The future of public libraries
Given the number of phone calls and emails I’ve received it’s surprising how many of you were “out and about” between 10 and 11 this morning and able to listen to Radio National, either that or you’d picked up on the gossip doing the rounds that public libraries were to feature on The Book Show.
It was a great opportunity to focus on the importance of the public library network and to talk about our successes and the challenges that confront us. I was joined on air by Andrew Finegan - performer and librarian at Darwin City Council library and the Northern Territory Library; Jill Bartholemeusz - librarian at the Athenaeum subscription library in Melbourne; and Audrey Semons - member of the Friends of Great Lakes Library group from NSW. I was there wearing several hats including of course my ALIA Vice-Presidential one (”ALIA red” of course!).
I rather enjoy radio interviews as it’s such a personal medium, besides which you don’t have to fuss over bad hair. However I found being involved in a discussion with 3 other interviwees rather disconcerting as you were never sure who the next question was going to be directed to. I would have loved to have spoken about some of Andrew’s topics 
During the course of the week The Book Show had asked listeners to contact them with thoughts on public libraries and why they are important and they were overwhelmed by the response. The majority view was that public libraries are an incredibly valuable community resource and they deserve better treatment from government. This is no surprise to any of us but great feedback, especially when aired on the national broadcaster. Arranging the interview was an example of the high level of cooperation that exists between peak library bodies in Australia.
If you’d like to listen the interview is available as a podcast following the link below. Have a great weekend - it’s bitterly cold and raining here in Orange. I’m desperately hoping for snow!
Cheers
Jan
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2008/2262714.htm