August Board of Directors meeting

My first trip to Canberra for a Board of Directors meeting, and the Canberra weather was very kind to me, no frosts and clear sunny days. Although a Qantas strike added some extra excitement to the Board meeting, would we get home tonight? We did with only some delays.

As always the Board's agenda was varied and some highlights are as follows:

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ALIA and ASA (Australian Society of Archivists)
A productive planning session to draft the ALIA 2003-04 Plan for discussion at the National Policy Congress (NPC) in November
ALIA's submission to the Senate inquiry into the role of libraries in the online environment.
ALIA will survey groups of libraries re copyright as part of its preparation for the Federal Government's promised review of the Digital Agenda amendments.

One of the major issues was the discussion on the LISEKA Project. The two main outcomes of the LISEKA project's consultation process (the model discussion paper) were: concern at the possibility of moving away from a recognised entry level qualification or standard, and the need for an effective CPD program. From the submissions received no one model was a clear preferred choice and the Board did not nor was it asked to vote on or choose a preferred model. The Board agreed that ALIA should continue to reflect a sector wide Association and will continue the LISEKA project into stage 2 with the development of an educational framework. A sub group of 3 Directors (including yours truly) has been given the task of "fleshing out" the education framework and identified future actions for discussion at the November NPC.

Update on ALIA's key initiatives

Key Initiative 1: Develop and market new services for students/new professional members
An advisory group called the New Generation Policy and Advisory Group has been established to assist the Board with this initiative. WA's Samantha Hughes is a member of this advisory group.

Are you a bright and funky librarian? If yes, visit the ALIA New Librarian's Symposium website at http://conferences.alia.org.au/newlibrarian2002/ for further details on the program, social events and things to do around Brisbane. The symposium will be held Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December 2002, Brisbane's Carlton Crest Hotel.

Key Initiative 7: Develop a strategic action program for public libraries.

A Public Libraries Reference Group has been established with the following terms of reference:: Partnerships and alliances with other key organisations; Review of the Connecting Australians lobbying strategy; Improved communication; Investigation of standards and benchmarks for public libraries.

WA's Kerry Smith is a member of this group.

There are many advisory groups that support the Board of Directors. Most of the work of these groups is done by e-mail or by teleconference, and the workload varies. The Board is always asked to nominate or suggest an interested ALIA member to join a group. If anyone is interested in being part of an advisory group or has a particular "soap box" issue they would like to pursue, let me know.

I have new contact details. So please contact me on ph 08 9268 7138 or Deanne.Barrett@fedcourt.wa.gov.au if you have any questions of wish to raise an issue.

Deanne Barrett

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