This checklist accompanies the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and ALIA Australian Government Libraries Information Network (AGLIN) publication "Not simple, not straightforward and not an instant cost saving: the realities of closing a government department library".
This report, commissioned by the Australian Digital Alliance, discusses the Australian Government proposed amendments to the Copyright Act 1968 which seek to broaden the circumstances in which an organisation or individual may be liable for someone else’s copyright infringement. Although the Government’s proposed amendment appears to be squarely aimed at ISPs, the amendments would apply with equal force to any other person who provides goods or services which may be put to infringing use. This includes all organisations which provide internet access to the public (including government bodies, libraries, schools and universities), online platforms which enable users to upload and display images and videos (such as eBay, Facebook and YouTube), providers of remote or ‘cloud’ storage (including commercial businesses like Dropbox, Microsoft and Google, as well as schools and universities), organisations which loan out or make available copyrighted content (libraries and video stores) and businesses which make and sell everyday consumer technologies like CDs, CD/DVD burners, USB keys, hard drives, digital video recorders and photocopiers.
The report sets out the existing law in its historical and global contexts, and, on the basis of extensive consultations with representatives from universities, schools, libraries and the technology sector, explores the legal and practical implications of the proposed changes for Australian intermediaries. It finds that:
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
This conference poster presentation outlines the fieldwork experience of an information professional in the Philippines.
What does it mean to be an information professional? My understanding of this question was recently challenged during a student fieldwork placement at Tondo Congressional Library, located in an impoverished area of Manilla in the Philippines. In Australia, a library fieldwork placement is an opportunity for students to develop their information management and knowledge skills in a real world setting. However this fieldwork experience taught me there is more to being an information professional than just these skills. The outreach service provided by Tondo Congressional Library included activities such as reading stories to sick children in hospital, highlighting a deep awareness of meeting humans at their point of need, and demonstrating a different professional capacity beyond traditionally valued library skills. This presentation will explore my inner and outer journey during this fieldwork placement and how I now conceptualise what ‘be’-ing an information professional is, not just ‘do’-ing.
A focus on customer service has been core to my work experiences in Australian libraries and how this is defined has varied depending on the institution involved. Prior to my experience in the Philippines I had a preconception that libraries with the best resources offered better customer service as the information and resource needs of customers are met beyond expectation. However since my fieldwork placement in the Philippines I have come to realise that a library with very limited resourcing can still provide quality customer service. My experience taught me that library patrons have other needs that go beyond information needs. As part of this fieldwork placement I read stories as an outreach activity to street children who could not afford to go to school and it was common practice to provide complimentary food (a basic need) as part of the library’s mission. From this experience I have come to understand that a holistic approach to customer service is valuable no matter where in the world this service happens.
Immersion into a world where information needs are secondary to that of basic human needs made me question what it means to serve customers. Tondo Congressional Library provides the same standard library services as what you would find in other public libraries around the world. They provide information and literary resources to customers, connect them in a digital world and answer standard directional enquiries such how to find the nearest toilet. However their outreach programs involve services going above and beyond what would be considered standard service in Australia. Some may view these outreach activities as not core library services, but I believe it is relevant to acknowledge the humanity and life experiences of every library customer.
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
This conference poster presentation outlines the impact of emerging technologies on academic libraries.
Virtual Reality [VR], Augmented Reality [AR] 360° video technology, and more recently holography, stands to be one of the most disruptive suites of technologies affecting organisations, including the education and library sectors. While educators are investigating how these technologies may enrich learning experiences, libraries are developing digital literacy programmes to enable their communities to experience emerging technologies which are impacting upon the way we live our lives. Academic libraries are exploring ways to make the range VR, AR, 360° and holographic technologies more accessible to staff and students across the university, regardless of faculty affiliation or degree programme. This includes seeking out content for the platforms – content provision being the traditional responsibility of the university library. Where the technology, content and the user intersect is where unforeseen opportunities to innovate are occurring, and Libraries, such as QUT Library, are in the unique position of being able to bring those three elements into contact.
There are many challenges in this space, and an approach would be to scope and the solve the problems: problem-led innovation. Alternatively, there is opportunity-led innovation - a “let’s see where this goes” approach. It is a more transformative mind-set and one which necessarily challenges existing processes, attitudes, and structures. The catalyst for one opportunity-led experience at QUT Library was the purchase of a specific piece of high-end VR technology – the Oculus Rift. Centred on how the Rift was acquired and deployed, this paper will share both top-down and bottom-up perspectives of opportunity-led innovation.
Firstly, the perspective of a senior library manager whose goal is to challenge internal barriers to innovation; empower staff to become intrapreneurs; to create and influence an organisational culture within which creativity and experimentation may flourish; and where ideas can go from inspiration to implementation. This is a stage on a continuum of cultural change at QUT Library, one which will ensure library services and staffs are in a good position to adapt and reinvent in the face of constant flux.
Secondly, the perspective of a faculty librarian thriving in a climate where intuition and risktaking is rewarded, where open-ended experimentation is encouraged, and where – if the established processes and procedures are barriers – the ‘done thing’ can be challenged, rules can be bent or bypassed and the end point is allowed to be fuzzy. This openness also means there is space for the client to step into, to co-create solutions and services which meet “authentic demand”.
It may all burn down delightfully in the end, but this in itself is a valid outcome of risk-taking, and may even be the most valuable contribution to fostering a culture of innovation.
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
This conference poster presentation outlines the experience of the National Institute of Education Library, Singapore (NIE Library) in the implementation of a virtual reality (VR) library tour.
Virtual reality (VR) provides a computer generated 3D environment that surrounds a user and responds to that individual’s actions in a natural way. Organisations are using VR solutions for training, space visualization and product evaluation as VR solutions have become increasingly accessible while offering a scalable, user friendly and an immersive experience for users.
Leveraging on the accessibility of such technology solutions, the NIE Library experimented with 360-degree digital camera and VR software tools to create a VR library tour experience for library users. While NIE Library has been providing an overview of the Library facilities and resources through the Library website, users may merely be getting snapshots of the Library through images and textual descriptions of Library facilities and resources. To excite library users in getting to know the library better, the NIE Library explored the use VR solutions with the objective of providing an immersive VR library tour experience for library users.
This poster presentation describes NIE Library experience in implementing a VR library tour, including the process of capturing 360-degree VR views of the library using 360-degree digital camera and the incorporation of media elements such as photos, annotations, textual descriptions and contextual floor plans using VR software tools. As part of the poster presentation, NIE Library will show case the VR library tour using tablets onsite and share observations, impacts, techniques, challenges, benefits, experiences and key learning points with other libraries who are considering employing VR solutions in their library.
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
This conference poster presentation explores adaptive strategies developed by students and researchers working in an increasingly connected, digital world. The poster will also present the findings of a literature scan and case study.
A growing trend in many academic library collection development plans is a preference for selecting electronic over print material where possible. For many years at Bond University Library, the print journal collection has been shrinking in favour of electronic access. Increasingly books are also following this pattern. Does this have an impact on how students and researchers interact with and manage their academic resources? Librarian work is intimately linked with information and digital literacy and therefore it's important to keep up with how people are managing the phases of information discovery, storage and retrieval.
Article by Jane Cowell AALIA (CP) from INCITE January/February 2020 Volume 41 Issue 1/2 - Critical Librarianship.
This article discusses community use of public library meeting rooms and the library's role in the support of freedom of speech or social justice.
Article by Roxanne Missingham (FALIA) from INCITE January/February 2020 Volume 41 Issue 1/2 - Critical Librarianship.
This article discusses the social, ethical and legal complexities in the debate surrounding freedom of speech in library spaces.
ALIA’s Special Libraries Working Group has put together this directory of special libraries to support collaboration. The directory is not a comprehensive listing, but it does identify like-minded individuals working in similar situations. The aim is to enable people to share non-competitive information, insight, expertise, ideas and resources; to improve the sense of connectedness in a sector with many one-person libraries, and to strengthen special libraries’ advocacy network.
ALIA President Robert Knight has taken leadership as the theme for his presidential year, from May 2019 to May 2020, highlighting the vital role of strong leadership at every level, in order to secure a sustainable future for the library and information sector. The theme has been commended by ALIA Members, who have been keen to participate in what is seen to be a necessary and timely discussion.
A survey was carried out at the end of 2019 to generate responses to an Issues Paper. Responses were received from 158 people between 22 October and 15 November 2019. This report covers the findings from the survey and provides qualitative and quantitative data about our performance as a sector. This will provide the basis for further discussions at our ALIA Leadership & Innovation Forums early in 2020.
ALIA President Robert Knight has taken leadership as the theme for his presidential year, from May 2019 to May 2020, highlighting the vital role of strong leadership at every level, in order to secure a sustainable future for the library and information sector.
ALIA is investigating where the sector is performing well, and where there is room for improvement, in order to produce the ‘NextGen Leadership Scorecard’, highlighting where we need to invest our energies going forward. Five themes were identified: identifying future leaders; transfer of knowledge; development of skills; providing opportunities to experience leadership; leadership independent of the workplace. From these themes and the feedback through the pilot survey, we have identified eight desirable characteristics for an LIS sector with a robust approach to leadership. In order to assess our current position and the size of the gap between where we are now and our vision, ALIA is undertaking a survey. The results of the survey will provide a snapshot of perception and sentiment.
This is the sixth annual ALIA LIS Education, Skills and Employment Trend Report. Our intention is to provide students, educators, employees and employers with an understanding of the national library and information science (LIS) landscape, and the Association with the data we need to help inform our approach as the sector’s peak professional body.
This 2019 report updates some of the statistics in the previous editions, using the latest figures from the Commonwealth Department of Education and The Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. In some sections we have included data for related fields (Gallery and Museum Technicians, Archivists, Curators and Records Managers).
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
This conference paper discusses special libraries and the difficulties faced in divising methods, vehicles and activities to market and promote their services and collections.
There may be significant barriers to marketing a special library service. For example, as is the case with the Museums Victoria Library, the collection sits back-of-house and therefore is not visible, and is additionally not represented on the organisation’s corporate website. Both of these things have led to a lack of awareness, as well as limiting the channels available to market the service.
Marketing and communications is not just about increasing users and widening access; it must also be a concerted effort to advocate for, build awareness of, and articulate the value of your library service. In the 2010 ALIA Special Libraries Survey, ‘marketing’ ranked highly as an important skill for a special librarian, and yet only 11.1% of respondents indicated that their library had a marketing plan.
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper presents an overview of the design and development of the ground-breaking Living Leadership Program including a summary of initial results from the first year of program delivery.
The future of libraries is dependent on our willingness to embrace opportunities for change today. The impact of technology has been well recognised, but the looming need for workforce renewal and development is more significant.
Casey Cardinia Libraries has been operating public libraries in Melbourne’s South East for 21 years. We serve a community of more than 400,000 people through seven libraries and a mobile service. We have 150 staff, many of whom have been with CCL since inception. Changes to CCL’s leadership team, a cash-constrained operating environment, rapidly changing community needs and the imminent opening of a new flagship branch at Bunjil Place created a need for new ways of working.
We needed to bring the organisation into line with contemporary leadership practices and empower staff to take more control of decision making. This direction was formalised in CCL’s new four-year library plan. CCL wanted to bring our people on a journey. We needed our teams to perform at a consistently high level across multiple locations. We also wanted to encourage staff to shift to cognitive non-routine work practices that support more meaningful engagement with customers. The CCL leadership team wanted to create a democratic and inclusive personal development program that gave everyone in the organisation an opportunity to stretch and grow.
CCL brought in Mel Neil, a Mind Fitness Coach extraordinaire, to help design a leadership program that would achieve maximum impact for minimum expenditure. We wanted to inspire our people to participate through a voluntary and inclusive process - a strength based approach that encouraged people to do work that energised them. We engaged CCL graduates from the Aurora Program and the Shared Leadership Program as facilitators. Together we created the CCL Living Leadership Program - a personal development program that combines contemporary leadership theory and practical personal health and well-being strategies.
By linking personal development with the organisation’s goals, CCL made a clear statement about our desire to positively support our staff through the organisational change process. Participants were encouraged to be mindful, recognise their own values and link them back to CCL’s, set personal and professional goals, and to realise and celebrate their strengths. We surveyed all 63 participants throughout the program to measure engagement. The facilitators also met regularly to review the effectiveness of delivery.
The Program encourages career progression, develops leadership potential at all levels of the business and starts individuals on a path to development and investment in self. CCL sees the potential for the Living Leadership Program to be shared across the sector with organisations seeking sustainable change.
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses the experience of re-establishing the Allan Bean Centre (ABC) Library service following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
Libraries for patients in hospitals and rehabilitation centres have a long history internationally, of supporting patients during their rehabilitation. An example of such a library is the Allan Bean Centre (ABC) based at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch a client centred, inclusive and visionary approach towards information provision for people with a spinal core injury (SCI). The ABC library’s main objective is to foster the wellbeing and recovery of patients through offering a range of materials and services; for example, therapy, education and training —by providing an holistic library service consisting of good quality information, resources and training.
Six years after the Christchurch earthquakes of 2011 the Allan Bean Centre Library was demolished. The loss of the library had a significant impact on the hospital’s patients, families and whanau and people with disabilities in the Christchurch community. The challenge for any library that loses its building is how to carry on and continue as normal. As the Allan Bean Centre is not for profit — there were no funds to rebuild. Whilst waiting for a solution the ABC Library reinvented itself by setting up a number of initiatives. There were other challenges to face which necessitated creative thinking and daring. Three years later, the library is still in a state of flux, although there is the possibility of a new space becoming available in the future.
In the interim the ABC library must continue to provide resources, training and information to patients and their families and carers. This paper will report on the initiatives employed and how collaboration with a number of agencies was imperative.
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is committed to reconciliation in Australia. Respect for the diversity, individuality and equality of all and recognition of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is a core value within the ALIA Strategic Plan 2018–2022.
ALIA’s commitment to developing the first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan was confirmed by the development of a Working Group in February 2019 which has guided the development of the ALIA RAP. The Working Group champions all aspects of the RAP internally and consists of five ALIA staff members along with the Indigenous Curator of the National Library of Australia.
Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
[Peer reviewed] This conference paper discusses Singapore Management University Libraries' Talent Management Strategy which was developed to focus on workforce planning, capacity building, succession planning, career paths and leadership development.
With almost no natural resources, the roar of Singapore’s knowledge-based economy is dependent on its talent. The government has been advocating the critical importance of on-going upskilling of its citizens to become a smart nation in an increasingly Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA) world. The Singapore government’s recent ‘Skills Future’ agenda was launched in 2016 to provide Singaporeans with the opportunities to develop their fullest potential throughout life. Universities are expected to support this initiative and provide industry specific education to build a competitive workforce that is based on a tripartite collaboration between government, industry and universities. Singapore Management University (SMU) too, has responded and developed Vision 2025, a roadmap for a transformative education. Within this changing learning ecosystem, how has SMU Libraries been responding? SMU Libraries have been exploring a variety of strategies and creating opportunities to ROAR, LEAP and DARE to realign its strategic direction and contribute to the overall success of the university. How has SMU Libraries’ Talent Management (TM) strategy become a catalyst to add and demonstrate value to all its stakeholders, including its staff?
10th ALIA Top End Symposium, 12-13 October 2018 Darwin: Enabling universal literacies in the digital age
The symposium provides a professional development opportunity for local information professionals to engage with national and international experts on universal literacies, a theme deemed to be of interest to all members of the community. This event is a premium professional development activity for information and library workers in the Northern Territory.
The theme of the symposium was 'Enabling Universal Literacies in the Digital Age'.
In the digital age, the information industries – GLAMR and ICT – are critical partners in helping to achieve all of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
“Public access to information in all its forms enables people to make informed decisions that can improve their lives. Communities that have access to timely and relevant information are better positioned to benefit from quality education, see a reduction in inequality, and are supported when it comes to health, culture, research and innovation …”
Speakers addressed how information industries are progressing in assisting to achieve the SDGs using any or all of the following themes: Access, Education, Sustainability.
10th ALIA Top End Symposium, 12-13 October 2018 Darwin: Enabling universal literacies in the digital age
The symposium provides a professional development opportunity for local information professionals to engage with national and international experts on universal literacies, a theme deemed to be of interest to all members of the community. This event is a premium professional development activity for information and library workers in the Northern Territory.
The theme of the symposium was 'Enabling Universal Literacies in the Digital Age'.
In the digital age, the information industries – GLAMR and ICT – are critical partners in helping to achieve all of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
“Public access to information in all its forms enables people to make informed decisions that can improve their lives. Communities that have access to timely and relevant information are better positioned to benefit from quality education, see a reduction in inequality, and are supported when it comes to health, culture, research and innovation …”
Speakers addressed how information industries are progressing in assisting to achieve the SDGs using any or all of the following themes: Access, Education, Sustainability.
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the inclusion of education, arts and culture in the review of Social Infrastructure and the recognition of the vital role of libraries and other cultural institutions in supporting the quality of life, education, health and wellbeing of communities.
The 2019 Infrastructure Australia Audit report is a good summary of the issues facing National, State, Territory and public libraries. The growth in demand for physical spaces and digital access has rarely been accompanied by any increase in operating budgets and this is something we regularly raise with governments at all three levels. While investment in school libraries is briefly touched on, there is no mention of the disparity between library facilities in public and private schools. We would like to see this articulated in the Australian Infrastructure Plan and a focus on government school libraries included in the Infrastructure Priority List.
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the review of the Higher Education Provider Category Standards and to express our view that:
As the Association representing library and information professionals, we seek to ensure that the Higher Education Standards Provider Category Standards reflect the need for students, researchers and educators to have ready access to quality library and information services, and to highlight the role of libraries as one of the differentiating factors between universities and other higher education providers.
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to this Inquiry into Local Government in WA.
We have two concerns. One is for ongoing and sustainable funding of resources and services through the State Library of WA. The second is for the significant additional investment in innovative new approaches which is needed in order to maintain a successful public library network across the state. This new funding cannot come exclusively from local government and there will need to be a substantial contribution from the state government.
Article by Katalin Mindum AALIA (CP) from INCITE March/April 2020 Volume 41 Issue 3/4 - Leadership.
This article discusses the ways libraries can provide leadership in sustainable practice.
The Australian Library and Information Association’s (ALIA) move into a new building in Canberra in 1990 - 9-11 Napier Close, Deakin - was a major step for the Association. Over the years, ALIA Directors have debated the merits of retaining the building as the Association's main asset. After consultation with an Advisory Committee of long-term ALIA members and senior library leaders, the ALIA Board has made the decision to progress with the sale of the building. The property will be listed for sale in May 2020.
The financial status of ALIA is secure and stable. This decision has not been made because ALIA is in financial distress, but rather to safeguard the financial future of the Association. Our aim is to ensure the Association reaches its 100th anniversary in 2037 fit for purpose and in a strong and sustainable position. The sale will enable ALIA to create a substantial, flexible asset base, with several million dollars held in a balanced investment vehicle and it will relieve ALIA from the burden of property management and provide more flexibility for the future of the Association. There are no plans for ALIA to move from Canberra and, depending on the terms of the agreement, it is likely that the Association will remain in our current premises for at least three years post-sale and potentially longer.
The Australian Library and Information Association’s (ALIA) move into a new building in Canberra in 1990 - 9-11 Napier Close, Deakin - was a major step for the Association. Over the years, ALIA Directors have debated the merits of retaining the building as the Association's main asset. After consultation with an Advisory Committee of long-term ALIA members and senior library leaders, the ALIA Board has made the decision to progress with the sale of the building. The property will be listed for sale in May 2020.
The financial status of ALIA is secure and stable. This decision has not been made because ALIA is in financial distress, but rather to safeguard the financial future of the Association. Our aim is to ensure the Association reaches its 100th anniversary in 2037 fit for purpose and in a strong and sustainable position. The sale will enable ALIA to create a substantial, flexible asset base, with several million dollars held in a balanced investment vehicle and it will relieve ALIA from the burden of property management and provide more flexibility for the future of the Association. There are no plans for ALIA to move from Canberra and, depending on the terms of the agreement, it is likely that the Association will remain in our current premises for at least three years post-sale and potentially longer.
ALIA New Librarians' Symposium 8 (NLS8), 23-25 June 2017 Canberra: DIY Library Career
The New Librarians’ Symposium (NLS) is a biennial 3-day event hosted by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). The first NLS was held in 2002 in Brisbane, and has since proved to be a popular professional development event with attendees at each event from across Australasia. The New Librarians’ Symposiums encourages participation in the industry by new graduates, and provide a welcoming environment for both new and established professionals to exchange ideas and make connections across the industry.
9th ALIA Top End Symposium, 16-17 October 2015 Darwin: Evolution, Excellence and Energy - the triple E approach to future proofing libraries
The ALIA Top End Symposium is held bi-annually and is a gathering for the celebration of the Territory Libraries and to generate new ideas for the library sector in the Top End.
As a profession we need to future proof libraries to ensure long term sustainability. Innovation is our job. We must evolve and proactively satisfy client needs in complex and changing environments. Making libraries indispensable by providing excellent services to our community is one way. Energetically engaging our communities is another. But are we really taking the right path? Do we need to do more, or possibly do it differently? What are your ideas?
Libraries, MOOCs and Online Learning Seminar, 19 March 2014 Brisbane, Queensland
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Council for Australian University Librarians (CAUL), OCLC and the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) present this one-day seminar bringing together library stakeholders in the online learning space to talk about Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), the trends in remote course delivery to large cohorts of students, the issues for libraries and the opportunities for advocacy.
Libraries, MOOCs and Online Learning Seminar, 19 March 2014 Brisbane, Queensland
This paper provides a summary of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Council for Australian University Librarians (CAUL), OCLC and the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) one-day seminar which brought together library stakeholders in the online learning space to talk about MOOCs, the trends in remote course delivery to large cohorts of students, the issues for libraries and the opportunities for advocacy.
Libraries, MOOCs and Online Learning Seminar, 19 March 2014 Brisbane, Queensland
This paper outlines responses to a feedback session at the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Council for Australian University Librarians (CAUL), OCLC and the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) one-day seminar which brought together library stakeholders in the online learning space to talk about MOOCs, the trends in remote course delivery to large cohorts of students, the issues for libraries and the opportunities for advocacy.