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STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA . . .
KNOWLEDGE CENTRE OR CALL CENTRE?
PUBLIC FORUM
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A Public Forum for all academics, writers, researchers, historians,
genealogists, students, trade unionists and other users and supporters
of the State Library of Victoria.
Staff, ex-staff and library users speak about where the State Library is
heading and why the public should support the staff union's claims for
respect, recognition and appropriate remuneration. Speakers include:-
Morag Loh, Mimi Colligan, Wallace Kilsop & Karen Batt
The State Library of Victoria is one of the nation's great cultural
collecting institutions. Redmond Barry, the Library's founding force,
described it as 'a great emporium of learning and philosophy, of
literature, science and art'.
In recent years, its greatness has been undermined. An emphasis on
bricks and mortar and public events has been to the detriment of
collections and staff. This trend must be reversed. With the Library now
emerging from its major redevelopment, it is timely to discuss where it
is heading and how we can resource the "knowledge economy" necessary for
Australia's development.
In a period of electronic revolution, libraries world wide are facing
the challenge of reinventing themselves. Staff and users have the
expertise and experience to ensure that the SLV becomes a "knowledge
centre", a base for research and scholarship, rather than a "call
centre".
We need a world-class reference section which acknowledges that there
are major reference tools published by key world organisations which
appear in paper, not electronic form. Conservation of collections is a
crucial issue. Important public collections have been allowed to gather
mould. We need frank and open debate on conservation programs and the
place of both paper and digital storage.
We need sound public administration. The previous government's Financial
Management Act 1994 forced accounting standards that, combined with
Executive performance contracts, have been counter-productive. Human
resources have become costs and liabilities that need to minimised.
Conservation programs have become 'luxuries'. Yet collections - and the
staff who care for them - are the basis of the Library.
RESPECT
Respect for staff knowledge, scholarship, expertise and professional
standards must be paramount. Staff skill bases need to be increased
across the whole gamut of information media for them to serve the public
well. But instead, library workers are being de-skilled. A traditional
service ethic of thoroughness and inventive sleuthing must be
encouraged. Staff must not be coerced into lowering standards or
punished if they do not conform. The Library exists because of its
collections. These collections must be respected. Instead, periodical
and newspaper titles are being cancelled.
RECOGNITION
Staff have no direct voice in the Library's governance and have no
access to the Library Board of Victoria. Staff should have a
staff-elected representative on the Library Board so that the people
with the best knowledge of the collection and the needs of users can be
involved in decision making.
REMUNERATION
State Library of Victoria workers are amongst the lowest paid library
workers in Australia. The fact that the starting rate for a qualified
professional at the Library is less than $30,000 is appalling. The fact
that some staff have worked for more at than ten years at the Library
and are still paid less than $30,000 is a disgrace. SLV salaries are
below those of Victorian Public Service rates. For qualified librarians,
the interstate average is 19.8% higher on average at the
entry point, and 3.2% higher at the top of the pay scale. (For details,
see the Australian Library and Information Association's Salary scales
2002/2003 at www.alia.org.au)
This indicates that Victoria does not value the State Library's research
collections or those who make them available to the public. Yet, with
globalisation, we will only survive as a community if the public has
access to information and knowledge. Library workers have an essential
place at the forefront of the Knowledge Economy.
2 - 4pm Saturday, February 15th ,
New Ballroom - Trades Hall,
54 Victoria St (cnr Lygon St), Carlton
www.tradeshallarts.com.au
> > > PASS IT ON > > >
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