Learning futures: public libraries for the new generations.

This issue of Aplis is a selection of papers given at the Learning futures: public libraries for the new generations in Australia and New Zealand conference held in Adelaide 9-10 March 2007.

Distinctive aspects of the conference were the strong contribution from New Zealand librarians; two recorded panel sessions; targeted recommendations; the publication of its full proceedings; and the launch of Valerie Johnson's book Life after Fenwick: the rise, fall and future of library services for children in Australia published by Auslib Press.

The full proceedings of Learning futures indicates the range of innovation occurring in approaches to public library services for babies, children and young adults, and highlights the challenges in identifying and responding to their needs. They are a useful resource for everyone concerned to show just how public libraries can make a real and distinctive contribution to the lives and future of young people if properly funded to do so. Included in the proceedings--see inside back cover of this issue of Aplis for order details--are the 23 conference papers, transcriptions of the two panel sessions, and seven targeted recommendations.

1 All national political parties in Australia and New Zealand embed in their education, literacy and information policies the importance of good public and school libraries for babies, children and young people.

2 Australian political parties include in their education , literacy and information policies for the 2007 federal election, a commitment to investment in the Australian public library system.

3 The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and state local government associations embed in relevant policy statements and strategies, advice to local government authorities on the capacity-building of their public library services in the educational, literacy and reading development of babies, children, young people and families in their communities.

4 National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), in association with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), Public Libraries Australia (PLA), and the Library and Information Association of NZ Aotearoa (LIANZA) commission research to

* identify the levels and needs in the employment, education, training and professional development of children's and young people personnel in public libraries in Australia and New Zealand.

* develop standards and guidelines for their employment, education, training and professional development.

5 Public library services in Australia and New Zealand evaluate how children and young people inform the development of services and resources for them, and consider the initiation of Young Friends of the Library or similar advisory groups.

6 The new online short course program being offered by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is expanded to include access to some of the Young Adults Library Services Association (YALSA), and other global, online courses

7 The Australian government now assume its responsibility to assist local and state governments in the delivery of better public libraries for all Australians by providing per capita funding for every public library service in Australia.

There was discussion during the conference about just how public libraries should seek input and support from younger users, as relatively few yet have any formal mechanism for this. Recommendation 5 was an outcome of this discussion, and is worth consideration by all public library managers. If your library already has such a mechanism, do let Aplis readers know what, and how effective, it is.

Alan Bundy 

Editor

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