6 April 2011

Libraries and Literacy – we’re already working on it

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The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has responded to the call for an “overarching blueprint for action on language, literacy and numeracy”, by noting that Australia’s 1,480 plus public library service points already provide critical literacy education every day, stepping in to help people locate information about everything from jobs to health and even helping them fill in government forms.

“Our public libraries are already a significant component nationally in developing key literacy skills, but receive little recognition or funding to support them” ALIA Executive Director Sue Hutley added.

The report released this week by the Industry Skills Councils, No More Excuses, warns of falling literacy and numeracy skills and calls for the Council of Australian Governments to develop a national blueprint to tackle the problem.

Ms Hutley says public libraries should be recognised as literacy skills service providers and it makes sense to use the well-established network and service points they already provide.

“Public libraries are training people to use the internet every day, they are assisting business people improve productivity. Libraries support Australians whether they are at school, TAFE or University and they also provide public access points for government information.” Ms Hutley said.

The Association, along with key partners, is already well into planning for the National Year of Reading in 2012 and this campaign could be harnessed to offer substantial programs to improve literacy and language skills in partnership with the Council of Australian Governments and the Industry Skills Councils.

“Our profession is proud of the role we play in helping Australians gain the essential skills they need to thrive and contribute to their communities and our society,” Ms Hutley said.

“It makes perfect sense to harness this well-established and proven network to deliver targeted programs that will turn around the downward slide in national literacy, language and numeracy skills,” she said.

Around 12 million Australians are already members of a public library. “The public library system in Australia has already demonstrated how much can be achieved on limited funding, returning on average a minimum of $3.50 for every dollar invested in them,” Ms Hutley said.

“This is proof that the public library network can deliver and, if resourced to do so, we can deliver more. The library network is naturally collaborative and driven by values centred on effective dissemination of information. Resourcing that network with an established infrastructure would mean it is possible to make a real difference in a much shorter timeframe than attempting to create a whole new network,” Ms Hutley said

ENDS