Library Lovers' Day
Library Lovers' Day 2020 is coming up soon on 14 February 2020. The theme for this year is Uncover something new. Need inspiration? Check out the ALIA website for free downloadable resources and suggested activities.
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Voting for the 2020 ALIA Board Elections is now open, you can learn more about the candidates on the elections page. All financial Personal Members and Institutional Member representatives as of 6 December 2019 are entitled to vote in the election. Voting closes 5:00pm AEDT on 28 February 2020.
The ALIA Board has created some take home messages after its 9 December 2019 meeting.
ALIA has created a page on its website, How you can help: bushfire recovery, which includes information for how ALIA Members can assist those affected by the bushfires. You can also read ALIA’s statement in response to the ongoing bushfire crisis.
ALIA has updated its Current Consultations page, which highlights the issues on which ALIA would like feedback from Members. ALIA is currently seeking feedback through two surveys, the Future of LIS Education survey and the ALIA Salary and Workplace Survey 2019, as well as for several submissions to government reviews.
ALIA has released the January/February 2020 issue of INCITE. The free to access article for this issue, 'The Discussion We Need to Have: Social Justice & Freedom of Speech' by Jane Cowell and Roxanne Missingham, can be read on the ALIA website.
The Australian Interlibrary Resource Sharing (ILRS) Code has been updated. The code (together with the Best Practice Guidelines) has been designed to support a multi-faceted approach to resource sharing.
Registrations for National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 2020 are open. NSS will take place on 27 May 2020. The book for 2020 is Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas by Lucinda Gifford (Scholastic Australia). You can now purchase merchandise for NSS 2020, we have bookmarks, badges, balloons and much more. For more information see the website.
The theme for Library and Information Week, running 25–31 May 2020, is Create. The theme represents all the ways that libraries and library and information professionals create through their work. You can use social media to tell us how you create using #LIW2020 and #LibrariesCreate. You can also purchase purchase merchandise for the campaign, including new enamel pins. For more information see the website.
ALIA's New Generation Advisory Committee is seeking suggestions for AusLibChat 2020 topics. Suggestions can be made on the website.
ALIA received 80 responses about the draft stretch targets for the Australian library and information sector as part of our response to the UN2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thank you to everyone who gave feedback. Your comments have been passed to the ALIA International Relations Advisory Committee and will help shape the next iteration of the stretch targets.
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There are a lot of ways to keep your kids cool and entertained in the heat including taking them to your local library.
Fashion and trend predictor Lidewij Edelkoort has forecast that the role of libraries will shift in the coming decade, becoming 'the epicentres of small towns and villages'.
According to a report from Rakuten OverDrive in 2019 library patrons around the world borrowed a total of 326 million ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines. An increase from the previous year of 20 percent.
AlJazeera has published a video which highlights how Australian libraries have inspired their international counterparts to cease charging late fees.
Libraries continue to be social hubs and invaluable sources of information in the digital age. This article from The Straits Times praises libraries including the new Marrickville Library and Pavilion, NSW.
Safer Internet Day, 11 February 2020, supports and promotes safer and more efficient online access. The theme for the day is 'together for a better internet'. Free resources have been made available for the day. For more information see the website. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is running the event.
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New South Wales
The Gunnedah Shire Council is set to lobby both the Labor and Liberal parties for state funding of public libraries. Additionally, the Council has resolved to become more involved with the NSW Public Libraries Association.
Victoria
ABC News has published two articles about Foster Library which has recently moved to 24 hour access for pre-approved community members.
The Greater Dandenong region will soon see a new library, the Springvale Library and Community Hub. Consequently, the local council is seeking a large number of new library staff, across a range of roles. These jobs can be seen on the ALIA job vacancies website.
The architect for the new library for Warrnambool has been selected. Kosloff Architecture will design the next stage of the $20 million library and learning hub.
Diamond Valley Library is set to receive an upgrade worth $850,000. The upgrade to the library will include an expanded children's area, improvements to library access and new flexible co-working spaces.
Tatura Library is set to be temporarily closed as the library receives an upgrade worth $2 million. Locals will still be able to access library resources through a temporary replacement library.
Tasmania
Libraries Tasmania has received a donation of a collection of drawings made by Charles Alexandre Lesueur during a French expedition, led by Nicolas Baudin, to Bruny Island, the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Maria Island in 1802. The donation was made to the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts from the Silentworld Foundation under the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. The acquisition will make the collection at the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts one of the largest collections of Baudin expedition material outside the Museum of Natural History in Le Havre, France.
The library is also hosting a talk from University of Tasmania fine arts researcher, Anita Gowers on 25 February, A Framing Narrative: Nineteenth century frames and frame-making in colonial Australia. For more information about library events see the website.
South Australia
Several research projects to help identify the value of libraries were launched in November 2019. The projects were commissioned by the Local Government Association of South Australia and Public Libraries South Australia. Watch this space for updates.
The latest iteration of Tech Savvy Seniors commenced on July 2019, with 16 regional libraries delivering a minimum of 3,000 training sessions. In 2019, more than 1,000 seniors attended Tech Savvy Seniors workshops in country SA libraries.
In partnership with the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature, Public Library Services facilitated the Sharing Stories IBBY Project, a travelling exhibition showcasing and celebrating outstanding children’s literature from all over the world.
Flyers in languages other than English were provided to the SA Public Library Network in December 2019 to promote community language collections and services.
The SA Public Library Network achieved a record breaking 1,106,166 digital book checkouts in 2019.
Australian Capital Territory
Libraries ACT is offering a special library membership for members of the public who have been evacuated to Canberra due to the bushfires and want to join the library. Interested parties can their closest Libraries ACT branch and ask staff for more information.
Libraries ACT is running Family Spaces at its Civic branch during the National Multicultural Festival on 21-22 February 2020. Family Spaces is an opportunity for members of the public to take part in a range of cultural activities such as the upcoming special talk by chef Adam Liaw about his heritage and how he became a chef. Family Spaces is a partnership between Libraries ACT; Community Services Directorate; CMAG; ACT Playgroups; ACT Community Language Schools Association; and ACT Bilingual Education Alliance.
Libraries ACT has been featured in an article in The Canberra Times about the most popular books requested from the service throughout 2019.
Northern Territory
Alice Springs Public Library has been praised as a safe haven in hot weather for locals in an article published in The Guardian. Additionally, the library hosted the launch of Indigemoji in December 2019. Over the 2018–2019 summer school holidays, young people in Alice Springs worked to create a new set of emojis relevant to their culture and lives. This was a collaboration between Ingeous Studios; IndigiMOB; Alice Springs Public Library; Central Australian Youth Link-Up Service; the Johnston Foundation; and sponsored by the Northern Territory Government.
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There are several ways to get involved with IFLA in 2020. IFLA is seeking applications for its Green Library Award 2020 which closes on 31 January 2020. Additionally, IFLA has highlighted two reports on Human Development Report 2019: What Libraries Should Know and its updated 2019 Trend Report.
The design for the new public library at Motueka, New Zealand, has been approved. The library will be built to be as accessible as possible with gentle ramps, wide corridors and colour to differentiate spaces.
The Guardian has reported on a new proposed bill in Missouri, US, which would bar libraries from stocking certain books with legal consequences for library staff who refuse to comply. The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom has released a statement protesting this bill. ALIA has extended its support for our US counterpart.
Library and Archives Canada is set to grant $2.3 million CAD (more than $2.5 million AUD) to support 31 projects by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation organisations in 2020.
Public library services across the US have chosen to cease charging late fees including services in Illinois; the Lawrence Public Library, Kansas; two library services in Iowa; Kalamazoo Public Library, Michigan; Anchorage Public Libraries, Alaska; two libraries in St Louis, Missouri; Kaukauna Public Library, Wisconsin; and Ramsey County Library, Minnesota. The Bookseller has also published an article on this growing trend, since Denver Public Library, US, ceased charging late fees for collection items in 2019 library staff have reported an improvement in the overall atmosphere at the library.
Forbes has published two articles relevant to library staff one on library services across the US ceasing to charge late fees, and another one about the current state of public domain in the nation.
The New York Public Library has revealed its 10 most borrowed books in its 125 year history.
Public libraries in the US are focal points for information in the lead-up to the 2020 US Census.
Authors including Neil Gaiman, American Gods, and Clare Fuller, Swimming Lessons, have protested against the proposed closure of 14 public libraries in Hampshire, UK.
CILIP called on the Boris Johnson Government to invest £250m into the nation's library service in late December 2019. Following this call the Chief of the Arts Council has announced that it will soon be publishing its 10-year strategy for the arts which is set to include increased funding for public libraries.
The Darlington Library, UK, was set to be shut down in 2019 after the local Council won a High Court challenge against its closure. However, the Council seems to have reversed its decision and the library is rumoured to receive an upgrade worth £2.9 million (more than $5 million AUD).
Yusuhara Town Library, Japan, is known as the 'library above the clouds'. The open plan library was designed by Kengo Kuma, who also designed the Darling Square Library in Sydney.
There are beautiful libraries all around the world and Popular Mechanics has highlighted some of the most stunning in a recent article. These libraries include the Seattle Public Library, US; the Admont Abbey Library, Austria; and the National Library of China.
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Campaigns, events and programming ideas
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The ALIA Campaigns and Events page provides ideas for all year round advocacy. These campaigns and events give you the opportunity to run fun, informative activities in the library, online and through social media every month of the year.
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ALIA Members are able to freely access a collection of LIS ebooks from EBL and can investigate the Public Library Specialisation of the ALIA PD Scheme that recognises the specific skills needed for the public library sector. Members can also sign up for the monthly PD Postings enewsletter.
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Conferences, exhibitions and events dates
Library Lovers' Day 2020
14 February 2020
ALIA National Conference 2020
Sydney 4–8 May 2020
Library and Information Week 2020
25–31 May 2020
National Simultaneous Storytime 2020
27 May 2020
APLAnews is an initiative of the Australian Public Libraries Alliance. Can't get enough ALIA and industry news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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We want to know what you would like to see in this newsletter, and how you would like to see it. Send your comments to publishing@alia.org.au.
Previous editions of APLAnews are also available. Contributions to APLAnews should be sent to publishing@alia.org.au by the 15th day of each month.
Australian Library and Information Association
PO Box 6335 Kingston ACT 2604 AUSTRALIA
ph 02 6215 8222 fx 02 6282 2249
www.alia.org.au
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The Australian Library and Information Association acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to lands, waters, cultures and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and to Elders past, present and emerging. |
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