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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.

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?

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 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

When people arrive in Australia, whether through choice or for reasons of hardship, as migrants, international students, refugees or humanitarian entrants, they seek to make a place for themselves and their families in their new communities. They have to set up home, find employment, become familiar with cultural norms that are second nature to Australians but alien to new arrivals, and often their first language is not English.

For library users, coming from a country where there is a good public library network, the local library is an obvious place to find essential information, sign up for English language conversation classes, use the public computers, engage with other children and families at storytime. Joining the library is part of the settling in process. For others, coming from countries where there may not be a library network, libraries are an unknown quantity and it can be hard to build up the courage to step over the threshold.

Australian libraries recognise the needs and the barriers for migrants and refugees and are working to fulfil the first and break down the latter. This report shares just a few examples of the library projects to be found in different states and territories.

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’.

Notice of meeting, agenda and special resolutions 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.

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.

The 2019 Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) library and information agenda was created after consultation with ALIA Members and states our goals for the next federal government.

POLICY

1. Improved access to data and scholarly information through the development and trial of open access models for government-funded research
2. Halt to government library closures and greater recognition of the role of library and information professionals in evidence-based decision-making
3. Greater recognition of the important part libraries play in literacy and learning for all ages
4. Continued recognition of the important part libraries play in digital inclusion
5. A national early literacy strategy
6. Support for the long-term success of the Australian book industry
7. Quality library services for tertiary students enrolled in universities, TAFEs and private Registered Training Organisations (RTO)
8. Qualified library staff employed in every school library
9. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

LEGISLATION

10. Further copyright law reform

11. Accreditation of higher education and VET courses by professional bodies

FUNDING

12. Further investment in digital access to cultural collections and digital infrastructure

13. Funding for library buildings as a vital element of Australia’s knowledge infrastructure

14. Funding for the delivery of egovernment services through public libraries

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’.

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 'Person-centred care and its role in health literacy: how librarians can champion its values'.

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'.

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'.

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.

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.

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 'Using automation tools to improve the speed of searching for studies for a systematic review'.

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.

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?

eHealth and big data are driving massive change in the health sector. Librarians are continually challenged to be ‘data intelligent’ and to extend their skills in the use, visualisation and application of data and to support their clients’ data literacy. Librarian’s working in health science or inside health agencies and organisations are uniquely positioned to support the optimal use of data to support scientific research and the delivery of and improvements in health and medical care for individuals and the community.

This year the PD Day will combine keynote presentations with lightning talks and hands on workshops around the following themes:

• Data science - what does this encompass?
• Research data management - is this a niche role for health librarians?
• Open data, open science, the reproducibility crisis and the future of scholarly publishing - should we champion open access and research rigour?
• Bibliometrics, altmetrics, open access - what do these mean for collection development?
• Data as the new evidence - has the published literature been gazumped?
• Big data, predictive analytics, precision medicine and clinical decision-making - do librarians have a role?
• AI - are there opportunities for librarians in data curation, metadata and linking?
• Digital literacy for consumers and health professionals - are librarians the best health literacy teachers?
• Data visualisation – tools, techniques and the role of the Librarian.

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.

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 talk 'Ask an informationist - choosing wisely at Austin Health'.

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.

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.