The year in review

The speed and ease with which the internet disseminates information became an issue of political importance this year and will remain one. Regulating internet content was the subject of a major Senate inquiry to which ALIA made a submission and provided evidence at a public hearing. It was also the subject of debate within the ALIA General Council.

While the principles of free speech and the freedom to access information are fundamental to the objectives of our Association, it is difficult for some to reconcile these principles with the desire to protect young people from 'offensive' material. Is the principle of opposing censorship subservient to that of placing filters on public-access internet terminals in public, school, TAFE or university libraries to protect young people? Such blocking devices may limit access to useful information and limit the access rights of other citizens. Who is to determine what constitutes harmful or offensive material? ALIA General Council has developed an interim statement on internet filtering which is available on the Association's website.

During the year, the Leadership Committee - with ACLIS and ALIA representation - discussed options for the establishment of a new organisation representing the library and information sector. The committee held its last meeting on 31 July and, towards the end of 1998, ACLIS was dissolved.

ALIA reaffirmed its commitment to the reform process with the adoption of a Charter of Renewal at an extraordinary general meeting of members in Adelaide on 27 October. The Charter included the acceptance by the membership of the need to move towards incorporation under the Corporations Law. This transition is an important recognition of the need for associations like ours to be established on the same transparency and accountability principles governing the operation of a business of comparable size.

The Charter also provided for the election of four additional members of General Council to represent individual and institutional members as an interim measure until the incorporation process is complete. This change was to be implemented immediately and, accordingly, our amendments to our Constitution were agreed to by General Council early in 1999. These are to be submitted to the Governor General for approval before the extra members can be elected. After incorporation, changes to the constitution will be less administratively protracted.

Australian Library Week and the ALIA Biennial Conference, splendidly organised by the South Australian branch, were very successful. Other activities through the year included our involvement in the NSW Pay Equity Inquiry on behalf of librarians, our participation in Online Australia Day and the completion of the Online Public Access Initiative program introducing internet connection and training to five remote Aboriginal communities. This annual report contains more information about these activities.

This is my last year as executive director, a position which I have very much enjoyed. Thank you to all who made this experience so worthwhile and to the ALIA National Office staff, who have been a dedicated and professional group of colleagues over the past five and a half years.