A library card: your backstage pass to the world

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It’s Library and Information Week from 24 - 30 May 2010 and libraries around Australia are inviting everyone to Access All Areas.

Event organiser, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), specifically chose the Access All Areas theme and rock 'n' roll branding to appeal to people who might not normally think of a library as an 'edgy' kind of place.

Launching the week-long festivities, Executive Director Sue Hutley explained, "If you say 'library', most people think about borrowing books, but there’s so much more you can do. For this year’s Library and Information Week we want to celebrate libraries as the places where you can access information, share ideas, connect with your community, learn new things and be entertained – all for free.”

“Our members will be holding a range of Library and Information Week ‘gigs’ in libraries around Australia. Some libraries have arranged ‘red carpet’ access for certain events while others are offering ‘backstage passes’ to encourage people to go and see what's ‘behind the scenes’ at their local library.”

Did you know that many Australian libraries offer:

Family tree research
Resume and job hunting help
Literacy and numeracy training
Free WiFi internet access
Computer training and personal development opportunities
Music, DVDs and toys for loan
Cafés, galleries, shops, babysitting centres

Libraries around Australia will be hosting a range of fun things to tempt people to explore the various aspects of their library and services, so look out for the Library and Information Week Access All Areas ‘gig’ poster in a library near you.

Australia has some 1500 public libraries, 9000 school libraries, 430 university and TAFE libraries, and thousands of health, law and other special libraries.

ENDS

INFORMATION FOR EDITORS:

Australian Library and Information Association:
Sue Hutley, Executive Director 0412 764 922 or 02 6215 8215 (office)

Library and Information Week website http://www.alia.org.au/liw/

Issued on behalf of
Australian Library and Information Association ALIA House, 9-11 Napier Close, Deakin ACT 2600

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is the professional association for the Australian library and information services sector. It seeks to empower the profession in the development, promotion and delivery of quality library and information services to the nation, through leadership, advocacy and mutual support. ALIA represents the interest of 6,000 members, the profession and Australia's 12 million library users.

http://www.alia.org.au

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