New Zealand Legislation: Acts

9 Functions and powers of National Librarian

• (1) The functions of the National Librarian, in achieving the purpose of the National Library, are—

  • (a) to develop and maintain national collections of documents, including a comprehensive collection of documents relating to New Zealand and the people of New Zealand; and

  • (b) to make the collections and resources of the National Library accessible in a manner and subject to conditions that the Minister determines, in order to provide for the most advantageous use of those collections and resources; and

  • (c) to provide other services, including access to information resources, and bibliographical and school services, as the Minister thinks fit; and

  • (d) to promote co-operation in library matters with authorities and other persons in New Zealand and elsewhere; and

  • (e) to advise and assist the Minister in matters relating to library and information issues; and

  • (f) other functions prescribed by regulations made under this Act.

  (2) The National Librarian must take reasonable steps to—

  • (a) make the documents in the National Library available to institutions and other persons, subject to any regulations made under this Act and to any conditions the Minister may determine; and

  • (b) continue to provide—

    • (i) separate and suitable accommodation in a national library building for the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library; and

    • (ii) for the development of the research collections and the services of the Alexander Turnbull Library, particularly in the fields of New Zealand and Pacific studies and rare books; and

  • (c) provide assistance in the development of libraries to institutions and persons in New Zealand, subject to any regulations made under this Act and to any conditions the Minister may determine.

  (3) The National Librarian must not transfer the ownership, custody, or use of any documents owned by the National Library to any authority or other person without the approval of the Minister.

  (4) Subsection (3)—

  • (a) does not limit the Public Records Act 2005; and

  • (b) applies subject to section 11(2).

  Section 9(4)(a): amended, on 21 April 2005, by section 67(1) of the Public Records Act 2005 (2005 No 40).