15 September 1998

ALIA welcomes internet $$$

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has applauded the Federal Opposition's $60 million funding pledge to improve public internet access.

ALIA's executive director, Ms Virginia Walsh, said in Canberra today that $60 million over two years was a significant boost for public-library facilities.

Ms Walsh said she was pleased that one of ALIA's major lobbying efforts had been incorporated into the Opposition's Education policy, issued by the Opposition leader, Kim Beazley, and Education spokesman, Mark Latham, in Melbourne this morning.

'Internet demand in the past year has outstripped supply in public libraries, creating major inequities for various sections of the community,' Ms Walsh said.

'The $60 million effectively means that thousands of Australians will have the opportunity to explore the net and upgrade their computer literacy skills.'

Ms Walsh said ALIA would rigorously keep the Opposition to its election promise if the ALP won Government in a few weeks time.

ALIA is the Canberra-based professional association for Australia's libraries and information services, with 10 000 institutional and personal members. More than 10 million Australians use libraries each year.