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This paper is submitted as feedback to the IHPA (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) public consultation paper prepared by Paxton Partners ‘Teaching, training and research costing study’ issued in December 2014.

The Executive of HLA is greatly concerned at the omission in the public consultation paper of the role performed by health libraries, and by information technology in general, in the paper prepared by Paxton Partners on the creation of an appropriate classification (costing study) for teaching, training and research (TTR).

Australian National Early Literacy Summit, 7-8 March 2016 Canberra

The aim of the National Early Literacy Summit is to spark debate about what a National Early Literacy Strategy for Australia might include and how it would help deliver the best results, building on existing work such as the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association’s "Declaration of Literacy in 21st Century Australia" and Victorian Libraries' "Reading and Literacy for All".

Government, educators, researchers, libraries and early years service providers will break new ground in collaborative engagement around this most vital national priority – future generations with the literacy skills to fight disadvantage, and advance Australia’s interests in the global knowledge economy.

ALIA National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference paper discusses 'Memory', a State Library Victoria (SLV) and Public Libraries Victoria Network initiative, which aims to build the capacity of Victorian public libraries to collect, manage and share local history collections in the digital environment. The goal is to grow the ability of public libraries to meet demand from local history groups, family history communities and the general public for online access to local history collections and content. As an important first step in meeting this aim, 'Memory' focussed on increasing awareness about digital preservation and equipping Victorian libraries with the skills needed to identify, select, store, protect, manage and provide digital content. 

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Australian School Library Association (ASLA) policy describing the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in school libraries and their impact on the delivery and use of information and communication services.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference paper discusses the Change Makers project which set out to create practical tools for leaders in public libraries to use in recruitment. These tools aim to assist public libraries to transform their workforce for the 21st century and not only recruit staff who are change ready and change resilient, but who are curious, passionate and engaged. As future library leaders, we are responsible for building dynamic, responsive libraries that are seen as relevant to our respective communities and stakeholders. Of course, that means dynamic and responsive people too.

This paper builds on collaborative research that was undertaken as part of the State Library of Queensland's inaugural Library Leadership 2015 program. We didn't know each other well; we didn't know what we were doing at first; but we knew that there was often a mismatch between the flexible, resilient, change oriented workforce our libraries need in the 21st century, and some of the ways we attract, recruit and induct new staff. That's where the Change Makers project was conceived. We looked closely at current public library recruitment practices, and what other contemporary organisations did differently or better.

This paper will inspire libraries to think differently about recruitment, and we provide evidence-based tools and templates to help you do something differently. If we have learnt one thing from the program, it was that nothing is too dull for reinvention - even recruitment.

Australian National Early Literacy Summit, 7-8 March 2016 Canberra

The aim of the National Early Literacy Summit is to spark debate about what a National Early Literacy Strategy for Australia might include and how it would help deliver the best results, building on existing work such as the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association’s "Declaration of Literacy in 21st Century Australia" and Victorian Libraries' "Reading and Literacy for All".

Government, educators, researchers, libraries and early years service providers will break new ground in collaborative engagement around this most vital national priority – future generations with the literacy skills to fight disadvantage, and advance Australia’s interests in the global knowledge economy.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) provides an overview of developing a disaster plan which covers both physical and digital library collection material.

This document provides a timeline that covers the milestones in the history of school libraries which became a separate section of the Library Association of Australia, now the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), in 1967. It also highlights significant events in the education and/or government sectors. Data from many of the reports commissioned by ALIA was used for lobbying federal government bodies which resulted in funding for school library buildings and resources. This funding, together with an emphasis on positive learning outcomes for students, has ensured that school libraries are influential within the education and library communities. For fifty years ALIA Schools has supported its members to make a positive difference to student learning outcomes. This support has also ensured that teacher librarians and school library staff are effective professionals.

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

Contents: High value, high visibility: wrapping up the year in Townsville -- Convenor's focus -- Workshop report from WA: advanced search techniques for systematic reviews -- MeSH update -- Call for papers: IFLA World Library and Information Congress -- Improvement fundamentals: free online health and care service improvement course -- Your health, your say: National Digital Health Strategy Consultation -- Open access repository: grey literature -- Call for abstracts: 9th International Clinical Librarian Conference, UK -- Professional development diary dates.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) assesses and compares the usability of public library web sites in Australia, Canada and the United States.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies the paper discussing the City of Joondalup Local History Library's approach to digitising, preserving and publishing a local history collection.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies a paper which discusses an approach to managing copyright risk in libraries.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference paper discusses the City of Joondalup Local History Library's approach to digitising, preserving and publishing a local history collection.

ALIA 2016 National Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage, Create, Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) accompanies the paper which engages with the issue, raised by Lonsdale in 2003, of a lack of data regarding national staffing trends in Australian school libraries. The authors review the literature available, including general census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, library sector-specific information, and data from the education sector (including school libraries). Particular focus is given to the Staff in Australian Schools survey, as well as its limitations.

The authors discuss three main findings from their research: 1) declining numbers of teachers in primary school libraries, 2) a growing inequity between numbers of staff in low-SES and high-SES school libraries, and 3) the prevalence of teachers with little or no tertiary qualifications in library studies working in school libraries. The authors also examine residual gaps in the data and provide the following recommendations: work to collect and share data across relevant sectors; partner with the library industry to commission and fund broader kinds of research; and connect research to national and local priorities such as those related to school students' performance.

Australian National Early Literacy Summit, 7-8 March 2016 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) from the summit provides an overview of the 'Read for Life' program facilitated by Victorian public libraries.

The aim of the National Early Literacy Summit is to spark debate about what a National Early Literacy Strategy for Australia might include and how it would help deliver the best results, building on existing work such as the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association’s "Declaration of Literacy in 21st Century Australia" and Victorian Libraries' "Reading and Literacy for All".

Government, educators, researchers, libraries and early years service providers will break new ground in collaborative engagement around this most vital national priority – future generations with the literacy skills to fight disadvantage, and advance Australia’s interests in the global knowledge economy.

Australian National Early Literacy Summit, 7-8 March 2016 Canberra

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) from the summit provides an overview of the 'First 5 forever' program in Queensland.

The aim of the National Early Literacy Summit is to spark debate about what a National Early Literacy Strategy for Australia might include and how it would help deliver the best results, building on existing work such as the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association’s "Declaration of Literacy in 21st Century Australia" and Victorian Libraries' "Reading and Literacy for All".

Government, educators, researchers, libraries and early years service providers will break new ground in collaborative engagement around this most vital national priority – future generations with the literacy skills to fight disadvantage, and advance Australia’s interests in the global knowledge economy.

Australian National Early Literacy Summit, 7-8 March 2016 Canberra

The aim of the National Early Literacy Summit is to spark debate about what a National Early Literacy Strategy for Australia might include and how it would help deliver the best results, building on existing work such as the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association’s "Declaration of Literacy in 21st Century Australia" and Victorian Libraries' "Reading and Literacy for All".

Government, educators, researchers, libraries and early years service providers will break new ground in collaborative engagement around this most vital national priority – future generations with the literacy skills to fight disadvantage, and advance Australia’s interests in the global knowledge economy.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead.

This conference paper discusses how ibrarians have always played a crucial role in cultivating world class research. Yet, increasingly, all modern research involves some form of computation. If skills such as programming and data analysis are not routinely taught as part of a library science curriculum, what pathways exist for librarians to acquire these skills so they can go on to play a greater role in supporting researchers and in making greater use of the data generated within their own institutions? Library Carpentry is one model for skills acquisition. How could it be put to use in rebooting librarianship for the 21st century – which is already tipped to be the century of big data?

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead.

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which describes the survival story of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Library. 

It describes the Research Information Service (RIS) client-stakeholder model and will briefly detail how it was established, amid the decommissioning and closure of the Departmental Library.  It will address the challenges of operating a service with reduced staff, loss of expertise and budget, and how these issues were overcome.  Cancelling resources, streamlining delivery (both electronic and physical), and reducing administrative workloads helped to generate initial cost savings and reduced the operational burden on a small team.

After three years of operation, the success of RIS is the ability to adapt the library service to match stakeholder requirements. We CAN do more with less, by focussing budget to essential online resources, seeking cost savings through new consortia deals, firmer negotiations with vendors, targeted marketing and branding initiatives, and upskilling in specialist roles to maximise the delivery of existing valued services.  There have been opportunities too, collaboration with government science libraries, co-location with clients, and engagement with stakeholders, who not only understand and appreciate our service, but were prepared to stand up to save it. This strategic-partnership generates flexibility to respond to changing client needs, and creates a desire for continuous improvement and innovation. Ongoing success now lies in our ability to annually demonstrate our value as a cost-effective, fit-for-purpose research and information service.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead.

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) explores how the Community Learning Team at the State Library of South Australia examined how cultural organisations can remain relevant to learners in the 21st century. The team is rising to this challenge, reimagining our role, welcoming new technologies and co-creating dynamic learning opportunities with students that foster creativity, research and collaboration.

This session tells the story of how we led a project with students from grades 6 to 10 over a period of two months to authentically co-create a learning program to accompany the exhibition, A Theatre inside the Book, Paper Engineering from the Collections of the State Library of South Australia. All learning experiences are closely designed in line with the Australian Curriculum (ACARA) and Teaching for Effective Learning Framework.  This program was focused on the learning areas of Humanities and Social Sciences: History, The Arts: Visual Arts, Design and Technologies and the General Capabilities of literacy, numeracy, critical and creative thinking.

Capturing student voice over time and in a variety of ways has been critical in challenging our thinking, ensuring learning experiences reflect student voice and offer opportunity deeper engagement with the collections and stories of the State Library. In this session we will share a short documentary that offers insights into what students value, think and feel about the process of co-creation.  It highlights how this process has fostered for students, a sense of ownership and personal connection with the State Library and shifted the focus of adults from being the sage on the stage to the guide on the side.

So, who is this place for anyway? It is a place for all.

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which discusses the strategies and approaches adopted over the past five years to engage and maintain relationships with the multiple critical stakeholders, and share the tangible outcomes achieved by developing the Research Data Management Services at UQ Library.

Research data form an integral part of a researchers’ scholarly outputs. Research data can be a valuable resource, which can often be repurposed and future research can build upon, but more importantly research data provide critical evidence for validating the results of research. In recognising the significance of research data, the government, funding bodies and the general public increasingly demand open data for sharing and re-use. Evidently, to be able to share and re-use, research data need to be well-managed and securely stored. With the skills and knowledge of information preservation and curation, and with their extremely flexible and responsive attitude, academic librarians can be instrumental in providing training and advice for managing, preserving, sharing and re-use of research data (Cox & Pinfield, 2014; Brown, Wolski & Richardson, 2015).

Because of their knowledge and skillset, academic librarians can potentially play a vital role in providing research data management services to researchers. However, for these services to be successful, it is imperative for the librarians to build and maintain relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels. The Research Data Management Team are supported by faculty librarians to provide infrastructure, advice, and training to UQ Research Higher Degree (RHD) students and researchers.

ALIA National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This paper details the 'scavenger hunt' designed by the Research Services Coordinator at Curtin University to engage library staff in developing research data management skills. The paper explores the background and methods of the scavenger hunt as well as presenting the lessons learned from an amibitious project that did not proceed quite according to plan. The experience it offers is valuable for librarians looking to undertake work in the emerging area of research data management.

This document provides an overview of Federal Government Budget 2016 topics which may affect Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) members and their organisations including: digital transformation, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, Public Sector transformation and the Efficiency Dividend, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, higher education, school funding, cyber security, and support for communities.

A media release announcing the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is celebrating its 80th anniversary next year as the member organisation of choice for the library and information sector.

ALIA National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) supports the paper which discusses 'Memory', a State Library Victoria (SLV) and Public Libraries Victoria Network initiative, which aims to build the capacity of Victorian public libraries to collect, manage and share local history collections in the digital environment. The goal is to grow the ability of public libraries to meet demand from local history groups, family history communities and the general public for online access to local history collections and content. As an important first step in meeting this aim, 'Memory' focussed on increasing awareness about digital preservation and equipping Victorian libraries with the skills needed to identify, select, store, protect, manage and provide digital content.

While government departments and agencies can drive their own delivery of egovernment, take up by the public is something which has to be encouraged and assisted. Public libraries are well positioned to assist with this transition, given the additional resources needed to do so (primarily staff time and skills). 

Crowd funding is an attractive opportunity – many people, each giving a little, resulting in a lot – but it’s a highly competitive arena and any request for funding has to have a clear, worthwhile objective and broadly based appeal.

These crowd funding principles have been drafted by the ALIA Board of Directors and were confirmed at the ALIA Board meeting on 5 December, 2016.

The principles are intended to offer guidance and will be applied to crowd funding initiatives undertaken by any ALIA entity as an alternative to traditional fundraising and sponsorship.

In January 2016 the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA) and National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) commissioned I & J Management Services Pty. Ltd. to update the guidelines for Australian Public Libraries – Beyond a Quality Service: Strengthening the Social Fabric, Standards and Guidelines for Australian Public Libraries, 2nd ed. 2012, produced by Libraries Alive! Pty Ltd.

The purpose of the project was to establish national standards and guidelines for public libraries that reflect the role and expectations of contemporary public libraries and recognise the different circumstances in the eight states and territories, allowing for appropriate local interpretation. The project also aimed to enable Library Managers to report on key performance indicators (KPIs) about the library service’s contribution to community outcomes, feeding into overall measures for local, state and territory governments. 

This document was superceded by "APLA-ALIA Standards and Guidelines for Australian Public Libraries, December 2020".

National 2016 Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016 Adelaide: Engage Create Lead

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers should be aware that this paper contains images and names of people who are now deceased.

This conference paper discusses the value, relevance and role of historical images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people along with the decriptive metadata that was recorded at the time of capture.

The historical image has never held a more significant place in our online engagement with the cultural record. In the digital environment, the research and publication value of images competes much more closely with the heavy material significance of the object and the traditional pre-eminence of the historical narrative. Colonial photographs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders possess a unique power to both demonstrate European colonial myth-making and corroborate Indigenous experiences that are otherwise unrecorded.

The majority of colonial photographic portraits and tableaus of Indigenous subjects were sent to Europe with family letters or for scholarly exchange. They were produced for scientific, documentary and commercial purposes – to document a ‘dying race’, as visual evidence for theories of evolution and as picturesque representations of the noble savage to feed the commercial taste for the exotic. They were prized for capturing reality, whilst simultaneously peddling myths of the other. Thus, much of the original descriptive metadata is absent or inaccurate, revealing the prejudices of these purposes.

For many Indigenous Australians today, they are also extraordinary family photos of mostly unknown ancestors. Their great value lies in this capacity to so immediately render our national history in terms of these dialectics of engagement.

Our digital delivery services offer great opportunities to restore these photographs within local domestic spheres and to be reconciled with oral family histories. There are, however, many particular discrepancies between the value in increasing access, and various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions surrounding the power and cultural relevance of visual imagery. This is exacerbated dramatically as our institutional pursuit for increased digitisation and online discoverability makes them easily viewable to a mass audience.

This paper examines the challenge of absent and fabricated metadata in these photographs as they are discovered, delivered and published online. It draws on research into the role these collections play in European anthropological museums, including the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University and the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, to consider their transactional provenance. It also explores cultural rights and the value of photographs to Indigenous communities and considers the seminal Ara Irititja and new Indigenous databases and ask how we can best connect with experts in Indigenous communities to fill gaps in the descriptive metadata of our national memory.

ALIA 2016 National Conference, 29 August-2 September 2016, Adelaide: Engage, Create, Lead

This conference presentation (PowerPoint slides) outlines the impact of qualified teacher librarians in relation to student reading, digital literacy, critical thinking and research.