The Australian Public Libraries Alliance, chaired by QPLA President, Nicole Hunt, met Monday 26 August 2024. Key messages from the discussion are shared below.
The online meeting included representatives from all jurisdictions except for ACT and Victoria.
Guest
- Louise Denoon, SLQ
Key Messages
NSLA Public Libraries Committee
Arising from the NSLA Public Libraries Committee meeting, Louise Denoon raised the possibility of a National Roundtable hosted at SLQ in May 2025 to discuss early years literacy programs in libraries. It could be a joint NSLA/APLA/ALIA event which would showcase the important role libraries play in early years literacy. Other suggestions from APLA included:
- Advocacy opportunity if a joint statement was released
- Link to National Simultaneous Storytime happening on 21 May
- Research to show impact
- Promoting libraries as partners
A program committee to be established with representatives from NSLA and APLA/ALIA.
Standards, Guidelines and Statistics
The survey of reporting requirements of APLA members is now complete. The public library statistics project has been reviewed by NSLA and ALIA and recommendations are under development for future datasets.
There are many interdependencies between the public library statistics, outcome measures, impact reporting and the ALIA/APLA Public Library Standards and Guidelines. It was agreed that with the formation of the NSLA Public Libraries Committee it is important for NSLA and APLA to be working closely in these areas. A joint meeting between NSLA and APLA/ALIA reps is proposed to identify the scope of work and who will take the lead in different areas.
ALIA
- Department of Health and Aged Care-ALIA partnerships projects, the Medicare 40 year anniversary and Aged care reforms hubs, have injected more than $580,000 for public libraries. 110 library branches have participated in the Medicare program and 60 library branches have taken part in the aged care program.
- Self paced Public Library Proficiency course to be rolled out in February with Libraries Tasmania. The new offering can be customised for each jurisdiction and is significantly more affordable than the previous facilitated on-line course. Contact Zola Maddison at ALIA for more information.
- The ALIA CPD scheme is now aligned with the ALIA LIS framework of skills, knowledge and ethics.
- ALIA Information Online 2025 call for proposals now open, closing 13 September 2024.
- ALIA is meeting with the Allanah and Madeleine Foundation and will revisit the e-safe libraries initiative.
NSW
- Dr Jane Garner, CSU, has presented to a number of zones on Workplace safety and staff burnout in public libraries. This resonated with participants who passed on their own experiences in libraries and strategies put in place.
- Wagga Library– have been successful in receiving grant funding of their First nations tech sessions with young first nation participants assisting their elders
QLD
- QPLA has partnered with SLQ to offer 14 QLD public library staff the opportunity to participate in a six-month Library Leaders program which commences with attendance at IFLA Information Summit, followed by ALIA Qld Mini Conference and ongoing mentoring/collaboration upon wrapping up at the QPLA Conference in March 2025.
- Townsville Citylibraries shared a case study of their experiences supporting social work placement students within their libraries and the benefits to both library customers and staff – Supporting social work placement students – Townsville Citylibraries and James Cook University Case Study 2023-24 – QPLA
SA
- Libraries SA Firstival 2024 held over 300 events throughout July which encouraged the community to try something new at their library.
- The Libraries Board provided $100,000 for grants to libraries to activate the Words Grow Minds program in their communities and collaboration with early years providers. Programs are rolling out from July- December.
TAS
- Libraries Tasmania are working with the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) on a project to demonstrate the value of libraries in a prison environment, including a significant investment in new collection resources, additional building works and infrastructure, and expansion of existing adult literacy services offered by Libraries Tasmania.
3 - Libraries Tasmania won the Encouragement Award in The Dorothies for their celebration and support of LGBTIQA+ inclusion through policies, events, programs and displays. The Dorothies is an annual award that recognises the rewards LGBTIQA+ inclusivity, presented by the advocacy group Working It Out.
VIC
- The Rainbow Libraries toolkit was launched in August. The toolkit aims to empower library staff by providing information, support and advice to deepen libraries’ commitment to welcome rainbow families into library spaces.
- PLV has received funding for a project to map early years literacy activity in Victoria’s public libraries, with a view to identifying current best practice and exploring the appetite for a statewide approach – or statewide approaches – to this vital area of service to our communities.
WA
- PLWA are developing Freedom to Read professional development for all public library staff in WA at no cost.
- The Library Board Awards for Innovation and Collaboration were presented on 1 August at the State Library. The prize for Large Regional or Metropolitan Library Service went to the City of Albany for their Study Help After Hours program and the Small Regional Library Service went to Shire of Chittering for the Bindoon Library Forget-Me-Not Café and dementia friendly services.