November 2006

In this aliaPUBNEWS broadcast:

News from ALIA
ALIA General Meeting 30 November, Sydney; ALIA Information Online 2007: Early bird registration extended; ALIA Local Liaison Officer appointed in NT; National Simultaneous Storytime 2007; ALIA turns 70 in 2007!; Library stars forum presentations

Message from the editor

International
OCLC awarded Gates grant for library marketing campaign; 2007 Interlending and Document Supply Conference, Singapore; New policy council to determine information literacy standards; NCLIS opposes to restrictions on access to social networking services

States and territories
Australian Volunteer International, two library positions available; New council jobs web portal for NSW; Is this Australia's first library 'unconference'?; Library of the 21st century symposium; Tasmania's Community Knowledge Network; Library of the 21st century symposium; Training program on emerging technologies; The new State Library of Queensland; Brisbane Library and Customer Centre

Policy and advocacy
Copyright Amendment Bill has serious flaws; State of the regions 2006-07 report; 2006 Community Heritage Grants; ABS local government newsletter; Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal; Comment sought on review of privacy legislation

News from ALIA

ALIA General Meeting 30 November, Sydney
ALIA is holding a General Meeting to consider the proposed changes to ALIA's governance on Thursday 30 November 2006, at 5:30pm in the John Niland Scientia Building, University of NSW, Sydney. The official Notice of Meeting is provided to members on page 31 of the November issue of inCite, and is available on the ALIA website. Members unable to attend but wishing to vote should consider a proxy. These must be in the form set out in the ALIA constitution (item 8.2) and be in the hands of the Executive Director by 5:00pm on 28 November 2006.
http://alia.org.au/governance/meetings/

ALIA Information Online 2007: Early bird registration extended
Due to overwhelming demand and interest, the Conference Committee has extended the deadline for early bird registration to Friday 1 December 2006. Anyone who registers between now and 1 December will receive the discount registration price of $735 for ALIA members and $945 for non-members.
http://www.information-online.com.au

ALIA Local Liaison Officer appointed in NT
Jayshree Mamtora AFALIA, M(CLIP) Palmerston Campus Librarian at Charles Darwin University since 2002 and ALIA member since 1990, has been appointed as ALIA's Local Liaison Officer (LLO) for the Northern Territory. As the NT LLO, Jayshree will be responsible for promoting ALIA and supporting members in her region. Jayshree has many years experience of libraries, having previously worked in the UK and the South Pacific. She has been active in ALIA since her move to Australia in 2002. Members can contact her on 0416 366 634 or e-mail Jayshree.mamtora@alia.org.au.nospam.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2007
The NSS advisory committee is currently choosing the short-list for the book to be read at National Simultanous Storytime 2007, which will be held in the first week of September next year [date to be confirmed]. For more information please contact Jane Hardy [jane.hardy@alia.org.au.nospam] or visit the NSS 2007 website.
http://alia.org.au/advocacy/storytime/2007/

ALIA turns 70 in 2007!
Did you know that the first meeting of our association was held in Canberra on 20 August 1937? We invite your suggestions and ideas for celebrating our birthday next year. Fill in the online form on our home page or e-mail jane.hardy@alia.org.au.nospam.
http://alia.org.au

Library stars forum presentations
Most of the presentations from the very successful 'Library stars: best of the best' forum, held in Perth on 19 September 2006 are now available online.
http://alia.org.au/events/moreinfo.html?1233

Message from the editor
This is the final aliaPUBNEWS for 2006 and also my last as editor. After over four years at ALIA National Office I am leaving on 28 November to take up a new position in the rural health sector. I would like to thank you all for your support for aliaPUBNEWS and also to thank the many people who have contributed stories and news items. Watch out for a new-look e-newsletter for the public library sector in 2007. Wishing you and your libraries all the best for the future. Susan Magnay

International

OCLC awarded Gates grant for library marketing campaign
OCLC has been awarded a grant of $US1.2 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a marketing campaign in the United States to increase awareness of the value of libraries and the need for support for libraries at local, state and national levels. The need for libraries to communicate their current services and value more effectively was highlighted in the 'Perceptions of libraries and information services' report issued in 2005.
http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/200643.htm

2007 Interlending and Document Supply Conference, Singapore
The 10th Interlending and Document Supply Conference, 'Resource Sharing for the Future, Building Blocks to Success', Singapore, 28 - 31 October 2007 invites proposals for papers to be presented at the conference. The conference blog is up and running as a way to stay in touch with the conference and to add your comments and suggestions.
http://www.nlbconference.com/ilds

New policy council to determine information literacy standards
The library sector is well-represented on a recently established policy council that will determine national standards for information and communications technology (ICT) literacy in the United States. The policy council is an initiative of the National Forum on Information Literacy and will recommend policy changes and create national standards for ICT literacy proficiency to ensure that all students know how to use technology to locate, evaluate, synthesise and use information effectively.
http://www.infolit.org

NCLIS opposes to restrictions on access to social networking services
The US government's National Commission on Libraries and Information Science has expressed concern about proposed legislation that would require all schools and libraries that receive federal funds to restrict access to digital social networking tools and online communities. US schools and libraries that receive discounted telecommunications services under the E-rate would be particularly affected. The E-rate program underwrites much of the internet access provided by schools and public libraries in the US and the NCLIS believes that many libraries and schools would be greatly disadvantaged if new restrictions are added.
http://www.nclis.gov

States and territories

Australian Volunteer International, two library positions available
Every year, Australian Volunteers International (AVI), recruits, prepares and supports hundreds of volunteers who live and work alongside people in developing communities of Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. AVI works with partner organisations in host communities to ensure placements respond to the needs of local communities. Skilled professionals from education, health, library and information services, community development, finance, IT, communications, rural development and engineering, Australian Volunteers contribute to long term development, poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods. For more information about AVI and details on two library positions available please contact Belinda Morales, ph 03 9279 1821, bmorales@australianvolunteers.com.nospam, or visit:
http://www.australianvolunteers.com

New council jobs web portal for NSW
The Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA) of NSW together with MyCareer.com.au have announced the creation of an online job site tailored for local government jobseekers. The LGSA says the website would make it easier to find council jobs, and would attract skilled workers to the sector. 50,000 people are directly employed by local government in NSW and local government is facing a skills shortage in some areas. Jobs will be accessible through the LGSA website in early December. [from ALGA News, 10 November 2006]
http://www.lgsa.org.au

Is this Australia's first library 'unconference'?
What's the best part of a conference? Most people agree it's the networking; the opportunity to talk to colleagues. How about a day that just has that - a whole powerpoint free zone! Don't be talked at - be part of the conversation. The Unconference is modelled on Library Camps held in 2006 in the US, and the idea is that participants shape the agenda and are responsible for the day. An unconference focuses on who's going to be at the event and what they're interested in. The organisers provide space, enough blank surfaces to write on so that people can self organise and a general theme for the day. Everything else is up to the partipants. The Library 2.0 Unconference will be held in Melbourne on 2 March 2007. You would have come across the idea of Library 2.0 / Web 2.0 and perhaps you are interested to know more about it and how it might be applied to your library service. Check out how the US unconferences went: http://wiki.library2.net/index.php/Library_Camp_East_2006 http://www.blyberg.net And keep your eye on the Library 2.0 Melbourne unconference Blog http://unconferencemelbourne.blogspot.com/ Cost: $30 per participant Register at:
http://www.libraries.vic.gov.au/training

Library of the 21st century symposium
In February 2006 the State Library of Victoria invited a range of key Australian and international decision-makers, commentators and industry leaders - from within and outside the library sector - to speak at a symposium on the theme of the Library of the 21st Century. The aim of the symposium was to generate discussion and provide a range of perspectives on the changing information landscape. The symposium was arranged around four topics: community, learning, collaboration and the creative economy. Podcasts, audio download files and transcripts of the presentations are available.
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/events/2006/symposium/

Tasmania's Community Knowledge Network
Announcing a new lifelong learning initiative for Tasmania, the Tasmanian Educaiton Minister, David Bartlett, said 'The Community Knowledge Network will more closely align the programs and services of the State Library of Tasmania, our network of online access centres, Adult Education and the Archives Office of Tasmania to provide a larger resource base and enhanced services for all Tasmanians.' Stronger links will be forged between the infomation services and community learning parts of Tasmania's Education Department to find new, collaborative ways to address community learning, literacy and information needs of the State's population.
http://www.davidbartlett.com.au/mediareleases/release20061031

Training program on emerging technologies
Yarra Plenty Regional Library's Learning 2.0 is online learning program that encourages staff to learn more about emerging technologies on the web that are changing the way people, society and libraries access information and communicate with each other. Over the course of twelve weeks, Yarra Plenty staff will be encouraged to partake in 23 discovery exercises to help them become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, podcasting, online applications, and video and image hosting sites. Each Yarra Plenty staff member who completes the 23 activities will receive a USB stick and certificate and will go into the draw for a laptop. Staff at other libraries may also participate, but the 'reward' for completing the project is only open to Yarra Plenty participants.
http://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/Learning_2.0/index.htm

The new State Library of Queensland
Public celebrations to mark the opening of the new State Library of Queensland building and an extended Queensland Cultural Centre precinct will be held in early December. The new building features improved access to reference resources, internet services, media and information navigation services; increased display areas for heritage collections; and an Indigenous knowledge centre, the first of its kind in any State Library.
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au

Brisbane Library and Customer Centre
The new Brisbane City Council Library and Customer Service Centre at Brisbane Square in the city centre opened on 27 November. The centre will be a single destination for Brisbane residents to access Council services. The new library has expanded its collections from 70,000 to 110,000 items. It also features the News Lounge, with international newspapers, live stock reports and news feeds on plasma screens. The Learning Lounge is ideal for groups and self-paced learning. The City Zoo has Xbox consoles, plasma screens for sports broadcasts and documentaries and an internet access area.
http://newsroom.brisbane.qld.gov.au/home/news_detail.asp?ID=598

Policy and advocacy

Copyright Amendment Bill has serious flaws
The Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs published its report on the Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 on 14 November 2006 and has recommended amendments to address the Bill's inflexibility relating to fair use. The Australian Digital Alliance has called on the federal government to embrace a flexible defence of fair use to ensure that Australia's copyright laws are credible, relevant and timely for consumers and technology developers. The bill is due to be debated in Parliament on 29 November.
http://alia.org.au/advocacy/copyright/

State of the regions 2006-07 report
The Australian Local Governments Association's annual 'State of the regions' report for 2006-07 has just been released. The report studies the land boom of the past nine years and argues that while the value of Australia's land has tripled, there have also been increased costs and the boom has not benefitted all regions or sectors of the economy equally.
http://www.alga.asn.au

2006 Community Heritage Grants
Funding of more than $391,000 has been awarded to 80 community groups and organisations across Australia under the 2006 Community Heritage Grants program. The groups include museums, libraries, archives, historical societies, art galleries, migrant, Indigenous and religious organisations. Among the diverse organisaations to received grants were: * Whyalla Public Library [SA], for a significance assessment of the Whyalla shipyards and steelworks archive collection * City of Stirling Libraries for the Mount Flora Regional Museum [WA, for a significance assessment of the Museum’s collection, and for a training workshop in paper conservation. The Community Heritage Grants Program aims to preserve and provide access to locally held nationally significant cultural heritage collections across Australia. The program provides grant funding of up to $10,000 for preservation projects, and preservation and collection management training through community based workshops. The 2007 round will open in early March 2007.
http://www.nla.gov.au/chg/

ABS local government newsletter
'Local government and ABS' is a free quarterly newsletter created by the Australian Bureau of Statistics aimed at helping the local goverment sector use statistics to assist with planning and other community servicing decisions. The September 2006 issue covered, for example, the new release of the National Regional Profile, Use of Information Technology on Farms and other recent ABS releases. To subscribe to the newsletter send an email to andrea.woods@abs.gov.au.nospam with 'subscribe Local Government and ABS' in the subject line. To find the newsletter on the ABS website: * on the home page select 'News and Media' from the main menu at the top or bottom of the screen * At the next page choose 'ABS Newsletters' * Then choose the appropriate edition under 'Local Government and ABS'.
http://www.abs.gov.au

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) was established in 2000 as a partnership between philanthropy, governments and business to stimulate rural and regional renewal in Australia. FRRR works by attracting support (cash and in kind) from businesses and other trusts and foundations, private individuals and communities. These donations are then distributed through a number of programs as grants for the benefit of rural and regional Australia. To date FRRR has allocated $9.2 million to communities across the nation and has leveraged many millions more supporting projects that stimulate the renewal of whole communities. The FRRR has three key programs: * Rural capacity building program * Information and training programs * Grantmaking program - provision of grants for rural development projects with the aim of improving the social, cultural, environmental and economic well being of rural Australia.
http://www.frrr.org.au/index.asp

Comment sought on review of privacy legislation
ALIA's Online Content and Regulation Reference Group is currently considering whether ALIA should make a submission in response to the Australian Law Reform Commission's ‘Review of privacy’ issues paper. The Reference Group invites comments from ALIA members on any specific issues for libraries relating to the review of privacy legislation. Please send your comments to Marie Murphy [marie.murphy@alia.org.au.nospam] by Friday 15 December 2006. More information about the review of privacy legislation will soon be added to the ALIA website.
http://alia.org.au/advocacy/

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