16 August 2000

In this aliaNEWS broadcast...

ALIA president Mairéad Browne writes...

Labour hire task force

ALIA Annual General Meeting

National Policy Congress

ALIA's core values - comment invited

ALIA2000 - have you registered?

11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference

ALIA Study Grants

Anne Harrison Award 2000

Feedback

ALIA president Mairéad Browne writes...
'One of the best aspects of being president of ALIA is the opportunity to travel across the country and meet with a wide range of individual librarians and library technicians. I have just recently returned from visits to Perth, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Darwin, Townsville, and Cairns where I spoke with members (and maybe a few potential converts?) about the new ALIA.

'Now, this was not a hard task - there is so much to tell about the new directions of the Association. Members were keen to hear more about the National Policy Congress (NPC) and how well the first Congress worked as a vehicle to feed advice to the Board of Directors. There was enthusiasm expressed for the flexibility, which will allow groups to self-nominate and seek funds for specific short or longer term-activities. We talked also about the idea of 'local presence' and ways this might work (without sending ALIA broke!). Members were especially interested in the modus operandi of the new Board where the focus of the Board is on development of strategic agendas to build directly on one or more of the Objects of the Association.

'In our discussions there was reflection on the general situation being faced by associations of all kinds worldwide. People have less time these days to devote to voluntary or professional activities outside work. And with that, there is more need to see the direct benefits for efforts put into participation.

'I came away from these conversations for with a definite sense there is a high level of support among the membership-at-large for the new ALIA. The drive for radical change in the structure - which came through at the NPC - was also evident in the level of support for a service-oriented and flexible ALIA.

'The Board of Directors is working hard with ALIA National Office to turn these ideas into a reality for members. We have much work to do to change the way the Association operates and to rekindle enthusiasm for participation. It will take some time to turn things around and the Board will need to develop some smart strategies and ensure that we keep in step with the members' wishes.

'We look forward to your continued support during this process. We will do our best in pursuing the renewal process and delivering the kind of Association of which we can be proud to be members.'

Labour hire task force
A number of ALIA members have recently expressed serious concerns about the increasing use by organisations of labour hire companies. Downward pressure on wage levels, growing casualisation and major confusion about the employment contract and its inherent obligations are some of the issues which are worrying members. NSW members will be interested to note the announcement by the state government of a major investigation into the activities of labour hire companies by a task force chaired by Jennie George, former president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. The task force will examine, among other things, whether there should be new laws to regulate the relationship between employers, workers and agencies, whether legal obligations should be more clearly defined and whether employment conditions of the host organisation's awards and agreements should be legally imposed on the labour hire companies from which organisations acquire workers.

ALIA will be considering whether to make a formal submission to the task force about broader aspects of the subject. Individuals may want to raise their own specific concerns too. Information can be found at [http://www.dir.nsw.gov.au/action/policy/labourhire.html] or by telephoning 02 9243 8869. Written submissions can be lodged with the NSW Department of Industrial Relations, PO Box 847, Darlinghurst 1300, marked 'Labour Hire Task Force'.

ALIA Annual General Meeting
The AGM will be held at 5.30pm 25 October 2000 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra. Motions for discussion at the AGM should be forwarded to the ALIA executive director by 18 August 2000. Further information can be accessed in the August edition of inCite. http://www.alia.org.au/governance/meetings/

National Policy Congress
A follow-up session on the recommendations from the NPC will be held following the AGM. All National Policy Congress representatives are invited to attend and observers are welcome.
http://www.alia.org.au/governance/nac/2000/

ALIA's core values - comment invited
Comments are being sought by the ALIA Board of Directors on a proposed (June 2000 draft) 'Core values statement' that will underpin the Association's objects. Further information about the background to this statement can be found in the forthcoming issue of inCite.
http://archive.alia.org.au/governance/core.values.html

ALIA2000 - have you registered?
The premier library conference for 2000 is being held in Canberra in October - will you be there? The committee has put together an interesting and varied program, looking ahead to how we can use the tools and techniques of the future, building on the professional values that we've developed in the past. There is an outstanding program of Australian and overseas speakers, seminars and satellite events, a range of library tours, a Fringe conference and an exhausting social schedule. Canberra will be at its best in spring, with the added benefit of daylight saving to make it easier to fit all of the conference activities into the available time.
http://conferences.alia.org.au/alia2000/

11th National ALIA Library Technicians Conference
An information odyssey 21-24 August 2001, Hobart, Tasmania. As guests of the managing director of the Grand Chancellor, the conference committee donned hard hats recently for a site inspection of the purpose-built Federation Concert Hall and Federation Ballroom. These two new buildings are now nearing completion, having been incorporated into the existing hotel facilities, and provide Hobart with a first-class Convention Centre. The Concert Hall is the new home of the world-renowned Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and incorporates state-of-the-art acoustic technology and tiered seating for more than 1000. The countdown is on... so start planning now for your opportunity to visit Tasmania in 2001. http://conferences.alia.org.au/libtec2001/

ALIA Study Grants
Applications for the Study Grants close on 1 September 2000. These funds are available to members wishing to undertake a study project.
http://www.alia.org.au/awards/study.grant/

Anne Harrison Award 2000
Applications are sought for the 'Alternate Year' award, which is available to state sections or groups for a continuing education activity of wide application. The 1998 Award went to the ALIA SA Section, whose members organised a train-the-trainer programme at the Australian Cochrane Centre, attended by health sciences library and information professionals from all around Australia. The 2000 Award will be presented at the ALIA2000 conference in Canberra in October.
[http://archive.alia.org.au/sections/health/anne.harrison/]

Feedback
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