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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.

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

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has been a strong advocate for digital inclusion for more than 30 years. Libraries were early adopters of digital technologies, not only to support our own operations, but also to improve customer services and help our clients build their own technology skill sets.

In this report, we showcase just a few examples of the kinds of digital inclusion programs and services delivered in public libraries around Australia. We have stories about intergenerational learning, technology training for culturally diverse groups, digital access to local history collections, helping people digitise their personal collections, running coding classes, and providing local communities with opportunities to interact with robots, virtual reality and other advanced technologies.

Through public libraries, we reach some of the least connected people in society, but digital inclusion activities are also critical in school, TAFE and academic libraries, where students may have varying levels of digital literacy, and in special libraries, where, for example, clients need help accessing vital information contained in electronic databases and in identifying authentic information from the morass of results generated by an online search. The purpose of all these activities is to help people connect to the internet, have positive online experiences, improve their digital skills, build their confidence and be prepared for the next wave of technological innovation. Today, digital inclusion is core to what a library delivers.

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.

ALIA Information Online 2019 Conference, 11-15 February 2019 Sydney: Infinite Possibilities

This conference paper presents the results of a survey of Australian academic library social media managers, co-ordinators and contributors on the ways in which their libraries use social media, particularly Twitter, their strategies, and how success is defined and measured.

ALIA Information Online 2019 Conference, 11-15 February 2019 Sydney: Infinite Possibilities

This conference paper discusses advances in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and the rise of chatbots in the delivery of library information services.

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.

ALIA Information Online 2019 Conference, 11-15 February 2019 Sydney: Infinite Possibilities

This conference paper discusses a project undertaken by the University of Queensland library which explored the accessibility of a range of ebook platforms commonly encountered by students and how well these platforms serve library clients with a print disability.

ALIA Information Online 2019 Conference, 11-15 February 2019 Sydney: Infinite Possibilities

This conference paper discusses a project undertaken by the State Library of New South Wales and three public libraries which tested the harvesting of social media content for local studies collections.

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 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.

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:

• 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.

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

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) discusses how Libraries Australia can help organisations guard against information loss due to natural disasters, human error, library closures or system issues.

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) presents the PD Day program and provides supporting promotional information.

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.

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.

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 poster presentation accompanied the talk delivered in the session 'HLA reports and future directions - new competencies for health librarians'.

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.

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.

Contents: About ALIA -- President's report -- Chief Executive Officer's report -- Director Corporate Services' report -- Director of Learning's report -- How we performed against the strategic plan -- Our membership -- Advocacy campaigns -- Government and stakeholder relations -- Special projects -- Conferences and events -- ALIA in the regions -- Education, professional development and training -- Awards -- Communications -- Financial statements.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) welcomes this opportunity to respond to the Australian Government Soft Power Review.

ALIA, Australian libraries and library and information professionals have a role to play in a number of areas, including:

• Working with colleagues in the Asia-Pacific to progress the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Promoting Australia’s creative industries, especially in the area of literature
• Furthering cultural understanding within our region and internationally
• Supporting the preservation and digitisation of local archives and records
• Accrediting education, promoting professional networks, information sharing and capacity building for library and information workers
• Supporting the development of Blue Shield national committees in the region, to promote disaster planning and awareness for cultural institutions.

HLA News: National News Bulletin of Health Libraries Australia - The national health group of the Australian Library and Information Association

Contents: In our sights: the scoping review -- Convenor's focus -- Resources for health librarians working with researchers and data -- Find yourself in a library: participate in Library and Information Week -- Getting creative with library outreach at Dementia Australia -- HLA PD Day keynote speaker announcement -- Member spotlight: Alice Anderson -- 2018 professional development opportunities.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) promotes the free flow of information and ideas through open access to recorded knowledge, information and creative works. This is a core value of the Association.

In 2012, Australian libraries and library associations came together behind the National Year of Reading, linking together all the great things that are already happening around books, reading and literacy, and giving them an extra boost, with inspirational programs and events taking place across the country.

There were more than 4,000 events, $5.6 million in in-kind support, $26 million-worth of media coverage, much of it highlighting the fact that nearly half the population struggles without the literacy skills to meet the most basic demands of everyday life and work. There are 46% of Australians who can't read newspapers; follow a recipe; make sense of timetables, or understand the instructions on a medicine bottle.

Following on from the success of the campaign, the 15 founder partners decided to carry forward the Love2read brand into 2013, making the most of the momentum that had been created during the National Year of Reading. In 2017, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and book industry partners broadened the campaign into the Australian Reading Hour.

A template document for the Manual for developing policies and procedures for Australian school library resource centres that can be used to update or prepare your own school library copy. Its aim is to develop the policies and document the procedures that are essential for exemplary management practices. The implementation of these policies and procedures will ensure that there is equitable access to resources for all users. A school library resource centre that is well managed is in the best possible position to offer the range of library programmes and services that are essential to the endeavours of the school community.

The Manual contains nine sections, a glossary, references and appendices. Each section comprises two parts, that for the policy and the second for its procedures. There are two versions of the Manual, one that includes images and one that is text only. 

ALIA Asia Pacific Special Interest Group (ALIA APSIG) was a national group that aimed to lead efforts in identifying new sources of support for the development between information professionals in the region, through two-way co-operation. It also aimed to provide a forum for members to discuss regional professional issues and to communicate these to the appropriate forum; hosts public talks relating to relevant issues; and produce a membership newsletter three times per year.

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.

Our Global Future summit, facilitated by Dr Gill Hallam on 29 July 2018, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

More than 50 library leaders from Australia and the Asia-Pacific met for the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Goals summit (SDG).

The presentations and workships resulted in the development of a shared understanding of what lies ahead for libraries and a list of actions to raise awareness and understanding of the sustainable development goals and the role libraries can play

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.

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.