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ALIA 2016 federal election agenda
It's less than a month to go before we head to the polls where its our chance to say who we want to represent us at the Federal level.
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is calling on all parties and their candidates to:
- tackle the nation’s literacy problem head on (nearly half of all adults in Australia struggle with everyday reading and writing);
- unlock millions of historic documents and images so they can be viewed on the web;
- make government-funded research data readily available as building blocks for academics, scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs, and
- ensure quality library and information services for students in schools, TAFEs and universities.
How can this be achieved? Through copyright law reform, open access, digital access to cultural collections, investment in the Trove discovery platform, upgrades for public library buildings, more help for citizens connecting with government online, qualified library staff in schools, first class library services for tertiary students and greater recognition of the role of information specialists in evidence-based government decision-making.
How you can help
Ask candidates these questions:
- Will you fund Trove?
- Will you reform the Copyright Act and introduce fair use?
- Do you support open access for government-funded research?
- Will you endorse the goal of a qualified library professional for every school?
- Will your Ministers insist on well-resourced library and information services run by qualified library professionals for their departments?
- Will you provide funding for public library buildings as community infrastructure?
Please let us know their response – advocacy@alia.org.au.
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GLAM Peak Australia federal election agenda June 2016
Download the 7-point plan to enable community digital access here.
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What have the parties said about our agenda?
The Australian Greens talk about restoring some funding to Trove in their arts policy but the Australian Labor Party does not.
Both parties mention copyright - the Greens will consult the community on the Productivity Commission's draft report and recommendations on Intellectual Property Arrangements.
The ALP says it will consider any proposals to adjust the current territorial copyright regime 'with caution'.
So far we have not seen an arts policy from the Liberal Party but it has clarified its position on copyright changes.
In a media release, Senator Mitch Fifield stepped in to reassure Australian writers that conjecture on copyright changes was unfounded.
The media release states:
'Recently, it has been wrongly claimed that the Government is planning to reduce the life of copyright to 15 to 25 years after creation, rather than 70 years after the death of the author as it is currently. This is not something the Government has considered, proposed or intends to do.'
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Privacy guides takes on big data challenges
Have your say.
The draft Guide to Big Data and the Australian Privacy Principles issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has been released for comment.
The OAIC said big data analytics has changed the way we identify trends and challenges, as well as identify opportunities. This means big data has the potential to bring about enormous social and economic benefits.
The draft guide has been developed to facilitate big data activities while protecting personal information.
Read more
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Adults not allowed!
Check out the library for 10 - 15 year olds that's breaking all the rules. This library in Oslo will soon have a drone to scan and locate books for easy access.
Read more
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Help save the Shenandoah ship officer's diary
Image from the diary of Lt Dabney Scales, ‘Confederate States Ship Shenandoah, cruising for Yankees’, dated 23 March 1865
State Library Victoria is appealing for donations to secure a rare diary that documents Victoria’s brief but unique connection with the American Civil War.
In January 1865, a surprise visit from the CSS Shenandoah, the only Confederate ship to circumnavigate the globe, touched the lives of Melbournians.
No Australian collection holds any original materials from the vessel.
Read more about the diary and how to donate.
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Join in the social media fun:
Facebook: facebook.com/joinFAIR
Twitter: @joinFAIR
Web: https://fair.alia.org.au
Text and logos are Creative Commons
Photos are copyright protected.
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