The critical message from the current and previous economic downturns is that when the economy is weaker, families and people need, use and value their public libraries even more.
Read the full statement on The Economic Downturn and Public Libraries
Numerous studies have shown that children who are read to from an early age learn more sounds, develop listening skills, extend their vocabularies, imaginations and understandings of concepts, and learn to read by themselves more easily.
Bolinda is the Largest Online Audio Bookstore in the Southern hemisphere and the Biggest Online Large Print Bookstore in the world - Video and DVD Store.
FOLA is a national voice for the 12 million users of Australia's public libraries, and in particular for the users of public libraries which have now established Friends of Libraries groups.
Thursday 26 August 2010, 4 pm
Launceston Library
Civic Square, Launceston, Tasmania
Presidential Address by Dr Alan Bundy AM
The National Year of Reading 2012 – opportunities for libraries and their Friends
(further details Daniel Ferguson, Executive Director dferguson@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au)
FOLA Advocacy Workshop is being held in conjunction with the Friends of Launceston Library, on Thursday 26 August, 10 am to 1 pm at Launceston Library. All welcome.
(further details Mike McCausland, President, Friends of the Library Launceston mmccausl@yahoo.com)
Apply for the following FOLA Awards 2010:
Read the FOLA submission to the inquiry at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/edt.
The 2009 Peter Mcinnes Award for Library Services for Children and Young People was awarded to the Friends of the Oberon Library (NSW). Highly commended prizes went to: Maitland Library (NSW), Mid Western Regional Council Library (NSW) and Hobsons Bay Libraries (Vic).
Tauranga City Council (NZ) is proposing 'to charge for adult loans to reduce rates contribution to library services'. Read why experience shows this is simplistic, not very smart, thinking.
On 24 November 2009, FOLA signed a Partnership Agreement with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).
Each organisation agreed to work cooperatively in a number of specific areas of mutual benefit and interest. As part of the agreement ALIA agreed to continue to host the FOLA website.
That's the focus of FOLA president Dr Alan Bundy's 2009 address Next chapters at FOLA's AGM held on 27 August at the Port Macquarie Library NSW.
The year past saw FOLA - as the national voice of the 60 per cent of Australians of all ages who use and value their public libraries - extend its focus on advocacy towards its vision of Better, more accessible, libraries for all in Australia.
Read the full President's Report
Australia now has a comprehensive and very heavily used public library system. This has developed in only the last 50 years, largely through state/territory and local government partnership. View the paper (PDF - 129KB)
View more of FOLA's issues papers which focus on major issues facing libraries and the community.
