ALIA - towards 2010
inform >>> innovate >>> inspire
About ALIA - a snapshot
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is the national professional organisation for the Australian library and information services sector. It seeks to empower the profession in the development, promotion and delivery of quality library and information services to the nation, through leadership, advocacy and mutual support. ALIA has been representing the interests of members and the community since 1937. It fosters a vibrant professional culture in the library and information sector and its advice and opinions are sought and respected by decision makers.
Objects of the Association
- To promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Australians and a thriving culture, economy and democracy;
- To promote and improve the services provided by all kinds of library and information agencies;
- To ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and foster their professional interests and aspirations;
- To represent the interests of members to governments, other organisations and the community;
- To encourage people to contribute to the improvement of library and information services through support and membership of the Association.
ALIA core values
A thriving culture, economy, and democracy requires the free flow of information and ideas.
Fundamental to that free flow of information and ideas are Australia's library and information services. They are a legacy to each generation, conveying the knowledge of the past and the promise of the future.
Library and information services professionals therefore commit themselves to the following core values of their profession:
- Promotion of the free flow of information and ideas through open access to recorded knowledge, information, and creative works.
- Connection of people to ideas.
- Commitment to literacy, information literacy and learning.
- Respect for the diversity and individuality of all people.
- Preservation of the human record.
- Excellence in professional service to our communities.
- Partnerships to advance these values.
Our members
Our 6000 members are drawn from the library and information sector and related fields. Our membership base is diverse - from Coolangatta to Cocos Island, from the National Library of Australia to Dapto Primary School, from library technician trainees to state librarians. ALIA represents the interests of 10.7 million library users.
Our services and activities
ALIA offers many services to its members, the library and information sector and the people who work within it and use it. ALIA provides:
- recognition of education and practice standards and the educational competency of library and information services personnel;
- opportunities for personal and professional growth, career development and recognition of achievement;
- specialist advice on practice issues;
- opportunities to influence the development and quality of the profession and of library services being provided in Australia, and to play an active role in achieving public and political recognition of the sector; and
- active and informative participation in issues of professional concern at local, state, national and international levels.
ALIA presents the unified voice of our sector when lobbying governments and when advocating with or on behalf of members.
Our environment
Australia's library and information sector is innovative, adaptable and collaborative. It has a well-qualified and trained workforce and is at the forefront of international practice. The Association and our members operate in a challenging world characterised by rapid social, economic and technological change, far-reaching changes in the information environment and challenges to the core value of the free flow of information and ideas.
Our structure and governance
The Association is established as a not-for-profit company, governed by an elected Board of Directors. Policy and advisory groups and interest groups within the Association provide a focus for communication and participation by members. A National Policy Congress is convened regularly to review policies and directions. The Association is supported by a national secretariat based in Canberra.
Our vision for 2010
Our vision for ALIA is that in 2010:
- It will be the Association of choice for informational professionals and the library and information sector;
- Our members will have skills that are highly-valued and sought after;
- Our members and the sector will be valued for innovation and creativity;
- Our members will be engaged with the Association and with the wider community;
- Australia's library and information services will be recognised and valued as a key component in the nation's information resources, contributing to equitable access to information and to the free flow of information and ideas and providing services of significant economic, social and cultural benefit to the Australian community.
Sharing the vision
...means making the connections and enhancing the synergy between the 'big picture' policy environment and the workplace and immediate professional concerns of members.
ALIA will be the association of choice for members and partners and will exert its influence in:
- in the policy environment that has an impact on the library and information services sector; and
- in professional practice, by creating opportunities for information professionals to achieve their professional aspirations and for library and information services providers to meet their service commitments.
ALIA will continuously improve its positioning by clearly articulating the objects of the Association internally and externally and by further developing our strategic partnerships and networks.
Skilling members for the future
...means...
- working in partnership with educators, employers, practitioners and the community to identify and promote the professional knowledge and skills that are needed;
- maintaining standards in library and information sector education, both formal and informal;
- providing opportunities for members to pursue career-long learning actively and independently;
- encouraging members to assume responsibility for their own learning and ensuring that they know about career pathways in the library and information sector.
Through a career-long education framework, ALIA will facilitate and actively encourage members to participate in a structured career-long learning program that enhances library and information services
Promoting innovation
...means that we celebrate successes, communicate them effectively and encourage innovation in practice.
ALIA will...
- support communities of practice which bring together researchers and practitioners to encourage research which is relevant to practitioners' needs and facilitates the transfer of research-based evidence into practice;
- provide opportunities for members to tell their success stories, to share their challenges and to gain recognition from their peers and the wider community;
- actively encourage research that will improve practice;
- promote innovation for the benefit of the Australian community.
Communicating well
...means...
- in all internal and external communications projecting ALIA as a dynamic and innovative organisation;
- building on strengths to communicate with and among members and those outside the organisation it seeks to influence;
- ensuring that all members, regardless of their geographic location, are able to participate in and engage fully with the Association;
- engaging effectively with members and the wider community on their terms.
The aim is to create and articulate the thread that ties together and reinforces ALIA's values, achievements, direction, and expertise.
Making it happen
Sharing the vision
We will...
- ensure that members and potential partners are informed about the key policy issues for the sector and will engage members in developing ALIA's policy responses;
- actively encourage the interest and engagement of member in policy formulation and governance of the Association;
- develop accurate, timely and comprehensive data about the sector.
Skilling members for the future
We will...
- review the course recognition program, working together with educators and employers;
- incorporate a comprehensive continuing professional development program into an educational framework that provides pathways for progression in professional careers.
Promoting innovation
We will...
- actively encourage library and information professionals to publish and share their experiences on projects in their workplaces that are designed to improve practice;
- use ALIA's conferences, symposia and the ALIA e-prints repository to capture, archive and share research reports;
- identify ALIA stars - people who are making a difference to the library and information sector - and enable them to tell their stories in a variety of ways, through ALIA and external communication channels.
Communicating well
We will...
- adopt a unified communications strategy to promote and showcase our initiatives and activities;
- ensure that the communications strategy is effective in supporting participation and engagement of members;
- harness the expertise, knowledge and commitment of members and groups to engage and recruit new members.
Current two-year plan - initiatives in 2003-2004
Initiatives for 2003 and 2004 are set out in the ALIA 2003-2004 plan: Making the difference. Key initiatives in 2003-2004 are contributing to the achievement of the vision for the Association towards 2010.
In 2003-2004 ALIA is...
Sharing the vision
- Extending ALIA's influence as a national body representative of library and information services on an 'issues-by-issues' basis
- developing strategic partnerships and alliances with key sector organisations and interest groups
- making lobbying and advocacy resources available through the members-only website
- piloting an electronic alerting service focusing on strategic issues and developments for Australia's public libraries
Skilling members for the future
- Developing and implementing the comprehensive ALIA education framework
- Developing and issuing an online handbook to assist members in their ongoing learning
- Providing a user interface that allows members to easily record their CPD activities and learning outcomes
- Developing and marketing partner programs for CPD with like-minded organisations
Promoting innovation
- Implementing the Research Exchange and Partnership (REAP) program
- Delivering a varied and stimulating program of conferences and symposia
Communicating well
- Upgrading the ALIAnet website to provide new services and functionality, including member-only services and content
- Implementing a web-accessible membership database
- Streamlining the membership application process
- Commencing the ALIA champions program
- Encouraging the participation of new professional members, through the establishment of the New Graduates Group and new librarians symposiums
- Conducting a wide-ranging review of member engagement and participation in the Association
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