Branch reports

Australian Capital Territory

1998 was a year of difficulties and quiet achievement. Many government libraries were under review. Hard work ensured that no libraries were lost. Contacts and networks, gained through participation in ALIA events, provided individual support and information.

Our objectives for 1998 were:

To facilitate the merger between ACLIS and ALIA. All meetings were held jointly. Social functions and discussion meetings encouraged members of both groups to exchange views. The branch newsletter, ProACTive, promoted discussion throughout the year. After information from our general councillor, Tony Ralli, the ACLIS (ACT) chair, Bet Dracoulis and Derek Whitehead from the ALIA-ACLIS Leadership Committee, and much discussion, we prepared the ACT response to the Charter of Renewal.

To strengthen the profile of the profession in the ACT. The Branch committee canvassed support for the ACT public library service from candidates in the ACT Legislative Council elections and promoted the need for a public library in Gungahlin. The Australian National University librarian, Colin Steele, received two Fellowship awards from ALIA and the Library Association (UK). From this we generated several articles in The Canberra Times promoting the role of libraries. Australian Library Week activities included an address by the director of CSIRO publishing to scientists and librarians and the ACT public library shopfront 'Virtual Library of the Future'.

To maintain and strengthen its relationship with members. This was achieved by successful social gatherings, Section activities, the mentoring program and promotions of ALIA to tertiary students.

New South Wales

Events began with the launch of the Branch mentoring program. The first participants attended an introductory seminar in February and there was a second intake in August.

Throughout 1998, members spent much time discussing the formation of a new peak body and how it would operate at state level. Branch Council appreciated the assistance of Karl Schmude, the ACLIS NSW representative. Discussions centred on issues such as defining the services which the new body should provide and the development of the Draft Charter of Renewal.

Celebrations for Australian Library Week included a breakfast meeting with the NSW Minister for Information Technology and the presentation of the Metcalfe Medallion to Bryan Riley. Recognition for members throughout the year included a Fellowship for Bill Linklater and Merit Awards to Jerelynn Brown, Dot Dawson, Michelle Ellis, Glenys Murray, Nina Suprun, the Clinical Information Access Project at the NSW Department of Health and the State Library of New South Wales.

Members from a variety of sectors attended discussion sessions with CREATE Australia, to provide input into the Libraries and Museums Industry Training Package which will influence training for library and information services at the vocational level.

ALIA industrial affairs officer, Phil Teece, presented a seminar on the library labour market survey and spoke about the NSW Government's pay equity enquiry in which he played a significant role in getting a positive result for librarians. A November workshop on negotiation skills was opportune for members.

Members increased their use of the ALIANSW electronic discussion list which disseminates news and information and which helped engender the year of debate that was 1998.

Northern Territory

1998 was the twentieth year of ALIA (NT) and we operated throughout the year with ACLIS as one committee under the pseudonym LAWNN, Library Association With No Name.

The Branch gave financial support to members to attend the ALIA Biennial Conference, IFLA Council and General Conference, the Children's Book Council and assistance for Information Online and On Disc in 1999.

Monthly events included visits from the director-general of the National Library of Australia, Warren Horton and ALIA president, John Shipp.

One of the many successful Australian Library Week activities was the presentation of the inaugural ALIA/ACLIS (NT) awards by Tim Baldwin, minister for housing and local government. The recipients were Phyllis Williams, NT Librarian/Library Technician of the Year, and Linda Winzar, NT Library and Information Service Community Award.

There were no nominations for the Library and Information Organisational Innovation Award.

Public libraries provided many successful opportunities for the community to see the wide range of services and valuable contribution of libraries. Professional development activities included a two-day course on updating original cataloguing skills, a course on the learning organisation and a three-day indexing course.

Queensland

Throughout the year the Qld Branch gathered proposals for a new state organisation, to be operational in 2000. The consultative process involved statewide open forums of members, a special facilitated workshop for State Council in August, and the efforts of a working party of State Council.

Our monthly newsletter, Quill, has prospered under the guidance of a small, enthusiastic committee, based in North Queensland. Costs were reduced by twenty per cent through gaining advertising and efficiencies.

Continuing education activities are the most appreciated services provided by the Branch. The sections and the regional groups have provided stimulating and well-attended programs this year. A successful one-day conference was held by the ACLIS/ALIA Qld Special Interest Group on preservation of library materials. Branch members organised a seminar on How to get that job and spent an informative evening listening to Phil Teece, industrial affairs officer from ALIA National Office. The mentoring program has run successfully again this year.

Australian Library Week was launched in Toowoomba. Our activities were well-attended and extensively publicised statewide.

The Library Technicians' Section members gave much time to their input to the library competencies package, prepared by Create Australia.

Aided by Richard Sayers, the state president lobbied candidates in the state and federal elections to promote libraries.

In summary, it has been a turbulent year. The Council started off this year as a new body, aiming to 'establish an inclusive organisation, mindful of diversity in regions, types of libraries and functions' and its members worked hard to achieve this.

South Australia

The Biennial Conference of the Association, Pathways to knowledge, was the success story of a busy year which also included organisation of Australian Library Week and the Oration and the production of our newsletter, InterALIA. The conference was profitable financially, professionally and socially, as a result of three year's hard work from a team headed by Di Booker.

Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue delivered the Australian Library Week Oration. The ALW committee sent out postcards to the media, which resulted in increased coverage, including radio interviews with the deputy executive director of ALIA, Jennefer Nicholson, Dr Alan Bundy, representing AUSLIB Press, and Pinnaroo School Community librarian, Pam Fuller. Pinnaroo won the Val Gauld Award, sponsored by AUSLIB Press, for an innovative program of events surrounding the 20th anniversary of South Australia's first joint-use library.

As a result of concentrated promotion during ALW, library students attended the Conference and the Fringe, and a number joined ALIA.

Section activities supported networking, continuing professional development and information exchange, with a high level of co-operation.

Dr Alan Bundy received the HCL Anderson Award and Nereda Wilkinson the Merit Award (SA Branch) for her work with the GRATIS interlibrary loans network and its state component, GRATISSA.

ACLIS and ALIA members worked hard to facilitate the successional joint operation of the two groups.

The Branch president, Christine Cother, thanks the University of South Australia for supporting Branch activities.

Tasmania

At the Tasmanian Branch Council level the merger of ACLIS and ALIA was very smooth and co-operative.

ALIA's lobbying skills were put to good use twice this year with elections at both federal and state levels. During the state election campaign a particularly productive meeting with the shadow minister for education (who later became the minister) was conducted.

Our continuing professional development program was varied and successful. A number of co-operative ventures with other sections such as the Northern Areas Group featured and several events produced income.

In an unusual departure from the standard Australian Library Week, the Branch focussed on the work and achievements of current and previous members of the profession.

The Branch this year was able to fund members' attendance at national meetings and conferences. Bridget Hutton, Tasmanian Branch president attended the first General Council meeting for the year and Chris Richardson, general councillor, was supported to attend the ALIA Biennial Conference in Adelaide where she promoted the Strait to the future conference which is to be held in Hobart in 1999.

In May, the Branch newsletter, Link, was published electronically through the e-list TASLIB-LINK in order to reduce production costs. Members without e-mail addresses continue to receive Link in hard copy.

Another major achievement was the purchase of a new personal computer for the Local Presence Office - with the assistance of the Tasmanian Department of Education - which has also allowed the local presence officer to be located in the State Library building. The computer runs on the Department's network and the information management branch provides technical support.

Victoria

In 1998 the Victorian Branch extended to all levels the renewal process that has been a major part of ALIA nationally. Building closer ties, ALIA and ACLIS formed the Victorian Library and Information Services Forum (VicLIS). Through VicLIS, we ran joint monthly council meetings and ongoing continuing professional development activities.

The VicLIS Forum also provided an avenue for greater input from other aligned groups such as VicLINK, SLAV, students and VALA, who were encouraged to participate in monthly meetings. This enabled greater sharing of knowledge and a wider membership base.

The Victorian Branch was restructured to enable greater access to both individual and institutional members. The number of branch councillors was increased from six to ten, with two positions being reserved for institutional representatives. The increase in participants allowed several sub-committees to be formed and the co-opting of general members to subcommittees. This has created more efficient decision-making and improved our resources.

The Victorian Branch lobbied our decision-makers throughout the year to improve library and information facilities. As part of Australian Library Week we were able to contact all Victorian politicians as well as chief executive officers of all local councils to urge them for their continued support.

Over 100 continuing professional development activities were provided by sectional, regional and special interest groups this year.

In recognition of the outstanding work being undertaken by ALIA members in Victoria we were pleased to award five ALIA Awards for Innovation in 1998. Branch Merit Awards were presented to Jean Goh and Trevor Wakely for their long-standing commitment to ALIA in Victoria.

Western Australia

The most positive note has been the publication of the popular and controversial ALW calendar which sold briskly. The concept is being adopted by other states. We featured many information professionals, none of whom fitted any kind of stereotype. We thank the courage and perseverance of the Group Mentoring Programmed Calendar Committee.

Australian Library Week was an outstanding success as a result of the efforts of Vicky Wilson and her committee.

Branch Council has had a busy year trying to keep membership involved and informed about the ACLIS/ALIA merger and drafting two responses to ALIA National Office, one concerning the Charter of Renewal and the other requesting enhancements to the local office. Relationships between ACLIS and ALIA in Western Australia have been very good and ACLIS generously funded and supported the upgrade of local office equipment.

The excellent work of sections, and mentoring and other professional development activities continued to support the needs of members, especially new graduates.