The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and our school library sector committee, the Australian Coalition for School Libraries (ACSL), along with the Australian Media Literacy Alliance (AMLA) have this week released the ALIA ACSL & AMLA Statement on School Libraries and Media Literacy. The new statement provides much needed guidance for schools on the development of effective policy and practice in relation to school libraries supporting media literate school communities.
In December 2024, AMLA released the Media Literacy Framework for Australia, identifying the key concepts, competencies and knowledge indicators for media literacy. In May 2025, the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) released the ACARA Media Consumers and Creators curriculum connection resources focussing on the importance of media literacy education in the Australian Curriculum. Both of these materials highlighted the vital need for fully funded school libraries run by qualified staff in every Australian school to ensure that whole-school approaches to media literacy can be effectively implemented and resourced.
Following government interest in the work of ACSL and media literacy as a subset of information literacy, in early 2026, ALIA and ACSL, in collaboration with AMLA, developed the ALIA ACSL Statement on School Libraries and Media Literacy will be released, providing clarity and guidance on the development of effective policy and practice in relation to school libraries supporting media literate school communities.
ALIA calls on school leaders to reference the policy to make certain that they are meeting the media literacy needs of their school community by ensuring every student and teacher has access to an appropriately resourced school library run by qualified staff. School library staff are encouraged to be part of the united voice by using these policies in planning and when advocating within their schools and school networks. It is wonderful knowing that the statement has the strength and endorsement of AMLA along with the ALIA Board and the seven professional school library associations that comprise ACSL.
The statement is the fifth ALIA ACSL Statement to be released and is part of the suite of resources that also includes ALIA ACSL Statement on School Library Staffing; ALIA ACSL Statement on School Library Funding and Resource Provision; ALIA ACSL Statement on School Libraries and Information Literacy; and ALIA ACSL Statement on School Libraries and Digital Literacy.
Special thanks go to the Working Group of Dr Amanda Levido from SCU and AMLA, Michael Barry AALIA (DCP) from Fitzroy Nth Primary, Kay Oddone AALIA from CSU, Karen Seeneevassen from SLANSW and Abbotsleigh, Catherine Barnes AALIA (DCP) from University of Adelaide, Marc Mumford AALIA from ASLA and Calvin Christian School, and Working Group Chair, Jacqui Lucas AALIA (DCP) from ALIA.