Tasmania
26Ten is a Tasmanian State Government-funded literacy and numeracy program targeting adults around the state and is operated with the help of Libraries Tasmania.
New South Wales
Registrations for the annual NSWPLA Conference, SWITCH 2018, close on Friday 2 November 2018. The theme for the Conference, Flick the SWITCH, will focus on collaboration, innovation and sustainability. Grab a Full Registration now, SWITCH 2018 will be held in Coffs Harbour on 27-29 November 2018.
The national Mobile Library Conference and Outreach Services Symposium will be presented under the banner REACH OUT 2018! The event will feature a mix of joint and concurrent sessions to cater for the diverse interests of the Australasian Mobile Library & Outreach Services Network (AMLOSN) membership, including a half-day meeting and workshop for Mobile Library delegates on Monday 26 November. Registrations close on Friday 2 November.
Renew Our Libraries is an advocacy initiative bringing together councils, libraries and communities in response to the funding crisis of NSW public libraries. This joint initiative between the NSW Public Libraries Association (NSWPLA) and Local Government NSW (LGNSW) was launched in Wednesday 1 August by NSWPLA President Cr Dallas Tout and LGNSW President Cr Linda Scott. The campaign advocates for a sustainable funding model for NSW libraries by calling on the State Government and Opposition to: double the funding; index the funding; and protect the funding. Join Renew Our Libraries and support NSW libraries to achieve a much better deal.
Queensland
Queensland public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres, in partnership with State Library Queensland, have developed a shared vision: Realising our potential: A vision for Queensland public libraries. The vision has four objectives that are designed to be achievable: realising our potential - fully realised 21st century libraries; deeply local outcomes - inclusive places to access the past, present and future; extending our reach - creating new pathways to connect and advocate; and future focused workforce - skilled staff whostrive to innovate. The document was created through a comprehensive consultation process across the state and provides direction and aspiration for public libraries. It articulates the partnership between state and local government and guides State Library service offerings in relation to investment and projects.
Western Australia
Public Libraries Western Australia, ALIAWest and the State Library of Western Australia, recently hosted the Kay Poustie Scholarship presentations on 10 October 2018. The Kay Poustie Scholarship enables library professionals to undertake study overseas to explore library services and best practice that can be applied to public libraries in WA. This year travel bursaries were awarded to four WA public librarians to attend the IFLA World Library and Information Congress (Kuala Lumpur, Aug 2018) or the Asia-Pacific Library and Information Conference (Gold Coast, July 2018). As part of their scholarship requirements, Caris Chamberlain (City of Nedlands), Shane Dowling (City of Swan), Chantay Mallett and Teena Miller (both City of Mandurah), provided a series of fascinating presentations on their experiences of the IFLA and APLIC conferences and speakers, library tours, and issues relevant to the library sector.
South Australia
Geoff Strempel has been appointed as Director, State Library South Australia, after acting in the role.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services held its public hearings in relation to the Inquiry into ACT Libraries. ALIA's Sue McKerracher, CEO, and Nicole Barnes, Director of Corporate Services, spoke to ALIA’s submission. The Minister for City Services, Chris Steel MLA, Deputy Director General, ACT City Services, Jim Corrigan, and Libraries ACT Director, Vanessa Little, appeared at the public hearing to speak about how libraries inform, educate, inspire and support our community. There were 76 submissions made online or in writing to the Inquiry, all supporting the role of libraries in the ACT. The Committee will make its recommendations to the ACT Government for their consideration.
Libraries ACT contributed to the 16 October 2018 launch of the ACT Carers Strategy 2018-2028: First Three Year Action Plan. The strategy, developed in partnership with carers, sets out a strategy to inform the enhancement of existing processes and development of new processes to support people providing care (usually unpaid). Libraries ACT is a key partner in enabling improved access to relevant and current information and services to meet the needs of carers.
Victoria
There has been considerable activity in Victoria with a number of changes in the way public libraries are organising. The Public Libraries Victoria Network has recently changed its name to Public Libraries Victoria to better reflect its purpose as the peak body for Victorian Public Libraries. Chris Buckingham has been elected as President and Katrina Knox has taken on the role as Executive Officer. The executive committee has committed to a number of projects over the next three months. These include a review and renew of Public Libraries Victoria’s strategic plan and the development of a business case for a Biennial Victorian Public Library Conference.
The roll out of Libraries Change Lives continues and several library services across Victoria have hosted launch events to engage community in the campaign to increase awareness and support for the role of public libraries.
Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has released the Statewide Library Management System tender to four vendors. It is anticipated that the process will come to a final conclusion by the end of the year.
Libraries Work! is a research report showing that every dollar invested in Victorian public libraries generates more than four times that value in benefits to the local community.
The Victoria State Government has announced that if re-elected, it will invest $16.3 million into a new library and learning hub in Warrnambool.
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