Annual Report

Australian School Library Association Inc.

Annual General Meeting, August 2008
Presented by Anette Ainsworth ( ASLA President – August 2007 – March 2008)
and Rob Moore ( ASLA President – March 2008 – August 2008)

Strategic Direction
Examined policy statements and structure of ASLA and put in place frameworks for a better understanding of ASLA’s core business.

Advocacy
Decision by Executive to ensure that ASLA is represented appropriately and consistently on peak bodies (e.g. President and Executive Officer to represent ASLA with Teaching Australia)

Teaching Australia - involved in discussions regarding the setting up of the Teaching Australia Network group – what the expectations of ASLA would be in regard to the group. Contributed to the discussions about the National Professional Standards and Charter. President and Executive Officer attended inaugural Teaching Australia Network Forum. Various members of Executive and Council attended launches of Charter for the Australian Teaching Profession in capital cities around Australia.

Represented at the first National Curriculum Board Forum by Vice President – Association Operations

Letters sent to Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and Minister of Education pre and post Federal Election 2007

ASLA/ALIA Relations
Continued to build on alliance with ALIA through discussions and the PAG. Continuation of revision and development of shared policies. Represented at the ALIA Education and Workforce Summit and ALIA Course recognition of CSU. Liaised with ALIA regarding promotion of the library profession to federal government members.

Publications
Access continues as the major publication of ASLA, including referred articles.
Ceased negotiations and withdrew publication proposal from Curriculum Corporation and started successful negotiations with ACER Press for a series of publications. Expression of interest to participate in a reference group for a new publication from ASLA and ALIA called.

Research
Edith Cowan University: the survey was launched for participants to enter data over late 2007 – early 2008. Analysis of the data has been ongoing over the past six months and Barbara Combes is due to report to the PAG in early September.

Conferences
ASLA XX successfully held in Adelaide in October 2007.

ASLA Online III “Under construction: a World without walls” successfully staged in May 2008 with over 80 participants from 9 countries.

ASLA XXI organising committee formed and preliminary arrangements being organised for Perth 2009 National Conference.

Awards:
Teacher Librarian of the Year Award which is sponsored by Pledger Consulting Pty Ltd (LinksPlus/WebLinks) was presented to Helen Reynolds from The Southport School in Queensland.

Citation awarded to Lyn Hay from Charles Sturt University for outstanding service and leadership to school libraries in Australia and received this award for the areas of education, publications, research and innovation. Her vision has had ongoing positive consequences for the profession of teacher librarianship across Australia.

THANK YOU
Jan Barnett and Isobel Williams for their dedication and service on the ASLA Executive
Anette Ainsworth for stepping into the breach when we found ourselves without a President after the 2007 AGM
Karen Bonanno for her invaluable support in helping me scale the steep learning curve of ASLA’s Presidency
All ASLA Councillors for giving their time, energy and experience to the national work of teacher librarians

Last updated 10 August 2008