Strategic review of library co-ordination and representation

March 1997

Introduction

This review was established to propose options for the most effective organisational structure for the library and information sector into the next century. The assessment of what will be required is to be based on the leadership, representation and coordination needs of the sector.

As the pre-eminent national body for the library community, ALIA is constantly reviewing the needs of the membership and the sector more generally. Our organisation has been constantly evolving as an analysis of its growth and development since its establishment in 1937 demonstrates. This evolution has been tied to the changing demands of the sector and the political, social and economic environment. The formal adoption of the ALIA Strategic Plan 1997-2001 (see Attachment) by ALIA General Council on 13 March 1997 is the latest iteration of the goals towards which our Association is striving into the next century.

ALIA General Council, in formulating its contribution to this review, proposes to the consultant that it is desirable to have a single peak body representing the sector. To a large extent this role is already performed by our Association. Our capacity to perform this role will be further enhanced should the services currently undertaken by the Australian Council for Libraries and Information Services (ACLIS) be incorporated within the ALIA umbrella.

No organisation with representation and co-ordination responsibilities can afford to be complacent about its performance. There are always new aspirations which guide our evolution. But any developments must be contained within the financial and human resources which can be accessed. The resources which could be harnessed through the emergence of one peak organisation may boost ALIA's capacity to meet the needs of the library and information sector into the next century - but this thesis would require careful examination.

History of our Association

In August 1937 fifty-five librarians meeting at the Albert Hall in Canberra formed the Australian Institute of Librarians. The Great Depression had elevated social and political awareness, especially as issues such as censorship and repression of free expression emerged. Our founding fathers believed that the development of appropriate standards of education for librarians and the development of policies to combat the erosion of individual rights to access information (largely through the promotion of free library services) could best be achieved through the foundation of a national body. They believed in access to 'the best that has been and is being thought and said, pictured and played, written and read by our people, and throughout the world, just so that we can turn upon stock notions and habits a stream of thought that is fresh, and free' [John Metcalfe, "Cultural Institutions in the Australian Community: 'To Hell With Culture'", Australian Quarterly 17 (March 1945)].

In its pursuit of the development of education standards the Institute established a system for examining and certificating librarians. The first examinations were held in 1944. In 1949 the Australian Institute of Librarians became the Library Association of Australia and in 1988 the Australian Library and Information Association. In 1974 the LAA's Board of Examiners was restructured into the Board of Education - the name it still maintains. In 1980 the Registration Examinations were discontinued. The change of name to include 'information' was recognition of the role of the library professional in the broader information service sector. The move to Canberra from Sydney in 1990 was recognition of the importance of building up the national profile through increased political advocacy. Each change represents the process of constant review, expansion and growing professionalism within the Association.

Many of the concerns which led to the formation of the Institute in 1937 remain issues of concern today. While new information technologies have transformed the information service landscape, it is not surprising that copyright, preservation, legal deposit, privacy, content regulation and censorship, literacy, information literacy, education and training continue to be the focus of activity.

The Association today

As we approach the next millennium ALIA is a growing, financially secure, broadly focussed and relevant organisation. We have over 8000 members drawn from the school, TAFE, university, public and private sectors. A staff of twenty-two services the membership from the Association's National Office in Canberra (Organisation Chart attached). Staff provide advice to members and co-ordinate Association activities in the areas of industrial relations, library promotion, education, training and professional development, professional standards and information technology.

In the five-year period from 1991 to 1996 the Association increased its personal membership by approximately 6.5 per cent. There was an increase in institutional (including voucher only) membership of about 3.5 per cent. Full institutional members increased by 7 per cent.

The Association represents all areas within the sector through its 102 divisions which include sections and special interest groups. Sections organised at both the national and branch or state level represent the following interests:

• acquisitions
• cataloguers
• children's and youth services
• education for library and information services
• health libraries
• Information science
• library technicians
• literacy
• local studies
• public libraries
• reference and information services
• school libraries
• special libraries
• technical and further education and
• university, college and research libraries.

The Special Interest Groups further demonstrate the diversity of interests of the membership. In 1997 the following Special Interest Groups are operating to meet member needs:

• Asia and Pacific
• Australian serials
• Distance education
• Disabilities interest group
• Home library services
• Information theory and research
• Library buildings and equipment
• One-person Australian libraries
• Online users
• Preservation of library materials
• Rare books and special collections and
• Rural and isolated libraries.

ALIA committees work to ensure that the Association takes a leading role in matters of concern to the library sector both nationally and internationally. The following ALIA committees and task forces ensure that exist to maximise the Association's involvement in the following important areas:

• Information technology and telecommunications,
• Copyright,
• Information literacy,
• Literacy and
• International relations.

ALIA also has representation on the following boards and committees which enable the Association to maintain a continuing involvement and enable development of issues in these areas:

• National Book Council,
• Australian Committee on Cataloguing,
• Australian Library and Information International Services Advisory Council,
• Cultural Ministers' Council, Libraries Working Group,
• National Scholarly Communications Forum and
• CREATE Australia (industry training board).

The Association undertakes an important role in ensuring that courses in library and information services equip graduates to meet current and future requirements for practice and to develop their expertise. ALIA's Board of Education regularly assesses courses delivered in the TAFE and university sectors which lead to a first award qualification in the library and information sector. The process of recognition of courses provides a basis for portability of qualifications in library and information studies throughout Australia. The role of the ALIA Board of Education is the subject of a separate submission to the consultant.

Attached to this submission can be found a comprehensive listing of recent ALIA publications which demonstrates our commitment to reporting on a breadth of issues, providing relevant advice and information to our members and shaping the public policy debate where relevant. The Strategic Plan, recent ALIA conference schedule, ALIA Handbook and examples of publications and booklets on professional issues are an indicator of the comprehensive range of our Association's activities.

The way ahead

In a speech at the Curtin University of Technology in 1996, the ALIA executive director spoke about some of current challenges for libraries:

The library today must be able to demonstrate its relevance and cost effectiveness to whatever public or private organisation 'foots the bill'. The library is our access to the world of knowledge and is part of the world's knowledge economy. We must form partnerships with the professions around us and demonstrate that with the development of new information technologies libraries are more relevant, more essential than ever before. We must continue to protect the interests of our users from [those] who seek opportunities to erode our hard won rights of access to information. We must pursue the rights of equity of access to information of our communities. In short, we must have the capacity to think strategically, to become the information warriors of the twenty first century.

This passage highlights many of the significant issues that are shaping the future of our Association. We are well aware that if we fail to address the big issue of the future role of the professional librarian, library technician, related professionals, para-professionals and other information workers, we will fail to maintain our position as a significant force within our own sector and beyond. Through a process of continual assessment we believe that our Association is well placed to emerge as a strong and forceful entity in the next century.

During the consultations associated with this review the issue has been raised of the capacity of one peak organisation to meet the needs of both individuals and institutions. This already occurs within ALIA without difficulty. Indeed, the interests of the individual and the library organisation are not easily separated in the manner that might be associated with trade and industrial bodies. Institutional issues in our sector are not principally employer oriented as, in the main, libraries and information services are part of a larger organisational structure (such as in universities, TAFE, schools and special libraries). In the work of ACLIS, a body exclusively representing institutions, the key issues of business revolve around service delivery, co-operation with related sectors and legal and regulatory matters (copyright and online content regulation for example). All of these issues are relevant to the individual and are reflected in the program of activities undertaken by ALIA.

It is in the area of copyright that ACLIS has played an outstanding role in recent years. There exists no reason why ALIA could not perform this role into the future should ACLIS no longer exist. Indeed, the reason that ALIA has played a more low-key role in relation to copyright has been for the practical purpose of recognising the futility of duplication of activity. It has not been a response to the proposition that copyright is an 'institutional' issue. Indeed it is difficult, on any basis of analysis, to reach such a conclusion.

In the light of the foregoing there is nonetheless potential for the re-evaluation of services provided to institutional members within ALIA. This is a recurring item of business for our General Council and, in the event that ACLIS does not continue to exist, this matter would become the focus of detailed study and consultation with library institutions. Any number of options for organisational reform resulting from such review could be proffered. In the absence of detailed evaluation such suggestions would be of little immediate value.

ALIA has an extensive network of relationships with other related organisations. The networks are both formal and informal and extend beyond the library and information service community. There could be scope for the formalisation of a network of library organisations through the establishment of an annual summit where key issues are discussed. This may facilitate the exchange of views, the avoidance of duplication and the identification of areas for collaboration between ALIA and other groups such as:

• Council of Australian University Librarians
• Australian School Libraries Association
• Council of Australian State Librarians
• Australian Law Librarians Group
• New Zealand Library and Information Association

This is not a recommendation to the consultant, but one of many options for the formalisation of relationships between associations.

Conclusion

There is considerable goodwill among the members of the library community towards the concept of one peak body. ALIA supports this concept and has the infrastructure, resources and competence to absorb additional responsibilities should ACLIS no longer exist. We would expect that negotiation with the library and information community would result in organisational adjustments to accommodate any additional responsibilities and enhance services to existing and new members.