August 2006

In this aliaPUBNEWS broadcast:

News from ALIA
Online Content and Regulation Reference Group vacancy; ALIA planning 2007; ALIA governance issues discussion; Early bird closing for New Librarians' Symposium 2006; CLICK06 - ALIA 2006 Biennial Conference; Car rental deals for ALIA members

Policy and advocacy
National Licensing Proposal RFT issued; The educational contribution of public libraries; Government developing new broadband blueprint; Regional arts summit

Library stars: best of the best forum

States and territories
New names for library organisations; RFID information session papers; Workforce sustainability and leadership scoping study; Services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW; Library community building demonstration projects in Victoria

International
READ Nepal wins 2006 Access to Learning award; National purchasing model for England's public libraries

News from ALIA

Online Content and Regulation Reference Group vacancy
Interested ALIA members from the public library sector are invited to nominate to fill a vacancy on the Online Content and Regulation Reference Group. The Reference Group advises the Board of Directors on policy and other matters relating to regulation of and access to the internet and online content and contributes to ALIA's advocacy on public library internet services and filtering software. It will also be co-ordinating ALIA's response to the review of federal privacy legislation. Nominations close on Friday 8 September 2006. For details of how to nominate please contact Susan Magnay, susan.magnay@alia.org.au.nospam, ph 02 6215 8225.
http://alia.org.au/governance/committees/content.regulations/

ALIA planning 2007
The Board of Directors is seeking comments from members on planning and priorities for ALIA for 2007. A discussion paper on ALIA planning 2007 is available, and members may comment by attending a regional National Advisory Congress meeting or by email or phone. You can also comment by completing our online survey form.
http://alia.org.au/governance/planning/

ALIA governance issues discussion
ALIA members are encouraged to read the 'Proposal to change Governance arrangements: Issues paper - July 2006' and make comments at their regional National Advisory Congress meeting, or via governance@alia.org.au.nospam
http://alia.org.au/governance/nac/2006/

Early bird closing for New Librarians' Symposium 2006
Register for the New Librarians' Symposium before 6 October to take advantage of the early bird rates. Joan Frye Williams will be the international keynote speaker, exploring the ways new service models can help us meet our users' changing expectations. Proudly sponsored by the National Library of Australia.
http://conferences.alia.org.au/newlibrarian2006/

CLICK06 - ALIA 2006 Biennial Conference
Just a few week now until the CLICK06 Conference in Perth on 19-22 September. Register online now for a great conference program and social events.
http://conferences.alia.org.au/alia2006/registration_online.html

Car rental deals for ALIA members
Until 30 September 2006, ALIA members can choose between two special car rental deals when renting with Europcar in Australia. Deal 1 - discounted car rental rates; Deal 2 - great rates and reduced insurance liability. For more information call Member Advantage on 1300 853 352 or visit online.
http://alia.org.au/membership.benefits/affinity.html

Policy and advocacy

National Licensing Proposal RFT issued
Documentation for a Request For Tender (RFT NLA 06/044) for Australian Library Access to Electronic Resources was released by the National Library of Australia on 11 August 2006, with responses due by 13 September 2006. There will be an update on the National Licensing Proposal at the CLICK06 Biennial Conference, on Friday 22 September, 2.30pm, and also a presentation at the ALIA Acquisitions Seminar, 'Electronic Library Resources – Where are we going in the digital age of electronics?', Monday 18 September.
http://www.nla.gov.au/nlp/

The educational contribution of public libraries
The 2006 Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) report, released on 24 August, addresses the support which public libraries provide for students. The report confirms that public libraries receive high use from primary and secondary students. Services provided include professional reference assistance, internet access, online homework tutoring, special collections, study places and homework centres and clubs. The report also finds that there is little awareness by governments at all levels of the contribution by public libraries to educating Australians, nor of the return on investment in public libraries. This investment is currently less that one per cent of the national expenditure on institutional education. [Bundy, Alan, 'Supporting students: the educational contribution of Australia's public libraries', FOLA, 2006]
http://www.fola.org.au

Government developing new broadband blueprint
In a speech 'Connecting Australia: fresh opportunities' to the Australian Financial Review National Infrastructure Summit on 23 August, Senator Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, announced that the federal government, working with the States, Territories and local government, is developing a new broadband blueprint to build on the National Broadband Strategy. Although the Strategy is only two years old it already needs updating. The blueprint will be intended to provide a national framework for the rollout of next generation infrastructure for Australia by all levels of government and the private sector.
http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/media#sp

Regional arts summit
Regional arts decision makers, arts workers and business leaders from around Australia converged on Parliament House in Canberra on 10 August, where they discussed current issues for the arts in regional Australia with Senator Rod Kemp, Minister for the Arts and Sport. The catalyst for the summit was the 22 ideas for the future presented in Regional Arts Australia's policy document '2006 National Directions: Regional Arts'. The library sector was represented at the summit by Lynne Makin (PLA), Ann Devenish (Kununurra Library, WA) and Susan Magnay (ALIA). Some of the major themes were: the need for research and statistical data on regional arts, social capital and economic development; developing partnerships and co-operation, especially with local government; the need for co-ordination across the three levels of government; and the need for physical infrastructure and human capacity to support regional arts, where it was seen that there is potential for public libraries to have an important role.
http://www.regionalarts.com.au/raa1/default.asp

Library stars: best of the best forum
The 'Library stars' forum in Perth on 19 September will be your opportunity to learn about highly successful and innovative public library programs in Australia and overseas. Rolf Hapel, the keynote speaker, will speak about the programs at Aarhus Public Libraries in Denmark which led to their receiving the 2004 Gates Foundation Access to Learning award, and how the the library service has developed since then. 'Library stars' is sponsored by Peter Pal Library Supplier and SirsiDynix and is a satellite event for the 2006 ALIA Biennial Conference, CLICK06. Numbers are limited, so please sign up as soon as possible. For the latest program details and to register:
http://alia.org.au/governance/committees/public.libraries/stars.html

States and territories

New names for library organisations
The Council of Australian State Libraries (CASL) has a new name - National and State Libraries Australasia. The two main pubic library organisations in NSW have also changed their names. The Country Public Libraries Association becomes 'Public Libraries NSW – Country' and the Metropolitan Public Libraries Association becomes 'Public Libraries NSW - Metropolitan'.

RFID information session papers
Presentations from the information session on RFID held at the State Library of Victoria on 3 August are now available. There is also a link to the white paper 'Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): an introduction for library professionals' by Alan Butters. Alan is Principal Consultant, Sybis, and chair of a Standards Australia working group which is committed to developing a standards proposal for an RFID data model for Australian libraries.
http://www.libraries.vic.gov.au/infonet/

Workforce sustainability and leadership scoping study
The Workplace Research Centre was contracted by the State Library of Victoria and the Victorian public library network to conduct a scoping exercise regarding the sustainability of the public library workforce in Victoria. The research identifies the key issues surrounding the recruitment and retention of qualified public library staff, and the development of leadership positions. These issues include: the need to define and articulate the role of public libraries and librarians; the scope for building better networks; developing managers who can lead change; attracting and developing the right people; and developing funding models for workplace change. The report concludes with recommendations for further research. [Brigid van Wanrooy, 'Workforce sustainability and leadership: scoping research', Workplace Research Centre (formerly ACIRRT), University of Sydney, 2006]
http://www.libraries.vic.gov.au/infonet/

Services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW
'Public library services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NSW' (State Library of NSW, 2006) brings together a selection of papers from a seminar organised by the State Library of NSW in May 2005. Papers include a report on a 2004 survey of NSW public libraries about the services, staff and collections provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and papers on programs in the Northern Territory, Great Lakes Library Service, Inverell Shire Public Library, Marrickville Council Library Services, Bega Valley Shire and Northern Regional Library.
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/pls/

Library community building demonstration projects in Victoria
Four library services in Victoria have received funding for new initiatives as part of the 'Libraries Building Communities' demonstration projects, funded by the Library Board of Victoria and the Victorian public library network. Hume Global Learning Village Library Service will develop a learning advocacy program. Wyndham City Council Library will create a learning portal to direct users to further learning opportunities. Goulburn Valley Regional Library Service, in partnership with the Koori Resource Information Centre, will develop a program to assess the library needs of the local indigenous population. Upper Murray Regional Library will provide a mobile information and learning centre, 'Skills on the move'. [State Library of Victoria News, July-October 2006]

International

READ Nepal wins 2006 Access to Learning award
Rural Education and Development (READ) Nepal has received the 2006 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award for its innovative approach to building and sustaining village libraries. No-cost access to books and information technology is advancing learning and literacy in the country’s underserved, rural population. READ Nepal was founded in Kathmandu in 1991 to establish a library system that could help rural Nepalis advance their own educational, economic, and community development. To date, the organisation has built 39 libraries, some in very remote, mountainous villages.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Libraries/InternationalLibraryInitiatives/Ac

National purchasing model for England's public libraries
'Better stock, better libraries' is an national stock purchasing plan for England's public libraries which aims to save up to 20 million pounds per year and to create opportunities for reinvestment in improving library services to customers. The new procurement arrangements will maintain local accountability for selection. Improvements will be achieved by libraries working together to reduce duplication of ordering, invoicing and other back room functions. Book processing requirements will be simplified and standardised and there will be greater use of e-commerce and automation.
http://www.mla.gov.uk

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