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Viv Barton, ALIA Vice President (President-elect) has chosen education as the theme for her Presidential year, from May 2020 – May 2021. It is a topic which goes to the very heart of ALIA, as the professional body for the library and information sector.

In 2018, the ALIA Board appointed the ALIA Education Advisory Committee, comprising leaders from education and institutions across the sector, to provide advice to the Board on ALIA’s education policies and guidelines. We currently work with LIS educators to shape quality contemporary courses in library and information science; we accredit higher education and vocational education institutions to deliver these courses; we provide a framework for ongoing learning through our PD Scheme; we offer a range of opportunities through ALIA Training; and we encourage professionals to include a relevant specialisation in their annual professional development commitment, as they work towards becoming a Distinguished Certified Professional. What might the future hold for us?

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is undertaking a survey in order to assess our current education position and the size of the gap between where we are now and our vision.

Library Lovers' Day 2019: library love stories

Library Lovers’ Day is an opportunity for libraries and library users to celebrate all the ways that love can be found in the library. Organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), this annual event involves hundreds of libraries and thousands of library users.

In 2019, ALIA ran a 200–word story writing competition, story submissions were based off the prompt ‘there was love to be found in the library’.

Libraries across Australia are focused on improving services for people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, whether they live in cities, towns or remote communities.

This document has examples of initiatives that are already underway, while highlighting opportunities for further improvement. It shows that libraries are maximising the use of their facilities, developing thoughtful programs, taking a more respectful approach to collections and expanding professional development opportunities for library and information professionals.

The report provides ideas for libraries that may not be so far advanced in their approach, and it prompts discussion about ways in which Australian libraries can work together to make further progress.

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. 

Library Lovers' Day 2019: library love stories

Library Lovers’ Day is an opportunity for libraries and library users to celebrate all the ways that love can be found in the library. Organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), this annual event involves hundreds of libraries and thousands of library users.

In 2019, ALIA ran a 200–word story writing competition, story submissions were based off the prompt ‘there was love to be found in the library’.

Minutes of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) 31st Annual General Meeting held on 21 May 2019 at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies, Canberra.

Special resolutions to amend the ALIA Constitution including the restructuring of the Board to allow for a two-year presidential term and several other largely minor amendments to ensure consistency within the document and compliance with the requirements of the Corporations Law passed unanimously.

Explanation of special resolutions to amend the ALIA Constitution considered at the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 21 May 2019 at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies, Canberra.

Special resolutions to amend the ALIA Constitution including the restructuring of the Board to allow for a two-year presidential term and several other largely minor amendments to ensure consistency within the document and compliance with the requirements of the Corporations Law.

The Competency Mapping work has produced a list of approximately 110 health-related courses, events and programs offered in 2019 that are relevant to health librarians and technicians in Australia. The courses are also mapped to HLA's eight competency areas.

INCITE: The magazine for library and information professionals - November/December 2019 Volume 40 Issue 11/12

Contents: From the President -- From the CEO -- TIK blog 9: Open access -- TIK blog 10: Collaboration -- Australian Reading Hour 2019 -- Library Lovers' Day 2020 -- News from your State and Territory Managers -- ALIA Board elections 2020 -- Digital inclusion -- Become a local aggregator of community content -- Sharing NLS9 online -- The Australia Inclusive Publishing Initiative -- Sensitively sharing the image collection -- Deadly Digital Communities -- The Immersive Storytelling Project -- Helping the community go digital -- The launch of National edeposit -- How regional libraries are leading digital innovation -- A digital collection for progressive movements -- Digital inclusion in higher education -- Let's talk about standards -- The library is an ideal place to host a comic-con -- How reading can be a serious leisure -- Libraries and the book industry work together on copyright -- Happy birthday to Friends of Libraries Australia -- People Places is a key resource for public libraries -- The 2019 Top End Award winners.

Health Libraries Australia Professional Development Day, 18 & 19 July 2019 Melbourne: All about data - what do health librarians need to know in the data driven world of ehealth?

This presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanied the talk 'Your authors will love you - classifying search results to reduce numbers to screen'

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 Galleries Libraries Archives Museums and Records Workforce Diversity Trend Report 2019' details the current status of diversity across the galleries, libraries, archives, museums and records (GLAMR) workforce using the 2006, 2011, and 2016 census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The age, gender, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation, people living with disability, and cultural diversity of Librarians; Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians; Library Assistants; and Archivists, Curators and Records Managers was compared with the levels of diversity in the total labour force. 

Five recommendations have been identified for the GLAMR sector to address imbalances highlighted in the report:

1. Encourage people to consider library and information as both a first and second career.
2. Find ways to significantly increase the number of male library and information workers.
3. Aim to double the number of Indigenous workers.
4. Continue to open up career opportunities for people living with disability.
5. Seek to recruit people born in Asia and/or from LOTE households with Asian first languages.

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines the disaster responses, challenges and lessons learned in relation to the flooding of the Australian National University (ANU) Chifley Library.

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines the response to an infestation of insects in archival collection material.

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines the response to the flooding of the Australian National University (ANU) Chifley Library.

Fires, floods and failures: future proofing against disaster, 1 May 2019 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines the collections and types of material held in the Australian National University (ANU) archives and repositories, experience of disaster, disaster response and key issues.

INCITE: The magazine for library and information professionals - May/June 2019 Volume 40 Issue 5/6

Contents: From the outgoing President -- From the incoming President -- From the CEO -- Using augmented reality to share community stories -- TIK blog 3: Evidence-based -- TIK blog 4: Digital expertise and inclusion -- This federal election, Vote Library -- The 2019 Library Design Awards -- National Simultaneous Storytime is nearly upon us -- Finish preparing for Library and Information Week -- First ALIA accredited students graduate from Pacific TAFE -- Fundraising partnership with Booktopia -- News from your State and Territory Managers -- Libraries as innovators -- The Australian Web Archive -- Renovations lead to rejuvenation -- Australian libraries are collaborating to provide STEM outcomes -- Mobile Max takes the library outdoors -- Creating user engagement through a YouTube sensation -- How we reported on ALIA Information Online 2019 -- Collaboration leads to student outcomes -- How libraries help the government support the book industry -- Australian authors appreciate the backing of libraries -- Enabling leisure is serious business -- Visiting and collaborating leads to learning -- Let's talk about standards -- Celebrating and supporting the Gumbaynggirr language -- Acknowledging and respecting the local custodians.

The fundamental principles according to which the Australian Library and Information Assocation (ALIA), a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, is governed effective to 17 May 2017 with proposed amendments for consideration at the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 21 May 2019 at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies, Canberra.

Amendments include the restructuring of the Board to allow for a two-year presidential term and several other largely minor amendments to ensure consistency within the document and compliance with the requirements of the Corporations Law.

These guidelines have been produced to assist senior managers in organisations, governments, institutions, who are responsible for library and information services but may not come from a library and information background. They are designed to provide a good practice model for undertaking a service review, to achieve the best outcomes with the least disruption.

ALIA New Librarians' Symposium 9 (NLS9), 5-7 July 2019 Adelaide: collaborate deviate innovate

The NLS9 theme is “Collaborate, Deviate, Innovate”. Our logo represents this as a Venn diagram indicating the nexus of librarianship involving these three core ideas.

For NLS9 we want to inspire, motivate and challenge students, new graduates and new librarians to get involved, work together and be creative. We want our presenters to share how they have achieved/are achieving their career goals and provide practical examples of collaboration, innovation and how they have deviated from the norm. We want attendees to get ideas and practical tools, meet people and go back to their workplaces ready to take action.

In the current technological climate, collaboration and innovation are inherent to ways of working and living. Generating ideas for innovating comes from thinking differently, deviating from traditional paths and challenging standard operating practices. NLS9 will look at how we can bring fresh ideas to our careers, develop adaptive skills, collaborate beyond the workplace and create networks to support our career development.

We want our attendees to leave the Symposium imbued with possibilities. We want there to be ideas for attendees at every stage of their journey to becoming a library professional.

Health Libraries Australia Professional Development Day, 18 & 19 July 2019 Melbourne: All about data - what do health librarians need to know in the data driven world of ehealth?

This presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanied the workshop 'What we count to what really counts - measure outcomes versus activities for your library using statistical evidence'.

Health Libraries Australia Professional Development Day, 18 & 19 July 2019 Melbourne: All about data - what do health librarians need to know in the data driven world of ehealth?

This presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanied the keynote address 'Living evidence - partnerships and technology for up to date, reliable evidence'.

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.

Health Libraries Australia Professional Development Day, 18 & 19 July 2019 Melbourne: All about data - what do health librarians need to know in the data driven world of ehealth?

This presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanied the workshop 'Work smarter, not harder: how to utilise data to build an efficient library service'.

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.

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) 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) 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 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.

Over the last five years, that TAFEs have been reducing their investment in course coordinators (the administrative support role). This has a negative effect on the student experience and has serious implications for the capacity of lecturers in terms of delivering the course and ensuring that students graduate with a full understanding of the subjects they have taken. This has the potential to devalue the course and to damage the reputation of the TAFE institution and the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) as the accrediting body. In the next round of TAFE accreditation, due at the end of 2020, ALIA will be seeking assurance that administrative support is adequately funded and supported by the institution. This will be a mandatory requirement for accreditation.