Delegates at the recent ALIA Public Libraries Summit presented ALIA with the mandate to develop a national framework for Australia's 1500 public libraries. In her opening address, Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, talked about public libraries as 'hubs of community life', neutral spaces for learning, access to the internet and e-learning. She confirmed, 'ALIA has a huge role in all of this.' ALIA, 21 July 2009.