ALIA submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Role of Libraries in the Online Environment

16 August 2002

Secretary
Senate ECITA References Committee
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Senate Inquiry into the Role of Libraries in the Online Environment

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the Senate's Inquiry into the Role of Libraries in the Online Environment. ALIA is the professional association for the library and information sector. ALIA represents over 5000 personal members, 1000 institutional members and 10 million library users.

The first object of the Australian Library and Information Association is to promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Australians and a thriving culture, economy and democracy. The challenge in a democratic society is to ensure that all people have the right to access and use the vast amount of information that is available in order to enhance our lives. As ALIA's Statement on information literacy declares:

'A thriving national and global culture, economy and democracy will be best advanced by people who recognise their need for information, and identify, locate, access, evaluate and apply the needed information'.

ALIA believes that it is in the national interest that Australian governments support and facilitate the role of libraries as providers of public information in the online environment. The Australian library and information services sector is innovative, adaptable and collaborative. It has a well-qualified and trained workforce. Many services are at the forefront of international practice. This has generally been achieved with fewer financial resources and less government support than comparable programs overseas. There are leadership opportunities for the Australian government in the further development of libraries as providers of online public information.

Our submission has been prepared following wide consultation with the representative sectors within our membership. It comprises four sections:

• Introduction
• An overview of the public library and information services sector, in response to the terms of reference (a)
• Information on library services and activities, in response to the terms of reference (b) and (d)
• Possible strategies in response to the terms of reference (c) and (e)

The Board of Directors commends the submission to the Committee.

Yours sincerely

Jennefer Nicholson
Executive director