My name is Liviana Tabalala and I am coordinator for the Certificate in Basic Skills in Library/Information Studies. I come from the province of Nadroga, Fiji.

After secondary school, I did a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Administration at the USP. My first job was a teaching position in a secondary school in Fiji. I taught English, Geography and Social Science. The time spent at the school was enjoyable and rewarding for me.

Early in 1993, I joined the USP Library as a graduate trainee. I had to go through a training programme on the activities and duties associated with the 5 main sections of the library: Acquisitions/Gifts and Exchanges, Cataloguing, Serials, Reader Services and Pacific Collection.

I enjoyed the transition made from teaching to libraries and counted myself fortunate to be working in a large academic library in the South Pacific.

In 1995, I completed a Post-graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies from the Victoria of University of Wellington. I returned to the USP Library in 1996, where I was offered the position of Serials Librarian.

In October 1998, I joined the Training section of the library, as one of the 2 coordinators of the library studies course. After 3 years of teaching, I went for further studies and in 2002 received a Masters in Library and Information Studies, also from VUW.

I am married with 2 children. My interests range form reading, listening to gospel music and singing, to cooking, gardening and traveling.

I hope that you enjoy the Certificate Programme and learn from your experiences. If you have any questions or concerns about it, please contact your USP Centre or local tutor. If for some reason they cannot provide you with the information you need, you may contact me directly by writing to the USP Library, Suva, Fiji (remember that it may take some time to get a reply by mail) or by phone =679 312 2283 or fax +679 323 1528. My email is libtrain(at)usp.ac.fj

Good luck with your studies.