Library Board of Western Australia
The Library Board of Western Australia is constituted under the authority of the Library Board of Western Australia Act (1951) and is responsible for the management of the State Library of Western Australia. The State Library reports to the Board through the Chief Executive Officer / State Librarian who is the Executive Officer of the Board.
Members of the Library Board of Western Australia
The Library Board of Western Australia comprises 13 members who are appointed by the Governor for a period of four years and are eligible for renomination at the expiry of that term. The Chairman of the Library Board is elected annually by the Board members.
Professor Matthew Allen (Chairman)
Professor Allen is Head of Department, Internet Studies, at Curtin University of Technology. With a background in cultural studies and history, in 1999 Professor Allen established the Internet Studies program at Curtin, providing innovative education and research programs in this leading-edge field of study. Currently Matthew is engaged in doctoral supervision and research in the broad field of Internet Studies and in developing innovative approaches to online education. He is an Australian Teaching and Learning Council Teaching Fellow, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors, Internet Industry Association.
Professor Allen gained the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the ANU in 1991 and also has a Master of Arts, Literature and Communication (Murdoch University), and a Bachelor of Arts, First Class Honours in History (University of Sydney). In 2000 he received an Australian Award for University Teaching. He is the author of two books and several academic chapters, papers and articles. He has served on the Library Board of Western Australia since 2003.
Speeches by Professor Allen
Premier's Book Awards September 2011 [Link to speech on staff speeches page]
Fremantle Public Library members October 2011 [Link to speech on staff speeches page]
Members of the Library Board
Councillor Deb Hamblin (Vice Chairman)
Cr Janet Davidson JP
Mr Brett Davies
Ms Marie-Anne Keeffe
Ms Allanah Lucas
Councillor Giuseppe (Joe) Marino
Mr Michael Murray
Dr Margaret Nowak
More information on Library Board members.
Department of Culture and the Arts
Since 1997 the State Library has been a portfolio organisation within the Department of Culture and the Arts which comprises the following organisations:
- Department of Culture and the Arts (government department)
- Art Gallery of Western Australia (a statutory authority);
- State Library of Western Australia (a statutory authority);
- Western Australian Museum (a statutory authority);
- Perth Theatre Trust (a statutory authority); and
- ScreenWest Incorporated (an incorporated association).
Library Board of Western Australia Act
The Library Board of Western Australia Act was passed in 1951 to establish a free public library system in Western Australia. It established the Library Board of Western Australia as a statutory body with management responsibility to oversee this process. The Act provides for the constitution and functions of the Library Board and prescribes the relationship between the Board and Local Government in the provision of public library services.
The Library Board first met in July 1952 and the first public library opened in York in 1954. There are now 233 registered public libraries throughout the State operated in partnership between the State Library of Western Australia and Local Governments.
Management of the State Library was added to the Library Board's responsibilities in 1955, and included the delivery of reference services and the collection and preservation of the State's documentary heritage. Official responsibility for the State's public records was added to the Act in 1974, but was repealed in 2001 with the passage of the State Records Act 2000 and the establishment of a separate State Records Commission.
More information on the Library Board Act.
Page last updated: Monday 30 January 2012
