Knowledge outlook...

Australian libraries celebrate Library and Information Week, 14-20 May 2001

Libraries are Australia's total knowledge centres, providing the key to finding relevant information in the maze of material available today.

Innovative, knowledge-based societies depend on libraries and their professional staff to facilitate the retrieval of information for research and innovation, education and training, government decision-making and business development, cultural pursuit and creative ideas.

Library and Information Week highlights the dynamic, energetic and information-rich environment of the twenty-first century library. Libraries around the country will host a range of activities celebrating the following days:

Monday 14 May: the inaugural Information Rights Day - Information matters! focuses on the right of individuals to access information. The day highlights the many issues for society which underpin access to information including equitable access to information; censorship and copyright; access to government information; privacy concerns; and information literacy.

Wednesday 16 May: Thank-you day. Thank-you day provides an opportunity for libraries to thank all those who make it possible for libraries to provide their services - in particular governments, but also government and educational institutions, businesses, volunteers, and friends of libraries groups.

Thursday 17 May: National simultaneous story-time, celebrating one of the most popular public library activities: story time and its importance to literacy. With generous support from Dymocks Booksellers, HarperCollins Publishers, and Books Alive!, children will gather at 2:00pm (AEST) in libraries around the country to hear the tale of Edward the emu, written by Sheena Knowles and illustrated by Rod Clement.

Friday 18 May: Online Day. Online Day will highlight the vital role library and information services play in the provision of quality access to online information resources.

Information about Library and Information Week and associated activities can be found on the ALIA website: http://alia.org.au/advocacy/alw/2001/.

For more information about Library and Information Week contact Alan Bundy, ALIA president, phone 08 8302 6260, fax 08 8302 6756, or e-mail alan.bundy@unisa.edu.au.nospam or Jennefer Nicholson, executive director, ALIA, phone 02 6215 8222, fax 02 6282 2249 or e-mail jennefer.nicholson@alia.org.au.nospam. [drop the .nospam if e-mailing...]

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