Response to Services to Public Libraries Review

This response sheet is provided for stakeholders within the public library service network.  The stakeholders are defined as those organisations which provide or may provide library services to the public, in the Northern Territory.

The issues in the discussion paper ‘Review of Services to Public Libraries in the Northern Territory’ should be considered when completing this response sheet.

All comments will be accepted up until 28 February 2008.

Organisation

Phone/Email

Stakeholder Consultation Issue 1 – Underlying Principles

Stakeholder comments are sought on whether the Guiding Principles proposed for public libraries in the Northern Territory at Section 6.2.1 of this Discussion Paper are appropriate to underpin the development and delivery of public library services by 2020.

• Are they adequate?
  
  •  Yes
  •  No
  
  
  
• Are there any gaps?
  
  •  Yes
  •  No
  
  
  
• What improvements could be made to them?
  
  
  
• Comments:
  
  

Stakeholder comments are sought on whether the roles and responsibilities of NTL with regard to network services and public libraries and knowledge centres should be defined as outlined in Section 6.2.2 of this Discussion Paper.

• Is the best vehicle for this an agreement between NTL and the relevant municipal, shire or community council?
  
  •  Yes
  •  No
  
  
  
• Comments:
  

• Will this meet the needs of users?
  
  •  Yes
  •  No
  
  
  
• If No, comments:
  
  
  
• Suggest other models which would be appropriate to the Territory.
  
  
  
• Comments:
  

Stakeholder comments are sought on what are the appropriate locations for new facilities to be established.

• What criteria should be used to determine where new facilities are located?
  e.g., population size, proximity to other services, capacity of community to support a library facility, capacity of local infrastructure to support a new library facility, community readiness.
  
  
  
• Who should be responsible for funding these new facilities?
  
  
  
• How should costs be allocated between the NT Government and the relevant municipality or shire?
  
  
  
• Comments:
  

• Should a whole-of-Government approach to the development, management and operation of joint-use libraries between NTL and DEET be developed by the NT Government?
  
  •  Yes
  •  No
  
  
  
• If Yes, what should be the scope of such an arrangement?
  
  
  
• Are joint-use facilities seen as an efficient and effective way to provide library facilities across the Territory?
  
  •  Yes
  •  No
  
  
  
• Comments:
  
  
  
• What arrangements should underpin their operation in terms of access, opening hours, etc?
  
  
  
• What are the funding responsibilities of DEET, NTL, and the municipal and shire councils for any joint-use libraries?
  
  
  
• How should costs be split between DEET, NTL and the municipalities and shires?
  
  
  
• Comments:
  

Stake holder comments are sought on the future operation of the Libraries and Knowledge Centres Program (see Sections 2 and 6.2 of the Discussion Paper), including priorities for its future development and enhancement by NTL.

• What are the priorities for development of the program in terms of services, location, funding, etc?
  
  
  
• Comments:
  

Stakeholder comments are sought on the operation of shire service plans in relation to public libraries.

• How will these KPIs relate to any agreements between the NTG and the shire for the provision of public library services?
  
  
  
• Comments:
  

Stakeholder comments are sought on the roles that libraries play or should play in the development of local communities.

• Comments:
  

Stakeholder comments are sought on how services will be provided to remote residents who do not live in or near a town centre.

• Comments:
  

Stakeholder comments are sought on how to deal with attracting and retaining professional library staff in the context of the national shortage of librarians.

• Comments: