Annual Report 2003 Library Council of New South Wales Front cover design Southern Cross Sculpture Inspired by a wood engraving of the earliest description of the stars of the Southern Cross from the rare Lettera di Andrea Corsali, printed in Florence in 1516, designer Jon Hawley created this sculpture for the Mitchell Vestibule. The work fills a space created more than 70 years ago for an artwork that would complement the fine architectural features of the building and refer to the records of our history and culture housed in the Library. Dr Bruce Reid, AM, collector, bibliophile and Life Benefactor of the State Library of NSW Foundation, funded the work. < Details from the installation of the sculpture Our vision Our history and legislation Libraries for life – your place, your time The State Library of NSW is one of the oldest libraries in Australia, with a history tracing Our values back to the establishment of the Australian Subscription Library in 1826. Respect for knowledge In 1869 the NSW Government took Commitment to learning responsibility for the Library, forming the Integrity and efficiency of service Sydney Free Public Library, the first truly public library service for the people of NSW. In 1895 Our mission the name was altered to the Public Library of To promote, provide and maintain library and New South Wales. information services for the people The historic Mitchell Wing opened to the public of New South Wales through the State Library in 1910 after David Scott Mitchell bequeathed and through cooperation with his large private collection. Today the Mitchell local libraries and other libraries and Wing is linked below ground and by a glass information agencies. atrium to the contemporary Macquarie Street Wing, opened in 1988. The Library Council of New South Wales is the governing body of the State Library. The objectives of the Library Council, as defined in section 4A of theLibrary Act 1939 (as amended in 1975) are to: ● promote, provide and maintain library and information services for the people of New South Wales through the State Library and through cooperation with local libraries and information agencies ● 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 and other libraries, and ● advise the Minister on the provision of assistance to local libraries or other libraries. Contents ii Letter of submission iii From the State Librarian Letter of submission iv Corporate objectives to 2005 and 2002/2003 results vi Highlights from 2002/03 vii Organisational structure viii Library Council of New South Wales ix President’s overview October 2003 The Hon. Bob Carr MP 1 Achievements in 2002/03 Premier, Minister for the Arts, NSW community and Minister for Citizenship 1 Parliament House 12 NSW public library network Macquarie Street 16 NSW Government Sydney NSW 2000 24 State Library partners and advocates Dear Premier, 31 Additions to the collection We take pleasure, in accordance with the Library Act 1939, 31 Deposits and donations in submitting the Annual Report and Financial Statements of 33 Major purchases the Library Council of New South Wales for the year ending 36 Additions to the collection 30 June 2003 for presentation to Parliament. These documents have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Report (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984, 39 Public Library grants and subsidies and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, as amended. 39 Allocation of Public Library grant funds 2002/03 Submitted on behalf of the Library Council of New South Wales. 40 Library development grants 2002/03 Yours sincerely, 42 Public library subsidies, grants and expenditure 47 Council, staff and friends The Hon. Mahla L Pearlman AM Members of the Library Council President, Library Council of New South Wales 47 48 Standing committees of the Library Council 50 Committees of the State Library of New South Wales 52 Representation on external committees Dagmar Schmidmaier 54 Staff publications, presentations and papers State Librarian & Chief Executive Foundation members and custodians, and donors in 2002/03 Secretary, Library Council of New South Wales 56 65 State Library volunteers 67 Publications and information available 67 Publications 2002/03 68 Freedom of information statement of affairs and statistics 69 Privacy annual report 70 Index Financial statements (separate insert held within back pocket) inside back cover Acknowledgments back cover Contact information ii From the State Librarian This year saw further progress in upgrading the service model has Library’s facilities and infrastructure. The Library is involved staff across the in year 3 of a 5-year program funded by the State Library and I would like Government to refurbish the historic Mitchell to thank everyone Library of the State Library of New South Wales. involved, particularly the Executive for their The well-loved Mitchell Library vestibule is near commitment and completion with the installation of a stunning glass leadership. sculpture. The genesis of the sculpture concept goes back to the 1930s, when the Mitchell Library The staff and management of the Library have again extensions were being planned. managed the Library’s resources efficiently to ensure that all financial and legislative requirements The sculpture has as its inspiration the rare were met and I would like to thank all staff for their 1516 publication, Lettera di Andrea Corsali, which commitment to this task. contains the earliest depiction of the stars of the Southern Cross. Generous funding for the sculpture The relationship with public libraries in New South was provided by a private benefactor and Wales has continued to prosper with greater bibliophile, Dr Bruce Reid, AM. The concept was involvement of public library stakeholders, developed by Jon Hawley. specifically the Country Public Libraries Association, Metropolitan Public Libraries The new vestibule display case opposite the Association and LGov, in the work of the Public sculpture was made possible through the generosity Libraries Consultative Committee. of Library supporters Dr Alex Robertson, Ms Dorothy Peake and Mrs Zeny Edwards. I would like to thank Justice David Levine and members of the Friends Committee for their The words ‘The Mitchell Library’ were inscribed ongoing enthusiasm and support, as well as our over the sandstone entrance to the Mitchell Library wonderful team of Volunteers. through the kind support of Mr E. J. Merewether. To the many supporters of the State Library of New An update of the Library’s Space Utilisation Plan South Wales Foundation who have given was begun, with a particular focus on planning for generously throughout the year, a heartfelt thank the Library’s long-term offsite book storage capacity you. The opening of the Nelson Meers Foundation and the development of a facilities master plan. Heritage Collection has allowed us to display the Work to meet occupational health and safety wonderful treasures held by the Library in both the requirements, including the refurbishment of three real and virtual dimensions. lifts and a much needed replacement of the air- conditioning system in the heritage Mitchell Wing, I would like to extend my personal thanks to retiring was completed. For the first time since the members of Council Dr Veronica Lunn, Professor completion of the original building in 1910, a Wendy Brady and Ms Jennifer Lindsay. To the new complete review and refurbishment of the twenty members of Council, I extend a very warm Mitchell Library roofs has been completed. I would welcome and to continuing members, my gratitude like to acknowledge the leadership role of Jim for their wisdom and encouragement. Sinclair, Facilities Manager, in managing this work and also commend his staff. The Library Council signed off on the Library’s Corporate Plan 2003/05. In order to facilitate the implementation of the key strategic directions the Library embarked on a service improvement program to develop a new model for service delivery, encompassing the challenges and Dagmar Schmidmaier dynamics of the e-environment. Work on the State Librarian & Chief Executive iii Corporate objectives to 2005 and 2002/03 results NSW community 1. Outcome Results Increased access to ● 76% of clients are ‘extremely satisfied’ /‘very satisfied’ with the Information Request Service information for clients ● 92% of participants in the Nestlé Write Around Australia creative writing workshops rated the overall quality as ‘excellent’ / ‘very good’ ● 70% of visitors rated exhibitions ‘excellent’ / ‘very good’ ● 125% increase in requests for website pages Objectives 1.1 Simplify and streamline Responses within agreed timeframe services to improve client Items retrieved from stack 89% access to information Information inquiries 99% Interlibrary loans completed 97% Documents supplied 99% 1.2 Develop an integrated Significant heritage and current resources in electronic form information service, Pages and pictorial images digitised 15 763 real and virtual Web publications preserved 421 Live links to e-resources in WEBCAT 20 235 Full text electronic journal titles held 4 953 1.3 Ensure staff have the Staff hours in formal learning activities 6 744 skills to meet our strategic priorities 1.4 Extend the reach Number of uses of the collection (onsite and offsite) of the collection Inquiries responded to 3 539 204 Uses of collection items 2