Sydney City Library

Unique IDAG-0007DescriptionThis agency was separated from CA 10, Parks and Recreations Department, 1948-1988, and established as a Department in its own right by a Resolution of Council on 23 March 1981, to take effect from 1 April 1981.

The Central Library, (situated in rented premises at 321 Pitt Street until Sep 1993 then on level 3 of Town Hall House) and Branch Libraries at Haymarket, Kings Cross, Paddington, Surry Hills, Waterloo, Woolloomooloo, Newtown and Ultimo offers free lending and reference service for books, periodicals, art prints and cassettes. The Waterloo and Newtown Branches were acquired in 1982 when South Sydney Municipal Council was amalgamated with Sydney City Council. The Woolloomooloo Branch was replaced by a mobile book service by a Resolution of Council of 12 July 1988. The Ultimo Branch was closed down during 1993 and reopened in 1996.

The first Director of the Library was Sarah Walters who was the first woman to head a department of Council. She was City Librarian from 1969 until her retirement in 1991. She was replaced by Norah Hinchen.

On 28 June 1988 the name of the Library was changed to City Libraries Department by a Resolution of Council, but a later resolution of 25 March 1991 changed it back to Sydney City Library.

The City of Sydney Act 1988 divided Council into two Councils - Sydney City Council and South Sydney City Council. Under the cross-servicing arrangements established by the Act, the City Commissioners decided that the Library Services function would remain with Sydney City Council. Until 1993, the Sydney City Library administered Branch Libraries in the South Sydney area (staff, equipment and general operations), on a contract basis, determined by the volume of borrowings. During 1993, the cross-servicing arrangements ended and the buildings and staff of Branch Libraries within South Sydney's boundaries were transferred to South Sydney City Council.

On 21 December 1992, Council adopted a new management structure proposed by management consultants Ernst & Young. This structure divided the Council administration into Divisions headed by Assistant General Managers under the General Manager Katie Lahey. The Library was placed in CA 112, Cultural and Community Services.

With effect from September 1996 the Library was amalgamated with other community services and facilities as a program responsibility of the new CA 177, Service Delivery [Division].

In early 1997 the Local Studies Collection program (started in 1992) was closed down and most of the material transferred to Council's Archives. A small proportion was retained by the Library.CreationResolution of Council 23 March 1981AbolitionMemo by Human Resources Manager to Managers' Network, 26 September 1996

Series

Information files

General Correspondence and Subject Files

Central Activity Files, 1979-1987

Agency

Living City Services

Cultural and Community Services

Description

Start date23rd March 1981End date26th September 1996Relationship legacy dataPRECEDED BY: Parks and Recreations Department AG-0010 (23/03/1981)
RELATED TO: Sydney City Council OR-0001 (23/03/1981 to 26/09/1996)
RELATED TO: Community services and facilities FN-0013 (23/03/1981 to 26/09/1996)
Source System ID7

Relationships

Preceding agenciesParks and Recreations DepartmentOrganisationSydney City CouncilRelated functionsCommunity services and facilities

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Sydney City Library