ACTive ALIA

proACTive

Number 232: March 2003

New Children's and Youth Services Group | The FLIN Consortia Taskforce

New Children's and Youth Services Group
An enthusiastic group of professionals who work with young people hope to form an ALIA ACT, South East New South Wales and Riverina Regional Children's and Youth Services Group. The aim of the group is to encourage and co-ordinate networking and communication between information specialists, librarians, teacher-librarians, library technicians and assistants who believe in the importance of services to young people in libraries.

The group aims to promote and support the development of innovative and significant youth programs and services through sharing ideas and experiences at regional and local workshops and meetings; inviting guest speakers and disseminating professional published information and sources. We also hope to promote the role and image of children's and youth services specialists and encourage them to actively support the Association.

If you are interested in joining the group or if you just support its ideals, please contact Judy Brooker, your Local Presence Officer, on ph 02 6230 2266 or judith.brooker@alianet.alia.org.au.

The FLIN Consortia Taskforce
There has been resurgence of interest in consortia, reflecting the spirit of co-operation, collaboration and co-ordination in librarianship. Last May FLIN (the Federal Government Libraries Information Network) organised a seminar in Canberra to look at the options for FLIN for being more involved in negotiating consortia. (A report of this seminar is at http://www.nla.gov.au/flin/) There was strong support from the 37 participants and one outcome has been the establishment of the FLIN Consortia Taskforce (FCT). Initially we aim to negotiate consortia purchases of electronic products and services for federal government agencies.

The Taskforce has representation from small, medium and large federal agencies, across portfolios (hence, across subject interests) and members have different experiences in delivering information services and in negotiating with vendors. Taskforce members are: Jocelyn Hayman (Health), Eric Pozza (IP Australia), Karen Vitullo (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Convenor), Peter Sinfield (ANAO), Robyn Spry (ACCC), Allyson Anthonisz (Australian Communications Authority), the Julie Philips (National Museum of Australia) and Nola Adcock (Commonwealth Parliamentary Library).

At itsfirst meeting in February the group developed a short-term action plan, as follows:

1. To develop some role statements for the FCT and some draft guidelines for negotiating with vendors.
2. To establish links with other Consortia groups to discuss issues.
3. To contact 15 agencies to gain a broad understanding of the interests of federal government agencies.
4. To proactively approach vendors that supplied products and services that met these interests.
5. In 2003, to negotiate consortia agreements for products that currently have strong support from our members - Proquest and RMIT.
6. To develop a strategy to communicate more effectively with our members.

The next meeting is on 28 March.

Karen Vitullo