Effect of funding policies arising out the Local Government Amendment Act (No 3) 1996 of the Local Government Act 1974, on the provision of public library services : a case study of Whangarei Central Public Library

Abstract

This study investigates effects of funding policy on the provision of public library services arising out of the Local Government Amendment Act (No3) 1996, (commonly referred to as LGA3), of the Local Government Act 1974. How well the public library has adopted the funding policy of LGA3 to their services, and how much this has impacted on both the library and users requires assessment. The funding policy has been, and continues to be, a contentious issue in libraries and with the public at large. Deciding who benefits and whether to introduce user charges to services, i.e. adopt a user pays policy, remains contentious because of perceived disadvantages arising from it. These disadvantages include possible reduction of library budgets, and only those who can afford to use a particular service being able to benefit from it. Further questions such as how services are regarded by users in terms of what users can expect, and consideration by library staff, in terms of what aspects of a service or services should be charged, also require answers to evaluate LGA3 funding policy outcomes. This study will seek to answer in part these questions. It will focus on the impact of free and charged services on the library and the individual, with reference to the change in context in the funding policies of LGA3. A change of funding policy in which the public Library provides services to the individual user either for free, or by the introduction of part or full charges (user pays).