ALIA Asia Pacific Special Interest Group

January-June 2003

Six-monthly report to the ALIA Board of Directors

The number of members of the APSIG Committee is minimal, and all members have had other pressing commitments. A decision was made at the beginning of the year to hold three seminars and one library visit this year.

Other activities have included: meeting with visitors to the region and publicising the activities colleagues throughout the Asia Pacific; reactivation of the APSIG newsletter and establishment of the APSIG discussion list - the latter has taken some time.

APSIG has been prominent in promoting the region by sending regular articles to inCite. One of the most notable was the photo on the cover of the March issue, and information for the article on the destruction of the Iraq National Library and Museum.

The planned activities for the past six months have been:

• 19 February: Visit to the National Sport Information Centre
• 20 March: APSIG seminar on Preservation - speakers: Colin Webb, Director of Preservation Services, NLA and Anya Dettman, Indonesian Unit, Asian Collections NLA.
• 30 April: APSIG Committee hosted lunch with Dr Nancy Lane, who was in Australia visiting from her current base in Hawaii. Nancy spoke on her current work as the Director of Communications, Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL).
• 25 June: Propaganda in times of Conflict, speakers: Emma Jones, Research Library, Australian War Memorial, topic: The Fare Eastern Liaison Office (FELO) in the Pacific theatre in WWII and Rob Hurles, a Master of Philosophy student, Australian National University, topic: national building by the Viet Minh forces and propaganda against the French Government, 1940s to 1954.

The seminars have been most successful, and have attracted a wide audience including those from other professions outside of the library and information sector, and so well fulfilling the objects of ALIA's constitution.

APSIG has had some success in seeking financial support for its functions. A donation box has been used at all meetings this year and also has gained sponsorship for two events from the organisation, One Umbrella.

The publication and distribution in March of the APSIG Newsletter, was a major undertaking. Our thanks go to Marie Sexton and Amelia McKenzie for all their work and to ALIA for funding the distribution to copies in developing countries in the region.

APSIG has provided advice and promotion to support library projects within the region. Two of these projects include:

• East Timor on the UNTL Library Development Project - Committee member Jill Haynes has taken 5 months leave to work with colleagues in East Timor.
• 'Books for Bougainville' APSIG also offered advice for assistance to, the Buka High School, Bougainville. This project is being managed through Lyneham High School.

Four of APSIG's Committee have been awarded the new silver ALIA pin, in recognition of their extensive committee work with APSIG and other ALIA groups. The four are: Amelia McKenzie, George Miller, Marie Sexton and Jeanette Regan.

Future Plans:

• October 2003:
  A seminar is on publishing and book selling in the Asia Pacific;
  APSIG newsletter, 2 issues will be distributed in the 2nd half of 2003.
• December 2003:
  Christmas Lunch.

While reviewing APSIG's activities, I have realised just how busy we have been! I would like to thank the committee for their continued support. We look forward to the challenges that face the group in the coming year.

Jeanette Regan
Convenor, APSIG