6 December 1995

Public libraries online

Innovation statement to boost information literacy

Today, the Government started to meet its policy rhetoric concerning technological innovation in Australia with the promise of substantial financial support. The provision of $11.4 million for equipping Australia's 1400 public libraries with the capability to provide community access to online information has been greeted enthusiastically by library groups.

Virginia Walsh, executive director of the Australian Library and Information Association, said today: 'The government should be congratulated for demonstrating its support for the role of public libraries in providing equity of access to all modes of information.'

Ms Walsh says figures released by the ABS this week show that libraries are well-used by many Australians who cannot afford to purchase access to online information such as the Internet. 'By assisting libraries to make this information available to the community, the Commonwealth Government is making a contribution to the standard of information literacy in the community. This will enhance our drive towards clever country status', she said.

ALIA sees the commitment to public libraries in The innovation statement as going some way towards implementing the recommendations of the Broadband Services Expert Group and meeting the policy objectives of both the ALP Policy and The creative nation statement. 'It is to be hoped that State, Territory and Local Government Authorities will provide complementary funding to ensure that services can be delivered to a high standard and that this initiative will attract bi-partisan support in the Federal Parliament, in keeping with Coalition policy commitments', said Ms Walsh.

Ms Walsh says the Australian Library and Information Association has long been an advocate for public library funding, which acknowledges the important role they play in providing equity of access to online information. Public libraries have been participants in the Community Information Network pilot, and ALIA also welcomes the strengthening of this pilot and its extension to all states and territories.

'Libraries are perceived by ninety per cent of the Australian community as "the place to go to find out something". Nearly forty per cent of the population are active and frequent library users and seventy per cent have used a public library in the last five years. Librarians and library technicians are skilled in navigating the economy of knowledge. The existing network of libraries is the obvious choice for community access to online information services', Ms Walsh said.