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The library and information services sector in Australia is made up of approximately 12,000 libraries and some 37,000 people employed in the library and archive sector. At present there are two cross-sectoral organisations, namely, the Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services (ACLIS) and the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) which represent the library and information services sector in Australia.

The review of library coordination and representation received a large number of oral and written representations to the effect that dual representation by ACLIS and ALIA is hampering representation by the sector and causing concerns in relation to duplication of effort, dilution of the "library message" to policy makers, and requiring resources to be unnecessarily directed to coordination rather than directed at outcomes for members. The review concludes that the absence of a single peak body is impeding the influence of the sector on governments at various levels and on the broader community. Although this weakness has been recognised and accommodated for a number of years, the changing library environment with its attendant competitors requires an urgent resolution of library representation in Australia. Such a view not only comes from within the ACLIS and ALIA membership but it is also the view of other sectoral bodies.

The review considered a number of options for improved representation and coordination in the sector, and concludes that there is overwhelming support for a single peak library organisation to represent the broad interests of the library sector. Given the enormous amount of goodwill expressed across Australia for such a body, it is recommended that this goal should be pursued as quickly as possible. The review recommends that ALIA and ACLIS should immediately commence discussions for the purpose of merging the two organisations at the earliest possible time.

While the merger of the two bodies will be a first step in enhancing library representation, it needs to be accompanied by important administrative changes to accommodate the broader needs of the library community in relation to professional and institutional interests. The detail of internal changes required to be made by ALIA to take on the role of a single peak body are largely beyond the terms of reference of this review, but should include the need for institutional members to have voting rights and attention to policy issues such as copyright.

The establishment of a single peak body representing the industry and the profession will not only address the shortcomings of existing representation, but will well equip such a body to represent the interests of the library industry and profession into the next century. The review also recommends the establishment of a loose knit coalition of library interests including sectoral bodies and the NLA in order to better coordinate library representation in Australia.

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference for the review require the consultants to:

  1. Assess the need for leadership, representation and coordination in the library and information services sector in Australia.
  2. Review the structures of ALIA and ACLIS and consider the roles of other representative bodies in the library and information sector. Such a review would provide an opportunity for written submissions from interested individuals and organisations and take into consideration the views of library personnel.
  3. Present options for the most effective representative organisational structure for the sector and outline initiatives which might be implemented to provide leadership for the industry in the 21st century.

Steering Committee Members

Ms Helen Hayes, President
ACLIS
Ms Helen Tait, Immediate Past-President
ALIA
Mr Warren Horton, Director-General
National Library of Australia

Abbreviations

AACOBS
Australian Advisory Council on Bibliographical Services
ACLIS
Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services
ALIA
Australian Library and Information Association
ALIC
Australian Libraries and Information Council
CASL
Council of Australian State Libraries
CAUL
Council of Australian University Librarians
NLA
National Library of Australia
ASLA
Australian School Library Association
FLIN
Federal Libraries Information Network

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