Organisation of Libraries

Industry View

Libraries

National Library

State libraries

Academic libraries Special Libraries Public Libraries

University/TAFE

Secondary school

Primary School

Law Libraries Hospital Libraries

Government Libraries

Federal

State

Organisation of a Library

Library Manager

Information technology Technical Services Reader Services

IT Help desk Acquisitions

Cataloguing

Conservation

Circulation

Reference

National Library of Australia (NLA)

ObjectivesTo ensure that a comprehensive record of Australian history and endeavour, and a selected record of the world's knowledge, is collected, cared for and accessibleTo meet the needs of our users for rapid and streamlined access to collections To foster understanding and enjoyment of the National Library and its vital role in Australia's cultural, intellectual and social life To advance the development and understanding of libraries

State Libraries

State libraries have major responsibilities for the collection development and preservation of the State’s heritage. A large amount of material held by the State Libraries and the National Library is acquired under legal deposit

“The law which obliges publishers to deposit copies of their publications in libraries in the country in which they are published, including the National Library and other libraries designated in the Act” (Mortimer 2001, p.104)

State Library of VictoriaThe State Library of Victoria will enrich the cultural, educational, social and economic life of all Victorians by:

collecting, preserving and making available their documentary and published heritageproviding access to the world’s informationdeveloping the state network of information resources and librariespromoting the culture and heritage of the state

Public Libraries Public libraries are also called local or municipal libraries. They are funded partly by municipal councils and partly from State revenue, and are free and open to all members of the public, who can borrow items after registering as a borrower. Your municipal library may belong to a regional library -

“A public library serving a district, usually across local government boundaries” (Mortimer 2001, p. 149).

The Regional Library, or the Head Office, performs administrative functions for the branch libraries, such as staffing, finances, purchasing and processing items.

Public Libraries

Location

Population

Availability of specialist staff

Availability of funding

Availability of technology.

Academic Libraries

The aim of academic libraries is to support the programs carried out in the parent institution

“A library serving the information needs of the students and staff of a university or similar institution” (Mortimer 2001, p. 5)..

Academic Libraries

The focus is on teaching the students how to find their own information.Materials in demand and on students’ reading lists are kept in a reserve collection –

“Also closed reserve, open reserve, restricted loan, short loan. A collection of material in high demand, usually in a teaching institution, whose access is controlled and whose loan periods are shorter than normal library loans” (Mortimer 2001, p.151).

School LibrariesSchool libraries have three main aims in collection development. \

the material must support the students’ studies to enable them to carry out study and research. the material collected must be very up to date to allow teachers to support the school curriculum the library must also choose materials that will encourage reading.

Special LibrariesSpecial libraries include government and non-government sector libraries; business, industry, hospital and law libraries as well as libraries which deal specifically with special client groups such as the Royal Society for the Blind.

“A library focussing on a specialised subject area. Usually maintained by a corporation, association or government agency” (Mortimer 2001, p.163).