The State Library of Victoria, a revered institution and one of the busiest libraries in the world, is facing a fierce backlash over management plans that critics describe as a 'crude self-lobotomy' of its core functions. A proposed strategic reorganisation would see almost 40 jobs cut and the number of specialist reference librarians more than halved, a move that has left long-standing patrons and staff aghast.
A Personal and Institutional Betrayal
The library, which receives nearly 3 million in-person visits annually, holds a deep connection for countless Victorians. Noted journalist and author Gideon Haigh, who first visited aged 12, exemplifies this bond, with 125 of his works catalogued from research done within its walls. His 84-year-old mother has been a volunteer guide for over a decade. This personal history underscores a widespread feeling that the library is being hollowed out by a management seemingly detached from its fundamental purpose.
The 'Strategic Reorganisation Change Proposal' envisions reducing the world's third-busiest library to a skeleton crew of just 10 reference librarians. This comes after their numbers were already halved in 2019. Haigh and other critics argue that this eviscerates the frontline defence against misinformation and AI-generated content, a bitter irony as the library concurrently hosts an exhibition on that very topic.
Management Focus: 'Digital Vanity' Over Core Service
Staff have accused management of prioritising 'digital vanity projects' over essential library services. One cited example is 'A Mouthful of Dust', a flashy web experience about Ned Kelly that some deride as digital pap offering little substantive information. Meanwhile, the library's governance has shifted away from traditional librarianship; the role of chief librarian was abolished a decade ago in favour of a CEO.
The current interim CEO, John Wicks, is an accountant and former chief operating officer with a background in galleries and museums, but not libraries. A telling anecdote reveals a potential disconnect: Wicks reportedly believed the cafe Mr Tulk was named for a person, not understanding it honours the inaugural state librarian, Augustus Tulk. The beloved cafe itself is now losing its lease to a corporate catering giant.
The Global Stakes of a Local Fight
The proposed cuts represent a loss of centuries of institutional knowledge. Reference librarians are not just experts in the collection's vast detail; they are the troubleshooters, the guides, and the human face of the library for scholars and first-time visitors alike. Reducing them to a mere handful signals a vision of the library as a mere cultural destination or events space, where books serve as scenery.
Haigh frames the issue as a warning with global resonance: 'If the suits can come for the State Library of Victoria, they can come for anyone, and no public institution is safe.' The sentiment was echoed by historian Tom Holland, who, after a tour, deemed the strategic proposal 'so, so stupid.' The fight for the library's soul is seen as a bellwether for the preservation of public knowledge institutions everywhere.
