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.
ALIA seeks feedback on a national vision and framework for public libraries
The ALIA Public Libraries Summit gave ALIA a clear mandate to take the lead in developing a vision and a national framework for Australian public libraries.
ALIA has developed a document which represents stage two of the process - the draft vision and national framework for Australian public libraries. We are now seeking your participation in this consultation process.
Download and view the consultation paper. Please provide your feedback by 11 December 2009.
Bushfires swept across Victoria in February 2009. Many libraries and Friends asked what they could contribute. Be Part Of It.... Rebuilding With Books (PDF - 122KB)
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.
