Queensland public library standards and guidelines
These standards and guidelines are designed to assist Queensland public library staff and local governments in the planning and development of their library services. The Public Library Standards Steering Group drives the ongoing review and development of the standards and guidelines.
1 Library management standards - To provide the community with a library service that is equitable, cost effective and efficient.
2 Staffing standard [new window 
kb] - To provide the minimum requirement for overall staffing and qualified staff levels to ensure consistency of service delivery across local government. Revised May 2008.
3 Operational Services Standard [new window 50 kb] - To provide standards and guidelines for a minimum set of operational services that enable the community effective access to library facilities and the services and collections they offer. Revised August 2009.
4 Library building standards - To provide a physical facility which will serve the identified needs of the community. The building should be attractive, efficiently designed, flexible, functional and expandable. Revised July 2004. Draft standard [new window 50 kb] currently under review.
5 Mobile libraries standard [new window 71 kb] - To provide standards and guidelines for a public library service delivered via a specially designed and equipped vehicle. Mobile libraries extend library service to clients without convenient access to a static library, providing a comparable level of service. Revised June 2009.
6 Library collections standard [new window 81 kb] - To provide standards and guidelines for the development and management of library collections which meet the information, education, recreation and cultural needs of the community, and support the development of lifelong learning. Revised June 2009.
7 Interlibrary loans standards - To facilitate access by the local community to resources held in other Australian library and information services collections.
8 Local studies collection standards - To maintain or provide access to a collection which documents the historical development of the local community.
9 Reference collection standards - To provide resources and services appropriate to the information needs of the community. Draft standard [new window 62 kb] currently under review.
10 Specialist service standards - The following sub-sections address a range of possible specialisations within the public library sector. They address the library's focus on literacy issues, services for people who read or speak a language other than English, in addition to addressing services for people with a disability, for young people and for Indigenous Australians.
To meet the different emphases of different communities including unidentified groups, consideration of specialisation must be considered in the context of the mainstreaming of resources and multiskilling with the overarching principles of equity and access routinely applied.
10.1 Literacy service standards - To actively promote and support programs for members of the community with identified literacy needs.
10.2 Multicultural services standard [new window 43 kb] - To provide standards and guidelines for developing multicultural library services which provide equitable access, encourage participation and foster cohesion for Queensland’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Revised July 2008.
10.3 Disability services standard [new window 52 kb] - To provide standards and guidelines for developing library services and resources which offer barrier-free access and encourage inclusiveness and participation for people with disabilities. Revised April 2009.
10.4 Young peoples services standard [new window 46 kb] - To provide standards and guidelines for developing young peoples services in libraries. Revised April 2009.
10.5 Library services for Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders standards - To actively consult and negotiate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to promote library and information literacy and to catalyse the development of public library services. Draft standard [new window 52 kb] currently under review.
11 Technology standard - [new window 61 kb] - To provide a framework for the efficient and effective use of technology as an integral feature of the public library so that optimum service can be provided. To provide all library sites, staff and users access to technology as required. Revised December 2008.
12 Resource Description standard [new window 43 kb] - To provide a framework for access to library collections, through the bibliographic control of library materials and the interchange of bibliographic data. Revised October 2008.
13 Shared Facilities standard [new window 52 kb] - To provide the minimum requirements for operating a public library service within a shared environment. Revised December 2008.
14 Standards for Country Lending Service libraries - The basic requirements for the operation of a library within the Country Lending Service are prescribed by the Country Lending Service Agreement made between participating Local Governments and the Library Board of Queensland. The Agreement outlines the responsibilities of both parties. The following standards are based on the general provisions of the Agreement. Revised July 2004.
Appendix one - Bibliography
Appendix two - ALIA policy statements
Last updated: 17th September 2009
Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other
