ALIA concerned about proposed merger of SLWA with gallery, museum

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has written to the WA government in response to a report in the Australian about a proposed amalgamation of the State Library of Western Australia, the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum.

The association has called for a halt to any decision about the amalgamation until after a full consultation with the industry has been conducted. The Australian reports the proposal was not widely canvassed within the cultural sector and remains ‘largely under wraps’.

ALIA CEO Sue McKerracher said the organisation is ‘deeply concerned that such a step could be considered by the WA Government without proper consultation with stakeholders across the cultural sector’. ‘The State Library of WA provides essential services to public libraries in the state and councils should be engaged in the discussion.’

ALIA also called for publication of the government-commissioned PwC Australia cost-benefit analysis, for a period of consultation with the sector.

Category: Library news