Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148:reg:2017:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2017 (pt 7/81)
Character Range: 58574–61477

post-war priorities got in the way, and it was not until the 1950s, and the start of the major expansion of Canberra by government departments, that the funding of the National Library was again visited by government.

Prime Minister Menzies was lobbied by the Joint Library Committee, donors of library material and others in 1951 and 1952 about the urgent need for a new home for the National Library, and the totally sub-standard housing of what was now a major national collection.  At the same time, Menzies was authorising funding through his department to purchase substantial formed collections for the Library, and the Prime Minister's Department expressed its nervousness about the expenditure of substantial funds by a body with no legislative basis.  Menzies responded to these various pressures in 1953 by proposing a committee to look into the future role, functions and control of the National Library, and recommend whether changes were needed.  However, Menzies was apparently not able to get the person he wanted to head up the inquiry, so the committee was not actually appointed until 1956, by which time Menzies, initially reluctant to see funds put into Canberra's development, had also swung around to a pro-Canberra development attitude.[28]

Harold White, who had succeeded Binns as Parliamentary (and National) Librarian in 1947, wanted to consolidate the Parliamentary and National wings of the Library, as well as the Archives Authority function which had been created during World War 2 and made a responsibility of the Library in 1952, under one management and one roof.  Others, including visiting American Library planning expert Keyes Metcalf, advised the separation of the three functions of the Library.  The Committee, chaired by Sir George Paton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, reported to Parliament in April 1957.  The committee recommended the separation of the three functions — Parliamentary Library, National Library and Archives Authority — and its recommendations formed the basis of the National Library Act of 1960. [29]

Under the new Act, the National Library was placed under Ministerial control, with a governing Council of nine, consisting of two members elected by the Senate and House of Representatives, and the remainder appointed by the Governor-General in council.  The function of archives authority for the Commonwealth was separated and transferred to the Prime Minister's Department.  An Amendment Act in 1973 increased the National Library of Australia Council from 9 to 12 members, changed the designation of the National Librarian to Director-General, and made that person also a member of the Council.[30]

In the meantime, the location and design parameters for a national library building were also being decided.

2.3.2 Deciding the location for the National Library of Australia Building

In 1912, a design submitted