20 May 2005

Celebrating Library and Information Week

From Mount Isa to Launceston, from Marrickville to Cloverdale, libraries across the country will celebrate Library and Information Week (LIW) 2005 from the 23-29 May.

'Library and Information Week is the perfect opportunity to recognise achievements and promote the services and skills of library and information professionals to the public,' said Dr Gillian Hallam, president of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

'This year we have a strong program of events and activities organised to celebrate the week. Quiz nights, launches, award presentations, library tours, internet classes and storytime are just some of the events on offer at libraries around the country. Geelong libraries are hosting appearances by local Cats footballers during LIW, while Mount Isa City Library is holding their inaugural Xbox Challenge to draw teenagers in; it's all about having fun in the library environment, while raising the awareness of the value of libraries to our community,' Dr Hallam said.

One of the highlights of LIW 2005 will be the presentation of the ALIA Excellence Award on Monday 23 May in Perth. West Australian Minister for Education and Training, Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich MLC, together with ALIA immediate past-president, Imogen Garner will present the award to Natasha Griggs, youth services librarian at the Ruth Faulkner Public Library, Belmont.

'Natasha Griggs has won the award for her innovative work on the Finding MY Place program, a unique series of workshops aimed at encouraging disadvantaged young people to remain in a learning environment,' Ms Garner said.

Principal sponsor of LIW 2005, NetAlert Ltd, will launch their Librarian’s guide to internet safety resource guide during the week. Developed with the assistance of ALIA, the resource guide concentrates on ways to help young internet users stay safe in libraries.

ALIA will also celebrate ALIA Stars during LIW. ALIA Stars highlights the achievements of ALIA members within and beyond the sector.

ALIA Stars who will be recognised this LIW are; John Dwight, executive chair of DA Information Services, and recipient of ALIA’s Premier Redmond Barry Award for his leadership in providing leading edge products and services; business and academic leader, Dr Marianne Broadbent, Fellow of ALIA and senior vice-president (global research business strategy) at the Gartner group; Kate Sinclair, the first recipient of the ALIA Metcalfe Award, which recognises high achievement by a personal member in their first five years of practice; Natasha Griggs for her pioneering work on the Finding MY Place program; and MusicAustralia, a federated online music service, launched in March 2005 and internationally lauded for its ground-breaking comprehensive access to the nation’s musical resources and information.

For further details about LIW and ALIA Stars visit http://alia.org.au/advocacy/

For further details about NetAlert visit http://netalert.net.au.