ALIA submission in response to the Australia Council for the Arts re-imagine discussion paper, October 2020

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) submission to the Australia Council for the Arts discusses how libraries across the sector have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries have been highly agile, adapting and embracing new technologies, delivering online forums and making electronic resources widely available. As a sector, libraries have proved to be proactive and exceptionally resilient throughout the pandemic.
 
Going forward, libraries will play a significant role in the nation's recovery and are well positioned to weather future disruptions. The library brand is strong and trusted. Our networks, both digital and physical, are well established and efficient. Our workforces are adaptable and innovative. We have a deep and meaningful connection with our communities. We have books and literature at our core, but we have expanded into support for other art forms. These are some of the assets we bring to the current situation and a nation emerging from the impact of a devastating global pandemic.