Professional Pathways: consultation report

As the professional body for the library and information services (LIS) sector, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) exists to support the LIS profession. This is why we are excited to launch the Professional Pathways initiative, to ensure we have a diverse, skilled, valued and supported LIS workforce delivering quality library and information services that anticipate and meet the needs of the population.
 
In November 2020, ALIA released the consultation draft of the Professional Pathways initiative. The release started an intense period of consultation, during which time hundreds of people across the library and information sector engaged in the process, providing important feedback and addressing emerging issues. The consultation period culminated in the Professional Pathways Summit in February 2021.
 
This report provides a summary of the key themes that emerged during the three-month consultative process. This process has enabled ALIA to understand more deeply the needs and concerns of the sector we serve, and the challenges we may face. This document stands as a record of both the time, effort and thought that the sector contributed to the consultation, and of the themes that emerged, which will strengthen the project moving forward.