Full description Background
Free Libraries and Municipal Library Services
As in other States the provision of free libraries in Victoria by local government bodies was retarded, mainly because of the lack of tradition in local government for initiative and funds in educational matters. Although by 1913 there were over 500 Mechanics Institutes, they were never free public lending libraries, and after 1890 their quality declined. However, a few municipalities such as Collingwood, Hawthorn, Fitzroy, Northcote and South Melbourne did provide a free library service.
In the 1920s professional organisations of librarians and later, persons such as the late Sir John Latham, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, bega a campaign against deficiencies in the library services, and the Munn-Pitt Report in 1935 created enough interest for action to be taken.
By the 1940s less than 15% of Victorias population was served by free public libraries. The lack of library services within both metropolitan and regional districts of Victoria prompted the establishment in 1947 of a separate Free Library Service Board to promote, inspect, and organise public library services throughout the State. It was also responsible for advising the minister and councils on matters of general policy relating to free libraries.
The Libraries were to be maintained by municipalities from both municipal funds and from subsidies and grants made by the Victorian government made through the Free Library Service Board. The libraries were to consist of councils that established, on a cooperative basis, a regional library committee to administer library services for the region. The committee in each region was to employ library staff and authorise the purchase of books and other library materials and to be generally in charge of public library services within the region.
The establishment of the Library Council of Victoria 1965
In 1963 the Governor in Council appointed Sir John Jungwirth to sit as a Board of Inquiry to assess the library situation in Victoria and to make recommendations for future development. The subsequent report, published in 1964, stressed the need for cooperation and coordination to develop library services in Victoria. Accordingly the Library Council of Victoria Act 1965 set up a single council- the Library Council of Victoria- to carry out the functions of the Free Library Service Board and those of the State Library Trustees. The Free Library Service Board was redesignated the Public Libraries Division of the Library Council of Victoria. Following the pattern established by the Free Library Service Board, the Public Libraries Division was concerned with the promotion, subsidy, inspection, and organisation of public libraries throughout Victoria. In addition, the Division offered a wide-ranging advisory service concerning all aspects of public librarianship in Victoria.
The Council was to consist of a president and eight members appointed by the Governor in Council. The Act provided that of the eight other members, six should meet certain qualifications. One should be a person distinguished in the field of education; one should represent municipalities within the Melbourne metropolitan area defined under the Act; another, the municipalities outside the metropolitan area; and one of the members should be a professional librarian appointed from a panel of names submitted by the Victorian Branch of the Library Association of Australia.
The principal functions of the Council regarding municipal libraries were to:
assist in the promotion, organisation, and supervision of free library services (including childrens libraries) by municipal councils;
advise on matters of general policy relating to free libraries;
make recommendations to the Minister on the allocation of funds made available by the Victorian Parliament to assist free libraries;
provide advisory services to free libraries and associated institutions;
Administrative restructuring
Under the provisions of the Ministry for the Arts Act 1972, the municipal library function became administered by Victorias first Ministry for the Arts. The Ministry was established in an effort to advise and cooperate with other bodies concerned with the promotion and practice of arts in Victoria.
Libraries Act 1988
As part of a government initiative to bring greater efficiency to the library network by providing a more focussed approach to the development of library policies the Libraries Act 1988 established two bodies: the Libraries Board of Victoria and the Council of the State Library of Victoria. The Libraries Board of Victoria was a cross sectional representative body, which was basically an advisory Board for the Minister of the Arts on Library matters.
The functions of the board were the following:
to make recommendation to the Minister on the allocation of funds made available for promotion and advancement of cooperation between libraries and information organisations;
to monitor developments in matters relevant to libraries and information organisations and evaluate their potential use
to promote and encourage research in matters relevant to libraries and information organisation;
to receive advice form advisory groups established by the board
The Office of Library Services, a division of Arts Victoria, serviced the functions, responsibilities and activities of the Libraries Board of Victoria and its committees.
Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1996
In February 1997 the Victorian Government proclaimed the sections of the Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1996 that created the Library Board of Victoria, which replaced the former Libraries Board of Victoria and Council of the State Library of Victoria. The new Board was to combine the state-wide policy role of the Libraries Board with the State Library governance responsibility of the Council. The new act was to confer greater responsibility and accountability on the Board, while also providing opportunities for the Library to play a more vital leadership role in the state-wide network of libraries and information providers.
The Board was subject to the direction and control of the Minister for the Arts.
The functions of the Board in regard to municipal libraries were to:
oversee cooperation in programs with libraries and information organisations to promote access to library and information services and resources;
exercise leadership and promote high standards in the provision of library and information services;
provide advice and information to the Minister on any matter concerning libraries and information organisations.
The Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1996 disbanded the Office of Library Services and its responsibilities divided between the Office of Local Government and the State Library of Victoria in September 1996. Those responsibilities relating to policy development and coordination of state-wide services to libraries were transferred to the new Library Board of Victoria and carried out by the State Librarys Network Services Division. Responsibility of recurrent funding to municipal library services was invested in the Office of Local Government, Department of Infrastructure.
Sources
Cannon, M., Melbourne after the Gold Rush, Loch Haven Books, Main Ridge, Victoria, 1993
Cannon, M., Old Melbourne Town Before the Gold Rush, Loch Haven Books, Main Ridge, Victoria, 1991
The Cyclopedia of Victoria, Volume 1, The Cyclopedia Company, Melbourne, 1903
Victorian Yearbook 1973, 1981
Victorian Parliamentary Debates, 1944 - 1996
Free Library Service Board, Annual Reports, 1947 1964
Library Council of Victoria, Annual Reports, 1965 - 1988
Libraries Board of Victoria, Annual Reports, 1997 - 1998
Victorian Government Directory, 1983 - 1996
Legislation
State Library National Gallery National Museum and Institute of Applied Science Act 1960 (No.6688) (Vic.)
Library Council of Victoria Act 1965 (No.7364) (Vic.)
Libraries Act 1988 (No.80) (Vic.)
Arts Institutions (Amendment) Act 1996 (No. 61) (Vic.)
Data time period: 1836 to 2013