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37th Annual Report 1996-97
Corporate Overview

The Library is a statutory authority, established by the National Library Act 1960, in the Communications and the Arts portfolio.

The Council of the National Library of Australia

The Council of the National Library of Australia operates in accordance with the requirements of the National Library Act 1960. Meeting six times a year, the Council is responsible for the general policies and directions of the Library.

The Council consists of the Director-General and 11 non-executive members. Nine members are appointed by the Governor-General of Australia for terms of three years: ‘being persons who, in the opinion of the Governor-General, by their knowledge and experience can advance the full development of the Library’ (National Library Act 1960, s. 10(1)(c)). Two members are appointed by the Australian Parliament: a Senator, elected by the Senate, and a Member of the House of Representatives, elected by the House.

Sir Anthony Mason AC is Chairman of the Council. A full list of Council members is attached as Appendix 2, together with details of the terms of reference and membership of the Council’s subcommittees.

Several Council members completed their terms in this reporting year. Professor Stuart Macintyre, Deputy Chairman, stepped down on 1 December 1996 after nine years of service to the Council. Professor Macintyre’s contribution to Australian library affairs was recognised later in the year when he was awarded the Redmond Barry Award by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) in May 1997. The Council elected Ms Geraldine Paton to take over as the Deputy Chairman.

Dr Ann Ghisalberti ended her term on 1 December 1996, and Ms Julia King ended her term on 28 March 1997. At the end of the financial year no new appointments had been announced to fill these three vacancies. Mr John Langmore MP resigned from the Council on 6 December, and was replaced by the Honourable Barry Jones MP.

The Council’s work during the year focused on the strategic issues facing the Library: the termination of the NDIS project, and the establishment of the new Networked Services Project; the debate surrounding overseas collecting; the future of the Film and Video Collection; and operation of the National Portrait Gallery. At the same time, the Council oversaw new initiatives in the use of information technology to increase access to the Library’s collections, such as the Images 1 pictorial database, and advances in digitisation techniques.

The National Portrait Gallery Advisory Committee provided advice to the Council on policy matters concerning the National Portrait Gallery. The Council was particularly pleased to see the continuing interest in the Portrait Gallery’s exhibitions and education program, including its first travelling exhibition. At the time of writing, the business of the Committee was suspended pending a decision by the government on the future operation of the National Portrait Gallery.

The Honourable Barry Jones MP assumed chairmanship of the Fellowship Scheme Advisory Committee which recommends to the Council the award of the Harold White Fellowships. Fellowships are awarded to individuals to undertake research based on the Library’s collections for periods of three to six months. The 1997 fellowships will be awarded in the second half of 1997.

The Council Audit Committee met three times during the year.

The Council acknowledges the contributions made to the Library by generous individuals and corporate donors including those who made gifts of material under the Taxation Incentives for the Arts Scheme.

Structure of the Library

The Library has four divisions:

  • The Collections and Reader Services Division facilitates access to Australia’s documentary heritage wherever it is held. This division collects, organises, preserves and promotes the use of the Library’s collections.
  • The Services to Libraries Division facilitates nationwide access to documents held by libraries and other information providers by supporting the library network system.
  • The Cultural and Educational Services Division promotes the appreciation and use of Library collections and services throughout the community.
  • The Corporate Services Division provides corporate support services to the operational areas of the Library. Significant management initiatives

During the year under review the Library began to develop a Customer Service Charter which will define service expectations and improve accountability to customers of the Library.

Library management undertook a range of continuous improvement initiatives throughout the Library to reflect the need for greater efficiency and improved customer service. The Library began planning a series of formal evaluations of key operational areas in keeping with government requirements.

The Library completed important upgrades to the air-conditioning and lift systems, which were required as part of an asbestos removal program which began in 1995–96.

The Library participated in an Interagency Working Party on Valuation of Heritage Collections which reported in December 1996. The main outcome of the report was a model that all Commonwealth agencies holding heritage collections will use to value the collections for inclusion in financial statements. Valuation of the Library’s collections began in March 1997.

The Library’s basic program structure remained unchanged throughout the year, while two new branches were created. The Library strengthened its public affairs function through the creation of a Corporate Communications Branch within the Corporate Services Division. The stronger emphasis placed on corporate communications reflected the need to communicate more effectively the Library’s objectives and activities to a wide range of stakeholders and users, particularly at a time of reduced organisational funding and ongoing reform of the public sector.

A second new branch, the National Initiatives and Collaboration Branch, within the Services to Libraries program, was formed by the amalgamation of the National Preservation Office, the Distributed National Collection Office, and the International Relations Unit. The new branch will focus on developing national collaborative strategies for operating in a networked electronic environment.

Social justice and equity

The Library aims to provide all Australians with equitable access to its collections and services in a manner appropriate to their individual needs. The Library has a broad range of activities, from the provision of bibliographic data to its travelling exhibitions program, all of which are directed at fulfilling the library and information needs of Australians.

The Library continued to work on a range of activities concerned with the provision of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and with the collecting of materials that document indigenous Australia. These initiatives are described in the main body of the report.

To improve conditions for users with disabilities, the Library made several building changes to facilitate access to the Library building, and created additional parking spaces for visitors with disabilities. The Library completed a Disability Action Plan which examines strategies for making the Library’s services available to people with particular access needs.

Internal and external scrutiny

Australian National Audit Office reports

During 1996–97, the Library was selected for inclusion in the following three Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) audits:

  • Financial Control and Administration Audit of Asset Management (Audit Report No.27). Recommendations in this report identified a number of ‘better practices’ being followed by the Library, and provided some valuable feedback on further improvements that could be achieved. The Library has implemented the ANAO recommendations from this report.
  • Financial Control and Administration Audit of Internet Security. Report yet to be presented.
  • Efficiency Audit of Telecommunications Services. Report yet to be presented.

Internal audit

Internal audits completed and considered by the Library’s Audit Committee include:

  • Nomad Human Resource Management System
  • Windows NT Environment
  • Data Communications
  • Devolution of Corporate Services
  • Educational Services Seminar Program
  • Physical Security

The Library made submissions to the following Committees of Inquiry:

  • Senate Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts References Committee (Heritage Access Inquiry)
  • Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy (West Review)

Library officers appeared before the following Committee of Inquiry:

  • Senate Finance and Public Administration Reference Committee (Government Information Management)

Legal actions

No significant legal actions were taken against the Library.

Privacy

No complaints to, or reports or determinations by, the Privacy Commissioner (http://www.hreoc.gov.au/privacy/privacy.htm) about Library activities were made during 1996–97.

Commonwealth Ombudsman

No complaints to, or reports or determinations by, the Commonwealth Ombudsman were made about Library activities during 1996–97.

Freedom of Information requests are detailed in Appendix 6.


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