The Library Council of New South Wales is the governing body of the State Library of New South Wales, as described in The Library Act 1939 (NSW).[1] The Library Council also has specific responsibilities to monitor the operation of public libraries in NSW which includes inspections and the payment of financial subsidies.[1]

Legislation

The Library Act lists three current objectives for Library Council:

"The objects of the Council are:
(a) to promote, provide and maintain library services and information services for the people of New South Wales through the State Library and through co-operation with local libraries and other libraries and information agencies,
(b) to advise the Minister, local authorities and, when the Minister so approves, other bodies, on matters of policy and administration relating to library services and information services that are or may be provided through local libraries or other libraries, and
(c) to advise the Minister on the provision of assistance to local libraries or other libraries."[2]

History

Board of trustees

When the Library Act 1969 amendment came into effect on 1 July 1969, The Board of Trustees who had overseen the operation of the two parts of the State Library of New South Wales, the Public Library and the Mitchell Library, was replaced by a newly established Library Council.[3]

Library Board of New South Wales

Prior to March 1975, two organisations guided the provision of public library services for the people of New South Wales. The Library Council of New South Wales and the Library Board of New South Wales. The Library Board of New South Wales was established to administer subsidies under the Library Act 1939, to assist local municipal councils in establishing and operating public libraries.[4] The Board oversaw inspections of the public libraries operated by local government[5] and advice provided on the establishment of public library facilities in communities[6] and co-operation between local government authorities to create regional library services.[7]

Amalgamation of the Board and the Council

In 1974, a joint recommendation was put forward by the Library Board of New South Wales and the Library Council "for a merger which would give the Library Council responsibility for running the Public Library of New South Wales (now known as the State Library of New South Wales), administering grants to the New South Wales library service and advising the minister."[3]

Membership

The Council is a committee made up of members of the public. The nine members of the Council are nominated by the Minister for the Arts and appointed to a three-year term by the Governor of New South Wales. The Library Act specifies that the Council must include at least one person who has knowledge of, or experience in, education, and at least one person who has knowledge of, or experience in, local government.[8] The NSW State Librarian is the Secretary of the Library Council.[9]

President of Library Council

Many prominent community members have served on Library Council and the position of president has been held by:[3]

Dates Name
1890–1906 J. Norton
1906–1912 Professor Mungo William MacCallum
1912–1924 J.A. Dowling
1924–1926 W. Wood
1927–1937 Sir Daniel Levy
1937–1963 Rt. Hon. H. V. Evatt
1963–1967 Hon. Sir John Ferguson KT, OBE
1968–1973 Professor A.J. Dunston
1974–1979 Hon. Mr Justice Rae Else-Mitchell CMG QC
1979–1983 Dulcie Stretton CBE
1983–1986 R. Hall
1986–1989 Dr A.M. Hertzberg AO
1990–1996 J. Bain AM
1997–2005 Hon. Justice M. Pearlman AO
2005–2006 Belinda Hutchinson AM
2007–2014 Robert Thomas AM
2015–2016 Andrew Tink AM
2016–present George Souris AM

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Library Act 1939". NSW Legislation. NSW Government. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Library Act 1939 No 40, 4A Objects of Council". Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Fletcher, Brian H. (2007). Magnificent Obsession: The story of the Mitchell Library, Sydney. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 277. ISBN 9781741752915.
  4. ^ "Library Board Constituted". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 24 February 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Govt. Officer To Inspect library". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW: National Library of Australia. 21 April 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Free Library hopes for Kiama". Kiama Independent. NSW: National Library of Australia. 27 February 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Libraries Planned". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 20 May 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  8. ^ "2011–12 Annual Report, State Library of New South Wales" (PDF). Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Library Act 1939, Section 7A". NSW Legislation. NSW Government. Retrieved 31 March 2013.

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