National Library of Australia Annual Report 2000-01
NLA homeAnnual Report homeContents    


 
Corporate Overviewpage 1page 2page 3page 4page 5page 6page 7page 8
Corporate Management Issues

Management of Human Resources

The Library undertook considerable work in the area of workforce planning during the year. In broad terms the workforce strategy aims to:

foster a greater understanding throughout the organisation of future business directions to enable managers to make more effective decisions, and to attract, develop and retain the appropriate workforce to meet current and future business needs
ensure an ongoing assessment by senior management of future workforce needs and key business drivers including a set of capabilities required for future success
ensure the design of human resource practices to create the required capabilities.

National Library of Australia click to enlarge image
Damian McDonald (b.1971)
The Library, winter sunrise
Imaging Services

Practical outcomes and initiatives in the area of workforce planning include:

an increased focus on strategic training
development of a revised performance management framework
review of the manner in which the Library markets itself as an employer
increased internal and external mobility of staff
consideration of a graduate recruitment strategy
revised entry and exit surveys for staff
enhanced reporting to the Library's executive on workforce demographics.

Industrial Democracy: Workplace Agreement

The Library's Consultative Committee met five times. The committee continued to provide a forum for consultation and discussion between management, staff and unions.

A new Certified Agreement was approved on 12 December 2000 and will remain in force until 30 June 2002. The Agreement was supported by 92.7 per cent of staff participating in the vote. The Agreement builds on a range of reforms introduced in the 1998 Certified Agreement, aimed at increasing the Library's flexibility both as a service provider and employer.

Establishment and Maintenance of Appropriate Ethical Standards

The Library has strategies in place to help ensure that all employees observe the highest standards of ethical behaviour and that appropriate action is taken when those standards are not met. The Library's induction policy provides new employees with information on the ethical standards set out under the Public Service Act 1999. The Library's Fraud Management Policy was also revised during the year to reflect changes in legislation and to update the ethical framework of the Library. The Library actively promotes the APS Values and Code of Conduct to its employees.

Commonwealth Disability Strategy

The Library continued its commitment to achieving performance levels contained in its Disability Strategy. The strategy assists the Library to meet its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth).

In particular the Library:

responded to customer requests to improve the ways it meets the needs of people with disabilities
participated in the Round Table on Information Access for people with print disabilities and held training sessions for staff, run by the Royal Blind Society, to raise awareness of the needs of people with visual disabilities
released a web access policy and principles document which outlines the Library's commitment to provide access to visually impaired users
ensured the Library's web site allows visually impaired people to use special software to access the Library's online resources
reviewed its Certified Agreement, Staff Selection Guidelines and Staff Training program to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth).

Portrait of Bob Randall, Indigenous Australian Performer 2000

click to enlarge imageRobert Guth (b.1975)
Portrait of Bob Randall, Indigenous Australian Performer 2000
Courtesy of ‘Bringing Them Home’ Oral History Project
and Robert Guth

 

Workplace Diversity Program

The Library's Workplace Diversity Program has a strong focus on valuing diversity in the workplace. In addition, the Library has a network of Harassment and Disability Contact Officers who actively work to promote a harassment and discrimination free workplace. Much work has also been undertaken to ensure that the Library's recruitment and selection practices meet the special needs of people in the EEO target groups. In addition to several ongoing Indigenous employees, the Library currently employs 13 non-ongoing Indigenous employees (for periods ranging from six months to two years) as part of its Bringing Them Home Oral History Project. This project has been funded to collect and preserve the oral history of Indigenous people and others involved in or affected by the process of child removals.

Staff surveyed during the year on a range of workplace diversity issues recorded high levels of satisfaction.

Occupational Health and Safety

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee met four times to consider issues associated with the application of health and safety principles and practices.

Comcare Australia undertook a planned investigation under the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 using the Victorian SafetyMAP audit tool. The investigation indicated that the Library manages its health and safety risks adequately. To further improve performance, the Library will:

introduce a formal procedure for the systematic identification, assessment and control of hazards and risks
conduct a review of health and safety training to ensure that all employees receive appropriate training and their level of knowledge is kept up-to-date.

Energy Consumption and Environment Protection

As a result of the Library's greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives, energy usage has been reduced by approximately 60 per cent over the past six years, despite an increase in the number of areas provided with 24-hour climate control. This reduction has been achieved through a review of the design of the building services, implementation of an electronic building management system, an overhaul of lighting systems, installation of digital and timer controls, and regular monitoring and analysis of energy usage.

In June the Library was awarded the Commonwealth Energy and Environmental Award for the Best Energy Management Program.

Competitive Tendering and Contracting

The Library continued its program of utilising outsourcing options in cases where this is cost-beneficial. A strategy for selective outsourcing of some IT Services was prepared following the Library's withdrawal from the Whole of Government IT Outsourcing Initiative.

Preliminary work was completed for a major benchmarking program to be undertaken next year and further outsourcing will be considered in the context of the findings.

Purchasing Policies

As an agency covered by the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997, the Library develops its own Procurement Guidelines. These embrace the core Commonwealth procurement principles and policies and are mandatory for all staff to follow when undertaking procurement activities.

A new contract management system was implemented to manage more effectively the Library's procurement functions. Also, a series of workshops were held for staff covering: the tendering process and documentation; managing contracts; risk management; contract variation procedures; and contract negotiation.

Asset Management

The Library's collection, valued at $1.520 billion, is its prime asset on which many services are based. The iconic, high value items within the collection are valued individually and other materials are valued using statistically valid methods. The Library revalues its collection every 3 years. The Library's performance in developing and maintaining the collection is outlined in the Report on Operations.

The Library's land and buildings are valued at $133.23 million. The major components of these assets are managed via a Long Term Strategic Management Plan for the Building Asset. This Plan is reviewed every three years. The Plan provides a full condition appraisal and life-cycle cost analysis of the total building asset and represents a long-term maintenance program covering a 15-year period.

The remaining material assets are controlled via an Assets Register. Total value of the listed assets is $10.74 million. The Library has adopted an integrated life-cycle management policy for these assets.

Discretionary Grants

Pam Viti, left, and Barbara Hill of Mackay

click to enlarge imagePam Viti and Barbara Hill of Mackay examine some of the records donated to the Mackay City Library, preserved with the assistance of Community Heritage Grants
Photo courtesy of the
Daily Mercury, Mackay

The Library operates two discretionary grant programs as follows:


Community Heritage Grants

The Library, in cooperation with the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, offers Community Heritage Grants to assist Australian community organisations to preserve significant documentary heritage collections.




Harold White Fellowships

The Library awards a limited number of fellowships to enable established scholars and writers to work for periods of three to six months on material in the Library's collections.

Cooperation on Corporate Management Issues within the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio

The Library continued to chair the Corporate Management Forum, comprising senior executives with corporate management responsibilities from seven agencies within the Communications, Information Technology and Arts portfolio, and two other agencies. The forum considers common issues in the areas of personnel management, financial management, infrastructure management, corporate planning, IT and public programs with a view to achieving economies of scale and best practice.

Some key outcomes of the forum have included the initiation of a joint Indigenous training and employment strategy; and implementation of revised joint management programs for staff.

back to Public Accountability top on to Information Technology Issues

contents
glossarysearchhelp
contact usdownload annual reportpurchase annual report