Item 1.3

Present

1. Procedural items

1.2 Meeting arrangements
General Councillors noted the meeting arrangements as set out in the attachment to the Agenda papers.

1.3 Minutes of last meeting
After considering the minutes of the last meeting held on 20-22 November 1996, it was agreed to amend the minutes by replacing the word "would" with "may" at Item 8.2, line 5, second paragraph.

1.4 Summary minutes of last meeting
The executive director reminded general councillors that the summary minutes were a useful means of providing feedback to members and Branches.

1.5 Matters arising from the minutes
General Councillors discussed the 'Actions arising' list for the meeting held on 20-22 November 1996 and several updated actions were noted. general councillors agreed that the list was a useful record of outstanding actions.

1.6 Matters for discussion under "Other business"

a) 1997 Annual General Meeting
The ACT general councillor advised that the ACT Branch will be inviting general councillors to attend the ACT Branch Winter Dinner on Thursday 10 July. It was noted that the Winter Dinner will be held in place of the General Council Dinner.

2. General Council

2.2 Report on Executive Committee meetings
The president reported on the issues discussed by the Executive Committee at its meeting on 12 March 1997. It was noted that future meetings will be held by teleconference. MM

2.3 Annual report
The executive director advised that contributions to the Annual Report were still being received and that the completed draft version will be circulated to general councillors out of session. It was noted that the finalised Annual Report will be distributed with the June issue of inCite. IT

3. Reports

• an invitation to attend a three levels of government workshop and the launch of the 2020 Vision Statement in Adelaide in May and, at the same time, meet with the SA Branch Council; and
• an invitation to attend the ACT Branch Council meeting.

3.2 Branch reports
Reports had been received from the ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS and WA Branches. The VIC general councillor tabled a report. Several general councillors provided an update on their reports, including the ACT general councillor who advised that Mr Kerry Webb has been appointed to the ACT Government's Online Services Advisory Group in his capacity as the ALIA ACT Branch president.

After noting that several divisions had a listserv, it was agreed to ask the manager, systems and design, to draft an "ALIAlist code of conduct" for consideration by General Council at its July 1997 meeting. [IT]

3.3 Executive director's report
The executive director highlighted recent and future activities, including:

• a planned trip to Brisbane and north Queensland to deliver Lobby for Libraries and speak on a range of issues, including rural and isolated groups, the strategic review and the future of work in the library industry;
• a meeting of the TAFE Library Conference Committee and the dissemination of information on the issues discussed at the meeting via the listserv;
• the forthcoming IFLA Conference and the delivery of a lecture on 4 September on the application of marketing techniques by libraries; and
• an invitation to speak at the Specials Conference in Perth on the value of corporate libraries.

3.4 Portfolio reports
Portfolio reports had been received from the ACT, NSW, NT and WA general councillors. The executive director reported that the recent ACLIS Copyright Committee meeting had approved the ACLIS submission to the Copyright Law Review Committee; a copy of the submission is available on the net.

4. Corporate services

4.2 ILL vouchers

4.3 ALIA House
General councillors expressed their approval of the recent painting of the building. The executive director advised that an upgrade of the landscaping was being planned.

4.4 ALIAnet
The manager, systems and publishing, had provided a report on ALIAnet activities. It was noted that the regular updating of the conference pages was a very useful tool.

5. Strategic plan

5.2 Strategic review of library co-ordination and representation
General Council discussed key elements of its submission to the Strategic Review.

Mr Gardini, the consultant charged with the task of undertaking the Strategic Review, joined the meeting at 12.05pm and was advised of the above resolution. Mr Gardini provided general councillors with a report on the Review, including the Terms of Reference, the processes involved in the Review and its three stages.

6. Education and training

• the Board's focus for 1997;
• quality assurance and evaluation of standards;
• ALIA/DEETYA project on the development of a recognition of prior learning (RPL) strategy;
• Metcalfe Medallion;
• education issues for the teacher librarian in the school community; and
• Commonwealth Ministerial Consultation on the establishment of a National Forum of Teacher Professional Associations.

6.2 Course recognition

6.2.1 Course recognition - Charles Sturt University
This item was discussed in camera.

6.2.2 Course recognition - Diploma Courses based on the National Curriculum
This item was discussed in camera.

6.2.3 Course recognition - Monash University
This item was discussed in camera.

7. Workplace

7.2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment and career development strategy for the library and information services sector
The co-ordinator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment and career development strategy for the library and information services sector, had provided General Council with a progress report on the strategy which included the following issues: responses to advertisements for trainees and cadets; scholarship targets; financial report; marketing; mentoring; and program evaluation.

8. Membership

8.2 Member/non-member differential fee for special interest groups
General Council discussed a report prepared by the manager, membership services, on the member/non-member differential fee for special interest groups. It was agreed to seek further information before reconsidering the issue at the July 1997 General Council meeting.

8.3 Membership issues referred to General Council
Members and divisions had raised a number of issues concerning membership for consideration by General Council:

a) Affiliates
The meeting discussed a report prepared by the manager, membership services, concerning affiliate members.

b) Retired members
After considering the issues raised in a paper prepared by the manager, membership services, on the fee charged to members in the category 'Not in paid employment', it was agreed that the ALIA National Office should prepare a recommendation for consideration by General Council at its July 1997 meeting.

c) Certificate fees
After discussing the certificate fee payable by associate and library technician members who rejoin the Association and by members who upgrade their membership to library technician or associate status, General Council agreed that it was an appropriate fee.

d) Membership for those employed by an institution
General Council discussed a report prepared by the manager, membership services, which recommended that the ALIA National Office and branches examine opportunities to encourage staff employed by institutional members to join the Association as personal members.

e) Method of payment of membership fees
It was agreed that, as a service to members, alternative methods for the payment of membership fees should be investigated, together with the administrative costs associated with these services.

9. ALIA policy statements

Action arising:
1. Immediate past president to redraft Statement on Freedom to Read in the light of comments received [HT]
2. President to continue work on the National Information Policy Statement [KS]
3. SA general councillor to take responsibility for Statement of Professional Ethics and revise it for consideration by the July 1997 General Council [DB]
4. Chair, Board of Education, to liaise with Ms Jenny McCarthy regarding the ALIA/ASLA Joint Statement on Library and Information Services in Schools [CMcC]

9.2 ALIA policy statements under development
After discussing the list of policy statements under development, General Council revised the list and agreed on action which can be taken to finalise some statements.

Action arising:
1. Craig Grimison to report to the July 1997 General Council on the draft Policy Statement on Intellectual Property and Copyright in a Networked Information Environment [CG]
2. SA general councillor to report to the July 1997 General Council on the draft Policy Statement on Open Learning [DB]
3. President to refer the draft Policy Statement on Preservation: the permanence and durability of information products to Dr Ross Harvey when he commences his appointment at Curtin University of Technology in May, and the ALIA National Office to write a reminder letter to the Preservation SIG [KS, SR]
4. Vice-president to refer the following statements to the Information Technology and Telecommunications Committee: Co-operative Networks and Improved Library Service; Electronic Publishing; Libraries and Access to Networked Information; Networked Community Information; Surveillance and Electronic Networks for report to the July 1997 GC [JS]

9.2.1 Draft policy statement on ALIA and international relations
After discussing the comments from divisions on the draft Statement on ALIA and International Relations, General Council determined to refer the statement with comments to the International Relations Committee for final comment for July General Council.

10. Guidelines

11. Awards, promotions and lobbying

11.2 Premier awards
This item was discussed in camera.

11.3 Metcalfe Medallion

11.4 Australian Library Week
General Council noted a report by the manager, membership services, on Australian Library Week 1997 (4-10 May). The executive director reported that press kits are being prepared and the consultative committee will meet in the near future. general councillors provided progress reports on planned branch activities during Australian Library Week.

11.5 Fellowship
This item was discussed in camera.

11.6 Library achievement awards
General Council discussed a report by the manager, membership services, regarding the proposed library achievement awards. As the strategy to increase the profile and number of nominations for existing awards had only recently been implemented, General Council agreed to defer the introduction of the ALIA library and information services achievement awards pending an evaluation of the strategy.

It was agreed that branches should be encouraged to utilise the merit awards more widely. general councillors will provide the ALIA National Office with information on recent merit awards which will be incorporated into an article and published in inCite.

12. Divisions

12.2 Report on branch presidents' meeting
The president formally acknowledged branch presidents and expressed the hope that branch presidents will continue to attend the first General Council meeting each year. The president then invited branch presidents to report on the issues arising out of the Friday morning meeting of branch presidents. On behalf of branch presidents, the SA branch president reported on several issues including:

• a progress report on the marketing plan developed by the ACT and NSW branches;
• the value of branch local offices and the need to review the resources being committed to ensure the offices are meeting local objectives;
• the need for branches to more fully utilise international speakers and the decision to keep branches informed when an international speaker has been engaged;
• the processes involved in developing submissions for the Online Public Access Initiative; and
• action which needs to be taken to ensure that membership of branch and section committees includes new members.

12.3 Division reporting to General Council
After discussing a report by the manager, membership services, on the disappointing response from divisions, it was agreed that the proforma report should be revised to enable divisions to report on up to four key issues. The revised proforma will be circulated after the November General council meeting.

12.4 Children's and Youth Services Section (Qld Group)

13. ALIA publications

14. Conferences

14.2 1998 ALIA Biennial Conference report
The convener of the 1998 Conference Committee spoke to her report on the Biennial Conference. The numbers of and benefits for Diamond, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors were noted.

14.3 2000 ALIA Biennial Conference report
The ACT Branch had provided a progress report on the planning for the ALIA Biennial Conference in the year 2000 in Canberra. It was noted that the Conference will be held on 23-27 October at the Convention Centre, and that Kerry Webb had been appointed as convener to initiate planning for the Conference.

14.4 Format of ALIA general biennial conferences
After noting that the ACT Branch needed direction from the July 1997 General Council in order to continue planning for the 2000 General Biennial Conference, it was agreed that the ALIA National Office should develop a paper on the future format of the biennial conferences and administrative support by the ALIA National Office for consideration by General Council at its July 1997 meeting.

14.5 1997 Local Studies National Section Conference
The manager, membership services, provided a report on planning for the 1997 Local Studies National Section Conference. It was noted that the conference will be held on 19-20 September and that its theme is 'Timekeepers: forging links in local studies'.

14.6 1997 National Cataloguing Conference
General councillors noted a progress report by the manager, membership services, on the 12th National Cataloguing Conference to be held on 11-12 September. The conference theme is 'New opportunities for cataloguers'. A report by the convener, Ms Prue Deacon, was noted together with a preliminary budget for the conference.

14.7 Online 97
A report by Ms Enid Roberts, a conference committee member, on the Information Online and On Disc 1997 Conference and Exhibition held on 21-23 January 1997 was noted.

15. ALIA committees

• International Relations Committee;
• Information Technology and Telecommunications Committee;
• By-Laws and Regulations Committee;
• Literacy Task Force;
• ALIA Publishing Policy Committee; and
• Copyright Committee.

15.1.5 Information Literacy Task Force
The ALIA representative on the Information Literacy Task Force augmented her written report with an oral progress report.

16. Committees with ALIA representation

• Standards Australia Committee;
• Australian Committee on Cataloguing;
• Australian Council of Local Government Officers; and
• CREAT Australia.

16.1.1 Libraries Working Group of the Cultural Ministers' Council
The executive director reported that the Council had met in December 1996 and approved the documents '2020 Vision' and 'State of the Nation' for publication. Copies were provided to general councillors at the meeting.

16.1.4 AGPS-ACLIS Liaison Committee
The AGPS-ACLIS Liaison Committee had met on 29 November 1996 and the ALIA representative on the committee, Dr Peter Clayton, had provided a report on issues discussed at the meeting.

16.1.6 National Scholarly Communications Forum
The executive director had provided General Council with a report on the National Scholarly Communications Forum including the next RoundTable which will take place on 20 March and be attended by the manager, membership services.

17. Relations with other associations

17.2 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
Mr Warren Horton, director-general of the National Library of Australia, provided a detailed report on the IFLA election cycle, including the presidential candidates, the candidates for the five vacancies on the executive board and the importance of the Australian vote in these elections. Mr Horton undertook to provide General Council with a report following his attendance at the IFLA Executive Board meeting on 22 March.

17.3 Cataloguing and bibliographic access review
The executive director reminded General Council that a review of Cataloguing and Bibliographic Access, commissioned jointly by ALIA, ACLIS and the NLA, had been completed. general councillors were advised that the resultant Report prepared by the Cataloguing and Bibliographic Access Review Committee had been discussed by ACLIS, Mr Warren Horton and the executive director (on behalf of the Executive Committee). Discussions were currently underway between ACLIS, the NLA and the executive director regarding the report. All parties had approved the structure of and processes involved in the review. It was agreed that General Council will be provided with a report at its July 1997 meeting.

17.4 Australian Computer Society
The president reported that representatives of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) had informally approached her regarding a joint lobbying role. After noting that the executive director had also had discussions with ACS and the similarities between both bodies' aims, it was agreed that the Association should continue its dialogue with ACS.

18. Government inquiries

The executive director reported on Association responses to government inquiries and provided general councillors with information on:

• the review of the Archives Act 1983;
• simplification of the Fair Dealing provisions of the Copyright Act 1968; and
• the review of higher education financing and policy.

Action arising: Forward copies of Association submissions to the president.

19. Copyright

General councillors were provided with a copy of Mr Jamie Wodetzki's report on WIPO Copyright Conference and New Treaties at the meeting.

20. For information items and issues without notice

20.2 Fellowship - Dr FCA (Andy) Exon

21. Other business

22. Next meetings

23. Close of meeting