July 2004

In this aliaPUBNEWS broadcast:

Policy and advocacy
Strategic framework for the information economy; Government response to the 'Libraries in the online environment' report; 2004 Library and Information Week Forum

States and territories
NSW libraries win cultural awards; Logan (Qld) TAFE and council libraries join forces; Treasures @ your library in WA; Business research on the internet seminar, 22 September; National Film and Video Lending Service moves to ScreenSound

International
Data on the United Kingdom libraries sector; Impact of The People's Network

News from ALIA
ALIA 2004 Biennial Conference; National Simultaneous Storytime 2004; Response to the inquiry into the progress and future direction of libraries; New ALIA Local Studies (Vic) group; Guiding principles for children's and youth services partnerships; Hands-on PubMed medical database course; Local studies tour of the WA golden pipeline and wheatbelt

Policy and advocacy

Strategic framework for the information economy
The federal government has released its vision and policy for Australia's information economy for 2004-2006. The 'Strategic framework for the information economy' sets out the priorities and strategies adopted by the government to achieve an information economy where 'government, business and society are all connected, can participate with confidence, are open to innovation and can collaborate to maximise the economic and social benefits'.
http://www.dcita.gov.au

Government response to the 'Libraries in the online environment' report
The federal government released its response to the report of the Senate inquiry into the role of libraries in the online environment on 2 July 2004. Predictably, the response maintains the status quo of federal government policies and programs. ALIA will continue to further key issues for the sector as outlined in ALIA's response to the report and recommendations of the Senate inquiry.

2004 Library and Information Week Forum
The report of the 2004 LIW Forum 'Down and loaded: the right information at the right time' is now available. The forum, hosted by ALIA, brought together representatives from the library and information services sector, Australian government, Telstra, local government, and community networking research to develop a collaborative framework to advance electronic networking initiatives and to enhance public access to electronic resources and services through libraries. As an outcome of the forum, a framework is to be developed recommending that the National Broadband Strategy should expand its focus to include sectors such as library and information services which have infrastructures in place and a strong role in service delivery.
http://alia.org.au/advocacy/alw/2004/liw.forum.2004.html

States and territories

NSW libraries win cultural awards
Winners in the Library and Information Services category of the inaugural Local Government Cultural Awards were Tenterfield Public Library, Camden Public Library and Canterbury City Library. Highly-commended were Orange Central Library (Central West Libraries) and Fairfield City Library Services. The awards recognised varied cultural programs in public libraries in NSW: for example, Canterbury City Library's youth improvement program, Camden Public Library’s cultural strategic planning and Orange Central Library's 'Words out West' literary program.
http://www.lgsa.org.au

Logan (Qld) TAFE and council libraries join forces
Through a memorandum of understanding between Logan City Council and Logan TAFE, a collection of Logan TAFE book and video materials has been integrated with Logan City Council's Library collection. The resources will support courses at Logan TAFE's Browns Plains campus, and are housed at the Logan West Library and are also accessible to the local community. [Reporter (Beenleigh), 7 July 2004, p8]

Treasures @ your library in WA
Treasures @ your library has been the theme for July in Western Australia's 2004 @ your library promotional campaign. The objectives are to raise awareness of libraries being the custodians of history and to market to stakeholders the valuable role that libraries play in conserving local historical treasures. The theme for August will be 'Doing business @ your library'.
http://www.liswa.gov.au/yourlibrary/default.htm

Business research on the internet seminar, 22 September
Hunting down company and industry information on the internet can be an overwhelming challenge. This seminar, presented by the Australian Graduate School of Management, will explore issues affecting search results, methodologies and sources for Australian company and industry information. Dr David Hawking from the CSIRO Centre for Mathematical and Information Sciences will speak on 'Understanding Search Engines'. Speakers from the AGSM, Australian Business Ltd and ABN Amro will deliver papers on effective internet searching strategies and present case studies on the sources of Australian company, industry and market information.
http://www.agsm.edu.au/bisseminar/

National Film and Video Lending Service moves to ScreenSound
The Minister for Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, announced on 2 July that the management of the National Film and Video Lending Service is to transfer from the National Library of Australia to the Australian Film Commission, where the service will be managed and developed by ScreenSound Australia. Senator Kemp said 'The National Film and Video Lending Service will contribute substantially to ScreenSound's programs and its ability to expand delivery of national screening and education.' The acting director of ScreenSound has said that the Archive will continue to develop the lending collection...
http://www.screensound.gov.au

International

For ALIA members:
Data on the United Kingdom libraries sector, Impact of The People's Network

News from ALIA

ALIA 2004 Biennial Conference
'Challenging ideas' is the theme of the Biennial Conference at the Gold Coast, 21-24 September 2004. Check the latest program details, information on satellite events and registration information.
http://conferences.alia.org.au/alia2004/

National Simultaneous Storytime 2004
Have you registered yet for National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 2004? NSS 2004 will take place during Literacy and Numeracy Week on Friday 3 September at 11:00am AEST. ALIA invites all public library services, primary and pre-school libraries, early-childhood centres and preschools to participate in reading the picture book, 'Muddled-up farm', simultaneously throughout the country. 'Muddled-up farm' is written by Australian author Mike Dumbleton and illustrated by Jobi Murphy. [ISBN 1 74 051733 4]. 'Muddled-up farm' was awarded Book of the Year for speech and sound awareness by Speech Pathology Australia in 2003. NSS is a great opportunity to invite parents, grandparents, local politicians and other officials, the press and community groups to participate in and enjoy the occasion. At the same time, it highlights the importance of reading and literacy in children, and demonstrates how this can be a fun experience.
http://alia.org.au/advocacy/storytime/2004/

Response to the inquiry into the progress and future direction of libraries
ALIA's response to this inquiry by the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee focuses on the role that libraries play in ensuring access to learning opportunities and in engaging communities in learning activities. Through libraries, members of the community are able to access information resources that encourage life-long learning, find out about educational and learning opportunities available, and also take part in learning activities.
http://alia.org.au/advocacy/submissions/lifelonglearning.html

Hands-on PubMed medical database course
The Health Libraries Australia group of ALIA is offering a hands-on course, designed for the searcher with an occasional need to find medical information. You will learn: why PubMed is a great source; how to conduct a PubMed search using MeSH; how to refine your search and to restrict to references available with free full-text articles. The course will also give a brief introduction to search filters and sources of quality health consumer-level information resources. Monday 20 September and repeated on Saturday 25 September 2004, 9:00am-12:00pm, Bond University Computer Laboratory, University Drive, Robina. Numbers are limited. For further information, please contact events@alia.org.au.nospam, ph 02 6215 8235.

Local studies tour of the WA golden pipeline and wheatbelt
ALIA Local Studies WA Group is hosting a 3-day tour of WA's golden pipeline and wheatbelt on 10-12 September 2004. For more information contact Dawn Palm, ph 08 9202 3671, or Janet Nowicki, ph 08 9461 3598.

For ALIA members:
New ALIA Local Studies (Vic) group, Guiding principles for children's and youth services partnerships

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