National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia 2003 Annual Report National Library of Australia 2003 Annual Report
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CORPORATE OVERVIEW

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Contents
Director General's Review
Corporate Overview
Report on Operations
Financial Statements
Appendices

ROLE

The functions of the Library are set out in section 6 of the National Library Act 1960:

(a) to maintain and develop a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the Australian people;

(b) 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;

(c) 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:

i. the library of the Parliament;
ii. the authorities of the Commonwealth;
and
iii. the Territories; and
iv. the Agencies (within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999 (Cwlth));

(d) 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.

The Library is one of several agencies within the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio with responsibilities for collecting Australian cultural heritage materials and making these available to the Australian public. Senator the Hon. Rod Kemp MP was appointed Minister for the Arts and Sport on 23 November 2001, succeeding the Hon. Peter McGauran MP, Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation. Senator Kemp is the Minister responsible for the Library, together with the Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Richard Alston. The affairs of the Library are conducted by the National Library Council, with the Director-General as chief executive officer and member of the Council.

 

 

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