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Executive report

Financial performance

The Association achieved a surplus of $85 900 in 2003. Members' equity is increased by a further $1 468 538 due to the re-valuation of ALIA House and the land leasehold. For 2003 this is treated as an asset re-valuation reserve. In the latter half of 2003 the Board worked with the Association's auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers to prepare the Association's financial reporting for the introduction of the new International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005. The main change is in the valuation of non-current assets, particularly ALIA House and the land leasehold. The Board of Directors considered the options of reporting ALIA House at either the fair value of the property based on a current market valuation, or retaining the value as on the balance sheet. As it is likely that in the near future all reporting will move to fair value the Board resolved to adopt the fair valuation and ALIA House and land are therefore now reported on fair value. Income growth continues to be a challenge and the Association has again this year made expenditure savings through ongoing review of its functions and services suppliers. Conferences were a major income growth area and this is attributed to successful ALIA conferences and topical symposia and new collaborative ventures. The hard work of these committees is appreciated, and results of their efforts are seen beyond the actual event. Sponsorship and advertising income was affected by exchange rate movements, corporate mergers, and international events such as the Iraq war. With interest rate rises starting to come through and with careful cash management interest income performed better than anticipated. The Association aims to have its membership dues income at around fifty per cent of overall income and this year it is at forty-three per cent. This is a favourably low percentage in comparison with other associations and is good risk management, provided membership levels are sustained. Groups activities have almost reached break-even, with the groups funds at $416 960 (2002: $422 041). In addition, since 2001 the Groups conference funds have increased to $218 128.

The year in review

ALIA: making the difference, ALIA's plan for 2003 and 2004 was endorsed by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 14 March 2003. The plan was developed through extensive consultation during 2002. The plan builds on initiatives undertaken in 2001 and 2002 and on the outcomes of the ALIA 2002 conference, the annual National Policy Congresses and investigations into library and information science education (the LISEKA project), information technology and communication strategies for the Association, and promoting research and institutional members needs. The plan sets out eighteen initiatives under five areas of strategic focus. By the end of 2003, there had been significant achievements in most initiatives [see the full plan].

Members first

We put our members first. Members' needs and priorities drive our services. Services are specifically designed to benefit personal members in their career choices, and institutional members in their delivery of services and their achievement of aims and objectives. Members engage with the Association through their involvement and participation in a wide range of services and activities.

a. Enhance engagement of members through state/territory and locally-based groups and programs (Object 5).

Local presence officers engaged by ALIA National Office: local support arrangements have been established with ALIA local liaison officers appointed for Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland.
Support for members in rural and remote areas: The local liaison officers and ALIA National Office will develop and implement means of supporting members in rural and remote areas.
Group-based e-communications and newsletters: most ALIA self nominating groups publishing newsletters have moved to an electronic format, there are fifteen groups currently producing newsletters, and the majority have established e-lists to facilitate communication between group members.

A review of members' engagement and participation in the Association commenced and is due to report to the Board in May 2004. The review is focusing on the effectiveness of the current group structure and the value and significance of groups to members and the Association.

b. Membership growth program (Objects 3, 5).

The ALIA membership retention rate reached eighty-nine per cent at end of June 2003 - up from eighty-four per cent in June 2002.
Progress has been made to make the membership application process simpler, and to facilitate online membership applications.
There has been an increase in online requests for membership application forms.

Excellence

Our services and activities focus on promoting excellence in practice. Our awards program recognises excellence in practice by individuals and organisations. We focus on career-long education to meet the needs and aspirations for library and information service practice in the 21st century. We aim to foster research for innovative practice. Through excellence in practice our members reinforce the essential role of our sector in the wider community.

c. A framework for career-long education for the knowledge age, encompassing continuing professional development and formal education (Objects 2, 3).

In 2003 the Association endorsed the ALIA education framework representing a new direction for ALIA's involvement in education and continuing professional development. Based on the concept that practitioners fill different roles throughout their careers [as identified in the Association's work-level guidelines], the framework offers a structure and reference point for members to update their knowledge and skills and advance their careers. In conjunction with the framework, the ALIA career-long learning user guide, published on ALIAnet, has been developed to assist members to choose and customise a learning program that best meets their particular developmental needs.

d. Implement a comprehensive continuing professional development program through arrangements with external training providers (Objects 2, 3, 5)

Partnerships that provide ALIA members with access to discounted training courses were developed in 2003. Agreements were signed with

Monash Learningfast, for computer skills courses
the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA) for management short courses and post-graduate studies
the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) (NSW branch) for short courses in management-related topics and
Information Enterprises Australia (a Western Australian organisation) that offers short courses in records management and personal development.

A trial was initiated for the recognition of institutional staff development programs for ALIA CPD purposes.

e. Establish a network of peers focused on encouraging innovation in library and information services practice through research and use of research results (Object 2, 3, 5)

The Association launched the Research Exchange and Partnership (REAP) to foster and support research and innovation in library and information services. Set up as an e-list initially with face-to-face meetings planned for the future, REAP provides a forum for discussing and sharing ideas about undertaking research and using the results of research. An integral part of REAP is ALIA e-prints, hosted by the University of Melbourne, which provides a vehicle for publishing reports on research from the in-progress to final outcomes stage. Supporting REAP is the Research Committee formed in 2003 to encourage and contribute to the development of ALIA's research program. A major function of the Research Committee is to recommend recipients of the Association's research awards.

f. Engage members and partners through a conference program (Objects 1, 2, 3, 5)

ALIA Information Online 2003 The ALIA Information Online 2003 conference and exhibition was held in January 2003. 1434 local and international delegates were registered including speakers, complimentary registrations and 236 delegates from the 118 trade exhibition booths. In addition, around 1000 people visited the exhibition. The conference returned a surplus well-above expectations.
Australian Committee on Cataloguing (ACOC) seminar Aiming for access One hundred and ninety delegates attended this very successful seminar in Sydney on 25 July. ACOC is a joint ALIA/NLA committee and this seminar was organised by the ACOC committee in collaboration with ALIA National Office.
10th Asia Pacific Special Health and Law Librarians Conference 2003 Celebrate the future Over 600 delegates and 31 exhibitors participated in the 10th Specials Health and Law Conference, held in Adelaide in August 2003. Conference attendees came from all over Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore, Indonesia, Norway, United States and the United Kingdom. The conference reached the financial breakeven point on the closing day for early-bird registrations and overall returned a surplus.
12th National Library Technicians Conference Bridging services: embracing reality The 12th National Library Technicians Conference was held in Brisbane in September 2003. The conference was highly-successful and received extensive praise from the participants who attended. A total of 543 delegates took part from all states and territories of Australia, the USA, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The conference returned a surplus.
8th Interlending and Document Supply International Conference 2003 Breaking barriers: reaching users in a digital world The 8th Interlending and Document Supply International Conference was held in Canberra in October 2003, which proved to be very successful and highly-valued by attendees. A total of 271 delegates from 24 countries attended. Social functions and special tours were also a highlight. An IFLA sponsored conference, this Canberra conference was a partnership between ALIA and the National Library of Australia. The conference returned a surplus.
ALIA New Librarians Symposium 1.5 The one-day ALIA New Librarian's Symposium 1.5 held in Brisbane on 5 December was an enjoyable CPD day for new and young information professionals and a follow-up to the New Librarians Symposium 1 in 2002. A total of 79 delegates attended.

Expertise and credibility (Objects 1, 2, 4)

Our policies and guidelines are based on research, expertise, shared knowledge and endorsed standards. Our advocacy and lobbying is based on understanding the context and power of data and evidence-based research.

g. Extend ALIA's influence as a national body representative of library and information services on an issue-by-issue basis (Objects 2, 4)

World Summit for the Information Society Participated in the development of the Australian Civil Society statement for the Australian Government delegation and hosts the e-list.
Australia/US Free Trade Agreement Represented the interests of copyright users and the sector on the Australian Coalition for Cultural Diversity, with government negotiators, and to parliamentarians.
Regional services Through the Regional Cultural Alliance (RCA) contributed to the cultural strand at the Outback Summit in Broken Hill and the launch of the RCA by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson.
Detention centres The ALIA report Leftovers and scraps: library and information resources and access in Australia's immigration detention centres was forwarded to the federal minister, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and Global Solutions Ltd. (Aust) Detention Services (GSL), and associated library and information services providers. As an outcome of the report ALIA is working with the department and GSL to establish formal consultative arrangements on the provision of library services to detainees.
Australian government's new business model for access to government publications The ALIA Expert Group on Government Publications has liaised with ALIA National Office for the Information Economy on new developments and has reviewed the new publications register.
Iraq reconstruction Contributed to the work of the Australian Government Cultural Heritage Reference Group for Iraq and raising the specific needs of the library sector with prime minister John Howard.
Vocational education and training Through the executive director's position on the Board of CREATE, the national industry training advisory body, pursued the best outcome for representation of the cultural sector in the restructured ANTA industry advisory arrangements and negotiations for a new Industry Skills Council.

h. Develop and promote lobbying and advocacy resources for members (Objects 2, 3, 4)

Extensive work commenced on an advocacy resource for ALIA members. The resource, to be launched in January 2004, contains a toolkit of 'how to' guides for advocacy and lobbying activities. Initially there will be two guides, the first containing information on raising sponsorship, and the second containing tips on how to deal with the media.

i. Leadership of the National Coalition for Information Literacy Advocacy (Objects 1, 2, 4)

Following a feasibility study undertaken with the National Library of Australia and ALIA National Office for the Information Economy, the Association has taken a leading role in the development of a coalition for information literacy advocacy. An interim body led by ALIA and with representation from Adult Learning Australia was formed to oversee the development of a coalition. An action plan to establish the framework for the coalition was set in place and at the same time, the interim body undertook to work towards raising the profile of information literacy beyond the LIS and education sectors through involvement in activities during Library and Information Week and Adult Learners Week. Next steps include the development of a long-term strategy and networks for an ongoing coalition.

Adding value (Objects 3, 5)

Our aim is that ALIA membership will deliver a competitive advantage in a dynamic and challenging information services environment. Members (both personal and institutional) have a distinct advantage through their access to unique services and other opportunities.

j. Increase member-only services, particularly internet-based (Objects 2, 3, 4, 5)

Made available through our website, major new member-only services include new employment and labour law information resources, groups information, research guidelines and information, CPD resources, copyright information, public-access internet guidelines and details on ALIA REAP and CIPS programs.

k. Implement new services and a marketing campaign aimed at new professional members to strengthen participation in ALIA those early in their LIS career (Objects 2, 3, 5)

The New Graduates Group was established in 2003, as well as an e-list and web pages for the group. The New Librarians Symposium 1.5 was held December 2003 and the Board endorsed the New Librarians Symposium 2.0 to be held in Adelaide in December 2004.

l. Achieve favourable purchasing agreements for institutional members for products and services, in consultation with other peak bodies and representatives of the special library and information services sector (Objects 1, 2, 4, 5)

The Purchasing and Consortia Reference Group was established to advise the Board on the development and implementation of a program in 2003-2004 to support institutional members to achieve favourable agreements for the acquisition of online information resources and services. The Purchasing and Consortia Reference Group is organising the ALIA Forum on Purchasing Agreements and Licensing to be held in Melbourne on 2 February 2004. ALIA CIPS, Co-operative Information Purchasing Services for ALIA institutional members, was launched in September 2003. ALIA CIPS is offered to institutional members through a partnership with ALDIS Associates Pty Ltd.

m. Secure a model copyright licence for electronic resources for special libraries through negotiations with the Copyright Agency Ltd (Objects 1, 2, 4, 5)

This initiative is on hold. The current focus is on the review of the Digital Agenda Amendments to the Australian Copyright Act.

n. Implement a strategic program for public libraries, focusing on partnerships, advocacy and standards and benchmarks (Objects 2, 3, 4, 5)

aliaPUBNEWS, a monthly electronic news bulletin covering the policy and strategic issues and service developments having an impact on public libraries Australia-wide was launched in July 2003. By the end of the year, six regular monthly bulletins and one special bulletin devoted to the release of the Senate report on the role of libraries in the online environment had been issued and there were almost 390 subscribers to aliaPUBNEWS. A memorandum of understanding was signed with Public Libraries Australia (PLA). PLA and the Association have agreed to collaborate on advocacy for the role and development of public library services in the Australian community.

Investment in the future (Object 5)

Our future is embedded in our Objects. People, financial viability and the energy that our sector inspires drive our future. Our future depends on effective decision-making processes and a strong and adaptable information and communications infrastructure.

o. Implement a web-accessible membership database to allow development of new online and member-only services (Objects 3, 5)

A great deal of planning and preparation paid off handsomely when the 5th-generation website (and associated services) was launched in May. A members-only section was introduced, offering specialised services to members of the Association, in addition to the wealth of information and services available in the 'public' section of the site. A new conferences website was developed to allow conference material to sit together, and to have less impact on the rest of the website. The entire site was redesigned to incorporate a database-driven content engine, and to ensure that web standards were complied with to allow access by all users. The new site is now much faster, standards-compliant, and with enriched content. A new online membership database was deployed at the same time, after only four months of development. The integration of the membership database and the multitude of databases that drive the new website is ongoing. Over the year, further improvements and refinements were made to the website, and additional features rolled out. For example, an RSS feed was offered for highly-active sections of the site. Many personal members of ALIAnet continue to enjoy having personal e-mail accounts and webspace. This service is in the stages of planning for further expansion to all ALIA members.

p. Develop and implement a partnership framework, including a strategic sponsorship plan (Objects 2, 3, 4, 5)

A draft sponsorship plan has been prepared together with a database of sponsorship activity to support the development of the partnership framework.

q. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Board of Directors (Objects 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Board members were asked to complete a questionnaire in which they rated the Board's performance against a range of criteria. The Board's modus operandi was reviewed and updated. A development program for the Board was conducted covering financial reporting, auditing and strategic governance for not-for-profit associations.

r. Review ALIA assets (Object 5)

In preparation for the introduction of new International Financial Reporting Standards in 2005 the Board resolved that ALIA House, the leasehold land and fixed assets would be re-valued at fair value (see the Statement of financial performance and Notes 7 and 10b). The Association has an even balance between current assets (cash) and non-current assets (property, plant and equipment) and in 2003 achieved a liquidity ratio (current assets/current liabilities) of 1.4:1 which exceeds the accepted standard of .5-1:1 for similar organisations.

Other activities supporting ALIAs objects

To promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Australians and a thriving culture, economy and democracy

Online content regulation The report of the Survey of internet access in public libraries was published. The detailed report was released as a members-only resource on ALIAnet with an executive summary and summary report made generally available. The report covers internet use policies, community education and training, complaints about internet content, use of filtering software and children's use of the internet in libraries and is based on the survey returns from ninety-one public library institutional members of ALIA. Guidelines for members relating to ALIA's statement on online content regulation were issued.

To promote and improve the services provided by all kinds of library and information agencies

Statements
The Information literacy for all Australians policy statement was amended in 2003, as were the policy statements The library and information sector: core knowledge, skills and attributes, and the ALIA/ASLA Statement on teacher-librarians in Australian schools. The statement Library and information services in schools was reviewed and retained without change in 2003.

Honours and awards

Seventy-eight members of the Association received ALIA silver pins recognising their extensive service to ALIA as an office-bearer or committee member
The Redmond Barry Award was conferred on Jim Soorly
The Excellence Award was conferred on the Ipswich Campus Library, University of Queensland for Excellence in library building design and delivery
Fellowship conferred on Dr David John Jones, MA [Oxon], Dip Lib, PhD [UNSW], AALIA, FALIA
Dunn & Wilson Scholarship was awarded to Lothar Retzlaff
Student awards were presented to high-achieving students at all schools of library and information services
ALIA Group award winners included: aliaWA Library Technicians Conference Grant Award 2003 - Michaela Shepherdson; Queensland Library Achiever of the Year Award - Jane Cowell; Queensland Library Technician of the Year [Recent Graduate] Award - Meredith Lewis; Maria Gemenis Award 2003 - Elizabeth Swan; Library Technician of the Year 2003 - Jackie Williams; WA Special Librarian of the Year 2003 - Terena Solomons; Anne Harrison Award 2003 - Ruth Sladek.

Australian Library and Information Week, 12-18 May 2003: Power your mind!
Sponsored by The One Umbrella, Australian Library and Information Week 2003 was an opportunity to reinforce the role of the library and information sector in building an information literate society. Activities organised during the week acknowledged and supported the start of the United Nations Literacy Decade. Popular activities that took place during LIW included breakfasts and dinners, award presentations, craft classes, story-telling, family fun days, local history talks and walks, workshops on writing, drama, cartooning, crosswords, school group days, exhibitions, talks by writers, consumer information sessions on law, medicine and finance, multi-cultural days, treasure hunts, book sales, debates, professional development days and music. Australian Library and Information Week proved to be yet another successful event, with libraries and schools taking part throughout Australia. A total of 86 media articles were published about the event.

National Simultaneous Storytime 2003 (NSS)
The National Simultaneous Storytime 2003 (NSS) was held at 11:00am AEST on Friday 5 September 2003, during Literacy and Numeracy Week. The book chosen for 2003 was I don't want to go to school by Christine Harris and illustrated by Craig Smith. Launched by Federal Education Minister, Brendan Nelson, and sponsored by Random House and Dymocks Booksellers, NSS 2003 was a great success with over 54 000 children participating nationwide.

Interlibrary Resource Sharing Code
ALIA co-ordinated consultation across the library sector in late-2003 on minor changes to the recommended prices in the Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing Code. The Board of Directors and other peak sector bodies endorsed the changes, to come into force from 1 January 2004.

Publishing
inCite, the news magazine of the Association, received a makeover to coincide with launch of the 5th generation website. inCite continues to perform strongly, with wide appeal. Production processes and costs have been reduced where possible, and even with the general economic downturn, advertising has remained steady, with potential for growth in 2004 and beyond. The advertising agent for inCite, MAP Marketing, was granted a further two-year contract to source advertising for the magazine. The Associations other journals - the Australian Library Journal (ALJ), Academic and Research Libraries (AARL), and Orana - were published. The full text of ALJ and AARL, along with highlights from inCite, were published on ALIAnet. At the end of 2003 a review of ALIA publishing activities, including inCite and the Association's other journals was commenced.

To ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and foster their professional interests and aspirations

Education and training
ALIA's ongoing commitment to professional standards is demonstrated through its course recognition program. In 2003 the Association recognised the Master of Information Management (Librarianship), the Graduate Diploma in Information and Library Studies and the Bachelor of Arts (Librarianship and Corporate Information Management) offered by Curtin University of Technology. An extension of recognition was granted to the Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies offered by Queensland University of Technology (Gardens Point). A database of courses leading to librarian and library technician qualifications was developed and mounted on ALIAnet and the booklet Courses in library and information studies was published in print form. The Association continued its involvement in many professional areas during 2003. It actively participated in and contributed to the final phase of the review of the National Museums and Library and Information Services Industry Training Package and maintained strong representation on state Industry Training Advisory Bodies. The executive director was a director of CREATE, the national industry training advisory body for the cultural sector. Following some forty-five requests about the recognition of overseas qualifications a total of fifteen applicants were admitted to Associate membership and two to Library Technician membership.

Industrial relations and employment
ALIA members continued to make heavy calls on the Association's industrial relations and employment advisory service, with more than 100 requests for specific action to address member problems in their workplaces. The advisory service: provided general, technical and legal advice in response to more than a thousand member inquiries about workplace rights, responsibilities and standards; assisted numerous employers to develop arrangements for appropriate employment conditions for library staff; successfully lobbied the University of Melbourne for changes to casual work provisions on behalf of ALIA members employed there; assisted NSW health librarians in developing submissions for flow-on of the NSW Pay Equity Case outcomes; participated as an invited member of the TAFE Queensland senior librarians group taskforce in developing submissions on the future role of library services in TAFE Queensland; participated as an invited international member in the American Library Association Pay Equity Task Force initiatives; prepared major analysis of the Australian labour market for the 2003 Library Technicians Conference; conducted research into significant problems confronting the sector as a consequence of the age profile of Australian library and information professionals; and produced articles on a wide range of labour market and industrial relations issues of importance to ALIA members.

Continuing professional development
In 2003, audits were carried out on a random ten per cent of participants in the ALIA CPD scheme for 2000/2001 and 2001/2002. The scheme was also evaluated and subsequently modified. The rejuvenated CPD scheme was launched at the National Policy Congress in September as part of the ALIA career-long learning user guide. An online database was also developed and made available to ALIA CPD scheme members to assist them to track their CPD activities. The ALIA Career development kit was revised and published on the ALIA website. Group professional development activities included some very successful symposia and workshops. Some of the highlights from the year were:

Out of the blue: surfing the lake, a two-day symposium held in Mount Gambier. Sessions included: issues for local library sectors, consortia and networking, professional issues in regional locations, distance and information delivery
Power our Territory: Information literacy for the development of the Northern Territory, a two-day symposium held in Darwin.
ALIA Quorum hosted several events under the banner of NER*D (News, Events, Reviews and Discussion).
ALIA Local Studies WA ran a thesaurus workshop Unlocking your collection: subject headings for local studies which included panel discussions, theoretical and practical sessions that focused on producing a standard thesaurus for local studies.
ALIA Tasmania ran an Employment tips and tricks session for the graduating students from the University of Tasmania and other institutions. The session was designed to give the students some tips on ways to gain employment after graduation.
ALIA Schools Victoria held an Evidence-based practice forum. The forum followed on from the evidenced-based practice forums that were held during 2002 and 2003. Participants saw examples of good practice that had developed following the previous seminars.
Techs on Tour - eight Victorian and twelve NSW library technicians attended this joint event. Over a two-day period the technicians visited the National Library of Australia, Noel Butlin Archives (Australian National University) and the High Court Library. Delegates also visited ALIA National Office where they were given presentations on copyright and industrial issues.
ALIA Children's and Youth Services NSW group one-day seminar, Switching them on to reading: books and young children, featured best-selling children's author Mem Fox, giving the Nancy Booker Honour Lecture.

Copyright
The copyright advisor gave a number of workshops and seminars to the Adelaide Law Health and Specials conference, the Brisbane Library Technicians' conference, the Australian Sports Librarians group and the New South Wales document delivery librarians. Articles on copyright issues appeared regularly in inCite and the advisor answered more than 130 questions from members.

Mentoring activities
In 2003 ALIA groups ran mentoring programs in South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.

To represent the interests of members to governments, other organisations and the community

Inquiries
Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Reference Committee Inquiry into the Role of Libraries in the Online Environment: the Board endorsed a response by ALIA to the recommendations of the inquiry. The Association welcomes the overall findings and the Committee's endorsement of the fundamental role of libraries in the Australian community and its recognition of the need for greater support for connectivity, access to online content and for national leadership in information provision.

Copyright
ALIA sent the following submissions on changes to copyright law affecting the operations of the library and information sector: A submission to the Commonwealth Attorney General's inquiry, conducted by Phillips Fox, into the operations of the Digital Agenda amendments to the Copyright Act; Submissions to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on proposed changes to intellectual property law arising from the Australia-United States trade agreement; and submissions to the minister for trade Mark Vaile, and the opposition spokesperson for trade, Senator Stephen Conroy on the trade agreement.

2006 census
ALIA made a submission to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) advocating that detailed information on the main language spoken at home should continue to be asked in each census, rather than every ten years as proposed by the ABS. Public libraries require detailed and timely information at the local level on the community language groups in the populations that they serve.

Inquiry watch
An inquiry watch page was developed on the ALIA website to provide members with up-to-date information on government and other inquiries relevant to the library and information services sector.

ALIA representation on external committees
The president and executive director attend the Peak Bodies Forum and ALIA is represented on a number of committees in the library and information sector, including: the ALIA/ASLA joint issues taskforce; the Australian Coalition for cultural diversity; the Australian committee on cataloguing; the Australian libraries copyright committee, the Australian Digital Alliance; and the IFLA Management of Library Associations Section Standing Committee. A summary list of committees with ALIA involvement can be found at http://www.alia.org.au/governance/committees/external/.

To encourage people to contribute to the improvement of library and information services through support and membership of the Association.

ALIA towards 2010
In consultation with the membership, through the National Policy Congress, the Board of Directors developed ALIA towards 2010 that sets out the vision for the Association for the medium- to longer-term as the association of choice for information professionals and the information services sector in an environment where Australia's library and information services are recognised and valued for the significant economic, social and cultural benefits that they bring to the community.

Membership and groups

Membership figures: personal 5058 (5071 in 2002), institutional 902 (921 in 2002), voucher-only 202. Combined membership of groups 13 405. The following new groups were endorsed in 2003: ALIA Children's and Youth Services Group ACT; ALIA Mentoring SA group; ALIA West (combined WA Forum and KISWA); ALIA New Graduates Group. The ALIA Information Specialists Group changed it's name to the ALIA Information Online Group. The following groups were dissolved: ALIA North Central Goldfields Group; ALIA Off-Campus Library Services group; ALIA NSW Cataloguers; ALIA ACT Specials; ALIA WA Forum; ALIA Knowledge and Information Specialists WA; TropicALIA (Queensland).

National Policy Congress (NPC)
The 2003 NPC had a theme of celebrating success. Delegates were asked to bring success stories with them to the NPC meetings at the regional and national level. Success was further celebrated with the launch of the ALIA Career-long learning handbook (a virtual document) and the online interface designed to assist members of ALIA's CPD scheme to record their CPD activities. Christine Mackenzie, ALIA president, led the session on ALIA towards 2010 and the feedback from the regional NPC meetings on critical issues. The NPC endorsed ALIA towards 2010 as an aspirational document setting out the broad directions for the Association for the coming years. Three key issues were given top priority by NPC delegates - membership recruitment, marketing careers in the library and information sector, and continuing professional development. Delegates then proposed actions that ALIA could take for each of the three issues. It was agreed that these would be taken up in planning beyond 2003-2004. The national NPC endorsed a proposal for a review of member engagement and participation. Valuable feedback on the scope and methodology for the review included: all groups be invited to send submissions, the Congress supported a reference panel for the review, and suggestions for the survey of members and timelines. It is anticipated that the review will report to the Board of Directors in March 2004. The regional NPC meetings provided extensive and useful feedback on the Research Exchange and Partnership (REAP) initiative and the priorities for CPD partnerships. The feedback will be incorporated into future planning for these two initiatives.

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