21 July 2009

ALIA Public Libraries Summit endorses development of a national framework for public libraries

Media Release PDF (77kb)

Delegates at the ALIA Public Libraries Summit, held at the National Library of Australia on 16 July, presented ALIA with the mandate to develop a national framework for Australia's 1500 public libraries.

In her opening address, Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, talked about public libraries as 'hubs of community life', neutral spaces for learning, access to the internet and e-learning. She said, 'They will remain a vital part of the future … a neutral third place, with the capacity to connect people with the outside world.'

She confirmed, 'ALIA has a huge role in all of this', describing the existing ALIA public campaigns, Library Lovers Day and National Simultaneous Storytime, as clever initiatives, and the Summer Reading Club as 'a valuable way of drawing in young people.'

The Summit was the first time politicians, their advisers, representatives of not-for-profit organisations and senior figures from the library world had come together to debate the future of public libraries in the 21st century.

ALIA Executive Director Sue Hutley said, "It was clear from the debate during the day, and from the feedback from attendees immediately after the event, that what is needed is a lead body, providing public libraries with a united voice to government. ALIA was recognised as being uniquely placed to be able to deliver this, supported by, and in collaboration with, the state public libraries associations and Friends of Libraries Australia."

The development of a vision, strategy and national framework will be based on the submissions posted in advance of the Summit, by library and other organisations from many parts of Australia, and the course of the discussion at the event.

This work coincides with the launch at the Summit of the ALIA initiative to develop new National Standards for Public Libraries, which will give direction to the provision of public library services.

Other key topics at the ALIA Public Libraries Summit were children, early reading and a literate Australia; encouraging the digital economy and digital citizenship; social inclusion and community partnerships, and health and ageing.

ALIA President Jan Richards concluded, "ALIA has been issued with a serious challenge and we intend to step up to the mark. We will be working with partners over the next few months to develop a national framework for public libraries as the basis of a plan with which we can go to Federal Government requesting its support. "