The Australian Reading Hour
The Australian Reading Hour
The Australian Reading Hour, of which ALIA is a founder organiser, is coming up on 19 September 2019. The day challenges and encourages everyone across the nation to read for one hour. There are many ways that you can get involved, including signing up for the Australian Reading Challenge. For more information see the website. |
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The call for proposals for the ALIA National 2020 Conference, running 4–7 May 2020, has opened. We are looking for proposals that relate to the conference theme 'Courageous and Audacious'. The deadline for submissions is 5:00pm AEST 30 August 2019. For more information see the website.
It's ALIA membership renewal season. You can renew your personal or institutional membership on the ALIA website. For more information email membership@alia.org.au or see the website.
ALIA is bringing you a brand new title for National Simultaneous Storytime 2020, Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas, written and illustrated by Lucinda Gifford. You can pre-order the book from the Scholastic Australia website now. Registrations will open in November 2019.
The sixth Truth, Integrity, Knowledge (TIK) blog post is live. Anne Reddacliff, former ALIA Board Director, talks about Freedom of Expression. You can read the blog post online. For more information on TIK see the website.
ALIA is pleased to support International Games Week, running 3–9 November 2019. The week is a great opportunity for libraries to promote fun activities and raise awareness of the social and educational benefits of play. For more information see the website.
The program for the ALIA Library and Information Technicians' Symposium, running 13–15 November 2019, has been released. This year's theme is 'Discover, Diversify, Dive in'. For more information see the website.
ALIA has released the July/August 2019 issue of INCITE. The theme for this issue is 'What binds us together'. The open access article for this issue is 'Let's work together for sustainability', a Q&A with Christine MacKenzie, incoming IFLA President.
On 1 July 2019, ALIA launched a new PD Scheme Specialisation on Heritage Collections. This specialisation is for ALIA Members interested in special collections, rare books and the preservation of heritage materials. For more information see the ALIA website.
You can get involved in the next AusLibChat at 9:00pm AEST on 6 August 2019 the topic is 'Can libraries be all things to all people'. For more information see the website. If you missed the last AusLibChat on 2 July 2019, on 'leadership,' you can see the highlights on the website.
ALIA has made a submission to the consultation on the future of Standards Australia. For more information see the website.
ALIA has made a submission to the National Archives of Australia Tune Review. The submission can be seen on our website.
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The Australian Public Library Alliance would like to thank the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) for its generous support of the Summer Reading Club as a national initiative over the last eight years. For 2019–2020, the SLQ will be refocusing on a state-wide Summer Reading Club, for delivery in Queensland public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres, but public libraries nation wide will continue to have access to online resources and print files for usage in their local summer holiday programs.
The Conversation has published an article which discusses the importance of public libraries in planning for the future of Australia.
The shortlist for the 2019 World Architecture Forum has been announced. Several Australian libraries have been shortlisted for awards including Bunjil Place, Vic; Frank Bartlett Library and Community Centre, Vic; and Green Square Library and Plaza, NSW. The full list can be seen on the website.
Better Reading is seeking great libraries, bookshop and booksellers to highlight on its website. For more information contact jane@betterreading.com.au.
Adult Learners Week (ALW), running 1–8 September 2019, has launched its website. Additionally, register your ALW event before 31 July 2019, to go into the running to win one of 20 ALW event grants of $200. For more information see the website.
The Regional Australia Institute and the Scanlon Foundation have released the report, Steps to settlement success: a toolkit for regional and rural communities.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies has published the guide Implementation in action: a guide to implementing evidence-informed programs and practices.
Tes has published an article which argues that reading to young children can assist in their maths skills.
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New South Wales
The NSW Government will be delivering $36.5 million for public libraries throughout 2019–2020. For more information see the website.
The Urunga Library is set to receive funding for an upgrade worth $153,260 from the NSW Public Library Infrastructure Grant Program. The upgrade will include an improved children's area; new carpet; and furniture.
There are concerns over the proposed expansion of the Nambucca Heads Library as some members of the local community believe it would impose on the adjacent art gallery.
Following a local council meeting, there have been changes to the proposed expansion of the Oberon Library.
Discussions have started on the possible refurbishment of the public library in Wingham.
The Parkes Shire Library is set to receive a $2.2 million upgrade. The upgrade will include a gallery and makerspace, meeting rooms, and an additional room for children's programs.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Libraries is set to be upgraded after funding was secured from the NSW State Government.
Designs for a new joint-use library in Young have been revealed. It is set to be a two and a half level building which will be used by the public and Young High School.
Bega Library has reopened after renovations were required after the library experienced storm damage.
The Bexley Library has been proposed to be destroyed after it sustained significant damage after a storm in March 2019.
From 15 July, MidCoast Libraries is hosting a series of free tech-help sessions at its Hallidays Point and Taree library's.
Port Macquarie Library is seeking feedback from the local community on the future of its library services. For more information see the website.
Inverell Shire Public Library has facilitated a successful school based traineeship for a local Invernell high school student.
Wollongong City Libraries has scrapped future and pre-existing library fines.
Wollongong City Libraries and Council have received an award in the Workforce Planning and Development category in the National Awards for Local Government, for their ongoing Eyes on the Future program. For more information see the website.
The 2019 NSW Architecture Award winners have been announced. Several awards were won by Green Square Library and Plaza. The full list of winners can be seen on the website.
Early-bird registrations for the annual NSW Public Libraries Association conference, SWITCH, running 19–21 November 2019, are currently open and close on 30 August 2019. For more information see the website. The NSW Public Libraries Association is also facilitating the Australasian Mobile Library & Outreach Services Network symposium on 19 November 2019.
Australian Capital Territory
Libraries ACT is undergoing an upgrade services with a new computer system being implemented over two stages. The Integrated Library Management System will be comprised of RFID equipment from Bibliotheca and Civica’s Spydus Library Management System. Stage one is complete with the installation of replacement self-service kiosks, return chutes and security gates. There is also improved accessibility with wider entry/exit wherever possible, more language options, and a height adjustable kiosk in each branch.
Victoria
The Yarra Plenty Regional Library has scrapped library fines for overdue books. For more information see the website.
The Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack Shire councils have announced that as of July 2020 they will no longer be part of the Wimmera Regional Library Corporation.
The designs for the new Robinvale Community Hub Library will be revealed in August 2019. The new library is a joint project of Regional Development Victoria; the Victorian Education Department; Robinvale College; and Swan Hill Rural City Council.
ABC Radio National host Ali Moore interviewed Chris Buckingham, CEO of Casey Cardinia Libraries, about how they abolished library fines to remove barriers.
Registrations are open for the inaugural Bolinda Public Libraries Victoria Conference 2019, running 16–17 September 2019. For more information see the website.
Public Libraries Victoria and the State Library of Victoria held a planning summit to establish shared priority projects for the next three years. Library leaders from across Victoria heard from speakers including Peter Kok, Bibliotheek Midden-Brabant; Mirla Edmundson, GM Libraries and Information at Auckland Council; and R David Lankes, University of South Carolina and a global thought leader on libraries.
The Libraries Victoria Integrated Library Management System has been signed off. Public Libraries Victoria is leading the implementation process and working with libraries across Victoria to ensure a smooth transition for all involved.
Entries are open for the Boroondara Literary Awards run by the Boroondara Library Service. Anyone can enter and submissions close at 5:00pm AEST 30 August 2019. For more information see the website.
Western Australia
Public Libraries WA, is hosting a two day masterclass, Future Communities, running 29–30 August 2019. For more information see the website.
Mosman Park is set to create a working group to discuss the local Grove Library Precinct's budget.
The Alkimos Pop Up Library is moving locations to enable new workshops, programs and meeting spaces.
The Australind Library, Shire of Harvey, has purchased ten iPads, with funds sourced from a BeConnected grant, which are being used to provide technology training for local seniors.
A survey by the Northcliffe Public Library has returned 56 responses in favour of the new location and nine responses against. The library was re-located into the Northcliffe Visitors Centre on 21 June 2018.
Tasmania
During August 2019, Libraries Tasmania is celebrating National Family History Month, an initiative of the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations. Libraries Tasmania is celebrating an important milestone of one million names on the Tasmanian Names Index, its genealogical search engine. These names have been transcribed by online volunteers, through the DigiVol platform. For more information see the website.
The Examiner has published this article which discusses how much historic user debt was forgiven when Libraries Tasmania scrapped library fines.
Queensland
The ALIA Darling Downs Group is restarting after a hiatus, and is inviting interested library and information professionals from regional QLD to come along to a meet and greet at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, at 3:30pm AEST on 1 August 2019. For more information see the website.
The Queensland Public Libraries Association is hosting its biennial conference Metamorphosis, running 11–13 September 2019. The draft program is now live and registrations are open. For more information see the website.
The Mount Isa City Library has borrowed a virtual reality headset from the State Library of Queensland and is running sessions where library users can experience virtual reality.
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IFLA is running a survey to determine how libraries around the world recognise and meet the needs of LGBTQI people. For more information see the website.
IFLA has released its Annual Report for 2018. For more information see the website.
Hutt City Libraries, NZ, has scrapped library fines on children's and teen collection items and has forgiven historic library fines.
Stuff has published an article which argues that public libraries play a central role in the lives of people in New Zealand.
The Central City Library, (Tūranga), NZ, has won the Property Council of New Zealand's, Supreme Award for its contribution to the post-earthquake city. For more information see the website.
The American Library Association has passed a resolution to remove Melvil Dewey from the name of its Melvil Dewey Medal, citing his history of antisemitism, racism and sexual harassment. You can also read The Guardian article on the topic.
In the US, Simon & Schuster has announced that it will change its digital book licensing terms for libraries across the nation. From 1 August 2019, its ebooks will be available for two-year terms on a one copy/one user model. Additionally, Macmillan has announced that it will sell only one digital copy per library in first eight weeks of release.
The Atlantic has published an article on the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, a branch of the New York Public Library system, and the positive impact it has on the local community.
25 public libraries in Essex, UK, have been saved from closure after a sustained public advocacy campaign. Additionally, £3 million pounds in funding, (more than $5 million AUD), has been confirmed by the UK Government for these libraries.
There has been a pushback against unstaffed 'open libraries' in the UK, where library users can access limited library services including borrowing with no library professionals present.
Cressida Cowell, author and illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon series, has been named the new Waterstones Children’s Laureate. Cressida Cowell, has also come out in support of libraries saying that 'it really is impossible for a child to become a reader for the joy of it if their parents or carers can’t afford books, they don’t go to a public library, and their primary school hasn’t got a library'.
A recent study by Waterstones, has shown that UK library users borrow less books per capita than the US or Australia. For more information see the report.
Public libraries across the Republic of Ireland, will be allocated €650,000 (more than $1 million AUD) from the Dormant Accounts Fund to upgrade their libraries. For more information see the website.
You can listen to Marie Østergaard and R David Lankes on the podcast Library Lounge talk about 'Building global networks for libraries'.
The Zhongshuge Library, China, has an unusual wood and glass design, as it was designed to look like a cave.
The new Hefei River Central Smart Garden Library, China, has a unique curved concrete design.
Several libraries have been longlisted for the Dezeen interior design awards. The libraries are the LocHal Library, Tilburg, Netherlands; and The Old Library at the National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden, for the Civic and cultural interior category; and The Children’s Library at Concourse House, New York, US, for the Small interior category. The full list can be seen on the website.
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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
ALIA National Library and Information Technicians' Symposium
Melbourne 13–15 November 2019
ALIA National Conference 2020
Sydney 4–7 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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