Search

By using the Australian Library History Forums (ALHF) as a lens, this paper will explore library history research in Australia and examine the value of the history of libraries and the library profession. The paper aims to encourage reflection on Australian library history – or library history in general, speculate on its value, consider the gaps in Australian library history, and advocate and encourage the exploration of these gaps. By examining the interests, priorities and values reflected in the ALHFs over time, the paper will reflect on what Australian library history has to say about collective professional and community memory, community and professional values as reflected in these histories and about changing perceptions and understandings of libraries, collections, and the place of libraries in communities. A challenge will be made for those interested in the histories of libraries and librarianship to uncover and to tell these untold stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of Stage One in the development of a new resource about school libraries and teacher-librarianship in Australia and New Zealand. This new advocacy, research and information tool was produced by a team of academics from the School of Information and Communication Studies, Charles Sturt University. This team have expertise in education, librarianship, and teacher-librarianship. Curating over 100 years of resources for, and about teacher-librarians and school libraries in Australia and New Zealand, Stage One of the Knowledge Bank of Australian and New Zealand School Libraries (KBANZSL) is a point-in-time guide and record of critical reports, books, papers, and other resources about Australian school libraries and teacher-librarianship. It is intended to support researchers, administrators, practitioners and advocates of school libraries and teacher-librarianship by recording literature in the field in a single location. Details of the project's scope, development and parameters are discussed, and examples of the intended final outputs are provided. The overall project addresses an identified gap in the research around teacher-librarianship in Australia and New Zealand. An opportunity to build on this current research exists, with the intention that Stage Two of the project will extend the resource into the online environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the role of Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) in advocating for school library services in Australia. Topics discussed include equitable access to school library services for all Australian primary and secondary students; support by ALIA for school library personnel in the form of professional development; and the professional librarianship.

Concerns about the gap between LIS theory and practice have been voiced by many commentators over the years. A moderate gap was identified between the research priorities of practitioners in the Relevance 2020 project's focus groups, convened across Australia in late 2016, and the LIS research actually being conducted. A total of 172 Relevance 2020 participants, from a wide range of sectors, identified 96 priority topics, in areas such as the role of libraries and librarians, promotion, information service operations and information literacy. The participants also suggested ways in which LIS research could be better supported and made more relevant to practice. All stakeholders need to play their complementary parts: employers need to support practitioners' involvement in research, as well as their engagement with it; professional networks can help lobby for funds and resources, and facilitate the development of research capacity; academics can identify areas in which their own agendas coincide with those of practitioners, and explain the relevance of their research findings. Strong partnerships between individual practitioners and researchers can be formed by first identifying common ground and aims, through the sort of constructive dialogue generated at the Relevance 2020 events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study presents a conceptual model of researcher performance developed by Deakin University Library, Australia. The model aims to organize research performance data into meaningful researcher profiles, referred to as researcher typologies, which support the demonstration of research impact and value. Three dimensions shaping researcher performance are identified: researcher practices, career stage, and activity space. We argue this model serves two practical functions for Deakin Library and librarians: (a) to develop a holistic understanding of what constitutes researcher performance in the contemporary higher education environment in Australia; and (b) to translate this understanding into a service needs diagnostic tool for the development of the Research Metrics and Advisory Service (ReMAS), a strategic library service providing systematic research metrics support to Deakin researchers, schools, and faculties. We argue that both the model and its practical applications may be adapted by other academic libraries within their national and higher education contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on a partnership between a Liaison Librarian and an Academic Developer working in a large tertiary institution. Working as outsiders to the discipline, we examine the synergies between the roles of Academic Developer and Liaison Librarian. In light of the rapidly changing nature of higher education, we examine the implications for our roles within the hierarchical nature of the academy and disciplinary tribalism. In doing so, we consider the ways our partnership enabled us to draw upon tacit knowledge to deepen our understandings of identity and how to negotiate change from the outside. We explore some of the shared issues and challenges we face as we endeavour to implement positive change in a continually evolving and complex environment. Such issues include the role of gender. We apply the concepts of ‘outsiderness’ and ‘unhomeliness’ as developed by Manathunga to critically reflect on our practice, and explore the challenges and potential of Academic Development and Library partnerships to enable continuous improvement in teaching and scholarship. Our experiences highlight the importance of collegiate conversations as enablers of critical reflection on practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay asks why the 175th anniversary in 2015 of the NSW Parliamentary Library received so little public or professional attention. This puzzling lack of awareness contrasts sharply with the year-long celebrations in 1990, commemorating the Library’s sesquicentenary. In assessing this observation, the essay notes that the field of parliamentary librarianship has suffered a noticeable eclipse in recent years here and abroad. The parliamentary institution itself is also experiencing a severe drop in public confidence. Attention is paid to the significance of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library whose role is paramount in the Australian parliamentary context. The role of the state parliamentary libraries is then reviewed. The importance and fate of their collections, deemed by some to be heritage collections of the nation, is discussed. Factors underlying the decline of the state parliamentary libraries are then considered and some international parallels are drawn. In light of the decline of the state parliamentary libraries, the controversial question of whether the state parliaments have the requisite will and infrastructure to offer continuing support to their libraries is canvassed. Metaphorically we ask: do the libraries constitute a non-continuing city? What kind of library service is realistic in parliaments in the twenty-first century where the presence of the digital age is now recognised? Is there a new city needed to replace them? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of time and resources is spent every year in the library and information science (LIS) sector in Australia to organise, fund and attend conferences. However, the possible benefits of conference attendance for librarians have not been a focus of research in the field. This article, reporting on the findings of a pilot study conducted in the context of a PhD research project, addresses this gap and analyses conference attendance benefits as reported by librarians who attended a specific international conference. The findings of this study link directly to issues and themes that are relevant to all library sectors in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005, the Library at UNSW began a comprehensive restructuring process that fundamentally changed the provision of services to its academic community. A primary aim of this process was to increase flexibility of service development and delivery and so to improve research support. The motivation for reformed services arose from considerations including the University Library need to realign its services to support the university’s strategic goals, the increasingly competitive nature of the research environment, the introduction of the RQF/ERA, and a renewed emphasis on research outcomes by UNSW. The measurement of research impact using bibliometrics was seen as a strategy for supporting UNSW researchers. University Library staff consulted the bibliometrics literature and appropriate methodologies were devised to measure the impact of publications, authors and departments. The result was the creation of a Research Impact Measurement Service (RIMS) that now produces over 30 reports every month and employs 6-7 full time equivalent staff. Most of the reports are used to support promotion, grants, and institutional comparisons. This research support service also informs and improves the performance of such traditional library activities as collection development. RIMS is now integral to the measurement of research outputs at UNSW, and has significantly raised the profile of the Library throughout the academic community.AARL June 2009 vol 40 no 2 pp76–87 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although collection measurement has been much practised by librarians, it is seldom linked to precise, qualitative and client-centred objectives. The RLG conspectus offers a methodology whose validity for Australia needs to be examined carefully. Program performance evaluation has already proved illuminating at the State Library of New South Wales. Collection evaluation is useful for cooperation if properly documented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article shares the author's reflection on results of an analysis study which explores the intellectual isolation of Australian Library and Information Studies (LIS) using content analysis methodology. The author examines the LIS in Australia involving understanding on similarities and definitions on international and national studies of library science. The author also highlights the improvements in research programs in Australia.

It is time for us to collectively embrace the diversity of the library profession and encourage students and graduates to understand that great employment opportunities present themselves outside the traditional library space. Our traditional library skills will always be required, but to maintain our relevance we must provide a greater emphasis on non-traditional roles when teaching library-related qualifications. The scope and value of what our traditional skills can bring to other industries has been underestimated. A librarian’s job prospects are increasingly diverse, so our pre-service training and ongoing professional development should reflect this. Such practice would go a long way to safeguarding our profession for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries are often hailed as the cultural and learning hub of their communities. To deepen community engagement and social inclusion, libraries are adopting new technologies to facilitate a participatory and learning culture. With market saturation of smartphones and tablets and their associated apps, new affordances for content creation, curation and sharing show great potential to enhance participatory culture. The typical smartphone or tablet now incorporates digital technologies such as geo-location, audio, video, photo and web technologies. Bringing these technologies into a single device has enabled the development of apps such as Instagram, HistoryPin and SoundCloud. It has also changed the way users engage with established social networks and photo-sharing sites. Users can now create and share content on an unprecedented scale from any accessible Wi-fi or mobile phone network. Libraries are embracing these technology-rich apps to interact with their customers in many different ways. Examples in this article examine how libraries are taking up opportunities enabled by the convergence of technologies into mobile devices in the participatory culture context – tapping into new communities, engaging with their stakeholders in meaningful ways, enhancing their social impact and transforming their essential roles in today's knowledge society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research project explored students’ perspective of the appropriate mix of online and face-to-face activities in a master’s programme in library and information science at an Australian university. Identifying aspects that students evaluate as supportive, challenging and efficient in their learning is important for the design of an appropriate mix in blended learning courses. Twenty-three master’s students responded to a questionnaire containing 40 open-ended and closed questions. Applying both statistical and content analysis provides a deeper understanding of students’ responses. Students like the flexibility and the convenience of online learning, but also the possibilities that derive from face-to-face interaction with teachers and peers for building personal learning networks. Students expect equal quality from all forms of learning delivery and were critical of the quality of online participation and lecture recordings. Blended learning is an approach that supports a range of learning styles and life styles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reported in this paper is part of a larger program of studies designed to review and renew the curricula of Library and Information Science (LIS) and the broader Information Management (IM) courses. This paper analysed job advertisements as readily accessible indicators of the knowledge, skills, and competencies required of IPs by employers and potential available roles. It presents current findings and compares them with trends identified in earlier Australian job advertisement content analyses based on data collected in 2004. The information revealed by the study may be utilised by educators to inform curriculum review and renewal. Current advertisements were collected from web-based sources; ALIA's employment web pages and two national web job-boards, Seek and MyCareer.com. Text from job advertisements was analysed using a content analysis software package. The data revealed an increasing demand for IPs with records management skills, and skills in business content management, web management and other information management systems, indicating an increasing overlap with the field of information systems. The "move to the generic" identified as an emerging trend in 2004 has solidified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a reprint of the article "Losing the Quality Battle in Australian Education for Librarianship" by Ross Harvey from the 2001 volume 50, number one issue of "The Australian Library Journal." The author covers problems facing librarianship education in Australian universities such as difficulty defining librarianship, not promoting the subject as the graduate level, and low problem-solving skills in librarians. Suggestions for improvement include influence from professional associations and developing subject cores and specialisms.

Libraries have found themselves overtaken by commercial entities providing open, unmediated information services, causing debate about the future of libraries. It has been argued that in order to stay relevant, libraries must undertake a fundamental shift towards a new focus on engaging with clients. At University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) Library we have commenced a number of activities aimed at engaging our clients, but currently only have anecdotal evidence of their effectiveness. This is a conceptual paper which seeks to define engagement and consider how practitioner researchers can provide research-based evidence of the effectiveness of engaging with clients and taking a user-centric approach to service design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survivals of U.S. and Australian early nineteenth-century sheet music share many generic and stylistic similarities. The library sectors in America and Australia are likewise similar, in having made this material available online early in their digitization programs. The freer access occasioned is now leading to a reconsideration of this previously misunderstood music, evidence of a partly shared music culture still largely unaffected by nineteenth-century canons. Positively dating the many undated prints has hitherto hampered scholars, students, and librarians. But now the National Library of Australia's new free online search service, Trove (http://www.trove.nla.gov.au), allows definitive dating of much early Australian printed music from articles and advertisements in electronic newspaper archives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an analysis of the results of a survey of Australian employers of Library and Information Studies (LIS) graduates, this paper explores the current demand and future need for undergraduate LIS education in Australia. In the context of recent calls for adopting a purely postgraduate level of entry to the profession, the overwhelming majority of respondents to the survey clearly believe that the education provided in LIS programs in Australia does equip graduates with the attributes required of professional librarians in their organisation, and that this does not depend on the level of the qualification. Some further discussion of graduate attributes and curriculum issues indicates that there is a need for reform of LIS education--as well as a requirement to build the number of available graduates as the profession seeks to renew itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the results of a 2007 survey of Australian academic libraries and their practice with regard to the storage and disposal of legacy print material. The survey was undertaken in the wake of similar surveys in the United States and the United Kingdom, and with a view to assess the likely future demand for storage space. The discussion focuses on the advantages of a national print repository based on ceded ownership. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nationalism as a force in shaping and understanding historical events, long recognised by historians, has emerged as a rich field of historiological study. Awareness of nationalism has spilled into cultural studies, where the role and history of museums has been investigated in the light of nationalistic influences. Favoured images of a nation's history, culture and people may impact on collecting and curatorial decisions. Library historians have been slower to recognise the impact of nationalism on library collections, although national and state libraries are prone to nationalistic influences. As they purport to collect the documentary heritage of a nation and its people, they engage with questions of national identity, history and geography. This paper maps some of the intersections between nationalism and libraries by considering how changing concepts of nationhood and Australian identity have influenced the formation and development of the National Library of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forty-seven year career of Jean Fleming Arnot at the Public Library of New South Wales included eighteen years as Head Cataloguer. Her work in cataloguing provides a case study of the actual historical practice of women's professional work in librarianship in the early to mid-twentieth century. Consideration of the significance of cataloguing as an intellectual and creative act also enables an exploration of issues of power and knowledge in the life of the female librarian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff at the National Library of Australia and four state libraries to gain a clearer understanding of their approach to handling digital collections. While digitisation activity was high in all of the libraries, acquisition of born-digital material was low. All libraries reported holding material on obsolete formats that would be difficult to access. Concerns were expressed about resourcing digital preservation activities and strategies to manage technical issues. There was strong support for PANDORA and faith in its longer-term effectiveness. A closer relationship is called for among all institutions involved with acquiring and preserving digital objects so that better use is made of limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The publication in 2004 of the second edition of the International Standard Archival Authority Record (Corporate Bodies, Persons, Families) (ISAAR(CPF)2) signified a growing awareness within the archival profession of the need to standardise the documentation of the context of records creation, a need that extends well beyond the traditional requirements of bibliographic systems for authority control. This article examines, from an Australian perspective, the journey taken by the International Council on Archives Committee on Descriptive Standards in reviewing and revising the 1996 edition of ISAAR(CPF). It places this journey in the context of a generation of Australian innovations associated with the structured documentation of context and provenance, and reflects on possible future directions in relation to standardising the documentation of functions to form a trinity of descriptive entities: records, agents and functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reviews the relationship between his two protagonists when they met in Australia on the occasion of McColvin's visit in 1946, and later, when Metcalfe was in London. The quality and warmth of the hospitality extended on either hand was curiously asymmetric, which possibly reflects the expectations of the host at the time. Neither man was a stereotype, and each had strong and individual opinions. And neither was a 'prophet without honour…'. McColvin's visit was more critical to the interests of his host, Metcalfe, than when the positions of host and visitor were reversed, which may account for the asymmetry referred to above. The author infers that in the end, Metcalfe was not prepared to honour McColvin's contribution, and indeed, McColvin himself did not rate it highly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the 2004 Council of Australian and New Zealand Academic Library (CAUL) statistics. The 2004 statistics include 48 entries, which cover 39 Australian and 8 New Zealand academic library systems and co-operative store. The data for the 2004 CAUL statistics was collected using the Input Module of the GAUL Statistics Online website. The collection procedures and publication details for the 2004 data are as recommended by the CAUL Statistics Focus Group and endorsed by CAUL. The entries in the main statistical tables for the Australian libraries have been arranged alphabetically within states, followed by the data for the New Zealand libraries. CAUL has engaged CAVAL Collaborative Solutions to collect and compile the statistics. Population data was supplied by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training for all Commonwealth government funded higher education institutions in Australia. Eight rows of statistical information for both the Australian and New Zealand libraries have been added to the main tables. These rows show the total for all the Australian libraries and the total for all New Zealand libraries.

Australian librarians have participated in and contributed to international librarianship for over 125 years. Individual and collective practice is well regarded internationally since it is in dialogue with international concerns, is based on shared values and reaches high standards. Many are willing contributors to international initiatives, contributing on a broad front and sometimes leading discourse in new areas. The profession in Australia is characteristically open to models of practice, ideas and colleagues from elsewhere. It has been enlivened by practitioners from other countries and Australian professionals have contributed elsewhere, especially in Southeast and East Asia. The principal challenge is to maintain and build on these characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The former National Librarian of New Zealand reflects upon his 11 year collaboration with Warren Horton and the National Library of Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comments on a recent Code of Ethics project conducted on behalf of the Australian Computer Society, and proposes a similar project for the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). It reviews the scope and methodology of the project, which developed a comprehensive set of case studies and related them to the ACS Code of Ethics and to specific standards of conduct in the Code. It discusses a small selection of the case studies and suggests that a similar series for ALIA could assist in the provision of useful context for ALIA's Statement on Professional Conduct, material for the profession's continuing professional development (CPD) programs and a stimulus to further ethical debate in the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of developing protocols strategy for the library and information sector for indigenous Australians. The 1995 Protocols were a key outcome of both indigenous and professional concern about the state of indigenous relationships with libraries, archives and information services. In Australia, these relationships became a point of professional focus throughout the 1990s. The concerns of indigenous people had been on the record for some time and they were amplified in the 1990s as the profession accelerated its activity in response. In brief, indigenous concerns included issues such as: historical exclusion from libraries; the offensive nature of much of the material about indigenous people in library collections and archives; subject headings that described indigenous peoples and cultures in ways that had little to do with how indigenous peoples described themselves, and which demeaned indigenous peoples and cultures; access issues for indigenous peoples and materials; and general indigenous service issues.

The article discusses some of the State library of Queensland's initiatives in relation to the development of library resources and services for Queensland's indigenous peoples. The indigenous knowledge centres represent, in a very real example, the two-way learning process between the State Library and Indigenous communities throughout Queensland. Recognising that indigenous peoples in Australia maintain a strong oral tradition, and working with the most remote communities in Queensland's Cape York and Torres Strait regions, the State Library has over the last two years established nine indigenous knowledge centres at different places. Two major challenges in ongoing sustainability of the indigenous knowledge centres are retention of trained staff, and access to and support for quality technology and communications. The State Library has also developed the Librarians in Communities pilot program which involves professional librarians working with local staff in the established indigenous knowledge centres.

The article presents information on the Northern territory Library and Information Service (NTLIS) model for library services in indigenous communities in Australia, and explores some of the challenges in providing Indigenous Iibrary services in remote locations. It also discusses the database that is being made available to communities to enable them to organise, store and make accessible, digitised material related to their cultural heritage. The NTLIS is responsible for developing communities by providing access to appropriate library services for all Territorians. The NTLIS has four main goals to: develop communities through libraries, connect people to information, preserve Northern Territory documentary, cultural heritage, and help people learn. The Libraries and Knowledge Centres (LKC) unit within NTLIS provides support and training to public libraries, community libraries and school libraries across the Territory. In addition, the LKC Unit is directly responsible for providing library services at two joint-use (school and community) libraries at Taminmin and Nhulunbuy.

The article discusses the importance and significance of indigenous knowledge and its intersection with the library information services (LIS) sector in Australia. Indigenous knowledge is commonly understood as traditional knowledge, although there is debate about whether the term indigenous knowledge should be used interchangeably with the term traditional knowledge or whether it is more accurately a subset of the traditional knowledge category. In Australia, a common misunderstanding is that this equates indigenous knowledge to past knowledge, when in fact indigenous people view their knowledge as continuing. Recent interest in indigenous knowledge across the globe, although linked to indigenous peoples' political and cultural reassertion, has primarily emerged from humanitarian and scientific activity. Documented indigenous knowledge forms part of the documentary heritage of the nation and in this capacity intersects with the library and information sector. It concludes by emphasizing the need for Indigenous involvement in the LIS sector and the importance of protocols to guide practice in this most complex of intersections.

This paper presents the findings and analysis of research undertaken in both the United Kingdom and Australia to identify the range of knowledge and skills required by library and information professionals to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. In the United Kingdom, the Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals has developed a new qualifications framework and revised the body of professional knowledge for information professionals. In Australia, the research has focused on the two complementary and intertwined strands of discipline knowledge and generic capabilities. The issues that arise from the two projects are relevant to all sectors of the library and information profession, to stimulate discussion about possible strategies for workforce planning. Career-long learning has become an imperative for information professionals, with the research findings highlighting the importance of a collaborative approach to professional development, to involve the individual, the educators, the employers and the professional associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In creating Australia's first prime ministerial library, a new cultural institution was developed which blends professional practice from the fields of librarianship, education, archives, journalism and museums. The John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library honours the contribution of wartime prime minister John Curtin, works towards the advancement of knowledge and the enrichment of culture, and provides a gateway for the community to learn about its past in order to build a better future. It aims to fulfil this purpose by developing a unique research collection and a varied outreach program for the educational sector and general community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the history of the development of Australia's Web archive, PANDORA, is presented. Criteria for selection, harvesting techniques, the static or dynamic nature of the material, and the technical aspects of archiving are discussed. Policy matters include copyright, permission to archive, legal deposit arrangements, requests to remove harvested material. Practices for administrative, preservation, descriptive, and rights metadata are reviewed. Observations are made on the various functions served by the metadata. The dataflow and the distribution of the cataloguing data are cited. Resources that need periodic re-harvesting due to their dynamic nature and resources that involve parent-child relationships have implications for cataloguing workload. Staffing resources and costs are assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section presents a number of comments on Margaret Trask, a significant contributor to library science in Australia. In the aftermath of Margaret's death, the Australian Library and Information Association web site opened an electronic condolences book The comments it contained are unique and personal and they show how extensive Margaret's circle of friends in the profession was and reveal something of the complex nature of the influence that she exerted. The people who commented include: Craig Boaden, Wilma Radford, Cathey Shepherd, Gaynor Austen, Debrah Lewis, Eric Wainwright, Anthony Ketley, Louise Burmester, Alan Ventress, Kerry Webb and Margaret Sim.

This article presents a bibliography of articles involving Margaret Trask, an important contributor to library science in Australia. These include: "Upon this rock....," a centenary booklet of the Penrith Methodist Church; the Penrith City Library work manual in 1963; "The great library skimp" in the "Australian Book Review: Children's Book and Educational Supplement" in 1967; "School Libraries: a report to the nation," F.W. Cheshire for the Australian Library Week Council in 1968; "Standards for, and Provision of School Libraries" in the "Seminar on School Libraries," July 13, 1968.

This article focuses on the increasing presence of libraries in schools in Australia. Government grants from 1969 to 1980 were responsible for establishing school library services, but the crusade in the 1980s was to change the way students learned and teachers taught as a consequence of the resources now available to them. Since the mid-1990s, Australian school libraries have faced fierce competition both within individual schools and generally, for the education dollar. Some concerns of teacher librarians include the staffing of school libraries and the need to be able to give sufficient time and effort to those aspects of their work they regard as central to their role.

The author reflects on some of the events and personalities which have had an impact on library automation in Australia. No attempt to take stock of developments in Australian librarianship during the course of Margaret Trask's long professional life could neglect this fundamental area. And of course, among those mentioned in the survey which follows are colleagues of Margaret's and others on whose professional lives she exerted a great influence by her example, by her teaching and by her approach to professional development, for example, in ALMA. She inspired them to take risks and to lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Libraries Summit of October 1988 attracted over 140 participants, including key individuals on the Australian library scene, representatives from every significant national collaborative organization relating to library and information services, all library sectors, and related organizations such as the Australian Council of Archives and the National Book Council. The Summit and its outcomes derived very much from the vision, leadership style and commitment of the National Library's director-general, Warren Horton, over the decade 1986 to 1996. The process achieved reasonable success in consensus building in the Australian library community. The Summit set much of the agenda for improving access to material of Australian origin, and strongly influenced access developments in related cultural sectors.

This article pays tribute to Margaret Trask who made significant contributions to library science in Australia. She was born on April 27, 1928 in Camden, New South Wales, and her mother was Mary Winifred Price and her father was Henry Kinsella. She went to Parramata High School, which produced many significant graduate, including Richie Benaud and Ted Noffs. By 1945 she was a library assistant in the Public Library of New South Wales. She was appointed chief librarian at Penrith City Council in January 1948. In 1964, Margaret completed her graduate diploma in librarianship at the University of New South Wales. As president of the Library Association of Australia in 1977, she helped shape that body's education policies, and through them the curricula of schools of librarianship throughout Australia.

The Education Faculty Librarian at the University of Wollongong has collaborated with the faculty's academic staff to develop a program to ensure that there is a planned, comprehensive approach to information literacy development for pre-service Education students. The program aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to excel in their studies, their teaching, and their lifelong learning pursuits. Specific subjects have been targeted for information literacy to be significantly integrated into the academic curriculum. This article provides a detailed overview of the program as well as some background into its conception and development. It concludes with a reflection of the program after its first two years in practice and considers possible future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the major characteristics of development in Australia in the 21st century. Lack of motivation by Australians to learn; Absence of financial incentives to encourage individuals and enterprise to invest in learning; Query about pre-service education for librarianship in the country.

Focuses on the significance of knowledge management to information professionals in Australia. Need for development and exploration into knowledge management; Barriers to achieving commonality among information professionals; Impact of the knowledge management discourse on the library sector.

Focuses on librarianship education in Australia. Problems associated with university-based education for librarianship; Claims on the deterioration of the thinking and problem-solving abilities of librarians; Recommendation of a national scheme for Distributed Library Education.

Argues for a fresh and renewed approach to the study of record-keeping in Australia. Description of the development of record keeping in the country; Implications for library science; Instances of alleged unauthorized records destruction in the country's history; Issues facing Aboriginal record-keeping; Problems with traditional notions of archives.

Examines the development of librarianship in Australia through the applications for the position of librarian at the Richmond Public Library in Melbourne, Victoria in April 1884. Features of the claim by William Allen for back payment for salaries at the library in 1868; Location of applicants at the library; Age and gender; Occupations of applicants; Personal qualities; Short list of applicants.

Investigates the significant developments in the Singaporean information policy in the library context and their implication to the Australian public library services. Enumeration of salient points in Singaporean library policy; Restructuring of public library system; Importance of human resources in automated library systems; Financial commitment of the Singaporean government.

Investigates the successful application of pro-active planning methodology at the James Cook University Library and its implication to strategic planning in Australian librarianship. Maintenance of momentum in strategic planning; Development of statement of organizational values and vision; Requirement of representation in the workshop; Description of the workshop mechanics.