inCite : March 2005 : Directline

Jennefer Nicholson Executive director [please remove the '.nospam' from address]

ALIA Information Online 2005 celebrates

The excellent support by delegates, exhibitors and sponsors for the ALIA Information Online 2005 Conference presented a great setting for celebrating success within our sector. At the Conference dinner John Dwight, executive chair of DA Information Services and DA Library Technologies was awarded the ALIA Redmond Barry Award - our highest award for those not an associate or technician member - in recognition of John's outstanding contribution to our sector; and Marianne Broadbent was awarded Fellowship for her sustained high achievement and leadership in the information sector. Both are inspirational in their achievements and in their generosity to colleagues and the sector. The ALIA Health Libraries Australia Swets Professional Envoy Award was presented to Sue Rockliff following her paper on 'Chasing the Sun: a virtual reference project'.

ALIA Information Online On Tour ran a very well attended workshop Power searching with the pros in Darwin on 18 February.

My thanks to Kay Harris, conference chair and her organising committee for the terrific job they did, and to Conference Action for their very professional support. We look forward to ALIA Online 2007!

National Broadband Strategy

In late February the Association is to make a presentation to the National Broadband Strategy Implementation Group. This has come about as an outcome of the Forum held at ALIA House during Library and Information Week 2004 to develop a collaborative framework to advance electronic networking initiatives and ideas for sharing resources, improving efficiencies, increasing access to public information and enhancing services provided by the library and information sector. The Forum included consideration of the recommendations of the Senate Inquiry into Libraries in the Online Environment report, particularly Recommendation 7 which recommends: 'that further funds be allocated under an expanded National Broadband Strategy for expanding broadband access in libraries; and that the Australian government negotiate with telecommunications carriers to establish an 'e-rate' or discount rate for broadband access to public libraries and that, if negotiations are not successful, consider imposing a requirement on carriers under the Universal Service Obligation arrangement.' The Australian Government established the NBSIG to ensure a national coordinated approach to broadband by all levels of government by developing the National Broadband Strategy, co-ordinating its implementation and measuring its success. The NBSIG has representatives from all levels of government, including each state and territory, and government sectoral representatives from health, education, research and regional development. The National Broadband Strategy represents the collective vision of all levels of government for broadband development in Australia.

Tsunami disaster recovery update

The 'coalition' of Australian cultural and heritage associations I referred to in my last Directline formed to push for a co-ordinated and integrated approach to relief efforts by government, NGOs and between our associations, has established itself as the Tsunami Cultural Heritage Advisory Group. ALIA is a co-signatory to a letter from the Group to the Prime Minister seeking his advice and asking him to arrange a meeting between the Group and the relevant Ministers/agencies responsible for the Australian aid, to ensure cultural heritage considerations are incorporated into the assessment and development of the Australian aid program from the outset.

Planning is underway for the ALIA-hosted forum for library associations in the region on disaster recovery and disaster preparedness.

ALIA Elections for directors and vice-president (president-elect)

Voting papers have been distributed with this issue of inCite for election by the membership at large (with a special mailout to the institutional member representatives) for one director and the vice-president (president-elect). An additional voting paper will be sent to those with joint membership. Separate voting papers will be forwarded to the National Policy Congress representatives for election of one director. Voting closes on 11 April. Candidates for director are Rachael Browning, Philip Keane and Ann Ritchie; and for vice-president (president-elect) Kevin Dudeney and Dagmar Schmidmaier.

Staff moves

The start of the academic year coincides with our farewells to two staff. Adam Steer has been our mainstay behind the scenes and great support to Ivan Trundle with ALIAnet and our computer and communications systems here in National Office. Adam has moved to Hobart to undertake full-time graduate study. Madeleine Snedden has cut her office work teeth as our events assistant and as such has spoken to many of you on the phone, processed your registrations, booked your travel and been a willing helper to all of us. Madeleine is off to study full-time for her undergraduate degree. We wish them both much success. While we are sorry to see staff leave it is encouraging that in so many cases it is for them to take on formal study.