2021 theme - Adventures in Space and Time
Libraries and information services are places of adventure. People who connect with them take a journey, whether it's in search of specific information, serendipitous browsing through vast collections, or coming together with others to learn something new.
They can be an adventures in space, from sending actual books to a space station and hearing an astronaut read to over a million children in Australia, to exploring and meeting in new, innovative and inspiring building spaces and learning about other places around the world (and beyond). They alre also online spaces , where we can interact virtually to stay connected to information and each other at times when we need to stay physically distant.
They can also be adventures in time, where we revisit the past, connecting with stories and memories of those who came before us, or imagine the future, exploring new ideas for making a better society to live in, creating new knowledge for future generations, and making plans for your own personal or professional future.
So, this week, connect with your libraries, and take an adventure - in space and time!
Program
Monday: Careers Day
Careers in the library and information sector may not be what you'd first expect. Library and information professionals work in many different areas of society, including schools and universities, cultural institutions, hospitals, law firms, community organisations and all levels of government. If you love helping people, have a careful eye for detail, are a good problem-solver, and are as confident in the digital world as the physical, then a career in the library and information sector may be what you are looking for.
Through this day, we will be sharing career advice, information on study pathways, and stories from many fascinating careers across the sector. You can interact on social media, and ask career questions to a thriving online community of library and information professionals. Keep an eye on the #LIScareers hashtag on Twitter to stay connected to these conversations.
There will also be a lunchtime Employer Pitch online session, where you can hear from library employers about the jobs that they are offering and the kinds of people that they are looking for. If you can't attend on the day, the session will also be recorded for future viewing.
Tuesday: Library Technicians' Day
Wednesday: National Simultaneous Storytime
On one day of the year, libraries all over Australia read one book together with over a million children combined. This year, that book is Give me some Space! which we have sent on a rocket to space, and will be read in a special event from the International Space Station. To learn more about this event, see the National Simultaneous Storytime page, and follow the #NSS2021 hashtag to see how libraries around Australia are celebrating.
Thursday: Fundraising Day
Today, ALIA encourages libraries around Australia fundraise for a charity of their choice following the tradition from previous years of participating in the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea. Whether it be a morning tea, dress-up day, or something else - look out for your local library fundraiser, and dig deep.
Friday: Join ALIA Day
Founded in 1937, Australian Library and Information Association is the national professional organisation for the library and information services sector in Australia. On this day, we celebrate all of the achievements of ALIA and its many Members through what has been a very challenging previous 12 months. ALIA has continued to support its Members through the pandemic, and sustained its regular services, including professional development and training programs, advocacy and lobbying on key issues, delivering high quality industry conferences, and producing its main publications, INCITE and the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association. ALIA's Members also contribute to the sector, through involvement with advisory committees, specialist groups, and local networking committees.
Membership of ALIA is open to everyone: library and information professionals, professionals from other disciplines, people working in the sector, people who share our values, libraries, library suppliers and other stakeholders. We welcome anyone with an interest in libraries and information management. To join, go to ALIA's membership page.