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.
Read the working paper for the Public Libraries Summit (Word - 165KB) which has been developed by the Public Libraries Interest Group of Friends of Libraries Australia (FOLA).
The winner of the FOLA 2008 Peter McInnes Award for Library Services for Children and Young People is the Hurstville City Library, NSW, for its Dragon Tales Mandarin Storytime pilot lapsit program in Mandarin for 0-3 year olds.
The winner of the FOLA 2008 Eric Flynn Award for Library Services for Older Adults is the Campaspe Regional Library, Victoria, for its Words on Wheels (WOW) storytelling program for older adults in aged care facilities.
Read about the other libraries which received high commendations (Word - 38KB) from the judges and what the judges said about the winners.
View the Paper (Word - 97KB) presented to a Friends of Libraries regional forum convened by the Friends of Caboolture libraries, and held at the Bribie Island Library, Moreton Bay Regional Council Libraries on 11 October 2008.
This statement by Friends of Libraries Australia(FOLA) responds to enquiries to FOLA about the issues for Friends of Libraries (FOL) groups when local government amalgamations result in more than one Friends group within a new council area.
View the Statement (Word - 25KB)
A report to the nation by Friends of Libraries Australia, Melbourne 2008
View the Report To The Nation (Word - 134KB)
View the Paper (Word - 70KB) presented to a meeting of the Friends of Norwood Payneham and St Peters Libraries, South Australia 15 July 2008 by Dr Alan Bundy AM, President Friends of Libraries Australia
The Awards recognise and support excellence and innovation in Australian library services.
View the Award details and Entry Form (PDF - 203KB)
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 the address (Word - 114KB) to a public meeting convened by the Friends of Mt Barker Community Library, South Australia 21 November 2007 by Dr Alan Bundy AM President Friends of Libraries Australia
View the Paper (PDF - 265KB) presented at the Building bridges to knowledge conference of the Queensland Public Libraries Association, Ipswich Qld 17 September 2007.
View the latest Report to the nation by Friends of Libraries Australia (PDF - 119KB).
View the Report (PDF - 1MB).
To be released soon.
The Address To The Nation Paper was launched by Dr Alan Bundy at the FOLA Annual General Meeting at Balmain Library, Sydney on Thursday 24 August 2006
View the Address To The Nation (PDF - 225KB)
Address at the luncheon celebration of the silver jubilee of Friends of Mackay Libraries Inc, Mackay Queensland 9 August 2006 by Dr Alan Bundy AM, President Friends of Libraries Australia
View the Address to the Mackay Libraries Inc. FOLA Group (PDF - 74KB)
A guide to the role of Friends of Libraries groups for Australian local government, state governments and regional library corporations. Read about how Friends of Libraries Australia encourages Councils or Print out how Friends of Libraries Australia encourages Councils (PDF - 105KB)
The Friends of the Dunedin Public Library Association recently published a book on the groups history - more than 100 years!
Copies are available directly from the Dunedin Public Library Association and orders can be placed with the author, by emailing Merle at klundert@es.co.nz.
Cost is $16 (NZD) plus postage and packaging.
Presentation (PDF - 118KB) to a forum of South Australian Friends of Libraries State Library of SA 6 April 2006
View more of FOLA's issues papers which focus on major issues facing libraries and the community.
