Constitution

Objectives

The objectives of National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) are:

  1. To strengthen the information infrastructure and improve access to information services to serve the social, cultural, economic and education needs of Australia and New Zealand
  2. To provide a single voice for member libraries — to governments, to the cultural and education sectors, and to other relevant bodies.

Membership

  1. The heads of each State and Territory Library, the National Library of Australia and the National Library of New Zealand are entitled to membership of NSLA.
  2. The head of an overseas or other organisation can be invited to join NSLA by the vote of 5 members of NSLA, to be reviewed every 2 years. They will be required to contribute annually to the funding of the NSLA Office, at a rate determined by NSLA.

Chairperson

  1. NSLA 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.
  3. The Chairperson may be required to serve on external committees in an ex officio capacity.

Meetings

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

NSLA Office

  1. Members of NSLA will contribute annually to fund an Executive Officer position to support the Chair and the activities of NSLA.
  2. Additional positions to support strategic objectives, such as the Re-imagining Library Services Strategic Plan, may be created and funded, with agreement from all NSLA Members.

Working Groups and Project Teams

  1. Working Groups and Project Teams will be established by consensus of NSLA members.
  2. All Working Groups will operate under Terms of Reference agreed by NSLA members and reviewed annually.
  3. Representation is dependent on the activity of the Working Group, but will generally consist of one representative from each member library.
  4. Convenors of Working Groups will be nominated by the Working Group for approval by NSLA. The Convenor’s term will be for two years.
  5. The head of the library to which the Convenor belongs will act as sponsor for the Working Group.
  6. Working Groups will provide progress reports to NSLA meetings three times per year.
  7. Project Teams constituted to support strategic objectives, such as the Re-imagining Library Services Strategic Plan, will operate within the Project Governance Arrangements agreed by NSLA.

Representation on External Committees

  1. NSLA will nominate representatives for external committees and select a representative by consensus.
  2. Representatives will:
    1. Present a NSLA perspective and not a personal view;
    2. Seek to develop a NSLA perspective prior to meetings, by circulating agendas and seeking comments from NSLA members;
    3. Provide feedback and progress reports to NSLA

Archives

  1. The current official records of NSLA shall be under the management of the Executive Officer.
  2. The archives of NSLA 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.

Endorsed NSLA on 2 September 2008