Libraries Act 1988

This Act may be cited as the Libraries Act 1988.

The object of this Act is to contribute to the cultural, social and intellectual development of all Queenslanders.

The principles intended to guide the achievement of the object of the Act are the following—

leadership and excellence should be demonstrated in providing library and informational services;

there should be responsiveness to the needs of communities in regional and outer metropolitan areas;

respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures should be affirmed;

children and young people should be supported in their understanding and use of library and informational services;

diverse audiences should be developed;

capabilities for life-long learning about library and informational services should be developed;

opportunities should be developed for international collaboration and for cultural exports, especially to the Asia-Pacific region;

content relevant to Queensland should be collected, preserved, promoted and made accessible.

The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.

This Act binds all persons, including the State.

The entity called the Library Board of Queensland continues in existence.

The board—

is a body corporate; and

has perpetual succession; and

has a common seal; and

may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

The board represents the State.

The board is to consist of the number of members appointed by the Governor in Council.

In appointing a member, regard must be had to the person’s ability to contribute to the board’s performance and the implementation of its strategic and operational plans.

A member must be appointed under this Act and not the Public Sector Act 2022.

The role of the members includes the following—

being responsible for the board’s management;

ensuring, as far as possible, the board achieves, and acts in accordance with, its strategic and operational plans;

accounting to the Minister for the board’s performance;

ensuring the board otherwise performs its functions in a proper, effective and efficient way.

The Governor in Council must appoint a member as chairperson of the board.

The appointment may be made by the instrument appointing the person concerned as a member of the board.

The members must elect one of them as deputy chairperson of the board.

The members must act under subsection (3) whenever there is a vacancy in the office of deputy chairperson, including a vacancy occurring because the office has not been filled.

The chairperson or deputy chairperson may resign as chairperson or deputy chairperson by signed notice given to the Minister.

The chairperson or deputy chairperson may act under subsection (5) and remain a member.

The deputy chairperson must act as chairperson—

during a vacancy in the office of chairperson; and

during all periods when the chairperson is absent from duty or is otherwise unable to perform the functions of the office.

A member is appointed for the term (not more than 3 years) stated in the member’s instrument of appointment.

The office of a member becomes vacant if—

the member resigns by signed notice given to the Minister; or

the member is disqualified from continuing as a member under section 12A; or

the member’s appointment is ended under subsection (3).

The Governor in Council may, at any time, end the appointment of all or any members for any reason or none.

The Minister may extend a person’s term of appointment as a member, including any term of appointment as chairperson, until the earlier of the following—

the end of the day that is 3 months after the day the term would have expired under the person’s instrument of appointment;

the start of the term of appointment of the person’s successor.

Subsection (4) does not limit the Governor in Council’s power under subsection (3) or the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 25(1)(b)(i) or (c).