State Library Victoria dumps proposed changes after public outcry
Updated ,first published
The State Library of Victoria has abandoned a proposed restructure following objections from staff, unions and hundreds of Australia’s most prominent writers and academics.
Age announced in November Library staff were told the proposed changes included reducing the number of reference librarians from 25 to 10, canceling other key public-facing roles, introducing new digital roles at the expense of core work and significantly reducing the number of public-facing computers.
The library claimed that its offer was misrepresented in media reports.
“After careful consideration of the feedback we have received throughout the entire consultation process since September, we have decided to withdraw the reorganization proposal,” said library board chair Christine Christian. Age.
“The library developed the reorganization proposal to strengthen its services in response to increased demand and to better manage the new and different ways people interact with the library,” Christian said.
In a statement to this imprint, the library said that “elements of the proposal raise unintended concerns” and that withdrawing the proposal means “we can refine our approach and ensure it best supports our community, staff and long-term vision.”
“More Victorians are seeking new forms of digital access and expecting services that reflect contemporary learning and engagement,” the statement said. “To meet these expectations, we must continue to evolve, just as our community, technology and cultural context evolve, while remaining committed to our core purpose: supporting research, learning, public access to information and protecting Victoria’s treasures.”
A public rally had been planned for Saturday afternoon at the library by more than 250 signatories, including leading writers such as Helen Garner and JM Coetzee, to a recent open letter to Christian in protest against the proposed changes. On Friday, organizers said the rally would go ahead.
open letter He called for transparency about the planned changes, arguing that a new management structure was needed. A similar petition on Change.org had 9,517 signatures, while another petition created by the Community and Public Services Union, which represents library staff, had 4,425 signatures.
Christian, who announced this in June he was going to resignYoung library users want experiential learning, she said, so many go online instead of going to the library and talking to a reference librarian. According to him, the innovations are as follows: mouthful of powder – the library’s “cinematic web experience” with Ned Kelly is critical, he adds, adding that the number of downloads for this project has been phenomenal.
“They access the library in a very different way,” he said. “We remain committed to our role as Victoria’s premier research and reference library; it is one of our key focuses.”
between five strong existing library senior management Three of the team hold acting positions; Among them is CEO John Wicks, who was previously chief operating officer. Wicks took over as CEO from Paul Duldig in August. Kath Brown, chief operating officer and director, people and partnerships deputy; Canberra-based Roxanne Missingham is head of collections; Joel McGuinness is head of engagement; Paula Bray is chief digital officer.
According to Christian, these three positions (CEO, chief operating officer and head of collections) are promoted locally and internationally. “We are proud to now be recognized as a world-class library.”
according to State Library annual report 2024-25Demand for reference librarians is increasing year over year, with a 30 percent increase in online research guide usage and page views (1,141,354), a 40 percent increase in hours spent on deferred queries (6,300 queries), and a total of 52,000 queries at reference desks. Librarian desk and phone inquiries increased by 68 percent, and research guide views increased by 30 percent.
Booklist is Jason Steger’s weekly newsletter for book lovers. Get it delivered every Friday.
