January ALIA Wrap-up
Is it really the last day of the month? Where did it go? With so little blogging action from the ALIA Board (sorry about that) what else has been happening…. or just a few things anyway ….
It was a big week at ALIA Information Online in Sydney. It is our largest conference and was again well organised and all went smoothly. Thanks to everyone involved : committee, speakers, chairs of sessions, volunteers, trade exhibitors, delegates, workshop presenters, and others.
Minister Conroy certainly gave an interesting opening speech. During January we have been finalising our next Public Library Internet Survey which will be release in February. Jane Hardy at National Office, Board members and Advisory Committee members are also gathering comments to put together into the ALIA submission (together with other library organisations) towards the Digital Economy Future Directions Paper.
The staff who attended from ALIA National Office also enjoyed the week in Sydney at Online and were glad to meet and talk with so many members - although all of us seemed to have sore feet for days after arriving home.
ALIA’s nominations for the Board of Directors closed in January, and Vice-president for 2009-10 (President 2010-11) was elected directly, due to there only being one nomination. Congratulations to Graham Black from CQUniversity. Five members have nominated for the two available Director positions. ALIA will move to online/web voting for the first time in 2009. Look out for your email with voting instructions in March.
The Board also had a special planning day on the Sunday prior to ALIA Information Online to focus on future directions. The 2009 Goals are included in your Jan/Feb inCite. The 2008 member survey results will also be made available to ALIA members in the coming weeks. Look out for them on the website.
I will be interested to see how many of our keen members get behind our new Recruit-a-member Campaign, launched in January. How much of a discount would you like on your renewal next year ? or it might be free - if you can assist 20 members to join us. What creative methods will be used, I wonder ??
The ALIA Public Libraries Summit arrangements are really starting to take shape. Every public library in Australia is asked to get involved in the Public Libraries Ambassador program – use the opportunity to identify at least one local to become a great advocate for your library.
IFLA2010 Satellite event proposals are being formulated with libraries linked-in with IFLA Sections starting to think about arrangements in locations around the country, and in NZ. These application forms are completed by IFLA Section Chairs and presented to the IFLA Professional Committee in March 2009.
Education representatives from ACS, ALIA, RMAA and ASA met at ALIA House to discuss common issues and developments relating to course recognition. Another meeting is arranged for later in the year. Consultation began on revising our core skills and knowledge, and ALIA Course Recognition processes and procedures via a wiki.
Dianne Walton-Sonda (ALIA Education Manager) and Dr Gillian Hallam are starting to make arrangements to visit 14 TAFE/RTO’s as part of Library Technician Course Recognition in the next few months. This is the first time that site visits have been undertaken in many years. Our thanks in advance to all those LT Educators busily preparing documentation and getting ready to host the panel.
Our ALIA volunteers in the Groups have put in their plans for 2009 (which are just about to arrive on my desk for final approval). I hope that lots of members get involved in the local group activities this year!
I could keep going…. and going … but that’s all for tonight. There’s always lots to do - please join us.
Best wishes for the coming months of 2009.
Sue Hutley
ALIA Executive Director