Govt to consolidate back-office functions of NLA and other collecting organisations
The Federal Government has outlined its plans to consolidate the back-office functions of Canberra-based collecting organisations including the National Library of Australia (NLA) in the 2014-15 Budget. In a section...
Get Reading! defunded
The Federal Government has announced its decision to cease funding of the Get Reading! program in the 2014-15 Budget. ‘The Government will achieve savings of $6.4 million over four years...
In brief
NSLA develops new position statement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander library servicesThe Indigenous project group of National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) has released a new position statement for...
Tarneit library construction loses Federal Government funding
The Federal Government has pulled $1 million of funding from the construction of a new $6.95 million library in Tarneit in Victoria, reports the Herald Sun. The former Federal Labor Government announced...
International Library News
HarperCollins makes ebook catalogue available to UK librariesHarperCollins UK will make over 5000 ebook titles available for library and school lending for the first time in the UK via OverDrive’s digital...
Vic govt announces final round of Living Libraries funding
The Victorian Government has opened the fourth and final round of funding for its Living Libraries Infrastructure Program. The program gives Victorian councils and regional library corporations grants of up...
Review of Victorian Public Libraries recommends statewide library card system
A two-year review into Victoria’s public library system has recommended that a library card system be introduced across the state. The second stage report in the ‘Tomorrow’s Libraries’ review, conducted by the...
Decision on GST threshold pushed to March 2014
The decision to collect GST from overseas suppliers for online purchases below $1000 has been pushed back until March 2014, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. As previously reported by Books+Publishing,...
GST issue ‘on the agenda’ at federal and state treasurers’ meeting
A move to collect GST from overseas suppliers for online purchases below $1000 will be discussed at a meeting between federal treasurer Joe Hockey and his state and territory counterparts...
Industry associations raise GST issue with new government as ABS reveals over $7 billion spent on purchases below LVT
The value of online purchases below the current Low Value Threshold (LVT) for collecting Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST) reached more than $7 billion in the 2012-13 financial year, according...
New Arts, Industry and Small Business ministers announced
The recently elected Federal Coalition Government has unveiled its first ministry, including new ministers for the Arts, Industry and Small Business portfolios. George Brandis has been appointed Minister for the Arts, as...
In brief
Political parties repond to ALIA’s ‘Library and Information Agenda’ Australia’s political parties have responded to the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)’s ‘Library and Information Agenda’. The Coalition provided a...
Book Industry Collaborative Council final report released
The final report of the Book Industry Collaborative Council (BICC) has been released and is available online. The report, which is available from Innovation Minister Kim Carr’s website here, makes a...
ALP pledges $12 million for national university publishing consortium; announces plans for Book Industry Innovation Council
A re-elected Federal Labor Government will invest $12 million over three years in a national university publishing consortium, called Australian Universities Press (AUP). Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research,...
Vic govt announces more funds for Victorian public libraries
Libraries in Cobram, Gippsland and Tarneit are among the recipients of the Victorian Government’s third round of funding from its Living Libraries Infrastructure Program, worth $17.2 million over four years. Minister...
ALIA launches federal election advocacy campaign
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) will be lobbying all candidates for the forthcoming federal election to endorse its ‘Library and Information Agenda’, which was released earlier this month. The...
International Library News
UK PLR extension for ebooks, audiobooks confirmed The UK government will extend its Public Lending Rights (PLR) scheme to include ebooks and audiobooks borrowed onsite at public libraries, reports the...
NZ govt working party to consider reducing tax-free threshold on overseas purchases
The New Zealand Government has established a ‘working party’ to consider reducing the country’s current tax-free threshold on overseas purchases, reports Business Day. The working party has been established by...
In brief
Melton Library becomes first Australian library to receive Green Star rating The new Melton Library and Learning Hub in Victoria has been awarded a Green Star rating from the Green...
Interim industry council to be established following final BICC meeting this month
An interim book industry council will be established at the beginning of July following the conclusion of the Book Industry Collaboration Council (BICC) at the end of this month. BICC...