October 2006

In this aliaPUBNEWS broadcast:

Policy and advocacy
Copyright Amendment Bill 2006; Stay Smart Online; Federal Parliament supports resolution for local government; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander library services and collections; Review of privacy legislation; Churchill Fellowships; Manning Clark House National Cultural Awards 2006

News from ALIA
ALIA General Meeting 30 November 2006, Sydney; Information Online 2007 Early bird closes 10 November; River of Opportunities, 11 - 12 November 2006

States and territories
Learning Futures conference, 9-10 March 2007; Digital talking book format from Vision Australia; Resource on Deaf community; Turismo Biblio 2006; Romance Writers of Australia; Queensland's Online Database Challenge winners; Document delivery workshop in Melbourne, 1 December

International
International public library interest group; Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award 2007; People's Network for New Zealand; Advocacy booklets; WebJunction receives development grant; World Book Capital 2009 call for nominations

Policy and advocacy

Copyright Amendment Bill 2006
As foreshadowed in the previous issue of aliaPUBNEWS, The Copyright Amendment Bill was introduced into Federal Parliament on 19 October 2006. The bill provides new exceptions that aim to support libraries and users and updates copyright law to reflect changes in technology. The bill has been referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee which is due to report by 10 November 2006. ALIA is contributing to the submission by the Australian Libraries Copyright Committee.
http://www.ag.gov.au

Stay Smart Online
As part on National E-Secturity Awareness Week on 23-27 October, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, has launched a new 'Stay Smart Online' website. The website gives advice and access to a range of information and resources on how to secure computers, transact and interact safely online and is aimed principally at the home and small business internet user. The site has three main sections: securing your computer, smart transacting online and kids safe online.
www.staysmartonline.gov.au

Federal Parliament supports resolution for local government
An historic resolution recognising local government has passed through the Australian Parliament. The news was heralded by Australian Local Government Association president Cr Paul Bell as 'a significant day for local government which has officially come of age as a key player in Australian federalism. The resolution acknowledges the role local government has in service delivery, its grass-roots connectedness to communities and its place in the governance of this great nation,' Cr Bell said. There were 22 speakers representing all sides of politics, unanimous in their praise and recognition of the important work being done by local governments around Australia. The motion passed through the House of Representatives on October 17. It was passed by the Senate on September 7. [ALGA News, 20 October 2006]
http://www.alga.asn.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander library services and collections
A national policy framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander library services and collections was launched at the ALIA Biennial Conference, CLICK06, in September 2006. The policy framework has been developed by National and State Libraries Australasia (formerly CASL). The framework encourages development in seven key areas to achieve a co-operative, shared and co-ordinated approach to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander library services and collections across the nation.
www.casl.org.au/papers.and.publications.cfm

Review of privacy legislation
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has released an issues paper 'Review of privacy' to begin the public consultation phase of its review of Australia's privacy laws. The issues paper explores questions such as the impact of developing technologies on personal privacy. Submissions on the issues paper are due by mid-January 2007. ALIA's Online Content and Regulation Reference Group will be co-ordinating preparation of the Association's submission to the inquiry and will soon be seeking input from ALIA members. aliaPUBNEWS subscribers are welcome to contact Susan Magnay [susan.magnay@alia.org.au.nospam] with any comments about libraries and privacy legislation.
http://www.alrc.gov.au

Churchill Fellowships
A Churchill Fellowship, through the provision of financial support, enables Australian citizens from all walks of life to travel overseas to undertake an analysis, study or investigation of a project or an issue that cannot be readily undertaken in Australia. There is a sponsored Fellowship, the Jean Primrose Whyte Fellowship for library and information services work, restricted to residents of South Australia. This special fellowship was most recently awarded to Janice Nitschke, who undertook her overseas study tour in August-September 2006. Applications for 2007 fellowships open on 1 November 2006 and close on 28 February 2007.
http://www.churchilltrust.com.au/

Manning Clark House National Cultural Awards 2006
Manning Clark House invites nominations for its 2006 Awards for an outstanding contribution to the quality of Australian cultural life during the period 1 November 2005 to 31 October 2006. 'Culture' is interpreted in the widest sense to cover an innovative project or achievement that has enriched the Australian community. There are two categories in these awards: Individual and Group/collective. Closing date is 13 November 2006. Download the application/nomination form from the Manning Clark House website. For more information contact the Director, Manning Clark House, ph 02 6295 9433.
http://www.manningclark.org.au/

News from ALIA

Information Online 2007 Early bird closes 10 November
Registrations are open for Information Online 2007. Register before 10 November for early bird savings. Information Online 2007 to be held at Darling Harbour in Sydney from 30th January to 1st February 2007 is shaping up as an event that should not be missed.
http://www.information-online.com.au/

River of Opportunities, 11 - 12 November 2006
The 4th River of Opportunities weekend workshop will be held on 11-12 November 2006 in Albury, NSW. It is organised by the ALIA Library Technicians groups of NSW and Victoria. The program includes Sue Hutley, ALIA Executive Director, Roxanne Missingham, Parliamentary Librarian (and ALIA Vice-president) and presentations about libraries and literacy and learning, services for vision impaired people, digital tools and, international perspectives. The program and registration form are available online.
http://alia.org.au/events/moreinfo.html?1582

For ALIA members:
ALIA General Meeting 30 November 2006, Sydney

States and territories

Learning Futures conference, 9-10 March 2007
The registration form for the conference 'Learning futures: public libraries for the new generations in Australian and NZ' has been mailed to all public library services in Australia and New Zealand, and is also available at online. Early registration is recommended as the first Auslib Adelaide conference was oversubscribed. The conference will feature 20 speakers, including Patrick Jones the award winning US young adults specialist, and two panel sessions. A provisional program will be available in early November.
http://www.auslib.com.au

Digital talking book format from Vision Australia
A new talking book standard (DAISY) has recently been introduced at the Vision Australia Information Library Service (VAILS). This new digital format has received overwhelming support from clients. No longer forced to read a book in a linear way the reader is now able to skip to specific sections, pages, paragraphs, and even sentences. This gives clients more control over how they access information. DAISY also delivers improved sound quality and ease of handling with the whole book on one CD. VAILS is also developing an online service to provide access to downloadable information in an accessible format. The i-Access service currently provides access to a range of newspapers in a way that is portable and timely for users of the service. This service will be further developed to include options to search online databases and the VAILS catalogue and to download books in a range of formats.
http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/library/

Resource on Deaf community
Griffith University's Centre for Applied Studies in Deafness has produced a set of resources that describes the life and language of signing Deaf people. The 'Deaf Studies Program' consists of a curriculum document, teachers guide, seven videos (soon to be available on DVD) and a CDROM containing activities related to the videos. The Centre believes that many people in the community would be interested in these materials (especially the videos, which can be bought separately and individually) which portray the lives, activities and history of a unique Australian community. For more information contact Emeritus Professor Des Power, AM, [d.power@griffith.edu.au.nospam]. A PowerPoint presentation about the materials can be viewed online.
http://www.griffith.edu.au/centre/casd/

Turismo Biblio 2006
Keen motorcyclists will want to join in the inaugural 'Turismo Biblio', the great Librarians' Bike Ride from Springwood to Cootamundra in NSW on Friday 10 November. As Alan Flores from Gosford Library, the ride organiser, says Turismo Biblio 'has great marketing potential and blows away the old fuddy duddy stereotypes'. For more information contact Alan, ph 02 4348 9906, alan.flores@gosford.nsw.gov.au.nospam.

Romance Writers of Australia
Did you know that there are almost one hundred published romance writers in Australia? A wide range of overseas publishers are publishing Australian romance authors, but these may not be available through the usual distributors. Nor do their names show up on lists of Australian authors. Readers 'in the know' order these overseas-published books through romance specialist booksellers in Australia, but many many more are unaware of this possibility. Romance Writers of Australia would like to raise the profile of these local authors. The organisation can supply lists of local authors, and more information about their books and how to get them and can also put librarians in contact with authors willing to do library talks.
http://www.romanceaustralia.com

Queensland's Online Database Challenge winners
Townsville City Council Library has won a digital video camera for its promotional campaign for the 2006 Online Database Challenge. The Library ran a strong media and advertising campaign and used local and State Library resources to promote the challenge. The prize for public librarians was won by Dalby Library Manager, Sylvia Marshall, for her story on how she used the TumbleBooks online database to help someone learn English. Sylvia's prize is an all expenses paid trip to attend the 2007 Information Online Conference in Sydney.
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/news/media

Document delivery workshop in Melbourne, 1 December
The Victorian Libraries Australia User Group - Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Sub-Committee will present the Third Document Delivery Workshop, for document delivery practitioners and managers to be held at RMIT University Library on Friday 1 December 2006. Registration for the workshop is free, and includes morning tea. Registrations are limited to one delegate per institution at this stage. The program and registration form are available online.
http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/iddw/

International

International public library interest group
Librarians from the American Library Association's International Relations Round Table (IRRT) are working to establish a Public Library Interest Group under the umbrella of the IRRT. The IRRT promotes interest in library issues and librarianship worldwide and helps to co-ordinate the ALA's international activities. To find out more about the Pubic Library Interest Group contact Mollie Fein, Baltimore County Public Library Manager, Essex, MD, USA, mfein@bclp.net.nospam. For more information about the International Relations Round Table:
http://www.ala.org/ala/irrt/irrt.htm

Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award 2007
The deadline for applications for the 2007 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award is 31 December 2006. The award recognises excellence in providing access to information by utilising new information and communication technologies in an innovative way, at no cost. The award is open to libraries and similar organisations outside the United States and the recipient receives up to $US1 million. The award is administered by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) and information and the application form are available through the INASP website.
http://www.inasp.info/ldp/awards

People's Network for New Zealand
The National Library of New Zealand has received funding of $NZ576,000 to develop the first phase of the People’s Network project. The People’s Network, based on the UK People’s Network, will provide New Zealanders with greater access to content, and will allow users to create and store their own content. The People’s Network will give access to ICT, and will provide guidance for users on how to find and use content, applications, and technology using New Zealand’s public libraries. The National Library will facilitate the development of the People’s Network pilot with Telecom and Sun Microsystems, in partnership with a number of public libraries. The pilot will network together at least four local authorities and ten public libraries, which are still to be chosen. Initial work will develop the concept for the New Zealand version of the People’s Network, test the technology, and develop content and the application’s gateway. Work on the project will begin on 4 December 2006. The People’s Network will eventually link most New Zealand public libraries, providing the public with access to technology supported by trained library staff.
http://www.natlib.govt.nz/bin/media/pr?item=1161055848

Advocacy booklets
England's Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has released two new advocacy booklets. 'Why families love libraries' is based on a campaign earlier in 2006 to discover what families value most about libraries and to use this evidence to promote library use to families who are not regular library users. 'Extending Bookstart' demonstrates how the Bookstart program for early childhood literacy contributes to a range of other early childhood social and educational programs.
http://www.mla.gov.uk

WebJunction receives development grant
WebJunction, the online community developed by OCLC for library staff to meet to share ideas, solve problems and do online coursework, has been awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to enhance usability of the website and to help it keep pace with a growing membership and range of content. The $US2 million grant will fund critical development of WebJunction for one year, which will include a redesign to improve the website’s organisation and navigation so that resources can be more easily found by users, and the development of improved search functions.
http://www.webjunction.org

World Book Capital 2009 call for nominations
UNESCO is calling for nominations for World Book Capital 2009. Candidate programs should be year-long and aimed at promoting books and fostering reading. Selection criteria include: submission of a specific program for the World Book Capital year; degree of municipal, regional, national and international involvement; quantity and quality of activities and degree of collaboration between the applicant city and key organsations; quantity and quality of other program fostering books and reading; and conformity with UNESCO principles of freedom of expression and freedom to publish and distribute information. The library sector is represented in the selection committee through IFLA. Turin is the 2006 World Book Capital City, to be succeeded by Bogota (2007) and Amsterdam (2008). Applications close on 30 March 2007. For more information contact Mr Mauro Rosi, Division of Arts and Cultural Enterprise, UNESCO [m.rosi@unesco.org.nospam].

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