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In 2014, ALIA, in conjunction with the Australian Law Library Association, Health Libraries Inc (HLInc) and Health Libraries Australia (ALIA HLA, a national group of the Australian Library and Information Association), released a study which suggests law firms, government departments, associations and other organisations involved with special libraries gain over $5 in return for every $1 they invest in special libraries.

Health libraries across Australia, and indeed the world, are under pressure from funding cuts, and it is against this backdrop that Health Libraries Inc and the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) have collaborated to carry out this investigation into the value of health library and information services in Australia.

Government library and information professionals connect politicians and government employees to the essential information they need to make decisions based on facts, not fiction.

This document was developed in the context of standards published by other Australian professional associations for educators. Its major aim was to achieve national consensus on what constituted excellent teacher librarian practice, to inform the profession and enhance student learning outcomes.

In an increasingly information and knowledge-based age, one of the many elements of a world class education for all Australian students is access to high quality modern library services through the provision of professionally staffed 21st century school libraries.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) are pleased to endorse and promote this statement of standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. This statement describes the professional knowledge, skills and commitment demonstrated by teacher librarians working at a level of excellence. It represents the goals to which all Australian teacher librarians should aspire, and provides inspiration for quality teaching and ongoing professional practice.

This document, prepared in a joint partnership by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Schools and the Victorian Catholic Teacher Librarians (VCTL), aims to support schools in their self reflection. The information gathered would contribute to a self reflection report. In addition, the document provides a valuable strategy to use in the ongoing monitoring of the school’s improvement plans.

This document is an evidence-based guide for the development of public library services in Australia. It uses the National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) annual collation of state and territory statistics as its evidence base, and builds on the earlier work on standards and guidelines carried out by the State Libraries of New South Wales and Queensland.

On behalf of a consortium of state and territory libraries, the Australia Library and Information Association (ALIA) commissioned SGS Economics and Planning Pty Ltd (SGS) to generate estimates of the contributions that public libraries make to Australian community welfare and Australian economic activity.

Developed by the Australian Library & Information Association, in partnership with Public Libraries Australia, Friends of Libraries Australia, State and Territory Libraries, ACT Library and Information Services and the state public library associations

This executive summary explains the national vision and framework for Australian public libraries.