ALIA Board meeting 30 November 2006 Summary

Board Achievements in 2006: ALIA focused on a range of priorities in 2006 and the results of this years planning included:

• ALIA Groups were made a priority and a new position of Groups Liaison Officer was created proving greater support for groups;
• new guidelines for Groups finances were approved, providing clearer and consistent support to groups;
• Governance - consideration was given to structural and operational improvements, resulting in the formation of five Standing Committees on high priority areas - Governance; Finance, Audit and Risk Management; Conferences and Professional Development ; Membership and Awards and Education, Research and Workforce Planning;
• a direct result of the work of the Standing Committees included a new financial investment strategy for ALIA.

Member attendance at Board meetings: This issue, raised by a member was discussed and principles agreed. A draft operating policy will be developed by the Standing Committee on Governance for consideration at the next Board meeting.

Planning for 2007: The Board thanked members for their input through the National Advisory Congress process and agreed to the 2007 plan, which has the Balanced Scorecard model at its heart. Objectives include membership retention and attraction, delivery of relevant quality services financial and initiatives with other organisations such as Public Libraries Australia.

Finances and budget: The Board continued to carefully review financial issues and agreed to plan to achieve a balanced budget, including reinvesting interest, over a three year period. Planning for the 2007 budget included consideration of agreed initiatives, such as the development of a communication plan, and prioritisation of activities.

National Advisory Congress (NAC) Model: The Board reviewed the ALIA consultation process and agreed on the importance of involving as many members as possible and creating and supporting communities. The 2007 NAC model will build upon the last three years consultations and will include regional consultations in all capital cities and as many other regions as possible. There will be a focus on a particular issue/s, which in 2007 will be education and workforce planning.

Appointments to Advisory Committees : The Board of Directors resolved the following appointments:

• Christine Mackenzie as a member of the Online Content and Regulation Reference Group to the AGM 2008; and
• to the New Generation Policy and Advisory Group - Kate Davis, Kirsten Harte, Alyson Dalby, Chelsea Harper and Gemma Siemensma.

Review of policies: ALIA will next year review a number of major policies in 2007 including Free access to information, Core values, Copyright and intellectual property and Professional conduct. A consultation process with all members to assist the review will commence in early 2007.

Education: A forum will be held 'Education Futures' in mid to late 2007. An extension of the recognition of TAFE Courses was confirmed until December 2008.

Awards: The Board made the following awards -
Group Award for Library Technician of the Year - Rebecca Evans
ALIA/ Aurora Scholarship - Tania Barry

Conferences and CPD: A review of ALIA's CPD model has commenced and the Standing Committee noted that their review of the ALIA conference model including the possibility of ALIA selecting a PCO for all Association events was underway. The Standing Committee will provide reports to the Board next year.

Roxanne Missingham
Vice President