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ALIA National 2014 Conference, 15-19 September 2014 Melbourne : together we are stronger
This conference presentation explores how libraries have always been about literacy and learning but as public libraries are transforming themselves in the digital age they are exploring their role in literacy and learning in new and innovative ways.  Libraries are and have always been about content – ideas, information and stories. Traditionally the vehicle for this content has been the book. We are now providing a range of vehicles in which our content is presented and providing services and programs that create societies of literate and lifelong learning individuals through a range of sources and formats.  This presentation looks at Libraries ACT and its work in managing content in its broadest context and access to it in new and more flexible ways.

Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference 2018, 30 July - 2 August 2018 Gold Coast: Roar Leap Dare
 
This conference paper discusses several cross-departmental projects under the National Library Board (Singapore)'s Operations Remake journey. Each case study details the problem statement, solution and enabler(s), impact indicators, and value created for users, staff pool and the organization. The included projects drive towards encouraging customer independence in areas such as transactional services and collection navigation, and resource optimization within the organization. These projects examine the manner library users interact with the library environment and technologies, and improving the daily operational duties of the staff pool.
 
Highlighted projects include:

• Fully automated, immediate and independent membership registration process for new users therein bringing greater convenience and less barriers to entry
• Crowd sensing technology to manage crowd and seat searching behaviour in larger library premises
• Mobile devices to enable staff pool to rove the library spaces and yet remain contactable
• Collection shelving optimization to improve customer experience in collection retrieval and increase collection turnover rate

 
The case studies will show the need for innovation and process remake in pursuit of improvement that are impactful and scalable, and how technology can be leveraged to assist the delivery of library services and improve staff productivity. The projects will provide perspectives on how to achieve optimization and inspire libraries to embark on a journey to remake their operations.

ALIA National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which discusses the literacy programs and services developed by the City of Salisbury following the displacement of thousands of workers due to the withdrawal of the automative manufacturing industry in Adelaide.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses the National Libarary of Australia's web archiving programs.
 
Abstract: Twenty years ago the National Library of Australia (NLA) established one of the first programmes in the world to systematically collect, preserve and make accessible web content. This was a mere half decade after the functional implementation of the web itself. The NLA has continued to build content over the past two decades and now holds large amounts of archived web content – more than 400 terabytes of data in the combined collections of the PANDORA Archive, the Australian Government Web Archive and whole .au domain harvests. The Library built the prototype fit-for-purpose selective web archiving workflow systems (PANDAS) first implemented in 2001 and still operating in its third version. This system has made the collecting, archiving and delivery of Australian web materials a routine activity within the Library’s collection development operation.
 
While collecting web content demands ongoing and timely application to the collecting tasks, efficient workflow systems and established operational activity run the risk of promoting a degree of ‘operational complacency’ – a sense that the job has been done. However, web archiving demands continual strategic attention as well as agility and innovation in practice because of the transforming and dynamic character of the target media – not only in its form and format but in its function conceptualisation.
 
Over the past two years the National Library has entered into a renewed phase of web archiving development. In part this is driven by the need to bring together the Library’s selective and domain harvesting content collected over a long period, but also to make collecting more agile through access to a variety of collecting methods. In part development is also driven by the important strategic objective of integrating the discovery of archived web materials more effectively through its single discovery service, Trove.
 
This paper will discuss the issues – successes and shortcomings – involved in managing a large amount of unique legacy web archive material while continuing to develop and refocus infrastructure, workflows and relationships to effectively manage the collection, curation and archival discovery of this largest and most complex publishing medium. The paper does not present a case closed and ‘problem solved’ conclusion but identifies on the one hand the unique value and opportunities of large curated collections of web materials and, on the other, the limitations and considerable challenges that yet remain.
 
This paper will largely relate to the theme of innovation in practice. Web archiving requires a sustained and sustainable commitment to operational innovation to build large data collections of harvested content and to curate this material so as to facilitate access to the information for the development of knowledge.

In 2021 the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is piloting a scheme where publishers can permit the use of their Australian picture book titles in 'Online Storytime 2021' in return for a small annual payment from public library branches.
 
The pilot follows the popularity of Online Storytime in Australian public libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Australian children and caregivers embraced the online reading of picture books by their local librarians with many hundreds uploaded since April 2020.
 
This report provides an overview of the program for the second quarter of 2021.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge
 
This conference paper discusses establishing a successful Business Studio at State Library of Queensland (SLQ ) that can be adapted to use within Queensland Public Libraries.
 
Abstract: In 2014 research for SLQ 2020 identified strong interest within the Queensland community for State Library of Queensland (SLQ) to make available a centre of excellence for new entrepreneurs and innovators. The research outcome aligned strongly with the State government Advance Queensland initiative. Queensland is boosting our entrepreneurial culture by improving access to finance, new business opportunities, and management support for startups and small to medium enterprises. Brisbane City Council also declared a strategic intent of developing Brisbane as the Start-Up capital of the world.
 
From this background emerged SLQ's transformational innovation - our very own Minimum Viable Product - SLQ Business Studio.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which discusses the issues faced by children with special needs and their families when accessing public libraries. 
 
The research found there were five common elements that libraries focussed on when addressing issues of accessibility for children with special needs and their families. These elements were: Collections, Programs, Partnerships, Physical barriers (space and equipment), Training. The elements were used to create an inclusive library model. The foundation of this model is supportive management. The inclusive libraries model provides an entry point and structure for public libraries wanting to improve access for children with special needs and their families. 

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead
 
This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) provides an overview of the strategy developed to improve the delivery of services and resources to university students in the digital environment.

This report presents the background and rationale to the collaborative research project, which was born from the fundamental belief that there was a nexus, a deep connection, or indeed a series of connections, between education, curriculum, recruitment, retention, training and development that was necessary to sustain and develop the LIS workforce in Australia. The neXus project, supported by ALIA, CAVAL and QUT, sought to collect data that would begin to inform the profession about the issues it faced in terms of workforce planning as well as presenting snapshot of the profession in 2006.

Contents: ALIA branches, sections and the proposed restructure; Health Libraries Section future; making websites user-focussed; focus session on evidence-based health care; Minutes and President's Report, Annual General Meeting, 24th August 1999, Hobart; stress management attitude part 2; Anne Harrison Award 1999: Directory of Electronic Health Sciences Journals, Adam Clark; National Executive in Victoria: Stephen Due, Veronica Delafosse, Helen Stanton, Lorena Smirneos, David Lloyd, Gabby Fennessy.

Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

Contents: Private hospitals; Cost of document delivery; The Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia Library; AGM Minutes and Treasurer's Report 8th October 1996.

Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

Contents: Copyright in Victoria; Profile of Princess Margaret and King Edward Memorial Hospital Libraries; Paediaric nursing resources on the Internet; Statistical survey of document delivery time in a hospital library: VCH ILL Transactions 1995.

Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.

Contents: Financing the heritage of the Royal District Nursing Service; The future of health librarianship in Australia; MediText; Report of the 2000 Cochrane Library survey. National Executive in Victoria: David Lloyd, Veronica Delafosse, Lorena Smirneos, Gabby Fennessy.
Original document held in ALIA House, Canberra.
 

Developed by the Australian Library & Information Association, in partnership with Public Libraries Australia, Friends of Libraries Australia, State and Territory Libraries, ACT Library and Information Services and the state public library associations

This overview is intended for library professionals, to explain the background to the development of the national vision and framework for public libraries and to provide information that can be used in support of local business cases