VALA - Libraries, Technology and the Future Inc. (VALA) is an Australian not-for-profit professional organisation that promotes the use and understanding of information and communication technologies across the galleries, libraries, archives and museum sectors.

History

VALA was established as the Victorian Association for Library Automation in 1978 in response to the emergence of automated library catalogues and other technologies that were revolutionising the industry at the time. The name was changed in 2006 to VALA - Libraries, Technology and the Future.

Conferences

The VALA biennial conference is one of the largest conferences of its type in the region. Since their commencement in 1981, VALA conferences have provided one of the major points of contact for Australian librarians with their overseas counterparts.

The 15th VALA Biennial Conference: Connections, Content, Conversations, was held in Melbourne from 9 to 11 February 2010. This was the first VALA conference to be held in the new Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The 16th VALA Biennial Conference is scheduled to be held from 6 to 10 February 2012. The 2012 VALA conference will also be held in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

General Meetings

VALA holds a series of free general meetings throughout the year. The topics of the meetings support and promote an understanding of technology within the libraries and broader information sector. Where possible free podcasts of these meetings are available on the VALA web site.

Topics for 2010 include:

• Creative Commons in Australia, presented by Professor Anne Fitzgerald (Law and Justice Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology
  Queensland University of Technology
  Queensland University of Technology is an Australian university with an applied emphasis in courses and research. Based in Brisbane, it has 40,000 students, including 6,000 international students, over 4,000 staff members, and an annual budget of more than A$750 million.QUT is marketed as "A...
  
  )
• The future of Search presented by Associate Professor Douglas W. Oard (College of Information Studies and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies at the University of Maryland
  University of Maryland
  When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
  
  ).
• Library Metrics presented by Anne Beaumont (State Library of Victoria
  State Library of Victoria
  The State Library of Victoria is the central library of the state of Victoria, Australia, located in Melbourne. It is on the block bounded by Swanston, La Trobe, Russell, and Little Lonsdale streets, in the northern centre of the central business district...
  
  ).
• m-lib mobile library platforms & QR Codes presented by Kat Clancy (Library Web Developer, Deakin University
  Deakin University
  Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
  
  ), Craig Anderson, (University Librarian, RMIT University) and Rowan Mangan (Communications and Marketing Advisor, RMIT University Library).

Awards

VALA aims to further support research in and around the library information science sector through the provision of a series of awards

VALA grants the following awards:

• The Robert D. Williamson Award – Awarded biennially to an individual or organisation who, in the opinion of the judging panel, is currently making an outstanding contribution to the development of information technology usage in Australian libraries and is positively and significantly influencing development in information technology usage within libraries.

• The VALA Award – made biennially, is presented to the Australian library or information centre judged to have made the most innovative use of information technology during the previous two years.

• The VALA Travel Scholarship – every two years VALA offers up to two Travel Scholarships to enable suitable persons to travel overseas to examine aspects of library automation. Recipients receive up to AUD $13,000 towards travel, accommodation and living expenses. Successful candidates must complete their study in time to present their findings at the following VALA Biennial Conference.

• The VALA Student Award - Each year, the VALA Student Award is presented to one student from RMIT University and one from Monash University, in recognition of outstanding achievement in postgraduate library and information management courses.

Governance and membership

VALA is governed by a Committee elected annually from the VALA membership. Membership is open to anyone interested in the professional aims of the organisation.