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Submission from the Australian Media Literacy Alliance to the inquiry into international digital platforms operated by Big Tech companies.

This submission from the library and informatoin sector to the Department of Home Affairs Multicultural Framemwork Review is jointly made by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), CAVAL, and the ALIA Multicultural special interest group.

This submission outlines the role that libraries play supporting multicultural communities to ensure that they are visible and understood in further policy development. The submission is structured in the following sections: collections, cultural and language programs, community needs, belonging and outreach, technology and digital citizenship, and workforce and skills. We look forward to opportunities to continue discussions with the Department of Home Affairs on how we can work together to ensure that libraries and information services support, celebrate, and reflect the diversity of voices and experiences in this country.

There is growing recognition of the need for the general public to be educated and guided to engage critically with news and media and to develop their media literacy skills and knowledge. The proliferation of new digital platforms, mis and disinformation, fake news, deepfakes, sponsored content and the rise of the ‘attention economy’, among other issues, means there is also an urgent need to understand how people access and engage with information and media content, and how they are impacted by it. Libraries play a significant role in supporting the public to develop and upskill their media and digital literacy. Media technology is rapidly evolving, and the skills people learn during formal education need constant updating. Media literacy is among the most important skills for people to engage effectively with media content as online platforms multiply, mis and disinformation proliferates and the ‘attention economy’ vies for our time.

This report explores the findings from a national study of LIS practitioners’ perceptions of media literacy education conducted by scholars from the University of Canberra in partnership with ALIA. It also discusses the development of a 7-week course tailored to the needs of those in pedagogical roles, specifically in the LIS sector. Finally, the report reviews the first intakes of the course and feedback received from students. You can read all the details in this full report, or get a quick summary in the associated snapshot report. 

Full report all accessible: https://doi.org/10.25916/kahm-zr94

ALIA groups and committees are an essential part of the life of the Association and the LIS sector in Australia. Groups and committees are run by energetic and committed volunteer ALIA members who generously give their time to create active and vibrant professional networks that contribute to the sector in a variety of ways, from running professional learning and social events through to the creation of sector standards and the provision of advice to the ALIA Board.

ALIA’s committees and groups were reviewed in 2022. Responding to the review's identification of areas within groups and committees which require strengthening, this information sheet presents the actions that will be taken to better support their work.

This snapshot report outlines key findings and recommendations from a research project conducted on the impact and management of mis/disinformation in university libraries in Australia. The full results, literature review, research approach and methods can be found in an article ‘The Impact and Management of Mis/Disinformation at University Libraries in Australia’ in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2023.2235646. A toolkit of resources to support academic libraries is also included, some of which were provided by interviewees, is provided in both reports. 

Key Findings: 

• Library staff believe they have a role in teaching skills such as critical thinking and evaluation, advocating in this space and maintaining credible, balanced and inclusive collections.

• Library staff face a number of barriers to being able to effectively manage mis/disinformation including the constantly evolving ways that mis/disinformation spreads, lack of time to investigate accuracy of content or authority in collections, time and resources to learn more about the topic, and lack of strategic priority for this topic in universities. 

• Universities libraries don’t have collection development/management guidelines or policies in this space and staff deal with complaints on an ad hoc basis.

• The practice of managing acquisitions through large subscriptions means there is less need for subject expertise and a lack of time and resources to assess collection content. 

• The library’s role is not to censor information, and there is a need to maintain historical content, but with warnings and context around controversial or misinformation content.

• Many university libraries are prioritising or planning policies and initiatives related to Indigenous collections and decolonising collections.

• Library staff would like support from national associations such as ALIA/CAUL though guidelines, teaching exemplars, toolkits, advocacy, training, discussions, and communities of practice.

The report was comissioned and designed by the Australian Library and Information Association.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) currently publishes the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association (JALIA) under agreement with Taylor and Francis.

The JALIA Working Group is to provide advice to the ALIA Board on the future publishing options for the Association’s journal. The JALIA Working Group will be constituted for a period of 24 months.

This document sets out the the JALIA Working Group Terms of Reference.

The VET Libraries Advisory Committee advises the ALIA Board of Directors on the development of a strategic program for members working in vocational libraries or with interests in vocational librarianship.

The document records institutions, contacts and participation in the National Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme among vocational libraries.

This document replaces: "Mapping of TAFE Libraries: Updated 2021" 

This submission responds to the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) Australian National Persistent Identifier (PID) draft strategy. The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) including ALIA Health Libraries Australia (ALIA HLA) congratulate the ARDC for their excellent work on the Australian National Persistent Identifier (PID) draft strategy. ALIA sees significant potential for the PID strategy to support research and research reporting across different types of organisations and sectors. The submission takes the opportunity to highlight areas where the consistent use of PIDs, including Research Organisation Registry (RORs) would assist in research data collection across the health sector in particluar, and highlight our support of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) and CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Sovereignty (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, Ethics) being embedded in further development of the PID strategy.

There is growing recognition of the need for the general public to be educated and guided to engage critically with news and media and to develop their media literacy skills and knowledge. The proliferation of new digital platforms, mis and disinformation, fake news, deepfakes, sponsored content and the rise of the ‘attention economy’, among other issues, means there is also an urgent need to understand how people access and engage with information and media content, and how they are impacted by it. Libraries play a significant role in supporting the public to develop and upskill their media and digital literacy. Media technology is rapidly evolving, and the skills people learn during formal education need constant updating. Media literacy is among the most important skills for people to engage effectively with media content as online platforms multiply, mis and disinformation proliferates and the ‘attention economy’ vies for our time.

This report explores the findings from a national study of LIS practitioners’ perceptions of media literacy education conducted by scholars from the University of Canberra in partnership with ALIA. It also discusses the development of a 7-week course tailored to the needs of those in pedagogical roles, specifically in the LIS sector. Finally, the report reviews the first intakes of the course and feedback received from students. This snapshot report provides a summary of findings, and you can read all the details in the associated full report: https://read.alia.org.au/libraries-and-media-literacy-education-full-report or https://doi.org/10.25916/kahm-zr94

This submission into generative AI in the Australian education system is jointly made by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) including ALIA VET Libraries Australia (ALIA VLA), the Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL), National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), CAVAL, AI4 Libraries Archives Museums (AI4LAM) and Open Access Australasia (OAA).

The library and information sector is committed to fundamental principles of equity of access to information, knowledge and culture; respect for the individuality and diversity of people; and the protection of privacy. Fifteen discreet recommendations are made in the submission and in line with these values, and to effectively and safely harness the benefits of generative AI, three overarching priciples are put forward:

1. Priority is given to improving literacy, including AI, information and media literacy, for students and staff.

2. A commitment to upholding human rights, ensuring fairness and centring ethical considerations in the development and use of generative AI tools.

3. Regulations, policy, standards and guidelines should be created in consultation with key stakeholders including library and information professionals, representatives of minority groups and First Nations people.

Contents: About ALIA -- Our Structure and Governance -- Advisory Committees Appointed by the ALIA Board -- President’s Report -- Acting Chief Executive Officer’s Report -- Chief Executive Officer’s Report -- ALIA’s Performance Against the Strategic Plan 2021-2024 -- Our Membership -- Groups -- Awards -- Financial Statements

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA)'s joint response to the Draft National Digital Research Infrastructure (NDRI) Strategy Consultation submitted as an online survey. ALIA and NSLA strongly support the proposed vision as an appropriate foundation for Australia's NDRI ecosystem over the next 10-15 years and outline the need for suitably skilled workforce for Australia's NDRI to reach its full potential.

This submission by ALIA is to inform the Second National Action Plan under the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework. The submission provides responses to Discussion Questions three and five as follows: outline the enablers that are fundamental to ALIA's efforts in reducing disaster risks (Q3); identify gaps that impede efforts to reduce disaster risks (Q3); highlight an opportunity to develop and deliver a collections disaster training course (Q5).

In the second half of 2022, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) was engaged in the first phase of consultation conducted as a key step in the Professional Pathways initiative. The stated goals of the Professional Pathways project are to build a shared understanding of the different areas of knowledge and skills, and the values and ethics that people employed in the library and information services (LIS) sector will need, and to consider what pathways might best support them as they develop and shape their capabilities throughout their career journey. The project supports ALIA’s strategic priority of ensuring the LIS sector has a resilient, talented and diverse LIS workforce with the strength and agility to navigate a rapidly changing workplace and deliver quality library and information services which anticipate and meet the needs of the Australian community.

The Professional Pathways Advisory Board tasked the Professional Pathways team with the design and development of a draft framework, which should then be subject to sector-wide review and feedback. Consultation activities commenced in late July 2022, running through to early November 2022. This report outlines and discusses the details of the Phase One Consultations.

This document provides best practice guidelines for organising industry placements and provides detail on industry placement processes for educators seeking guidance on best practice principles in industry placements. 

The Guidelines are intended to provide a ‘best practice’ model for VET LIS course providers, the host organisations and students with the aim of achieving the best possible industry-relevant experience for the students. This revised and updated version of the Guidelines is aligned to key national resources, and they will serve as benchmark indicators of ‘best practice’ that can be used ALIA VET Placement Guidelines to strengthen placement practices. The Guidelines will also be used as a key resource by ALIA during course accreditation and should result in greater consistency across Australia.

This document replaces: "ALIA Guidelines for Industry Placement: Diploma of Library and Information Services" (2018)

By-Laws of the Australian Library and Information Association as amended to May 2023.

The first meeting of the ALIA Professional Pathways Board in 2023 was conducted over Zoom, and included discussion of a range of issues including:

Framework structure and conceptual design

The question of mandatory/optional CPD

Professional recognition and categorisation.

The ALIA Board Charter sets out the roles of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Directors, the Board Committees and the Company Secretary, in order to facilitate Board and management accountability for ALIA’s performance and strategic direction.

This submission from the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) highlights some of the significant advances under Revive of particular importance to Australia’s library community, and areas where we are looking to build by working further with the Australian Government, creators, the book industry, the cultural heritage sector and the wider community as the plan is iterated.

Library designs shape people’s expectations and experiences of what libraries can be. Their physical spaces house collections, provide safe spaces for people to meet and engage, and enable access to services and activities designed to meet community needs. Libraries’ digital spaces extend these services and supports beyond the physical walls, enabling after-hours access to the world’s knowledge. When library buildings are designed well, they serve as beacons in their communities. Their interiors inspire people to learn, to create, to think, and to engage with digital and physical platforms to satisfy information needs.

Since 2017, the biennial Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Australian Library Design Awards have showcased the best in innovative, creative, and forward-thinking library design projects from across the country.2 By drawing on the resources of the Awards’ archives, alongside in-depth interviews with award judges, architects, and library managers, this report provides a detailed overview of trends in new and refurbished library designs, including benefits to their communities. The content may serve as an inspirational resource for library managers, architects, and funders looking to achieve maximum benefit from their investment in library buildings.

A joint submission from the Australian Library and Information Association, Council of Australian University Librarians, National and State Libraries Australasia, Australian Society of Archivists and the Council of Australasian Archives and Records Authorities to the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Decadal Plan for Social Science Research Infrastructure Discussion Paper.

The submission focuses on three principle areas: access, systems and skills and ethics.

By-Laws of the Australian Library and Information Association as amended to October 2022.

ALIA commissioned an evaluation report of the Online Storytime pilot program. Anyez Lindop researched and compiled the report using data from the first year of the program in 2021. The evaluation looks into the outcomes for library staff, library users engaging with the program, Australian picture book creators and Australian publishers over the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds supporting this evaluation were made available through the Australian Government's Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sometimes called the Global Goals, or the United Nations 2030 Agenda, are a shared vision for peace, prosperity, and the protection of the planet. At the heart of the SDGs are 17 goals, each of which is an urgent call to action for the realisation of a better world.

Libraries are uniquely positioned in relation to the SDGs, as by providing meaningful and equitable access to information, they have the potential to support all 17 of the goals. Through providing young people with the possibility and skills to make the most of information. School libraries play a significant role in contributing to and raising awareness of the goals.

This document is designed to be a practical guide, providing information, suggestions and resources on how Australian school libraries can support each of the Sustainable Development Goals now and into the future.

Attachment 1 to Australian Media Literacy Alliance submission to the inquiry into international digital platforms operated by Big Tech companies, March 2023.

ALIA's submission to government on the new National Cultural Policy, underscoring the importance of First Nations representation in the library and information services sector, the applicability of the policy's 'place for every story' line, and the significant place of strong institutions in supporting the policy in reaching audiences and supporting artists.

INCITE article by Kate Furguson about Yarra Plenty Regional Library's program 'Talking Together', a project that aims to build trust with the local Somali Australian community in Melbourne’s north.

Summary of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Board of Directors Meeting held on Monday 5th & Tuesday 6th December 2022 at Deakin Downtown, Collins Street, Melbourne and via Zoom.

Article from INCITE September/October 2022 Volume 43 Issue 5.

Interview with Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie, author and illustrator of The Speedy Sloth. The Speedy Sloth has been selected as ALIA's National Simultaneous Storytime book in 2023.