|
Effectiveness

click
chart to enlarge
Comments
on Performance—Effectiveness
87
per cent of Library users surveyed believed that the Library’s
exhibitions and events were effective in improving understanding
of the Library and its collections. This was three per cent
below the target. Further analysis of survey responses is
being undertaken to better understand the impact of the Library’s
public programs.
Quality

click
chart to enlarge
Comments
on Performance—Quality
All
quality targets for public programs were exceeded. Generally,
participants in public programs rated their experience very
highly.
Quantity

click
chart to enlarge
Comments
on Performance—Quantity
While
increased participation in public programs was predicted this
year, the final result of over 1.4 million was 68 per cent
above expectation. This is attributed to the large number
of people who attended the Library’s exhibitions, and the
high level of usage of the web site for purposes such as viewing
online
exhibitions.
Price

click
chart to enlarge
Key
Issues/Developments
Special
celebrations
This
year has seen the continuation of major celebrations of the
Centenary of Federation and the Library’s own centenary. Key
events included the following.
- Open
Day—the Library celebrated its 100th Anniversary with an
Open Day on 23 September, which attracted 6000 people.
- Treasures
from the World’s Great Libraries—this exhibition included
168 loans from 38 institutions in 24 countries. A record
115 000 visitors attended, with demand so great that the
exhibition was, in its final weeks, open for 22 hours each
day. A significant amount of broadcast and print media publicity
was achieved throughout Australia. The Treasures
web site won the Australian Publishers Association’s
award for Best Designed Literary or Publishing Website.
For the first time, Library exhibitions visited all States
and Territories during the year.
Outreach
In
keeping with the objectives of Directions
for 2000–2002, the Library continued to expand its
outreach to Australians wherever they are located. This was
achieved by such programs as the following.
- The
Library’s Travelling
Exhibitions Program included exhibitions in 21 locations
in all States and Territories. A total of 251 000 people
visited the exhibitions.
- A
highlight of the Library’s Events Program this year was
The Secret Self, a two-day conference on biography
and autobiography, which attracted a capacity audience.
- The
Library’s Education Program was expanded during the year.
School Holiday Programs for 4- to 12-year-olds are now offered
in all school vacations. Regular teacher information nights
have commenced, to give teachers valuable background information
on Library programs. 5000 students toured in ‘behind-the-scenes’
activities at the Library.
- Friends
of the National Library of Australia membership grew
by 17 per cent during the year. The annual Kenneth Myer
Lecture, hosted by the Friends, was held in Canberra in
August, with a capacity audience addressed by Professor
Peter Doherty AC on the topic of ‘We Know What We Are But
What May We Become?’ The lecture was later broadcast on
ABC Radio National.
- National
interest in the work of the Library was clearly demonstrated
with 60 per cent of visitors to the Treasures
from the World’s Great Libraries
exhibition coming from outside the ACT/Queanbeyan region.
A further 4 per cent came from overseas. 45 per cent were
first-time visitors to the Library. Of those visiting the
exhibition from interstate, 77 per cent travelled to Canberra
especially to see this exhibition.
Community
Heritage Grants
During
the year the National Archives of Australia became a partner
with the Library and the Department of Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts in the Community
Heritage Grants program. Funding and training in preservation
techniques was given to 45 community organisations to assist
with preserving nationally significant documentary heritage
material in their care. This represented an increase of 40
per cent on the number of grants awarded in the previous year.
|