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In view of the evolutionary nature of library representation in Australia, it is necessary to examine the history of the development of ACLIS and ALIA and their predecessor organisations.

2.1 ACLIS

Following a 1950 UNESCO Conference on the Improvement of Bibliographical Services, a working party of laypersons and librarians was established comprising representatives of state libraries and the Commonwealth National Library to consider a plan for national bibliographical services. The report of the working party led to the establishment of the Australian Advisory Council on Bibliographical Services (AACOBS). AACOBS was a body representing institutions and its representatives were drawn from the Commonwealth National Library, the state libraries, public libraries, university libraries, the CSIRO, and the Library Association of Australia.

In 1982 the Standing Committee of the Cultural Ministers' Council established the Australian Libraries and Information Council (ALIC) as a Commonwealth body with representatives from the Commonwealth and the states to provide advice to the government on library issues. In 1986 the Standing Committee of the Cultural Ministers' Council initiated a review of the role, function, membership and responsibilities of ALIC. As a result of this review it was decided that AACOBS and ALIC should be disbanded and be replaced by a single new body. In 1988 the assets and liabilities of AACOBS and the unused funds from ALIC were transferred to the new body, ACLIS.

The then President of the Library Association of Australia, Alan Bundy, presented a paper at the 1988 LAA Biennial Conference entitled, 'The Changing Face of the Library Association of Australia', which stated:

"At one time, when the LAA was most intent on developing professional status and recognition for librarians, it was possible to sustain the dichotomy that the LAA represented individual librarians; and the Australian Advisory Council on Bibliographical Services (AACOBS) represented libraries. AACOBS arguably came into existence because the LAA failed to respond to a perceived advocacy and cooperation for libraries. As Deitrich Borchardt has observed, 'AACOBS is sui generis and has to date found no imitators.' Similarly, it can be argued that the Australian School Library Association and its local associations, and the Australian Library Promotion Council came into existence because the LAA was unable, or unwilling to meet a felt need.
If the LAA had acted and responded differently there may well have not developed an AACOBS, an ALIC, an ASLA or an ALPC - but they have developed and with qualification , (the recent emergence of ACLIS from AACOBS and ALIC), there they are. For a country of 16 million people Australia has a remarkably large number of national library organisations and they have, now that ACLIS has risen from the ashes of AACOBS and ALIC, remarkably similar agendas ..."

2.2 ALIA

ALIA's submission to the strategic review succinctly sets out the history and development of the organisation.

"In August 1937 fifty-five librarians meeting at the Albert Hall in Canberra formed the Australian Institute of Librarians. The Great Depression had elevated social and political awareness, especially as issues such as censorship and repression of free expression emerged. Our founding fathers believed that the development of appropriate standards of education for librarians and the development of policies to combat the erosion of individual rights to access information (largely through the promotion of free library services) could best be achieved through the foundation of a national body. They believed in access to 'the best that has been and is being thought and said, pictured and played, written and read by our people, and throughout the world, just so that we can turn upon stock notions and habits a stream of thought that is fresh, and free,' [John Metcalfe, 'Cultural Institutions in the Australian Community: 'To Hell With Culture.' Australian Quarterly 17 (March 1945)].
In its pursuit of the development of education standards the Institute established a system for examining and certificating librarians. The first examinations were held in 1944. In 1949 the Australian Institute of Librarians became the Library Association of Australia and in 1988 the Australian Library and Information Association. In 1974 the LAA's Board of Examiners was restructured into the Board of Education - the name it still maintains. In 1980 the Registration Examinations were discontinued.
The change of name to include 'information' was recognition of the role of the library professional in the broader information service sector. The move to Canberra from Sydney in 1990 was recognition of the importance of building up the national profile through increased political advocacy. Each change represents the process of constant review, expansion and growing professionalism within the Association.
Many of the concerns which led to the formation of the Institute in 1937 remain issues of concern today. While new information technologies have transformed the information service landscape, it is not surprising that copyright, preservation, legal deposit, privacy, content regulation and censorship, literacy, information literacy, education and training continue to be the focus of activity."


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