Charter of operations 2009-10
The National Library of Australia (the Library) actively supports learning, creative and intellectual endeavour and the dissemination of knowledge, ideas and information in accordance with our functions as described in the National Library Act 1960:
- To maintain and develop a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the Australian people
- To make library material in the national collection available to such persons and institutions, and in such manner and subject to such conditions, as the Council determines with a view to the most advantageous use of that collection in the national interest
- To make available such other services in relation to library matters and library material (including bibliographical services) as the Council thinks fit, and, in particular, services for the purposes of:
- the library of the Parliament
- the authorities of the Commonwealth; and
- the Territories; and
- the Agencies
- To co-operate in library matters (including the advancement of library science) with authorities or persons, whether in Australia or elsewhere, concerned with library matters
Our strategic plan for 2009-11 describes the way in which the Library endeavours to fulfil its functions. Directions 2009-2011 focuses on three key objectives: Collecting and making accessible the record of Australian life; Delivering our collections and information resources to users rapidly and in a way that meets their needs; and Collaborating with other institutions, nationally and internationally, to achieve these objectives.
The Library has a strong national focus in its outlook, services and programs for the public. We serve a culturally and socially diverse Australian community and we aim to make our collections accessible to all Australians.
The Library is committed to working collaboratively across all levels of government to achieve better services to all Australians. In particular, we will use our expertise and skills to provide national leadership within the broader collections sector by:
- Developing and managing the Libraries Australia service on behalf of the Australian library sector: Libraries Australia, as a catalogue of the resources held by Australia’s libraries , provides a single access point for Australians seeking information for study, research, life long learning and creative pursuits
- Managing the Community Heritage Grants Program on behalf of our program partners: the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; the National Museum of Australia; the National Archives of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archives
- Providing a national site licensing service to enable smaller Australian libraries to purchase electronic resources for their users that they would otherwise be unable to afford
- Developing and coordinating resource discovery services across the collections sector, for example the Picture Australia, Music Australia and People Australia programs
- Participating in, and working collaboratively with, the state and territory libraries through National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA)
- Developing and managing a national online reference service for all Australians (‘AskNow’) on behalf of NSLA libraries
- Developing and leading major joint marketing strategies such as the Australian Newspapers Plan through the NSLA Public Programs & Communications Working Group
The Library also works closely with other libraries and cultural institutions overseas to enhance library services in Australia by:
- Representing the interests of the library sector in the development of international standards for library services
- Representing the interests of the Library and the broader library sector in the international arena by attending the annual Conference of Directors of National Libraries and the World Library and Information Congress
- Participating in international projects that aim to develop solutions to common issues, for example the Library is a member of a group of national libraries (IFLA-CDNL Alliance for Digital Strategies) working jointly on the development of policies and practices for managing digital collections and is currently working on a project with colleagues in the United States to develop a library management system that meets the needs of research libraries (OLE Project)
- Sharing our expertise through presentations at international conferences, seminars and workshops
- Hosting an Asia/Pacific regional conservation advisory centre on behalf of the International Federation of Library Associations
- Providing training and staff development opportunities and hosting visits by library staff from overseas libraries, in particular from the Asia Pacific region
The Library will work collaboratively with the other national collecting institutions to explore operational efficiencies through shared services by:
- Working through the Heads of Cultural Institutions (HOCI) to develop a strategic approach to common collection policy and operational issues, including storage, preservation and digitisation
- Working through the Corporate Management Forum of the Commonwealth Cultural Collecting and Exhibiting Agencies to explore and implement opportunities for ongoing cooperation between member agencies with regard to corporate services and other areas of common interest including working groups relating to financial management, human resources, information technology and facilities management.
- Working through the national collecting institutions Public Programs Working Group on joint marketing initiatives in order to gain greater efficiencies and public outreach
- Developing and facilitating joint professional development opportunities such as the Advanced Workplace Skills Program and the Cultural Management Development Program
The Library will jointly agree on the parameters of its collecting with the national collecting institutions and avoid overlap by:
- Working through HOCI to develop a strategic approach to common collection acquisition issues and to avoid areas of potential overlap
- Continuing to develop and refine our collecting policies in consultation with other national collecting institutions, including the National Film and Sound Archives and the National Archives of Australia
- Liaising as appropriate with other national collecting institutions on the acquisition of major collections
- Ensuring that our collecting policies are regularly revised, updated and available publicly
- Ensuring that our collections are described and able to be discovered easily through our online catalogue and other online discovery services as appropriate
The Library will develop frameworks and strategies in conjunction with the national collecting institutions around common areas of collection management by:
- Working with other national collecting institutions to develop standards and frameworks as appropriate. Leadership of the group, Managing Australian Government Digital Information Resources, which is looking at best practice in the management and preservation of digital resources, is an example of this.
- Sharing information and expertise on collection management issues
- Implementing the recommendations of the Australian National Audit Office report on Safe and Accessible National Collections
- Working through the National Collections Preservation Committee to develop, implement and promote strategies which benefit the conservation of the collection.
The Library will ensure widest possible access to collections through the development of outreach programs:
- Ensuring the Library’s collection is visible and readily accessible to all Australians through our online catalogue and through as many information pathways as possible, for example Google and OCLC WorldCat
- Providing a wide range of ways for users to easily obtain copies of resources in our collection, for example through our national document supply service and our online Copies Direct service
- Leading and managing PANDORA: Australia’s Web Archive in collaboration with other collecting institutions to ensure Australians have access to their documentary heritage in digital form
- Promoting the Library’s services through our flagship publication, The National Library Magazine, which has a significant national and international readership
- Providing access to our services online via our website to facilitate the use of our collections by all Australians
- Publishing information about the collection and exhibitions in books, catalogues, a quarterly magazine, journals and electronically
- Continuing to digitise our Australian collections so that all Australians have access to our important cultural and historical documentary heritage. In particular, in 2009-10 we will continue to digitise Australian newspapers and we will commence a major new project to digitise the Australian Women’s Weekly from its inception in 1933 to 1983
- Building a Treasures Gallery and which will enable the Library to permanently display iconic collection items to the public, and a new general gallery
- Lending items to other Commonwealth collecting institutions and state libraries for exhibition and display
- Supporting a Friends program to develop a greater understanding of the nature of the Library’s collecting and public programs through its newsletter and events
- Promoting the Library’s collections through regular exhibitions and events
- Planning for future travelling exhibitions in response to the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program
In 2009-10 we will deliver a modified exhibition program due to the closure of the current gallery space to allow for the building of the Treasures Gallery and a new general gallery:
- Treasures Gallery 2010: A Preview (April-July 2009)
- Nick Cave: The Exhibition (August-December 2009)
- The Ballets Russes in Australia1936-1940 (April 2009-January 2010)
- The Dunera Boys: 70th Anniversary (February-June 2010)
In 2009-10 we will deliver a broad program of events, including:
- A range of conferences and seminars and events promoting research, writing and Australia’s literary culture
- The Inaugural Ray Mathew Lecture
- The Kenneth Myer Lecture
- Public presentations by recipients of Library Fellowships
- A range of reader education programs helping users build skills in using Library services and collections
- A range of education programs for primary, secondary and tertiary students and teachers as part of the National Capital Education Tourism Project
- A range of events held by the Friends of the National Library of Australia
The Library will ensure widest possible access to collections by undertaking partnerships with other Commonwealth, State, Territory and local government agencies by:
- Participating in HOCI initiatives
- Working with NSLA to collaboratively develop new approaches to library operations through a major project, Re-imagining Libraries
- Acting as the lead agency on behalf of the National Archives of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archives, in the development of a business case to be put to Government for funding for digital activities in 2010-11
- Overseeing the implementation by Australian libraries of Resource, Description and Access, the new international standard for cataloguing library collections
- Developing and undertaking two major oral history programs in collaboration with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: one a continuation of the Bringing Them Home project and a new project to record the story of the Forgotten Australians
- Leading and managing a collaborative initiative, the Australian Newspapers Plan, with NSLA libraries to ensure long-term national access to Australian newspapers through a national collecting and preservation plan
- Working with the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and with the higher education sector to advance the development of sustainable research infrastructure in Australia, based on the Library's experience in discovery services, digital preservation and standards activities
- Working with the National Film and Sound Archive to promote the extension of legal deposit to non-print publications
The Library will engage strategically with Australian Government and Cultural Ministers Council key initiatives by:
- Working cooperatively with the Minister, the Department and other portfolio agencies on portfolio initiatives
- Contributing to, or leading on initiatives across the collecting sector that support the strategic priorities of Government and the Cultural Ministers Council in those areas in which the Library has expertise
- Continuing to work cooperatively with the Minister, the Department and other portfolio agencies to effectively fulfil the Library’s role. This will include:
- informing the Minister and the Department in a timely manner of the Library’s activities and of any significant events relating to the Library’s business;
- responding to requests from the Minister’s office in consultation with the Department; and
The Library will undertake activities that will develop stronger links with the broader creative sector and assist it to develop and grow by:
- Providing on-site assistance to, and facilities for, researchers, writers and scholars through our public and specialist reading rooms
- Offering a scholarship and research program which will bring scholars and researchers to Canberra to use the Library’s collections. In 2009-10 the following will be offered:
- Harold White Fellowships for established researchers and writers
- Norman McCann and Seymour Summer Scholarships for young Australian scholars undertaking post-graduate study
- Minerals Council of Australia Fellowship to enable researchers to undertake research relating to the mining and minerals sector in Australia
- National Library of Australia National Folk Festival Fellowship for folk performers to research original source material in the Library’s folklore archives
- Japan Fellowships and Japan Study Grants for researchers to undertake research based on the Library’s Japanese collections
- Developing research collections and services to promote the creative sector: services include Australia Dancing, MusicAustralia and PictureAustralia.
