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Welcome to the May 2009 edition of aliaPUBNEWS.

aliaPUBNEWS is an initiative of the Australian Library and Information Association's Public Libraries Advisory Committee http://www.alia.org.au/governance/committees/public.libraries/

aliaPUBNEWS is a free monthly electronic bulletin for those concerned with supporting and promoting the further development of Australia's public library services. aliaPUBNEWS spans the policy and strategic issues and service developments having an impact on public libraries in Australia. All our list members are encouraged to send in their comments to 'Feedback' at the end of this newsletter.
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In this aliaPUBNEWS broadcast:


NEWS FROM ALIA STATE NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES WEB RESOURCES
NEWS FROM ALIA

ALIA Board of Directors elections 2009 - your new directors

Graham Black has already been elected Vice-President (President elect) unopposed, and will begin his tenure as Vice-President following the May 2009 ALIA AGM, then take up the presidency in May 2010 until the 2011 AGM. Gill Hallam and Kate Sinclair have been elected as Directors. Their terms will run to the 2011 AGM. Congratulations!

http://www.alia.org.au/governance/elections/

inCite theme for July 2009 issue: Library technicians

Contribute to your member magazine! July's feature topic is 'Library technicians'. Contributions on this theme and stories of interest from individuals and libraries are welcome. Please include a high resolution photo if you have one. Send your articles by 1 June 2009 to incite@alia.org.au. You can find all the 2009 themes and deadlines on the website.

http://www.alia.org.au/publishing/incite/

ALIA Public Libraries Summit - new date confirmed!

The ALIA Public Libraries Summit will now be held 16 July 2009. We are delighted that Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, and Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Prime Minister for Social Inclusion, will open the Summit.

Submissions already received are now available on the Summit website. Check out the blog for more information.

http://www.alia.org.au/summit09

ALIA names Australia's first public library ambassadors

ALIA is delighted to announce the appointment of the nation's first two Public Library Ambassadors: Barry Heard, the award-winning Australian author, and Bruce Miller, one of New South Wales' most active local government leaders.

The Public Library Ambassador program is in full swing with further resources to assist libraries to get their program underway. We encourage public libraries to continue to develop and confirm local ambassadors around the country.

ALIA Public Library Ambassadors can be grass-root members of the community or celebrity advocates who will use their talent or fame to promote the value of public libraries in their lives, especially attracting media attention. Similar in concept to UNESCO's goodwill ambassadors, an important difference is that ALIA Public Library Ambassadors come from a broad cross-section of the Australian community.

http://www.alia.org.au/governance/committees/public.libraries/summit09/public.library.ambassadors.html

Media release: ALIA names Australia's first public library ambassadors
http://www.alia.org.au/media.room/2009.05.18.html

ALIA announces The little book of public libraries

ALIA is at the final design stage of producing a quick, simple summary of why public libraries are so important; giving library supporters the words and ideas they need to champion our cause. This isn't a throwaway leaflet - it's a lively little book that people will love to pick up and flick through. It's light on words (less than 1500 in total) and heavy on content - every line is a zinger.

The order form will be available next week (we are aiming for 3 June) and a sample of the Little book will be available to preview electronically. Orders will need to be in by 19 June 2009. Further information will be available via the ALIA homepage next week: http://www.alia.org.au

The Little book of public libraries is based on the English version by the same name. You can check out the English version online at: http://culturetic.canalblog.com/docs/_Users_olivier_Desktop_Little_Book_of_Public_Libraries.pdf

STATE

2009 'The Nib': CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature

2009 'The Nib': CAL Waverley Library Award for Literature recognises excellence in research. The Award's major sponsor, Copyright Agency Limited's Cultural Fund, provides a winner's prize of $20,000 + trophy and all short listed authors receive the Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize. All genres of writing including fiction and non fiction, published between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009, are eligible. The closing date for nominations is 10 July 2009.

http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/library/award

Federal Government library funding

Many libraries are benefiting from Federal Government funding. Including:

  • Hume City Council (VIC) will receive $9.5 million federal funding for a new Library and Learning Centre at Craigieburn
  • Ballina Shire Council (NSW) has received $750,000 toward the planned new Community Centre and Library at Lennox Head
  • Muswellbrook Shire received $2.2 million for the extension of Muswellbrook Library, which is also Headquarters for Upper Hunter Regional Library.
Note: Please advise the editor if you too have a good news story about federal (or any other type) of funding for your library.

Queensland's e-book pilot survey report

In early April 2008 the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) began piloting the provision of unlimited state wide remote access to 139 volumes of electronic ready reference books based on the Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) platform.

The ebook pilot study report is available for download in PDF from:
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/137800/SLQ_-_Ebooks_Pilot_-_GVRL_User_Satisfaction_Survey_Report_V2.pdf

NATIONAL

Project Gutenberg of Australia

Check out the Australian Project Gutenberg website to access thousands of free ebooks, many titles impossible to find in libraries. There are hundreds of modern authors including: George Orwell, D H Lawrence, Miles Franklin and Henry Handel Richardson. The site also includes Australiana titles, Australian history and exploration resources, including the published journals of many Australian explorers; a comprehensive selection of science fiction boos; and Dr Widger's Library of literary classics.

http://www.gutenberg.net.au

Communication Research Projects

RMIT University in Melbourne runs a degree program where groups of communication research trained students' work on a communication research project for a not-for-profit client (Editors note – this could include public libraries). If you have a question or problem that relates to your organisation's communication then students may be able to assist.

Students work in teams to plan, execute, evaluate and present a research project under the supervision of course coordinators for not-for-profit clients.

If your organisation is planning, currently implementing or has just completed an event, communication initiative or ongoing communication campaign, the students may be able to assist by conducting supporting research at no cost to you.

Please register your interest before July 2009, by sending an email to olivia.guntarik@rmit.edu.au or calling (03) 9925 1911.

[Editors Note: This may only be applicable to Victorian public libraries but worth checking with them if you are interested and from outside Victoria]

Electronic Resources Australia (ERA)

Electronic Resources Australia (ERA) is a national initiative that is working towards national licensing of electronic resources for Australian libraries. It is the first consortia operation that covers all libraries within Australia and offers all Australian libraries a collaborative purchasing opportunity to provide access to quality online information.

The 2009-2011 Product Panel was recently announced at ERA's annual Members Forum on 25 March 2009 and the new product offering enables a much wider range of full text resources, including for the first time humanities and social science resources. The full list of products available to Australian libraries through ERA are listed below and you can take a look at the product offerings on the ERA website at http://era.nla.gov.au/product_list/

Free product trials are also available by direct arrangement with the participating vendors.

Libraries interested in keeping up-to-date on ERA developments can do this by subscribing to the ERA eNewsletter and the ERAlibraries- discussion list online at http://era.nla.gov.au/for_libraries/

Alternatively, for more information, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit the ERA website at http://era.nla.gov.au/, or telephone 1800 182 937 (toll free within Australia), or email era@nla.gov.au

National Reconciliation Week - 27 May-3 June 2009

This year's theme is 'See the person, not the stereotype'. The theme links in to Reconciliation Australia's national advertising campaign that challenges perceptions and debunks stereotypes relating to Aboriginal peoples.

http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home/reconciliation-resources/nrw-resources

INTERNATIONAL

Online catalogues: what users and librarians want

In 2008, OCLC conducted focus groups, administered a pop-up survey on WorldCat.org OCLC's freely available end user interface on the Web—and conducted a web-based survey of librarians worldwide.

The Online Catalogues report presents findings from these research efforts in order to understand:

  • The metadata elements that are most important to end users in determining if an item will meet his or her needs
  • The enhancements end users would like to see made in online library catalogues to assist them in consistently identifying appropriate materials
  • The enhancements librarians would recommend for online library catalogues to better assist them in their work
The findings indicate, among other things, that although library catalogues are often thought of as discovery tools, the catalogue's delivery-related information is just as important to end users.

http://www.oclc.org/reports/onlinecatalogs/fullreport.pdf

One hour early: look to your library program

King County Library in the US is opening 41 of its branches one hour early for a week to provide information about financial and job search tools. Across King County people are feeling the economic pinch: layoffs, reduced hours, decreased benefits and mounting bills. To help people cope and get back on their feet, KCLS is hosting how-to demonstrations of the latest job-search and financial tools.

http://www.kcls.org/looktoyourlibrary/

OCLC launch new library system

In a bold move that could reshape the library automation landscape, OCLC has expanded WorldCat Local's existing cataloguing and discovery tools with new circulation, delivery, and acquisitions features. This new project, which OCLC calls "the first Web-scale, cooperative library management service," will ultimately bring into WorldCat Local the full complement of functions traditionally performed by a locally installed integrated library system.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6653619.html

Community-based awareness campaign to increase support for libraries

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have recently announced a $5 million grant to the OCLC library cooperative to develop a public information campaign that will help public library leaders heighten awareness of the needs of local libraries and increase support for the services they provide during these challenging times. OCLC will pilot the campaign in select areas of the USA [Georgia and Iowa] starting this summer as well as a limited number of other communities, which will be selected in the coming months. Later in the year, OCLC will make available community awareness campaign materials and other guides to assist library leaders throughout the country in their efforts to strengthen support for local libraries.

http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/200924.htm

Journal of Library and Information Service for Distance Learning

This is a peer-reviewed journal published by Routledge/The Haworth Press and submission of manuscripts is welcomed. The journal is devoted to the issues and concerns of librarians and information specialists involved with distance education and delivering library resources and services to this growing community of students.

Topics can include but are not limited to:

  • Faculty/librarian cooperation and collaboration
  • Information literacy
  • Instructional service techniques
  • Information delivery
  • Reference services
  • Document delivery
  • Developing collections
If you are interested in submitting an article, send the manuscript directly to the Editor, Jodi Poe at jpoe@jsu.edu by June 1, 2009. Instructions for authors are available at http://www.haworthpress.com or can be emailed to you directly.

CONFERENCES

ALIA National Library and Information Technicians Conference, 15–18 September 2009

Registration is now open – the earlybird registration deadline is 6 July 2009.

http://conferences.alia.org.au/libtec2009/

PLA/QPLA Conference 11-14 October 2009

The conference will be held in Townsville, Queensland from 11 to 14 October 2009 with the theme being Change and Challenge.

http://www.pla.org.au/conferences.html

2009 NSW Public Libraries Conference and Exhibition, 23-24 November 2009

The Public Libraries NSW Metropolitan Association 2009 conference theme is SWITCH: public libraries in a changing environment. The conference will be held at SMC Conference and Function Centre, World Square, Sydney.

http://www.plmnsw.org.au

Public Libraries NSW Country Conference, 13-16 July 2010 in Albury NSW

The title of the conference is IMPACT, and the program aims to address a variety of current and emerging issues associated with contemporary library service provision. This is the first joint country-metropolitan conference to be hosted by Public Libraries NSW–Country, and we expect a great deal of interest from both country and metropolitan delegates.

More information will be advised regarding this conference will be available soon.

Connection and Convergence: Second International Conference on Joint Use Libraries, Adelaide, 10-11 August 2010

Connection and Convergence will focus on the increasing numbers and varieties of joint use libraries being developed around the world. It will also aim to explore other developments connecting, converging and co-locating academic, public, school and special libraries, and with non-library agencies and services.

http://www.auslib.com.au/pdfs/joint_use.pdf

LIANZA Conference 12-14 October 2009

http://www.lianza.org.nz/events/conference2009/

WEB RESOURCES

New IFLA website

On Wednesday 22 April Claudia Lux, IFLA President, officially launched the new IFLA website. This happening took place in the presence of all IFLA Governing Board members that were gathered in The Hague at IFLA HQ for the April Governing Board Meeting.

http://www.ifla.org/

Collection development

Presentations from the "Climbing Mount Improbable" Collection Development Forum held November 2008 at Blacktown Library (NSW) are now available for download and include:

  • Cataloguing Electronic Resources for Access Via Library Catalogues
  • Collection Profiling
  • Collections to Clients Service Review
  • Cooperative Collection Development Ventures
  • Outsourcing of Selection and Shelf-Ready Services
  • Societal Trends and Collection Strategies
http://www.plmnsw.org.au/web/Default.aspx?PageID=101&SiteID=46

Your Voice In House – finding your elected representatives

The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice is making the task of finding your elected representatives very straightforward, launching a new campaign website called Your Voice in House. Now all you need to know is where you live.

The website allows you to enter your postcode or location and it will tell you every politician that represents you, in both houses of parliament, at both the state and federal level. The site provides postal addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Plus you can select which politicians you want to contact and the site will allow you to send an email to everyone you have selected with just a couple of clicks of your mouse.

Check out the beta website at: http://www.yourvoiceinhouse.org.au

Digital New Zealand

Digital New Zealand aims to make New Zealand content easy to find, share and use. This includes content from government departments, publicly funded organisations, the private sector, and community groups. DigitalNZ will test new ways to create digital content, collect and share existing digital content; and build smart, freely available, search and discovery tools.

http://www.digitalnz.org/

Computational knowledge engine

You enter your question or calculation, and the Wolfram-Alpha Computational Knowledge Engine uses its built-in algorithms and growing collection of data to compute the answer. The knowledge engine is based on a new kind of knowledge-based computing.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/

100 best novels – 1923 to now

For all of you who love lists!

http://www.time.com/time/2005/100books/

Preserving digital treasures

Creating and keeping your digital treasures: a user guide
This document from the State Library of WA provides an overview of standards for users who wish to create or convert digital objects. The standards described in this document are provided as a guide, and focus on long-term access and preservation of objects. It is anticipated that where required, you will conduct your own research.

http://slwa.wa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/12048/Creating_and_Keeping_your_Digital_Treasures_A_User_Guide.pdf

Weeding and collection management

For more than 30 years, The CREW Method has provided guidance to librarians and staff in small and medium sized public libraries about how to cull outdated and no longer useful materials from their collections. Since its inception in 1976, The CREW Method  has become the benchmark tool for weeding library collections. It has been more than a decade since the first revised edition brought technology and online catalogues into the process. This new edition, called CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries, builds on the work of Joseph P. Segal and Belinda Boon. Although much of the basic information remains the same, the impact of changes in technology and its effect on library collections has been taken into consideration.

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/pubs/crew/crewmethod08.pdf

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