ERA’s benefits SA public libraries consortium

The SA public library network has been purchasing databases in a consortium arrangement for over a decade with much of the work around contracts, pricing etc being done by our central agency Public Library Services (a division of the State Library). Given the State Government’s procurement rules this process has been quite lengthy and time consuming.

Having access to databases through ERA has provided two benefits for public libraries:

1. The legal framework, and heads of agreement have allowed our purchasing to be done very quickly and with the minimum of effort at our end.
2. Pricing through the national consortium is even better than we had previously been able to achieve as a state-wide consortium.

These two benefits have been most welcome locally.

There is one database to which the state-wide network subscribes to which is not available through ERA. We have therefore recommended to this vendor that they get registered through ERA to make things easier and also to offer another product to libraries through the ERA consortium.

I look forward to ERA continuing to develop an approach which will meet the needs of libraries throughout Australia.

- Geoff Stempel

Deputy Chair, ERA Executive Committee  & Associate Director, Public Library Services, State Library of South Australia

Revised ERA Governance Framework

The ERA Executive Committee has implemented the recommendations from the 2009 review of the ERA Governance Framework. 

These changes were supported by the  ERA membership forum and the revised Governance Framework is now available on the website.

2009 ERA Executive Elections

Under the terms of the ERA Governance Framework, the ERA Executive Committee members will serve staggered two-year terms to provide continuity. The two-year terms of all existing members are due to expire in November 2009, however in order to introduce a staggering cycle the Executive Committee has elected to extend the term of a number of existing members for 12 months.

The Executive Committee are now calling for nominations for representatives from a number of different library sectors, including public, school, TAFE, Academic and special.

An individual may nominate themselves, or another - please provide name, library, sector, email and telephone contact details. If nominating someone else, that person should indicate their agreement to the nomination. A short background biographical note of nominees is preferred. To nominate, please send an email to the ERA mailbox era@nla.gov.au by Wednesday, 21 October 2009.

There should be no more than two members drawn from the same library sector, with no more than one drawn from the National/ State/ Territory libraries.

If more than two candidates are nominated from within a sector, the membership of the specific sector shall determine which two shall represent their interests on the Executive Committee through an election.

2010 ERA Membership Forum planning

Planning has started for the 2010 ERA Membership Forum and we would be interested to hear from you with any suggested speakers, proposals for presentations or papers by participating libraries or other ideas for the event.

This year we are planning to hold the meeting in Melbourne and the proposed date is Friday, 12 February 2010: following the VALA 2010 Conference (9-11 February 2009).

You can access the papers and presentations from the 2008 and 2009 Membership Forums  on the ERA website.

Please forward any suggestions for the 2010 Membership Forum to era@nla.gov.au.

Key dates to remember

21 October 2009 - Nominations close for ERA Executive Committee representatives

12 February 2010 - Proposed date for ERA 2010 Membership Forum, Melbourne