Message from the Federal Minister of the Arts and Sport, Senator the Hon Rod Kemp

I am sorry not to be able to join you and address the Library and Information Week forum. I will follow with interest the many ideas and strategies on the vital role of libraries in linking people and communities with information and resources in the information age.

The Australian Government has been a great supporter of the library sector as it has grown and established links with the information technology sector and the Australian Library and Information Association is to be congratulated for raising issues and facilitating the debate.

The library sector has been a vital participant in Networking the Nation (NTN) projects, which continue to aid the economic and social development of rural Australia with wireless broadband and satellite infrastructure to counter the technological divide.

Libraries are very important to providing public Internet access, and have become key players in addressing the need for equitable access to online services. They have become a local hub for internet training, a resource for electronic access, and they are generators and providers of valuable online content.

A comprehensive evaluation of the NTN program is under way. This evaluation will include an analysis of the outcomes and impact of the program by the Communications Research Unit, and the Government looks forward to working with the Association meet the challenges that lie ahead.