Our Strategic Focus

The mission of the State Library of Western Australia is:

“To enrich the lives of Western Australians by:

- enabling access to resources for information, learning, enterprise and recreation

- collecting and preserving our social and documentary heritage for current and future generations”

The information world is changing. New technologies and increasing internet use have created the expectation that information will be easily and immediately available and accessible online. In the knowledge economy, access to information is increasingly coming at a cost. This creates both opportunities and barriers to access to information. The use of technology is now a fundamental element of both the formal and informal learning systems. These technologies and people’s familiarity with them have led to increased and sustained pressure on libraries to provide new types of services in new ways.

Increased demand for technology based services and online content is not replacing the need for traditional information services based around physical objects. For many, the book (and other physical formats) still remains the format of choice for learning, information, recreation and enjoyment

Libraries are critical community and social infrastructure. By their very presence, libraries help to create and sustain communities, they support public debate and are the hallmark of a democratic and just society. Libraries help maintain literacy, stimulate the imagination, expand personal horizons, inform and empower citizens, enable access to a common cultural heritage and promote a sense of ownership of society. Thus they are key contributors to building the social capital that binds our society together and to the knowledge and intellectual life of our nation.

Our new strategic direction represents a significant shift in focus for the State Library and the approach by which we will deliver our services in response to this changing information world.

The State Library is more than simply the physical confines of the Alexander Library Building. It is an integral part of a network of public libraries spread throughout Western Australia with our services and resources also forming part of that network.

Our leadership role
The State Library will monitor emerging national and international trends and issues that may influence library services and the library profession in Western Australia. We will inform, educate, raise awareness and lead action in response to these influences both in the library sector and the broader community as appropriate.

The State Library will highlight and raise awareness of the value and contribution of the library network within government and in the broader community.

Our role as an enabler
The State Library will greatly expand its role in enabling clients to meet their own needs in a rapidly evolving information world. In our interaction with Western Australians, we will focus on

• establishing programs to help the development of literacy and information literacy;
• promoting interest in knowledge, through exhibitions and public programs;
• partnering with other groups in the community to achieve common goals; and
• orchestrating opportunities to maximise the value of information usage.

In improving the quality of information infrastructure, we will be

• active in lobbying for information resources, where appropriate in partnership with others;
• at the forefront in developing partnerships between ourselves and other information owners;
• actively scanning the rapidly changing technology world, identifying appropriate technologies to manage and improve access to information; and
• continuously profiling the changing needs of the Western Australian community, so that resources and services remain relevant.

Our client service focus
In addition to our heritage preservation role, the State Library exists to meet the information needs of Western Australians, no matter where in the State they may reside. Our prime focus in this area will be to ‘help people to learn to help themselves’. We may not be able to always answer queries through our own resources but we will identify the sources from which client information needs can be met. The sources that we ‘point to’ will be authoritative, and will be selected to ensure that the information can be relied on as accurate and definitive.

We will develop in-house specialist services, driven by user demand, which will enable us to directly answer particular queries. Examples are our support for genealogy and business information. We will continue to develop specialist services for those seeking information in pursuit of the creation of knowledge. We will strive to attain the highest level of service standards and professionalism, and will maintain the principle that the search for information is provided free of charge so that all may benefit, irrespective of their means or geographic location.

Our partnership with public libraries
The State Library continues to recognise the unique and powerful partnership that it enjoys with the public libraries in the State. A shared vision with Local Government exists of a sustainable and responsive network of vibrant, connected, well-resourced, free public libraries that are hubs of community life. The Framework Agreement between State and Local Government for the Provision of Public Library Services in Western Australia defines the relationship between, and the responsibilities of both parties until June 2008. The State Library is the responsible agency for the State Government obligations under the Agreement.

The Joint Advisory Committee, which comprises representatives from state and local government, has initiated a program to look at future directions for the WA public library network. We will work together with local government during these deliberations to ensure that our future activities build a dynamic partnership for the greater good of Western Australians.

Resources
In this plan, we talk about ‘resources’, rather than just information or collections. Resources cover the range of information sources that are available to clients through their State Library, including the public library network. Resources imply both materials that are owned and held by the State Library, as well as other materials that can be accessed through the State Library either physically or electronically.

Resources include:

• Owned collections representing all materials, distributed, physical or virtual, which are under the ownership of the State Library.
• Heritage collections that we intend to preserve in perpetuity. These collections primarily focus on Western Australian materials, but also include other categories such as rare books, already under our ownership.
• Specialist collections such as our music collection. These collections may or may not have a major Western Australian component, but are specific areas of information and expertise in which we have, often for historical reasons, developed a significant asset.

Finite financial resources mean that we will primarily seek to develop heritage collections of specific Western Australian importance. Other heritage and specialist collections will be maintained, but will not necessarily be added to significantly.

In addition to our heritage and specialist collections, the State Library will continue to acquire reference material as is deemed appropriate driven by factors such as the need for easy local availability, or usage levels.

The State Library will continue to play a key role in the provision and management of public library resources in partnership with public libraries.

Our Focus for Action

Key Outcome 1
To enable information access for the Western Australian community we will:

• continuously review the changing demographics and emerging trends within our communities;
• undertake programs that build literacy and information literacy;
• lobby for resources to improve the quality and breadth of available information;
• partner with other agencies that own differing and relevant information content;
• identify and work to deliver relevant technologies which enhance access to information;
• identify and raise awareness of issues relevant to Western Australian library services and the profession and determine appropriate strategies for action;
• create links to relevant third party information sources;
• seek consortia opportunities that benefit the information access environment; and
• meet our obligations under the Framework Agreement.

Key Outcome 2
To encourage the desire of Western Australians to seek information we will:

• develop exhibitions and events which stimulate interest in our resources;
• build the profile of the State Library in the hearts and minds of Western Australians;
• create services that meet identified needs including both general information requests and support for specialist research activities;
• partner with other state and local agencies to enhance their capability to meet community needs;
• create a friendly and welcoming environment in the Alexander Library Building for all members of the community;
  make easier remote access to resources and services;
• make our resources visible through selected digitisation of iconic items; and
• make easier the entire process for requesting and receiving information resources.
  

Key Outcome 3
To collect and preserve a significant set of Western Australian material we will:

• identify and fill significant gaps in our collections;
• identify and secure future Western Australian heritage material;
• safeguard the collections by storing and maintaining them in appropriate conditions;
• collect and preserve both physical and new media formats as appropriate; and
  manage the supply of resources effectively and efficiently.

Better Planning: Better Services

Our mission, strategic focus and key outcomes contribute directly to the following specific government goals and priority areas outlined in “Better Planning: Better Services: a strategic planning framework for the Western Australian Public Sector.”

Goals:

• Goal 1: To enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of all people throughout Western Australia
• Goal 2: To develop a strong economy that delivers more jobs, more opportunities and greater wealth to Western Australians by creating the conditions required for investment and growth
• Goal 4: To ensure that regional Western Australia is strong and vibrant
• Goal 5: To govern for all Western Australians in an open, effective and efficient manner that also ensures a sustainable future
  

Priority areas:

• Services: Libraries are essential social and educational infrastructure by providing support for life long learning (both formal and informal)
• Jobs and the Economy: By providing information to businesses to assist their development and growth and supporting life long learning
• Lifestyle: By an increased emphasis on our cultural role through public programs, exhibitions and public debate
• Regions: By providing resources and support for the 153 public libraries within the regions and web access to our own resources and services
• Public Sector Improvement: By working in partnership in cross agency initiatives and with local government