APSIG newsletter no. 60: March 2006

Training in library advocacy in the Pacific

The Pacific Islands Association of Libraries and Archives (PIALA) recently learned that it had been awarded an IFLA ALP funded development grant for an advocacy workshop.

The proposal for a workshop to train library association leaders in the Pacific Islands in library advocacy and policy was submitted by Arlene Cohen, former IFLA MLAS Secretary and Mark Perkins, a Standing Committee member of the IFLA Regional Section on Asia and Oceania.

The Pacific Islands Association of Libraries and Archives (PIALA), established in 1991, is a Pacific regional association of librarians and archivists formed to address needs in the Pacific, with a special focus on Micronesia. Micronesia is composed of several island countries and entities, covering an expanse of water almost as big as the Australia. An executive board consisting of officers and representatives from each founding Micronesian island country or entity governs PIALA. These countries or entities are Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia consisting of the states of Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae and Pohnpei.

Government officials, educators and the public in the Pacific Islands do not appreciate the role of libraries in our society. Thus, many Pacific Island laws and government policies relating to information access, literacy and education, where they are even being written, are being developed with little or no library community or association input. To exert any influence on library development, library association leaders, activists and educators must understand the role of library associations as pressure groups for political action and policy decisions. They can then influence government decisions in both basic funding for libraries and new emerging areas of information literacy and telecommunications technology. To do this, these leaders, educators and activists must have the requisite skills in policy development and implementation; including developing government relations platforms, monitoring government proposals, effective advocacy campaigns and public relations.

This grant will provide funding to present a workshop at the PIALA 2006 Conference, 13 -17 November 2006 in Palau to address developing skills in library advocacy and policy development. Two participants from each Micronesian island entity represented on the PIALA Board and two other participants from other Pacific Islands in the region will be supported to attend the workshop.

During the workshop, participants will each identify at least two issues in their island (or country) for which advocacy work will be carried out systematically over the next year and develop a preliminary action plan for implementation during the workshop. They will then be expected to go back to their islands and utilize their new skills to promote, advocate and influence government policies relating to the identified issues.

The IFLA Management of Library Associations (MLAS) and other interested library associations on the MLAS Standing Committee will also provide supplemental funding.