Department of Education

Other Annual Reports
Tasmanian Library Advisory Board Annual Report
On behalf of the Tasmanian Library Advisory Board (TLAB), I am pleased to submit the 25th annual report of the
board as required under the Libraries Act 1984 as amended in 2000.
Role and
structure
The statutory role of the TLAB, as defined by the
Libraries Act 1984, is to advise the Minister for Education
and Skills, and the Secretary of the Department
of Education on matters relevant to the provision
of public library services in Tasmania. The Libraries
Amendment Act 2000 extended the membership
structure to provide a wide representation from the
Tasmanian community, comprising a mix of rural and
urban interests. The current board was appointed on
1 April 2010 and will expire on 31 December 2011.
Board
membership
Ministerial nominees:
Ms Shirley Abel (chairperson)
Ms Lorraine Hamilton
Ms Beverley Jennings
Dr Stefan Petrow
Dr Dianne Snowden
Ms Leonie McNair
Dr Mark Briggs
Ms Maxine Griffiths
Local Government Association of
Tasmania nominees:
Mr Stephen Brown
Alderman Sandra French
Ms Narelle Calphy
Alderman Doug Chipman
Nominee of the Secretary of the
Department of Education:
Ms Siobhan Gaskell, Director, LINC Tasmania
Board
meetings
The board held four meetings during 2010–11 in Launceston on 2 September 2010, Rosny on 2 December 2010
and in Hobart on 24 February 2011 and 2 June 2011.
Major issues
considered
by the board
LINC Tasmania
The board recognises that the environment in
which the provision of library, archive, heritage, and
adult learning services is changing rapidly, as are the
information and skills needs of Tasmanians. The board
congratulates LINC Tasmania on the achievement of
bringing services together into a statewide network
to respond to these changes and challenges and
better serve our clients and their needs. This further
complements the vision for the national strategy for
Re-imagining Library Services which puts people at the
centre of services and focuses on making content
available to all, whether it is online or at a physical
location.
The board supports the need to expand LINC
Tasmania client group to include those who need
greater information and technology access, literacy
and life skills and support to participate fully in work
and community life in today’s society. New key target
groups will include second chance learners including
those with low literacy and qualification levels and
identified equity groups, recognising that their
expectations and purposes will be diverse.
The board believes that the new LINC Tasmania brand
will encourage existing and prospective clients to use
LINC Tasmania services whether through a physical
service point or through the Virtual LINC. The new
name also better reflects expansion in library services
under the new network model.
Strategic Plan 2011–2013
Given that the last two years have been a period of
transition and consolidation for LINC Tasmania, it was
timely that a new strategic plan reflects the vision for
LINC Tasmania. The board commends LINC Tasmania
for the extensive work undertaken to develop LINC
Tasmania’s Strategic Plan 2011–2013 and acknowledges
this major achievement. The board provided input into
the development of the plan during 2010–11 and believes
that the plan places the organisation well to respond
to future challenges. In particular, challenges around
LINC Tasmania’s priorities over the next three years
which include strengthening and sustaining connections
with existing clients – readers, learners, researchers,
educators and partners – as well as connecting with new
clients in new ways, particularly those who need greater
information and technology access, skills and support
to participate fully in work and community life in the
21st Century.
LINC Tasmania’s Strategic Plan 2011–2013 includes
strategies to promote a new culture within LINC
Tasmania into the future to support new services,
innovation and emerging technologies while
strengthening the best of existing library services. The
board fully supports the rigorous performance and
evaluation framework to assess achievements against
key performance indicators and looks forward to being
involved in monitoring progress.
Required Reporting – Other Annual Reports
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