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ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

This conference paper discusses the collaboration between libraries and other collecting institutions through the development of shared services and technical infrastructure.

Abstract: The National Library of Australia leads the library sector through providing national collaborative services such as Libraries Australia and Trove, and by collecting and preserving print and online legal deposit material on behalf of the nation for long-term access. In partnership with others, the Library has also digitised an unprecedented quantity of historical newspapers, transforming the way historical enquiry can be undertaken. The success of these activities and the rapidly changing nature of the economic, social and technological context in which we operate has triggered the need for the Library to re-examine its national leadership role and the unique value it can deliver, the long-term sustainability of these services for the nation, especially as new legal deposit legislation will expand legal deposit collecting to all digital and online material, and the potential for building on existing collaborative relationships within particular sectors and with the wider community.

Between November 2015 and June 2016 the National Library embarked on a project to review existing digital services and collaborations, re-examine the value propositions offered by the Library and develop new coherent business and governance models for its digital business. A web-based literature review completed in March 2016 revealed that despite some significant work overseas, there was very little evidence that similar research and business thinking has been undertaken in Australia. In April 2016, Deloitte Australia was engaged to assist with developing a framework under which to establish business and governance models that will guide the long-term development paths for the Library’s digital services. Deloitte submitted its report Digital Services Business Model and Governance Review in June 2016.

In October 2016, the National Library established a small project team to build on the recommendations of the Deloitte report. This work is well underway, with a new membership agreement, fee structure, governance framework and implementation plan expected to be in place by June 2017. The new model will strengthen the influence of contributing partners, provide a formal mechanism for member input into future development planning and better guarantee the long-term viability of our shared investment. The paper outlines the long history of library collaboration and the benefits to be gained by extending this collaborative approach to how we manage our digital collections.

With the support of National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) and other key partners, the National Library is developing new digital business models from which to nurture a new phase of close collaboration with the cultural sector. This collaboration aims at delivering value and efficiencies to all partners by sharing services and technical infrastructure. In this current era of digital publishing and technology-driven disruption, closer collaboration leveraging the capacities of all partners will ensure long-term sustainability of national services.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

[Peer reviewed] This conference paper examines the results of a survey investigating teacher librarian attitudes towards curriculum resource alignment and crowd sourced metadata.

Abstract: Teacher librarians (TLs) are ideally placed to meet resource needs for Australian teachers and students, but have an expressed need for greater support in matching (or ‘aligning’) local and online resources to educational objectives such as those specified in the Australian Curriculum (eg Softlink 2014). This kind of alignment has been identified as being a crucial ingredient for improved student outcomes. Education Services Australia (ESA) has aligned digital resources to the Australian Curriculum since 2011. The Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS) is a business unit of ESA that creates and distributes MARC records to 93% of Australian school libraries. Whilst SCIS has not traditionally provided curriculum-alignment data, it is investigating how this might be done to best meet the needs of schools and fit TL workflows whilst being viable in terms of associated costs and resources. In his discussion of evaluator-driven alignment, Chadwick (2016) identified that TLs were well suited for making resource alignment judgements. Whilst doing this work within their own collection may benefit their school community, ESA is interested in the potential for TLs to create alignment data collectively. The viability of this is likely to depend on factors including TL motivation and capacity, and technical infrastructure for collating such data. 

This paper describes an online survey of 586 school library staff, conducted by ESA between 1 February and 11 March 2016. The survey examined TL attitudes towards resource alignment, the current alignment practices occurring in libraries, and TL opinions towards crowd-sourced alignment metadata. A large majority of respondents felt that alignment data would benefit both the school and the library. However, there was less support for alignments generated by other TLs than there was for alignments generated by an agency such as SCIS. It was important to respondents that resources were aligned to appropriate learning areas and year levels, and strong preferences were expressed for some learning areas over others. A possible mechanism for collecting and distributing crowd-sourced alignment metadata is presented in the form of a widget installed on the SCIS Voyager catalogue. By saving teacher time and directing students to a range of quality resources that directly target national learning priorities, this work has the potential to improve the position of school libraries as key players in whole-of-school delivery of curriculum-based teaching and learning. 

ALIA Universities and Research Libraries (URLs) ACT, 14 September 2017 Canberra: Strange bedfellows - partnerships and collaborations in the age of digital disruption

The ALIA URL group provides a networking and information-sharing forum for all levels of library staff interested in issues and trends affecting the development of university and research libraries. 

This seminar provides an insight into the ways information professionals in academic and research institutions are working with a broad range of partners to apply their skills in new and creative ways to demonstrate value and impact, curating research data, managing repositories and building online collections. 

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

This poster presentation discusses the use of Skype to create training opportunities.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: data information knowledge

Lunchtime Talk: Information Online wrap-up, April 2017

This report provides an overview of conference sessions which focus on enhancing the user experience and interaction with collecting institutions whether this is online, through public spaces, or through their collections.

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

This conference paper discusses an approach to effectively managing photographic digitisation projects.

Many libraries today possess a wide range of digital content that is available 24/7. There has been a move to digitise specialist local history and cultural heritage sources and it is not uncommon for users to stumble across low resolution local history images embedded into library catalogues. The provision of inferior quality sources results in missed opportunities to present exciting, engaging, immersive and interactive content associated with their digitised special collections.

This document provides a summary of how the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

Abstract:

Introduction and Context:

The University of Sydney Library launched the inaugural ThinkSpace in early 2016. By attending this presentation you will be taken on a journey from dead space to ThinkSpace, outlining the strategic thinking, challenges and successes in prototyping this new concept.

The Challenge:

The University of Sydney Library inherited an area above one of our main libraries that came with issues such as size and the location. We have been able to turn these challenges into an opportunity to maximise the utilisation of the space so that it aligns with the strategic objectives of both the Library and University in helping to future proof the Library in a fun and exciting way.

The Solution:

In line with current thinking on future academic library trends we knew that makerspaces were on the short term horizon as an emerging trend (Johnson, Adams Becker, Estrada, & Freeman, 2015). After reviewing existing makerspaces in public libraries we decided to establish a slightly different model that provided more opportunity to experiment and collaborate with the ultimate goal of driving innovation.

The library had also spent some time rethinking our strategy in order to better position ourselves to contribute to University-wide institutional goals (University of Sydney, 2016) and to our profession as a whole. Two of the main pillars of the Library’s strategic plan are to “Provide a thinkspace” and “Facilitate collaboration & creation” (University of Sydney Library, 2016). We decided to create a hybrid makerspace that combined these two objectives and “ThinkSpace” was born.

The Concept: ThinkSpace;

1. Introduces people to new and existing technologies and ideas they may not have experimented with before in order to support innovation,

2. Facilitates collaborative opportunities between disciplines,

3. Acts as a showcase for experimental design.

The space has a 3D printer, 3D scanner, high end Mac computers equipped with Adobe Design Suite and drawing pads, a BB8 programmable droid, Google cardboard VR viewer and a Carvey tabletop 3D carving machine. In development is a small one button recording studio.

Results:

ThinkSpace is a new and growing initiative aimed at inspiring and encouraging creativity. The space is still growing but already we have garnered the interest of many students, student clubs and academics alike. Students are excited about the space and using play and experimentation as a way to learn and share knowledge.

We’ll share insights from attendance at workshops as well as some of the fabulous things we’ve created along the way.

The Library has taken an unloved, underutilised space and turned it into a vibrant ThinkSpace to help future-proof the library in a fun, creative and collaborative way, so come along and be inspired!

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

This conference paper discusses how the University of Sydney Library, in its traditional model, was no longer meeting all the needs and expectations of students. As libraries everywhere are adapting their public face to providing more inclusive, collaborative services, the University Library looked for new ways to engage with and support its community. 

This submission to the ALIA Board of Directors from the ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee (NGAC) discusses the government's plans for postal vote regarding regarding same-sex marriage. The postal plebiscite will be conducted on a voluntary basis and a final result will be secured by 15 November 2017. 

While there are many issues concerning the validity of the postal plebiscite including the integrity of the electoral roll, voter fraud, lost ballots and votes being administered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics without protections of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918; like many MPs and concerned Australian citizens, fundamentally the ALIA New Generation Advisory Committee (NGAC) feels that this process is going to hurt LGBTQIA+ people.

Contents: Membership -- Meetings -- Summary of main activities -- Brief comments about how this work has aligned with the ALIA Strategic Plan -- Forward plans -- Summary of the sector/topic.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Schools and the Victorian Catholic Teacher Librarians (VCTL) make available to school communities 'A Manual for Developing Policies and Procedures in Australian School Library Resource Centres'. It is the result of a joint working party and has been published to support the professional practice of staff in school libraries.

This manual sets out how to develop the policies and document the procedures that are essential for exemplary library management practices. The implementation of these policies and procedures aims to ensure equitable access to resources for all in the school community. A school library that is well managed is in the best possible position to offer the range of library programs and services that are essential to support the school’s student learning goals.

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

This conference paper discusses the similarities and commonalities between music recording studios and libraries. 

ALIA Report produced for the Australian Government consultation entitled Digital Economy Opening the Conversation, November 2017

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) recognises that in the rapidly changing digital environment, libraries are among the best-equipped and most experienced organisations to take advantage of innovation and adapt to new challenges. Utilising new technologies and enabling the community to access services quickly and easily is a fundamental library function. Libraries build and foster people’s information and digital literacies. They create a safe and encouraging environment, provide a trusted source of digital advice and in many cases are the only internet and digital access for many members of their communities. Their collections provide a comprehensive source of unique knowledge and information, available to re-invent, re-use and explore online. Libraries should be at the core of planning how best to negotiate the digital economy, and ensuring that every member of the community has access to services and can take advantage of the opportunities it presents. They have been essential in providing the training, access and information required to do this for decades, and will continue to do so far into the future.

This submission by the Australian Library and Information Assocation (ALIA) comments on the Draft 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap.

ALIA thanks the Expert Working Group (EWG) for listening to the case put forward by humanities, arts and cultural organisations, and for including Platforms for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) as one of its recommended nine focus areas. We are also pleased to see the National Library of Australia’s Trove identified, with others, as an existing national research infrastructure asset.

ALIA reiterates a request for the EWG to make explicit reference to the important role of Australian library and information professionals in making data more accessible and discoverable for science and humanities researchers. ALIA also urges the Government to include a representative from the library and information sector if a Research Infrastructure National Advisory group were to be formed in order to take full advantage of the knowledge and skills of the professionals we represent.

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

This conference paper discusses how library technicians and their IT colleagues can work collaboratively to the benefit of staff, the organisation and most importantly, library patrons. 

Information technology is vital to ensuring the smooth running of all library systems and services. However many libraries face challenges with IT staff to implement new projects and provide a responsive service to library patrons. Improved interpersonal relationships between library staff and information technology workers achieve positive outcomes for library patrons and the organisation as a whole. This issue is important for library technicians in particular, as they often have increased contact with IT staff through the nature of their roles. This paper will recommend measures that establish a good foundation for library technicians to successfully collaborate with IT. 

The Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA) is part of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and represents 94% of all public libraries across Australia.

This report was created in an interactive process in Victoria in 2017 where 12 library leaders participated in a conversation about how a united library field can tackle the challenges of the future.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

This conference paper discusses the management of public library user feedback.

Abstract: State Library of Queensland (SLQ) is committed to providing welcoming and engaging experiences for all visitors. To meet this commitment requires understanding from our visitors’ perspectives so in April 2014, State Library of Queensland implemented Tell us, a centralised visitor feedback database. This tool, managed by the Visitor Experience team, allows us to gather, analyse and respond to complaints, compliments, suggestions and comments from multiple channels. These channels include online forms, comment cards and verbal feedback. As a result, SLQ has greater visibility and awareness of our visitors’ needs and expectations. By analysing the feedback data, we have been able to identify changes and improvements to what we do and how we do it.

This paper will report on the successful collection and analysis of data via the Tell us database. This case study will also include data from our slightly whimsical Happiness touchscreen exit poll which was available in our Reception foyer from July 2015. In particular, this paper will explore the next stage of implementation – the reporting of collated feedback back to our visitors. In the interests of transparency and visitor engagement, the Visitor Experience team is aiming to close the feedback loop by presenting data about the feedback we receive and the changes we have undertaken in response back to our visitors. To do this, we are exploring how to communicate feedback responses via social media, traditional media channels and digital signage. This paper will report on our progress with making this feedback data accessible and comprehensible to visitors. It will also discuss the challenges associated with communicating responses to feedback. This paper is relevant to the theme of Data and information discovery as we outline how we are making data accessible and comprehensible and examine opportunities to create dialogue with our visitors.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

This conference paper examines how the Northern Territory Library (NTL) utilised social media to transform the reach and impact of its public programs, propel donations and redefine its relationship with the local community.

Cultural institutions support communities, and communities are increasingly explicit about what they like and don’t like, their interests and preferences. The question is, are we listening? Every community uses social media differently so it is critical to work out the patterns of engagement among key target audiences by asking why it is that certain content evokes such a significant response, what makes it unique and what we can offer. If the preservation and safeguarding of a community’s history is to remain a key role of cultural institutions, then time spent understanding the social ecosystems in which they operate can be invaluable. Social media has an underexplored potential to detect the significance of cultural materials to a community, and could be used to identify future donations and make collection development processes more porous. This offers rich opportunities to build meaningful, genuine, engaged relationships and reassert the relevance of our organisations and collections to our communities. Rather than telling a community how important our services are, it is far more valuable to show them, and on their terms, by making timely contributions to issues and ideas relevant to them.

The Lost Darwin case study demonstrates what happens when you carry that engagement philosophy into physical spaces as well, respecting the curatorial preferences of that community enough to share control. Rather than speculating what content will interest them, social media offers us an opportunity to closely examine their preferences and use these to inform our programming and collection development strategies. The distributed curation model is an opportunity for cultural institutions to bring fresh, organic content into their spaces, validating the choices and experiences of their audience in the formal institutional setting. It shows audiences that we value their unique perspectives and experiences, deepening engagement and our responsiveness to current cultural dialogues within the digital landscape. That said, social media is not without its own inherent bias, privileging those with the means of access. What further opportunities could online social networks offer cultural institutions in representing marginalised or unpopular perspectives?

Together with these questions, cultural institutions also need to consider where management of social media sits within their organisational structures. Social media may not be best placed deep within the marketing or communications team but rather centralised to work across traditional departmental lines, and used to inform organisational priorities and decision-making. It is not just another marketing or publishing platform and is certainly not something that simply requires ‘monitoring’ or ‘maintenance’. To see it that way is to miss the opportunity that social media offers cultural institutions. It’s a rich stream of ideas, a social thermometer, a collaborative curation tool for programming and a treasure trove for strategic collection development. Indeed, it can probably be even more than that - we just don’t know it yet.

This document outlines the Australian Library and Information Association's position on ebooks and elending. It includes ALIA's values, goals and objectives and guiding principles for ebooks and elending. ALIA's overaching principles and operational principles are also stated.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) recognises that library services can be enhanced by well supported volunteers, and providing volunteers with meaningful community roles is a legitimate function of a public library service.

Use of volunteers in library and information services for specific purposes is acceptable but must never compromise the quality of service provision, nor replace paid employment in any way.

ALIA New Librarians' Symposium 8 (NLS8), 23-25 June 2017 Canberra: DIY Library Career

The New Librarians’ Symposium (NLS) is a biennial 3-day event hosted by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). The first NLS was held in 2002 in Brisbane, and has since proved to be a popular professional development event with attendees at each event from across Australasia. The New Librarians’ Symposiums encourages participation in the industry by new graduates, and provide a welcoming environment for both new and established professionals to exchange ideas and make connections across the industry.

ALIA Information Online 2017 Conference, 13-17 February 2017 Sydney: Data Information Knowledge

This poster presentation discusses use of augmented reality through mobile applications to facilitate learning experiences in the library.

Australian school libraries power high performance government, Catholic and independent schools through providing modern learning environments, digital hubs, developing student research skills, promoting reading for pleasure, providing curriculum support and cybersafety education, celebrating diversity, enabling participation and access, coordinating special programs, and building communities.

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

This conference paper discusses initiatives to break down barriers among different age-groups in the community through collaborative programs.

Libraries have a unique strength within their communities, catering specifically to their local population as well as being of vital national importance. Through access to certain technologies, resources, and services, libraries contain an array of learning potentials. Coupling this with the patronage of a wide spectrum of demographics, a library has the capacity to improve a community's social cohesion. Of concern here are ways to improve the local digital literacy through partnerships between adults and youth. By utilising knowledge of the more technological savvy to teach those lacking such an understanding, libraries can assist others in engaging in an advancing, technologically dependent era.

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

This paper discusses the resource description skills library technicians need to acquire to remain relevant in the workplace.

Library cataloguers have a strong tradition of meeting user needs through the use of consistent and robust cataloguing tools unique to the library industry. More recently, there is an emphasis on breaking down the barriers between library bibliographic repositories (library catalogues) and the World Wide Web (WWW). Discussion has focussed on using Linked Data, with its applicable data structures and metadata languages. It is timely to consider how important it is for cataloguers to become familiar with standards and structures outside the traditional library bibliographic universe and thereby be considered metadata specialists in an online, digital world.

National Library and Information Technicians Symposium, 27-29 September 2017 North Sydney: bridge to knowledge

The symposium will provide an opportunity for library technicians from around Australia to meet together in the formal setting of a structured program, to hear prominent members of the profession, as well as their peers, speak and debate contemporary issues relating to the profession, professionalism and library work in general. In addition, there will be many opportunities for networking including the symposium dinner, opening and closing events and daily breaks as well as the opportunity for networking at the ad hoc gatherings that this event supports and encourages.

This ALIA statement outlines the recommended qualities and attributes required for senior leadership positions in the library and information sector.

Adopted 1991. Amended 2002, 2008, 2017.

Relevance 2020 was a joint initiative of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) to consider the need for further development of library and information science (LIS) research infrastructure in Australia to address gaps in LIS knowledge.

This report provides the results of six LIS research events in Australian capital cities in late 2016 that had the main purpose of connecting academics, researchers and practitioners in order to help align future research projects and activities in the Australian LIS profession.

This report summarises the content and outcomes of the consultations, providing an overview of the six events, a list of priority research areas, and recommendations for building a richer research culture in the Australian LIS field.

In 2015, the Executive of the Australian Government Libraries and Information Network (AGLIN) commissioned a study into Commonwealth Government library and research services. Following a literature review discussing the issues and challenges facing contemporary government information services (Hallam & Faraker, 2016), relevant organisational data about the individual services was collected through an online service, and library staff shared their views and insights in a series of focus groups. The research findings were presented in an Options Paper, which outlined four potential models for service delivery the government library and information services (Hallam, 2016).

One major limitation with the initial research project was noted: the timing of the study, late in the year, meant that it was not possible to involve senior members of the Australian Public Service in the study. The Stage 2 project, Consultation with Senior Executives and Policy Managers in Government Agencies, seeks to address these shortcomings. The value of the study lies in engaging the research subjects in discussions about the future of library and information services to support government staff working in research, policy and regulatory agencies.