Constitution

Objectives

The National and State Libraries Australasia objectives are to:

  1. Promote and advance the provision, awareness and use of library and information services in Australia.
  2. Provide a consultative forum for state and public library service management in Australia.
  3. Enable the formulation of common plans, policies and programs for state and public library services.
  4. Allow for the common views of state and public libraries to be presented to government, and to other relevant bodies.

Membership

  1. The head of each State and Territory Library and the National Library of Australia is entitled to membership of the Council.
  2. The head of an overseas organisation can be invitied to join NSLA as an "Overseas Member" by the vote of 5 members of the Council, to be reviewed every 2 years. Overseas Members will contribute annually to the funding of the NSLA Secretariat, at a rate determined by the Council.

Chairperson

  1. The Council shall elect a Chairperson from among the members for a term of two years.
  2. A Chairperson may not serve for more than two consecutive terms.

Meetings

  1. The Council shall meet at least twice each calendar year.
  2. At all meetings of the Council, a quorum of voting members shall be five. In the absence of a quorum those present may constitute themselves as a Committee of the Council and take such action as appears appropriate, subject to the subsequent confirmation, as soon as possible, by a quorum of the Council.

Secretariat

  1. Members of NSLA will contribute annually to fund a Secretariat position to support the Chair.
  2. The secretariat position will move to support each new Chair when appointed.

Working Groups

  1. Working Groups will be established by consensus of Council members.
  2. The Working Groups will develop State, Territory and the National Library agendas on important topics and inform Council members of key issues and make recommendations.
  3. Guidelines for the Working Groups are appended.

Representation on External Committees

  1. The Council will nominate representatives for external committees and select a representative by consensus.
  2. Guidelines for the role of nominees on external committees are appended.

Archives

  1. The current official records of the Council shall be under the control of the Chairperson.
  2. The archives of the Council shall be deposited at the National Library of Australia.

Amendments

  1. This constitution may be amended if five members are in favour, provided that previous notice of the amendment has been given.

Appendix 1 (29 November 1999)

Working Groups

Objectives

  1. To provide NSLA with strategic advice and recommendations on specific issues as defined by its Terms of Reference.

Function

  1. Working Groups will be project based, have an agreed purpose and timeframe for the completion of their task.

Terms of Reference

  1. All Working Groups will operate under Terms of Reference agreed to by Council members.

Membership

  1. Council members will nominate a representative from each State and Territory library and the National Library of Australia, if applicable.
  2. Representation will be reviewed every two years.

Convenor

  1. A Convenor will be appointed by the Council for an initial period of up to 2 years.
  2. The Convenor's term can be extended after review.
  3. The head of the institution to which the convenor belongs will act as sponsor for the Working Group.

Reporting

  1. Working Groups will provide a progress report to each meeting of the Council.

Appendix 2

Representation on External Committees

Role

At meetings of external committees, the NSLA representative will:

  1. present a National and State Libraries Australasia perspective and not a personal view
  2. prior to meetings will seek to develop a Council perspective by, for example, circulating agendas and seeking comments from Council members
  3. will provide a progress report to each meeting of Council.

Membership

Representatives will be selected by nomination from members taking into account expertise and availability. If necessary a ballot of members will be held.

Representation will be reviewed every 2 years.