|
ALIA Weekly Volume 8 Issue 43–28 October 2020
|
|
 IN THIS ISSUE
|
 JOIN NOW
Connect with the best, advance your career, and make a difference by getting involved. Become an ALIA Member today.
|
|
 HEADLINES
|
|
 Australia Reads | 1-12 November 2020
The Ambassador books are part of the fun of the Australia Reads campaign. ALIA is running a competition for five libraries to win packs of the four books. To enter, email ALIA and tell us how your library is celebrating the campaign at media@alia.org.au in 50 words or less by 2 November 2020. You can also attend the free online Australia Reads events.
|
|
|
ALIA | 31 October 2020
Provide your feedback to ALIA's discussion paper on the future of library and information science education in Australia. The paper asks four questions:
- What should be the future structure of the Australian library and information profession with consideration to teacher librarians, librarians, library technicians and allied professionals?
- What should be included in future iterations of the LIS core knowledge, skills Q2 and attributes?
- What shape could a future qualifications framework take, to encompass a variety of formal and informal professional learning?
- How can the sector support our LIS educators and what measures should we put in place to ensure the future sustainability of the LIS profession?
The deadline is 31 October and feedback can be sent to education@alia.org.au.
|
|
ALIA and ABC Education | 28 October 2020
We've increased the number of registrants who can attend our free virtual event Media Literacy 101 for Libraries this evening. The event is presented by Annabel Astbury, Head of Education, ABC.
|
|
|
Kirsten Thorpe | 31 October 2020
Kirsten Thorpe (Jumbunna Research at the University of Technology Sydney) is seeking responses to the first National Survey on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in Australian Libraries. The purpose of this research/online survey is to conduct a national survey of Indigenous Australian employment in Australian libraries to identify the numbers of people employed, as well as to understand the current types of employment across a range of library contexts and services. For more information contact Kirsten. The deadline for responses is 31 October 2020.
|
|
RMIT University, Centre for Social Impact, and Telstra | October 2020
Representatives from ALIA attended the presentation of the Australian digital inclusion index 2020. Some of the major findings from the report were that there are subsections of society who continue to have a lack of access to digital resources and have reduced digital skills; and that digital inclusion is increasing in Australia, but the rate of increase is slowing. ALIA will continue to advocate for funding to continue digital inclusion activities in libraries.
|
|
ALIA | 6 November 2020
Don't forget to enter your new or refurbished library in the ALIA Library Design Awards. There are four categories for the awards: school, public, university, and special. The deadline for entries is 6 November 2020. Previous winners include Monash University, Caulfield Library (pictured right). Direct any questions to LDA@alia.org.au.
|
|
|
ALIA | 8 February 2021
Applications are open for the ALIA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Scholarship. ALIA and Charles Sturt University offer a scholarship to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander students planning a career in library and information science commencing full time or part time study at CSU leading to ALIA Associate membership. Applications close 8 February 2021.
|
|
ALIA | 14 February 2021
For Library Lovers’ Day 2021, ALIA is encouraging people to ‘make a date’ with their library to rediscover all the great things on offer. Whether that be virtual or in-person - with safe physical distancing measures where needed. Check out the webpage, and the free resources.
|
|
|
|
There are a number of ways you can have your message heard via ALIA channels with advertising opportunities on ALIA Weekly, INCITE and the ALIA website. Check out the 2021 Media Kit and/or email Christina Granata at events@alia.org.au.
|
|
|
ALIA Queensland | October 2020
The recording of the latest ALIA QLD Webinar Survivor webinar is now live. It features guest speakers from the University of Southern Queensland; the Queensland University of Technology; and Griffith University.
|
|
SCIS and ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics | October 2020
Iurgi Urrutia AALIA, ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics Convenor, spoke to SCIS about the importance of literacy and graphic novels. Read the article on the SCIS website.
|
|
ALIA Sustainable Libraries Group | October 2020
Read the latest blog post from ALIA's Sustainable Libraries Group. This one is on four ways to avoid (or get over) failure.
|
|
State and National library news
The Fabrication Lab at the State Library of QLD reopens today, and the library was mentioned in a Guardian article about people with disabilities accessing online events and resources. A digital time capsule initiative in Victoria will include works from the State Library Victoria. The State Library of WA is running its Disrupted Festival of Ideas on 7 November. Listen to the State Library of NSW's podcast, The Gatherings Order, on the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, and until 13 November library patrons can access Access World News 2021.
|
|
Public library news
In Victoria, Ararat Rural City Library; Mildura Rural City Council Libraries; and Swan Hill Regional Library are all in the process of reopening to the public; and Jane Cowell AALIA (CP), CEO Yarra Plenty Regional Library, has written the article Loneliness in the digital age & public libraries. Also in Victoria, more libraries can reopen following scaled back COVID-19 restrictions. In NSW, Bathurst Library celebrated CBCA Book Week via virtual storytimes; Cessnock City Council will no longer charge late fees for overdue books; Green Square Library and Plaza has won the Award for Best Public Building in the 2020 Innovation & Excellence Awards; Griffith City Library also celebrated CBCA Book Week; and Quirindi Library has temporarily been relocated during its redevelopment. In Queensland, tenders are open for the design and construction of a Toowoomba Regional Council Library. In Tasmania, a library staff member dressed as the Hulk for CBCA Book Week saved the life of a man suffering from a heart attack; and applications are open for the latest round of the State Library and Archives Trust Grants; the deadline for entries is 25 November 2020. In related news, a representative from Endangered Heritage in Canberra was interviewed about how to clean and repair treasures safely on ABC Radio Canberra.
|
|
School library and children's literature news
How can you design a school library to make it more resilient to pandemics? Here are five books to read to children which adults will also enjoy. Register your interest for a Students Need School Libraries Zoom meeting to discuss the ongoing campaign. Lastly, you can watch the latest episode of carton Bluey which features library themed play; and Play School presenter Justine Clarke sing Off to the Library.
|
|
StoryBox Library | 6 November 2020
Story Box Library's Librarian Storyteller of the Year competition deadline has been extended to 6 November. For more details about the award, and terms and conditions of entry, please visit SBL’s blog.
|
|
|
Library qualification updates
The new qualifications for the Diploma of Library and Information Services; the Certificate IV in Library and Information Services; and the Certificate III in Library and Information Services; are all live. RTOs have an 18 month transition to the new qualifications from October 2020.
|
|
University library news
The Council of Australian University Librarians has hosted a series of workshops including one on Building a sustainable new reality which featured ALIA CEO Sue McKerracher and Sue Roberts, Director, Libraries and Learning Services at the University of Auckland. Heavy rain has affected the University of Queensland student library; and the University of South Queensland has released its book Gems and nuggets: Multicultural education for young children under creative commons. Read the University of Sydney Library's guidelines for using the correct gendered terms for historical figures. Last but not least, staff working at universities and other research institutions in Australia and New Zealand are encouraged to complete the survey on scholarly communication knowledge and skills in Australasian institutions. The deadline for responses is 6 November 2020.
|
|
Online safety, social media news and fake news
A recent discussion paper published by the Centre for Responsible Technology has asked whether Australia can live without platforms like Google and Facebook. There are calls for a new social media platform to be created and managed by the ABC; and a Conversation article argues that we need to make moral choices when we interact with social media platforms. A recent survey has revealed that a significant proportion of those surveyed hold incorrect beliefs about the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
Australian Bureau of Statistics | October 2020
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is seeking feedback on its resources in the lead-up to the 2021 Census. The materials can be accessed on the ABS website.
|
|
Arts and media news
AIATSIS has launched its new Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research; libraries can access the National Museum of Australia's new online education resources; the Bureau of Communications Arts and Regional Research has released its report The economic value of cultural and creative activity; and the Australian Council for the Arts has released its 2019-2020 Annual Report. Additionally, as there is now a higher education target in the Government's Closing the Gap plan, a Conversation article asks how we can achieve the goal. In book awards news, the shortlist for the 2020 Ampersand Prize; the Danger Prize 2020; Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award; the finalists for the Cundill History Prize 2020; and the winner of the 2020 Not the Booker Prize were all announced. In related news, should graphic novels have more recognition in book awards?
|
|
|
|
|
 INTERNATIONAL
|
|
IFLA update
Catch up on the ILFA webinar, Storytelling for library advocacy at the time of COVID-19. The latest 10-Minute International Librarian has been released, this one is on Think of something that hasn’t worked, and learn from it.
|
|
International news
In the UK, a Guardian opinion article posits that lockdown was the plot twist that libraries needed; eBook borrowings have surged during the pandemic, and Penguin Random House has teamed up with the Runnymede Trust to boost diversity in reading lists in schools. Additionally, public libraries in Northern Ireland have seen 240,000 new members during the pandemic. In the US, public libraries have played an integral role in supporting their communities as can be seen by this report: Centuries of Resilience: Public Libraries Still Crucial During COVID-19; a rare first collection of Shakespeare's plays has sold for $10 million; read about the rare book thief who stole more than $100,000 worth of books from college libraries in the 1980s; and New York City’s newest library has been praised for its sustainable design. In Canada, Calgary Central Library now has a wellness desk which will provide free, drop-in mental health care.
|
|
 PEOPLE
|
|
ALIA donates water bottles to the NSW Rural Fire Service
 Drink bottles which were initally destined for the >p>ALIA National 2020 conference, before it was cancelled, were donated to the Lake George District Office of the NSW Rural Fire Service, for distribution to the eighteen district brigades. Firefighters from this district were called to defend property and lives during the Black Range Mountain fire east of Canberra and the massive South Coast fires last summer; with many individuals fighting fires for 10 weeks without rest. ALIA hopes that this fire season will not be as challenging, and the spray-drink bottles will be useful on hot days out in the field.
Pictured left to right: Adrian 'AJ Lee, NSW RFS and Kirrin Sampson, ALIA Strategic Programs and Engagement Manager.
|
|
|
Do you have a photograph from ALIA Group online events or gatherings? We would like to feature it in ALIA Weekly. Email a high resolution image, a description of the event and the names of people in the photograph to media@alia.org.au.
|
|
 WHAT'S ON
|
|
|
What's On lists ALIA events, ALIA group events and free library and information sector activities for the benefit of ALIA Members.
|
|
ABC Education | 26-30 October 2020
You can host a Media Literacy Week event, running 26-30 October, in your library. The theme is 'fake news'. For more information see the website. This week is organised by ABC Education. You can also access the National Association for Media Literacy Education's Media Monsters resource.
|
|
State Library Victoria | Various dates
The State Library Victoria is hosting a series of free online lectures discussing the future of different topics. The next lecture is on 29 October and discusses the future of citizenship and is hosted by journalist and filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe.
|
|
ALIA NGAC | 3 November 2020
The questions for the #AusLibChat for 3 November are now live. Join ALIA NGAC on Twitter for the discussion, 'Would you rather: Self promote or swim with sharks?'
|
|
|
Digital Health Institute Summit | Various dates
The Digital Health Institute Summit is running both virtually and as in person events and features a range of interesting speakers. For more information see the website.
|
|
International Games Week 2020 | 8-14 November 2020
International Games Week 2020 is coming up soon! This year the week runs from 8-14 November, and ALIA is encouraging its Members to register for the week. This week is a great opportunity for libraries to introduce fun activities and raise awareness of the social and educational benefits of play. Libraries can celebrate the week by hosting either in-person (where it is safe to do so) or virtual events.
|
|
|
ALIA | 5 November 2020
ALIA is hosting its first INCITE in conversation on 5 November 2020. This inaugural talk is on challenging the diversity in children’s collections in the Northern Territory and features Maeva Masterson, Assistant Director, Library Sector Services, Library & Archives NT; Aimee Hay, Library Sector Services Coordinator, Library & Archives NT and Andrew Finegan, Editor, INCITE magazine.
|
|
|
Society of Australian Genealogists | 12 November and 12 December
The Society of Australian Genealogists is offering courses for those interested in learning how to track their family lineage. These courses are appropriate for ALIA Members.
|
|
NAIDOC Week 2020 | 8-15 November 2020
NAIDOC Week is running from 8-15 November 2020, the theme is 'Always was, always will be'. You can learn more on the website.
|
|
ALIA Schools | 17 November 2020
Join part two of the ALIA Schools webinar series on copyright for schools. This webinar takes place on 17 November 2020.
|
|
eSafety Commissioner | 9 February 2021
Next year's Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on 9 February. Libraries can register their interest to celebrate the day. This day is run by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
|
|
Oral History Australia | 1 March 2021
Oral History Australia (OHA) is planning to hold its conference in Launceston in October 2021. A call for presentations is currently open until 1 March 2021.
|
|
 ALIA TRAINING
|
|
ALIA | 3 November 2020
As library workers our administrative, creative and everyday work practices, and our engagement with clients and other stakeholders, is increasingly driven by, and dependent on, rapidly changing or evolving technologies. Registrations close 3 November 2020. For more information see the website.
|
|
|
ALIA and Speech Pathology Australia | 20 November 2020
In partnership with ALIA, Speech Pathology Australia has developed a professional development program free for ALIA Members. Developed by speech pathologists Dr Michelle Brown and Yvette Dempsey, you will be empowered with effective strategies for promoting children’s language and literacy development while reading books. Titled Language and Literacy: The power of reading, the program, part of Speech Pathology Australia’s Book of the Year Speechie Library Talks campaign, is a self-paced video-based program culminating with a Q&A session facilitated by Dr Michelle Brown. Registrations close 20 November at 12:00pm AEDT. This course is for ALIA Members only (please ensure you’re logged in to access course details and to register).
|
|
|
ALIA | 13 January 2021
The need to address the challenges of the digital world and metadata users has resulted in the development of the new cataloguing record standard, RDA: Resource Description and Access, to replace AACR2. Registrations close 13 January 2021. For more information see the website.
|
|
|
ALIA | 2 February 2021
The great challenge of this digital age we find ourselves is to ensure that what we do - the collection, preservation and management of information is done in a consistent manner which ensures it is identified and accessible in the future. Cataloguing remains one of the best tools we have to guarantee that information, irrespective of its format or content, can be accessed and understood. Registrations close 2 February 2021. For more information see the website.
|
|
|
 FEATURED JOBS
|
|
|
To advertise your job in ALIA Weekly contact employment@alia.org.au.
|
|
 FREE PD
|
|
|
An interactive exhibition showcasing the top innovative digital exhibits from public libraries across the EU. The exhibition explores how future technologies are interacting with libraries in Europe and also how libraries can continue supporting their communities in the fields of digital education and digital societies even when the buildings are shut.
|
|
|
It is said that up to one in five people have some form of dyslexia. Issues of accessibility, format and service are addressed in this post.
|
|
ALIA | Ongoing - register and commence at any time
This tutorial explores the need to capture, evaluate and communicate GLAM impact in new and different ways, given the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. This tutorial is available to ALIA Members only, who must be logged in to register. For more information see the website.
|
|
|
ALIA | Ongoing - register and commence at any time
ALIA Members can access ALIA's free tutorial on Working with software vendors which will help you get the most out of your working relationship with vendors in the library and information sector, including how to perform basic software testing, and write useful issue reports. ALIA Members can register and commence at any time. For more information see the website.
|
|
|
|
ALIA Members can access more free PD in PD Postings, which comes out on the first Thursday of each month and provides quick access to selected, free learning activities. PD Postings features information specific to each PD specialisation. For more information contact pd@alia.org.au.
|
|
Text and logos are Creative Commons
Photos are copyright protected.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
