Public libraries reference group report

19 May 2005

Author: Susan Magnay, manager planning policy

Objects met: 2, 3, 4, 5

Members: Vicki McDonald (convenor), Michelle Ledger, Christine Mackenzie, Janice Nitschke, Jan Richards, Peter Richardson, Susan Magnay (executive director's delegate)

Report

The public libraries reference group met by teleconference on 22 April 2005. The reference group reviewed the project plan for its program for 2005-2006.

Resource guides on key policy areas for public libraries

The PLRG will aim to develop five resource guides in 2005-2006.

In 2005:

• Children and the internet - to be based on the NetAlert guide to internet safety to be launched in Library and Information Week and on the existing ALIA guidelines relating to the policy statement on online content regulation. The US PLA's Children and the internet: policies that work could be a model (see http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscpubs/childrentheinternetpoliciesthatwork/ChildrenInternetPolicies.htm).
• Libraries and privacy - to be based on the ALIA libraries and privacy guidelines currently being drafted and which are expected to be approved by the Board in May 2005

In 2006:

• Codes of conduct for library patrons
• RFID
• Volunteers

Political perceptions of public libraries research proposal

A draft proposal by Dr Kerry Smith for a research project on 'State and national political perceptions of the Australian public library' was discussed. Kerry has proposed a joint research project between ALIA and herself.

The reference group agreed that the proposal should be more clearly aligned to ALIA's advocacy strategy to ensure that there is value and benefit to ALIA and the association's advocacy agenda in the longer-term. The statement of ALIA's advocacy strategy and priorities currently being developed by the board will provide a useful context for the research proposal. The reference group will also ask Kerry if she is happy for the research proposal to be referred to the ALIA Research Committee (of which she is a member) for comment before being presented to the board.

Public library related articles in inCite

PLRG members are providing public library-related articles for inCite in 2005:

• Michelle Ledger's article WA public libraries are nifty @ 50 appeared in April.
• Jan Richards has submitted an article on @ your library NSW.
• Janice Nitschke will provide an article on SA libraries 2010 for the June issue.
• Peter Richardson agreed to provide an article on Tasmania's e-heritage project. This would fit very well with the proposed 'libraries of the future' theme for the August issue.

aliaPUBNEWS

Since the May 2005 issue of aliaPUBNEWS coincides with Library and Information Week it will be a special LIW issue featuring events and activities such as the launch of the NetAlert guide to internet safety, the ABS LEP award and details of activities submitted by aliaPUBNEWS subscribers.

Please add to reports. Tks.

Public libraries Australia

As noted in the last quarterly report, PLRG members gave informal feedback on PLA's draft proposal for an Australian Bookstart program. It was reported at the PLRG meeting that the PLA understood that the federal government had recently granted $800 000.00 to another agency for an early childhood literacy program; however, the PLA would continue to work on its literacy strategy in consultation with Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA) and other literacy bodies.

PLA is planning a national conference in Albury on 9-11 November 2005. The theme will be 'Libraries are loud, but who's listening' and the focus will be on national issues. A session on professional development will include ALIA's CPD scheme. The PLRG and National Office are providing feedback on possible presenters in this session to the conference program committee.