CHAIR (Ms Bird) —I declare open this first public hearing of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Training as part of its inquiry into school libraries and teacher librarians in Australian schools. This inquiry was referred by the Minister for Education, the Hon. Julia Gillard MP. Well over 300 submissions have been received to date from interested stakeholders both in Australia and overseas. Once authorised for publication, copies of submissions will be available on the committee’s website. I refer members of the media who may be present at this hearing to the need to fairly and accurately report the proceedings of the committee.

I welcome our witnesses from the Australian School Library Association and the Australian School Library Association New South Wales to today’s hearings. Although the committee does not require you to give evidence under oath, I should advise you that the hearing is a legal proceeding of the parliament and therefore has the same standing as proceedings of the respective houses.

Thank you for your attendance here today. The quality of the submissions received by the committee indicates to us the great interest in the profession. It is very encouraging to know that we are looking at something that has such a level of interest and concern. I invite you to make an opening statement after which, as the committee is generally very keen to ask questions regarding the submissions, we will go into a questions session.

[10.06 am]