ERA Membership Forum

Places are still available but registration will close on 6 March.

Date: 25 March 2009
Venue: National Library of Australia (Getting here)

Agenda

Guest speaker:

Wendy Quihampton is currently working for National & State Libraries Australasia as the Program Manager for Re-imagining Library Services, delivering NSLA's strategic plan. Wendy has a strong background in program and project management and she is a certified Prince 2 Project Management practitioner. Most recently she has been a Senior Project Manager at the State Library of Victoria leading the selection and implementation of a digital object management system.

Prior to this she managed state-wide collaborative projects as part of Vicnet. She has also been Acting Manager at Brimbank Library & Information Service in Victoria and has worked as a Systems Analyst for public libraries and private enterprise.

2009 Product Poll

The 2009 Product Poll will open immediately after the ERA Members Forum on 26 March.

How many libraries are benefiting from ERA?

We currently have around 700 known Australian libraries and library consortia subscribing to e-resources under ERA terms and conditions. But how many actual libraries are serving up access to their library patrons?

Our membership lists currently suggests, by sector:

• 566 school libraries 
• 12 TAFE libraries
• 78 public libraries (including 4 major consortia)
• 3 academic libraries
• 36 specials libraries

And, of course, all eight State and Territory Libraries and the National Library of Australia are enjoying the benefits.

ICOLC statement on the impact of the global economic crisis

The International Coalition of Library Consortia has issued a Statement on the Global Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Consortial Licenses which makes for interesting reading in these troubled times.

The ERA Executive Committee has endorsed this statement and we are listed as a supporting consortium.
 

What ever happened to TAFE Libraries Australia?

TAFE Libraries Australia (formerly the National Working Group for TAFE Library Services) has been a peak national body which has actively promoted an integrated approach to the delivery of library and information services that advances and supports vocational education and training outcomes as well as emerging changes in learning and teaching since the early 1990s.

TAFE Libraries Australia both initiated and supported the National Reciprocal Borrowing Scheme which promotes access to information and recourses to TAFE clients across the nation, collects national statistics on TAFE libraries and contributes to projects and initiatives of national significance such as the 2020 Summit and Electronic Resources Australia.

TAFE Libraries Australia has ceased its activities as at the end of 2008 and has reformed as the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) TAFE Library Advisory Committee in 2009.

The objectives of the committee is to provide expert advice on TAFE libraries, develop performance measures for TAFE libraries, collect national statistics, promote the sharing of information and resources and the discussion of library and information issues, encourage and support the development of best practice in TAFE libraries, manage research projects and encourage cross-sectoral library cooperation.

(ALIA) TAFE Library Advisory Committee looks forward to your continued support for TAFE libraries and a renewed and vigorous interaction with ERA in 2009.

 - Lynn Fletcher, ERA Executive Committee

Key dates to remember

6 March - Registration closes for the ERA Membership Forum

25 March - ERA Membership Forum 

26 March - 2009 Product Poll opens

15 April - 2009 Product Poll closes