Canberra Times articles

I am writing to correct an article in the Canberra Times of 7 February and an editorial published on 8 February.



Both articles make the claim is made that the Parliamentary Library “could also be forced to move some of its research archives to the National Library of Australia” in order to accommodate additional staff required for a Parliamentary Budget Office.



No one said anything like this in evidence to the Joint Select Committee on the Parliamentary Budget Office. I do not envisage trying to find a new home for any of our “research archives” or collection materials. What I said about the collections, accommodation and the National Library (from the draft transcript) was:



CHAIR—What of the collection would need to be moved, if any?

Ms Missingham—Probably not a lot of the collection. We did have an expert in to look at our collection layout and there is some work we need to do to have the serials in better runs and have them in better access by rejigging the library. If the DPS staff were to leave, we would have probably an easier to navigate collection. It is certainly true to say as well that the use of our print collection is decreasing while the use of our electronic collection is increasing. However, our print collection grows every year by the size of parliamentary paper runs. Generally we only keep the key journals that are most relevant to us. If they are more marginal journals we do not keep them forever, and we have a relationship with the National Library, which, of course, has a very vast collection and they have a Parliamentary Services desk and we are very well served by that library. But we do not think there would be an enormous amount of shrinkage needed in the physical collection.



In summary there are no plans to send our “research archives”, whatever that might be, to the National Library.


Roxanne Missingham

OFFICE OF THE AUSTRALIAN INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

OAIC launches blog on its Issues Paper 1 - Towards an Australian Government Information Policy


The OAIC released an issues paper entitled Towards an Australian Government Information Policy at its launch on 1 November 2010 (available at http://www.oaic.gov.au/publications/papers.html). The Issues Paper proposes ten draft principles on open public sector information. The OAIC is now seeking comments on the principles via a blog available at http://oaic.govspace.gov.au/. Alternatively, formal submissions can be made to consultation@oaic.gov.au .

Comments are due by 1 March 2011.

Biblio Tourismo

Last week the “mild ones” or Biblio tourismo, a tour by librarians on motorcycles visited the Parliamentary Library, among other libraries and sites in the ACT.  They enjoyed meeting Dr Andrew Leigh, Member for Fraser and Senator Gary Humphries as well as a number of Library staff. 

Biblio tourismo are a group of enthusiastic librarians who take an annual tour of libraries in eastern Australia -their blog can be found here http://biblio-turismo.blogspot.com/

Arriving - at the front of Palriament House with Dr Andrew Leigh, Member for Fraser

Alan Flores, leader of the pack, offers advice to Dr Leigh

Refreshments in the Library with Senators Gary Humphries

Much to talk about!

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) launched - discussion paper Towards an Australian Government Information Policy released

Today is a momentous day in access to public sector information for Australia. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) was officially launched by the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI). (media release is at http://www.oaic.gov.au/news/media_release_oaic_launch.html)




The new Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has been created to bring together three functions:

• freedom of information functions, in particular, oversight of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and review of decisions made by agencies and ministers under that Act;
• privacy functions, conferred by the Privacy Act 1988 and other laws;

• government information policy functions, conferred on the Australian Information Commissioner under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010.


The new web site offers access to informative publications including speeches and fact sheets – a model of an easy to use website.

Very importantly, the OAIC today released Issues Paper 1 Towards an Australian Government Information Policy. The Australian Information Commissioner has invited written comment on ten draft principles on open public sector information by 1 March 2011. See http://www.oaic.gov.au/publications/papers.html 

The employment market

Attended an interesting session last week entitled "When the election is a forgotten memory...what will be happening in the employment market?". Thanks to Zenith Management Services for the invitation.


Some comments from the presentations and conversations:

• 54% of CIOs do not believe there are enough skills IT staff in the current marketplace, there are skills shortages overall and an increasing emphasis on candidates having a wide range of skills (Phil Holey-Interlogic)


• changing patterns of employment of engineers are counter cyclical to the economy, Engineers Australia have assessed a significant gap between engineers retiring and those qualifying and coming into the Industry (Andrew Marshall-PCA People)


• Canberra employment patterns are strong, with 70% of employment is in the private sector (Lindsey Morgan-People Intelligence)


• Library and information sector demand remains strong with an emphasis on skills in using technology (John Cooksey General Manager, Recruitment, Zenith Management Services).


Will be interesting to see any changing patterns in the coming year.

Telstra Business women of the year awards

An excellent awards program - and I can do a little happy dance - see http://www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com/Assets/pdf/media/2010/Press_Release_270810.pdf

Roxanne

Parliamentary paper series to be online from 2011

The Joint Committee on Publications has produced the report of its inquiry into the development of a digital repository and electronic distribution of the Parliamentary Papers Series. The report was tabled on Thursday 24 June 2010.

Mr Hayes speech summarised the findings noting:

As a result of their overwhelming support for the development of an electronic Parliamentary Paper Series, the committee has made a number of recommendations in this report which will result in the parliamentary departments developing a digital format repository for the PPS to be based in the parliament... Further, the committee has recommended that the repository be implemented in time to coincide with the start of the 2011 PPS. I would like to stress at this point that there is no intention to stop the printed copy of the series.

See the full speech at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2010-06-24%2F0060%22

An important and very exciting step forward! Congratulations to the Committee and the parliament in committing to take an approach that will significantly improve access by the community to the record of policy making of the parliament and government.