Dorrigo Library Branch Officer, Tamar Collier, has received the Kath Knowles Emerging Leaders Award which comes in the form of a $2,000 bursary to attend SWITCH, the annual conference of the NSW Public Libraries Association.
Open to staff members who have been working in the library profession for less than 10 years, the award provides the opportunity for recipients to undertake professional development focusing on leadership training.
Tamar is one of five 2025 recipients of the Kath Knowles bursary, chosen from a field of high-quality applicants across NSW, and has just attended the 2025 SWITCH conference, held from November 11-14 in Sydney.
Tamar is a passionate advocate of libraries as a place to access free and open information and ideas, while supporting the fundamental belief in literacy as a human right.
“Beyond sharing a love of books and reading with our patrons, I am passionate about supporting our community to connect with the world and each other through their local library,” said Tamar Collier.
“I love living and working in our beautiful community and am grateful for the relationships I have had the opportunity to build with so many people who use our library from the youngest babies who come to Storytime through to the vibrant seniors who join us for Friday Film Club.’”
“My highlight at the recent SWITCH conference was listening and speaking to passionate library professionals about the incredible diversity of programs and services being offered in communities across NSW and being reminded of the incredibly important role that libraries play in the lives of individuals and our broader democracy.”
Bellingen Shire Council General Manager, Mark Griffioen is proud of Tamar’s success and acknowledges Tamar’s contribution both to Dorrigo and the network of Bellingen Shire libraries.
“Tamar’s return has already strengthened our libraries with fresh ideas and renewed energy. The Kath Knowles Emerging Leaders Scholarship is a valuable opportunity for professional development and we’re proud to see her step into this next phase of her leadership journey. We wish her every success as she continues to grow and serve our library communities.” said Mark Griffioen.
Presentation of award at the recent SWITCH conference L-R: Representative of the Book House, Romola Hollywood, President of the NSW Public Libraries Association, Tamar Collier, Dorrigo Library Branch Officer.