The ALIA National Policy Congress 2002: ALIA Top End regional report

Report from the meeting held on 2 October 2002, Northern Territory University Library, Casuarina Campus, Library Conference Room, Level 2, 5:00pm.

ALIA 2003-2004 Plan

Comments on the draft plan from members of the ALIA Top End Group

Strategic level

ALIA Top End members went through the process of clarifying what each of the areas were as it was felt some of the terminology used in the headings was not helpful. It was agreed that the first one: Members first was appropriate, but that the area called adding value seemed to be focused around services to members as well, and that these two could be combined. It was agreed that excellence was about the workforce, credibility as about the public face, and investment in the future was about infrastructure and keeping the business running. It is recommended that more useful headings clearly reflecting content be used.

Initiatives

Members first

(including adding value section)

Members raised concern that ALIA was already committed to some of the initiatives listed, but that there was no indication as to what would be different. It was noted that there was no critical success measure for this initiative, so how does ALIA know it is supporting rural and remote? What is different that is planned as a specific initiative for 2003? Some of the suggestions raised by the group: investigate ways of improving IT infrastructure in rural and remote areas, eg enabling discount arrangements with local ISPs; and scholarships for rural and remote members to attend conferences, meetings, or seminars in urban areas. Flexibility in the application of certain policies to members in rural and remote was another suggestion, eg cost recovery for professional development programs may not be an option when the costs of a speaker being flown in have to be incorporated.

Initiatives as listed under the current section of adding value fit really well into the broad members first section. There is strong support within ALIA Top End to increase range of member-only services. CPD and mentoring are examples of good services for members only. While recognising one of the objects of ALIA is to promote the free flow of information, there are some aspects of the website that could be limited to members only.

The group saw a strong role ALIA in negotiating with external providers to facilitate training, and to secure a model copyright licence for special libraries. However ALIA entering into a specific contract on behalf of a sector was not seen as appropriate.

Excellence

(workforce)

There was general agreement with the initiatives in this section. There was a comment that ALIA needs to keep in tune with any changes in direction of government and employers in the area of providing funding for professional development. With individuals finding it more and more difficult to obtain funding for professional development activities from their employer, ALIA may need to take this into account when considering the CPD program for example.

The awards framework was discussed, and even though there has been a review in recent years of this system, there is a suggestion that they still need to streamlined and appropriately promoted especially to employer groups so they understand the difference between a local ALIA award and a national one.

Credibility

(public face)

Agreed with the proposed initiatives, but would like to see lobbying take place at the state level as well as national, as a lot of funding to libraries comes from state governments.

Also suggest that it would be appropriate to include something on the international activities that are already on the agenda, eg no mention of maintaining links with IFLA, even though the internet manifesto is already planned for January 2003. Suggest there may be some outcomes from this that need to be followed up.

Investment in the future

(running the business)

Agreed with the proposed initiatives, although there should be a strong, obvious link between the activities of national office and benefit to members. In other words, there should be a definite commitment from the Association for its structure to reflect the needs of members.

There should be another initiative around ensuring quality of both national office staff and office bearers. There is a need to attract high-quality, enthusiastic people to become office bearers.