist. She served as Chair of the Tasmanian Heritage Council from 2012-2014 and lectured in online Family History at University of Tasmania from 2014 to 2016. Dianne taught Adult Education classes in family history for more than 25 years.

Dianne is Chair of the Cascades Female Factory Community Advisory Committee and founding member of the Female Convicts Research Centre. She is a former Director of the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) and the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council.

Dianne’s most recent publication (with Irish historian Joan Kavanagh) is Van Diemen’s Women: A history of Transportation to Tasmania.

Dick has a lifelong interest in adult literacy. He is the Patron, and a Life Member of the Tasmanian Council for Adult Literacy. He is well known for his advocacy for adult learners in Tasmania. Dick was a National Ambassador of the National Year of Reading for 2012 and is a member of the Tasmanian Book Council.

Dick has sat in both State and Federal Parliaments, the latter for 20 years finishing in 2013. He has been involved in many committees included chairing the Parliamentary Library Joint Committee and was the Federal Parliament representative on the National Library Board. On leaving Federal Parliament in 2013, Dick was elected to the Northern Midlands Council.

Heather’s career in the library/information services sector has spanned 3 continents. After retiring from full-time executive work, she continues to champion libraries and is currently Vice President of the Friends of the Library Launceston.

Heather started as a Library Assistant in her birth town of Edinburgh, Scotland – the first UNESCO City of Literature – and then lived in South Africa for 4 years before returning to university in the UK.

After a career across various library sectors and countries, she moved into business development roles in the commercial sector, including becoming Director of RMIT Publishing. A move from Melbourne to Tasmania in 2017 ignited a great passion for Tasmanian food, wine and culture.

Joanne Horton has over 15 years of experience in youth development and is currently the Project Manager at the Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT), the peak body for youth affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours and a Certificate IV in Project Management.

Since 2018, Joanne has led YNOT’s youth participation and engagement activities, working directly with young people to ensure their voices are heard and meaningfully considered in decision-making processes. She is passionate about empowering young people to shape the decisions and policies that impact their lives and communities.

Joanne is dedicated to collaborating with young people to ensure Libraries Tasmania remains accessible, inclusive, and innovative and that its services, programs, and spaces meet the needs and aspirations of young people.

Lilian has a strong interest in the Libraries Tasmania 26Ten program. After raising her four children, Lilian trained and volunteered in the 26Ten program, before working in allied health in rural Tasmania. The practice of storytelling and story keeping for vulnerable and marginalised groups is a significant thread in her life and work experience.

Lilian has completed a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Management), and graduate studies in education, pastoral theology and counselling. She is currently studying sustainable business. Lilian has a diverse range of skills and experience in state and federal government, including in Defence. As an enthusiastic lifelong learner and writer, she welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Libraries Tasmania.

Dr Duniam’s expertise is in local government. She has been a Councillor of Waratah-Wynyard for seventeen years, Deputy Mayor for eight years and is Deputy Chief Representative of the Cradle Coast Authority. In 2017, Mary obtained a PhD relating to local government and social enterprises in Tasmania, illustrating that community is the potential terrain for social entrepreneurship and collective impact. She has also co-authored chapters in three separate research publications. Mary is a current Board Member of the Tasmanian Women’s Council and the Tasmanian Heritage Council; and is also Deputy Chief Representative on the Cradle Coast Authority.

Mary Lijnzaad is the manager of the library at the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), and has worked with that collection for 22 years. She worked in disability services and staff training for 10 years prior to moving to Tasmania in 1996 where she retrained in library services. Mary has a passion for libraries and the provision of access to quality information and educational services that enable lifelong learning. She also has a keen interest in library technologies and design and how they can be utilised to improve user outcomes.

Patrick has over twenty years of library sector leadership experience across state libraries and archives, public libraries and special libraries.

Before joining Libraries Tasmania in 2023, Patrick led Library & Archives NT, the Northern Territory’s ‘state’ library and archives service, bringing the Northern Territory Library and Northern Territory Archives Service into a single organisation. Prior to spending ten years in the Territory he worked across a number of roles at State Library Victoria.

At Library & Archives NT, he worked extensively with library services in regional and remote areas, and has strong interests in sharing cultural collections with wider audiences, working with First Nations communities to develop culturally safe collections and spaces, and developing literacy and reading throughout our communities.

Tim Jarvis is the director of Fullers Bookshop, Hobart, where he has worked since 2013, before taking over ownership in 2021. Fullers is an award-winning independent bookshop and has been a valued Tasmanian institution for more than 100 years. He is passionate about connecting books with people, and in his time at Fullers he has significantly expanded the book events and reading group programs, as well as partnering to promote literacy (particularly through Connect42 and the Indigenous Literacy Fund). Prior to this, he completed a PhD in Philosophy at UTAS, where he also taught and started a Philosophy Society. He has been a judge for various literacy events at schools, notably the Readers’ Cup and the Philosothon.

Tasha Tyler-Moore is our newest board member, representing the Local Government Association of Tasmania.

Currently Kingborough Council’s Manager, Development Services, Ms Tyler-Moore has over 20 years’ experience in the local government sector both in Tasmania and Victoria. She is very passionate about the value of libraries to the community and importance of archives.