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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:

• Providing a fit-for-purpose library and information service is a key characteristic for a quality higher education provider.
• An excellent student experience can only be achieved if students have access to the latest information resources relating to their field of study.
• Australian universities’ ability to compete with the best in terms of research requires a research infrastructure supported by libraries and library and information professionals.

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.

These guidelines support the operations of special libraries, information services or corporate research units and their respective staff. They recognise the changing landscape for special libraries and the opportunities and challenges presented by digital content, delivery platforms and communications. They are designed to inform senior management about the role and value of special libraries, provide library managers with a benchmark, and guide staff in the delivery of programs and services.

This document replaces "Guidelines for Australian special libraries (2010)".

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) discusses the value of school libraries in supporting teaching staff, building reading and information literacies, promoting cybersafety and digital skills, and providing access to recreational books as well as essential study materials.

ALIA supports the notion of introducing mandatory, reportable minimum standards for literacy, numeracy and digital literacy and urges the review to make a clear link between these skills and the role of school libraries. Well-resourced school libraries, staffed by qualified professionals should be available to all young people in order to prepare them for future study and work.

Agenda for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Board of Directors Meeting held on 21 May 2019 at ALIA House, Canberra.

Agenda for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Board of Directors Meeting held on 8 March 2019 at ALIA House, Canberra.

The Australia Reads campaign, incorporating the Australian Reading Hour, was a huge success in 2019 with more than 240 registered events across all Australian states and territories, featuring appearances from more than 60 authors. Many of these events were held in Australian public libraries, with attendance from more than 1,400 people.

Libraries created the Australian Reading Hour as part of the National Year of Reading in 2012, and it has turned into a massive event, supported by federal government, state government, media channels, shopping centres, transport networks and other big name partners. Following on from the success of the Australian Reading Hour 2019, the campaign has been rebranded Australia Reads to allow a greater and more diverse coverage of activities.

The subject benchmark standard for librarianship, information, knowledge, records and archives management defines the academic standards that can be expected of a graduate, in terms of what they might know, do and understand at the end of their studies, and describes the nature of the subject.

This document is reproduced with permission from QAA. The statement is scheduled to be revised in 2023.

This document is an article published in INCITE July/August 2019 Volume 40, Issue 7/8.

Australian librarian and ALIA Fellow, Christine MacKenzie, will become the President of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) at the World Library and Information Congress in Athens later this year for the 2019–2021 term. Before she commences her presidency, ALIA grabbed a moment of her time to have a chat about her presidential theme, the challenges on the horizon, and what she’s most looking forward to in her time in office.

Pre-read speaker notes for presentation at National Library and Information Technicians' Symposium 2019.

This paper discusses the direction and development undertaken in expanding library services into social spaces, and the challenge of establishing a social presence for community building through Facebook.

This joint submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA) discusses the role of public libraries in the digital space, enhancing people’s online experiences, helping people connect to this new virtual world, and providing a safety net for those who are in danger of being left behind, particularly in terms of the ability to access government information.

ALIA and APLA support equality of access to the benefits arising from our increasingly digital society and view public libraries as having an important role in bridging the gap for those who don’t have the skills, knowledge, money, devices or high speed connection to be regular and confident users of the internet.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) supports the establishment of joint-use libraries if they equal or better the level of service which would be given in separate facilities, or where such a service provides access to some who would otherwise not have a library.

Australian Library Design Awards and Conference, 19 March 2019 Brisbane

The Australian Library Design Awards have been created to showcase the best in contemporary library interiors and exteriors in Australia, and to celebrate the investment in libraries made by our nation's institutions, corporations, local, state and territory governments. There are three categories – public libraries, academic libraries, and school libraries. There is also an ALIA Members’ Choice award, voted for by ALIA Members. Entries can be for new buildings, refurbishments or major renovations. Each entry is judged against the same set of criteria and there is the option for the judging panel to make special awards where there are several outstanding entries in one category. Any library in Australia, recently built, renovated or refurbished can be entered for the awards. This includes fixed locations but not pop up, temporary or mobile libraries.

The Australian Library Design Awards have been developed in the context of other competitions internationally, including the American Institute of Architects/American Library Association Library Building Awards and the Danish Agency for Culture Model Programme for Public Libraries Public Library of the Year Award. The entries, shortlisted and winning designs provide case studies in excellent library design for the 21st Century.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) believes that employers are critical partners whose active involvement contributes positively at both the initial education stage and to the continuing professional development of library and information professionals.

Library and information employers have a key responsibility to support and assist education providers in producing graduates capable of providing quality information services. They also have a responsibility to provide opportunities for learning that support library and information professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills throughout their career in order to meet the changing needs of their clients, employers and society. This investment is essential in order to continually improve the quality of the profession and its capacity to support employer organisations.

The Truth, Integrity, Knowledge (TIK) campaign ran throughout 2019. The campaign focused on why librarianship is one of the most trusted professions in Australia and how people working in libraries (whether LIS qualified or from another discipline) promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interests of all Australians.

The template has been used to create a series of fact sheets address poverty in Australia, homelessness, gender equality, and early literacy, language and learning.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) recognises that the dynamic and changing library and information environment demands that library and information professionals continue to develop and broaden their knowledge and skills so that they can anticipate and respond to the needs of clients, organisations and society.

ALIA supports library and information professionals to engage in formal and informal learning experiences through the ALIA PD Scheme, ALIA Mentoring Scheme, ALIA conferences, symposia, events, forums and training.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) works collaboratively with higher and vocational education institutions and registered training organisations (RTOs) recognised by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), employers, practitioners, students and other relevant professional associations to promote the development and continuous improvement of library and information science (LIS) courses.

ALIA’s course accreditation process is an essential mechanism to ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and forms the basis for international comparability and reciprocal recognition of qualifications, graduate success and mobility. ALIA accredits LIS courses at the Diploma, Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters levels.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) sets and maintains education standards for entry into the library and information professions in Australia and it plays a vital role in ensuring library and information science professionals are supported in their continuing professional development.

ALIA has a responsibility as a standards and compliance body to ensure the available education courses are high-quality accredited programs, both as a basis for professional practice and as a means of ongoing professional development, and to foster forward looking and dynamic educational opportunities for library and information professionals. To this end, ALIA works collaboratively with educators, students, employers and training providers to promote and encourage continuous improvement in the education of library and information professionals, institutional support for library and information courses and the contribution of practitioner expertise to courses and for ongoing professional development.

Public libraries across Australia provide and facilitate invaluable, community-focused workshops and programs for people with, or at risk of developing, mental ill-health. We provide information, raise awareness and aim to help remove any stigma from mental health issues. Hospital libraries, in addition to providing evidence-based information about mental health, are involved with work-based mental health programs, supporting health professionals for whom it is essential to care first for themselves, before being able to care for others. As libraries provide this ad hoc support for library patrons it often falls on individual libraries to train their staff in mental health first aid. Additionally, as reading plays an important role in maintaining good mental health, by allowing people to explore other places, times, people, situations, and look for meaning in their own lives, the role that libraries in providing access to books cannot be undervalued.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) recommends that there be more formal support and funding for libraries to facilitate this support, starting with a pilot scheme. Funding for a pilot of a more ‘joined up’ approach between existing service providers would demonstrate how libraries, in partnership with case workers, could assist those suffering metal illness to be safe and utilise these welcoming and supportive community spaces. The introduction of more consistent and formalised funding to enable public libraries and hospital libraries to run the programs and workplace initiatives described in this submission is critical to ensure that libraries can continue to provide these services.

ALIA, ALIA Australian Public Library Alliance and ALIA Health Libraries Australia would welcome the opportunity to engage in discussions with the Productivity Commission about the points raised in this submission.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) will achieve its vision, provide leadership, and influence the successful evolution of the library and information (LIS) sector in Australia through the four strategic priorities: leadership and advocacy; members and membership; education and professional development; future-proofing ALIA.

ALIA will actively seek out partnerships and opportunities for collaboration which will complement our strategic priorities and provide us with further opportunities to expand our capacity, reach and profile.

This document is a template letter to a local candidate for election in the 2019 Australian federal election, encouraging the candidate to support open access, investment in libraries and library staff and copyright law reform.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA) joint statement in support of the removal of overdue fines in public libraries.

A growing number of Australian public libraries are removing fines for overdue items. This is in line with the global movement to make libraries more accessible for all people in our community. A number of trials have established that often the cost of collecting overdue fines is greater than the revenue received. Overdue fines are also a distraction from the core work of public libraries: lending items, encouraging reading and facilitating free access to information.

In 2018, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) organised seven Leadership & Innovation Forums across Australia. These forums are a biennial event.

The theme in 2018 was ‘Meaningful and respectful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and heritage – what more do we need to do?’ This aligned with the Presidential theme of Indigenous matters and complemented ALIA’s 2019 Truth, Integrity, Knowledge campaign.

These forums took place in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. In May 2019, to coincide with ALIA’s Annual General Meeting, a similar forum was held at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in Canberra.

Across the eight forums, conversations shared common threads, prompted and supported by questions directed towards the expert panellists. These panellists included representatives from AIATSIS, the Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Research and Education, Noongar Boodjar Language Centre, and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

The panellists were asked variations on the following questions:

• How can libraries develop and improve our programs and services to better meet the needs of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?

• In what ways can libraries attract more people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds to work in our sector?

• What are some of the personal experiences – or compelling arguments – that have influenced your thinking and have motivated you to be an advocate for change?

• What more can we do?

Article published in INCITE September/October 2019 Volume 40, Issue 9/10.

Robert Knight shares how, after successive state governments spent decades underfunding New South Wales public libraries, the 2018–2019 Renew Our Libraries campaign successfully delivered the largest single increase in library funding since the introduction of the NSW Library Act in 1939. 

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 document, created by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and ALIA Australian Government Libraries Information Network (AGLIN), provides information for government libraries which are threatened with closure. It highlights the difficulties, complexity and cost of closing a library; and the difficulties of continuing the provision of library services without a library and information science professional in place.

There are 246 TAFE libraries in Australia, supporting VET students in every State and Territory. At the beginning of 2019, ALIA's Vocational Education and Training Libraries Advisory Committee (VLAC), chaired by Brenda Burr, sought feedback about how changes in structure and funding have affected TAFE libraries and the library and information professionals who run them.

TAFE libraries were asked to complete an online questionnaire with 34 questions relating to budgets, staffing, collection formats, library space and size of customers served, library closures, changing user demands and the role of library and information professionals in the VET sector.

The survey ran in March 2019 and followed on from a similar survey carried out in 2016. Where possible, we have shown the results from both surveys to highlight similarities and differences. The 2019 survey data infers a sector reacting to both internally and externally driven circumstances. The survey results show a challenging environment in which TAFE libraries and their staff operate.

The 2019-2022 ALIA Australian Public Library Alliance National strategy and action plan builds on the previous plan for 2015-2018 and the national vision and framework for Australian public libraries 2010-2015 within the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Strategic priorities and actions for the next three years are:

1. National public library collaboration and advocacy

2. Supporting literacy and lifelong learning

3. Informed and connected citizens

4. Digital inclusion

5. Personal development and wellbeing

6. Stronger and more creative communities

7. Economic and workforce development

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) submission in response to the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee Inquiry into ParentsNext, including its trial and subsequent broader rollout.

The location of public libraries and the services provided makes Australia's public library network an appealing opportunity for ParentsNext providers. However, library services have been used by ParentsNext providers without contacting the libraries involved. ALIA and the Australian Public Library Alliance request that ParentsNext providers consult with library managers before making use of library facilities and programs.

The aim of these Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) guidelines is to provide all libraries, regardless of type, size or resourcing, with minimum standards for the provision of accessible and inclusive services for people with disabilities. These guidelines can be used to:

• analyse the present level of service,
• facilitate forward-planning,
• develop strategies for more effective services

These guidelines provide a benchmark to ensure that a standard minimum level of service is provided across the entirety of the library and information services sector.

The Truth, Integrity, Knowledge (TIK) campaign ran throughout 2019. The campaign focused on why librarianship is one of the most trusted professions in Australia and how people working in libraries (whether LIS qualified or from another discipline) promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interests of all Australians.

The series of fact sheets address poverty in Australia, homelessness, gender equality, and early literacy, language and learning.