July-December 2003

Six-monthly report to the Board of Directors

The ALIA Agriculture and Environment Interest Group aims to promote the sharing of information between librarians working in agriculture and environmental libraries and to provide support to members working in these libraries. Geographic coverage is Australia-wide and commercial, government and university. Activities include the aliaAGENDIS e-list, and one or two face-to-face meetings per year in conjunction with conferences.

Our previous membership was 126 in June 2003 so the office-bearers are activating a new plan to stimulate more discussion and increase membership of the list. Our subscribers to our e-list number 96.

The group has contributed to the workshops for the new AANRO online database and discussion on the topic has continued on the e-list. So the group has actually proved its value in being able to maintain a role in the outcome for AANRO.

As well, a meeting was held at the 10th Asia Pacific Special Health and Law Librarians Conference with 12 attendees and topics discussed included Consortia, latest on ABOA and Streamline, what was happening in our libraries. Some members will be meeting at the upcoming ALIA conference too.

A newsletter will be sent out more regularly to keep members up to date on issues affecting our sector and all future news will be totally electronic. Speaking about e-delivery, the e-list discussions included AANRO, services and resources we all offer (if any) to external clients.

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