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The Australian library and information profession is committed to increasing the Australian Library and Information Association’s presence in the global library community, to providing leadership through ALIA’s expertise and to promoting greater understanding of international librarianship and library issues in the global information environment.

Adopted 1997. Amended 2001. Reviewed 2009. Amended 2018. Superceded by "ALIA international relations statement" (2022).

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) adopts in principle the right of people with a disability to equitable access to information through all library and information services, and promotes the observation of current Commonwealth, state and territory disability discrimination legislation.

The library and information sector has a distinctive area of knowledge and skills which is required for effective professional practice. Library and information specialists need to acquire the relevant disciplinary expertise, demonstrate employment related skills and be prepared for a challenging and dynamic future in many diverse environments.

This document was superceded by "Foundation knowledge for entry-level library and information professionals (2020)".

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), Australian Society of Archivist (ASA) and Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIMPA) collaborated on the development of the Foundation Knowledge, Skills and Attributes for information professionals working in archives, libraries and records management.

In 2014, ALIA, in conjunction with the Australian Law Library Association, Health Libraries Inc (HLInc) and Health Libraries Australia (ALIA HLA, a national group of the Australian Library and Information Association), released a study which suggests law firms, government departments, associations and other organisations involved with special libraries gain over $5 in return for every $1 they invest in special libraries.

This document was developed in the context of standards published by other Australian professional associations for educators. Its major aim was to achieve national consensus on what constituted excellent teacher librarian practice, to inform the profession and enhance student learning outcomes.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Australian School Library Association (ASLA) are pleased to endorse and promote this statement of standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. This statement describes the professional knowledge, skills and commitment demonstrated by teacher librarians working at a level of excellence. It represents the goals to which all Australian teacher librarians should aspire, and provides inspiration for quality teaching and ongoing professional practice.

This document, prepared in a joint partnership by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Schools and the Victorian Catholic Teacher Librarians (VCTL), aims to support schools in their self reflection. The information gathered would contribute to a self reflection report. In addition, the document provides a valuable strategy to use in the ongoing monitoring of the school’s improvement plans.

This document is an evidence-based guide for the development of public library services in Australia. It uses the National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) annual collation of state and territory statistics as its evidence base, and builds on the earlier work on standards and guidelines carried out by the State Libraries of New South Wales and Queensland.