From the archive

By Mary Carroll

from the dismal conditions recorded in Munn and Pitts’ landmark 1935 report Australian libraries: A survey of conditions and suggestions for their improvement. In his opening address at the 1975 Library Association of Australia’s biennial conference, Whitlam stated that his government was ‘acutely aware of the neglect from which library services throughout Australia had suffered at the hands of state and municipal authorities’ and was intent on taking action. Whitlam was to champion federal funding of public library infrastructure and, in November 1975, he established a Committee of Inquiry into Public Libraries headed by Allan Horton, Librarian of the University of New South Wales.

The timing of this Commission could not have been worse, with the findings published in February 1976 – just three months after the controversial dismissal of Whitlam’s Labor government. However, it can be argued that despite its timing, Horton’s report Public Libraries in Australia (1976) and its delightfully quirky companion Libraries are great mate! ‘But they could be greater’ (1976) set the future agenda for the Australian library profession. The reports championed the library as a place for recreation, information and lifelong learning. It asked us to consider what a public library should be and who it should serve, and highlighted the need for adequate funding. The report looked closely at the ‘under-served’ advocating for ‘special groups’ including those with a disability, culturally diverse communities, the institutionalised, economically or geographically disadvantaged and Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ peoples. Horton and his committee demanded that the profession ‘begin a quiet revolution’ led by suitably educated and qualified LIS professionals.

Right Gough Whitlam with children in a classroom on a visit to the village school at Hoa Long while visiting the Australian Task Force.

Photo: Australian War Memorial (1966).

Despite the dismissal of his government, Whitlam was to remain committed in his support for libraries and other cultural institutions, reflecting his belief in their value as essential to an equitable, democratic society. He remained a strong advocate for the sector and actively engaged with the LIS profession throughout his career. In 1985, he (somewhat ironically) delivered the Dulcie Stretton lecture to mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of the 1935 Munn-Pitt report, and he was to later publish his speech in the Australian Library Journal. For his efforts and service to libraries in Australia, the Hon. Gough Whitlam AC was conferred with ALIA’s Redmond Barry Award in 1994. This award is given to a non-LIS professional in recognition of their outstanding contribution to library and information services in Australia.