In March 2008, the ABS advised the Collections Council and other peak bodies in the collections sector that it was planning to implement budget cuts for 2008-09, and that these cuts would affect the ‘Industry Statistics’ work program.
The most recent collections-sector surveys in the Service Industries Survey category were published as:
This survey includes a report on the national and state archives.
This survey incorporates art museums (public galleries) as well as non-art museums.
Of the two collections-sector surveys that had been planned for the next year, the ABS advised that one or other of the Libraries survey and the Museums survey would not be able to go ahead. The ABS indicated its view that the Libraries survey would be the preferred one to cut, and provided its reasons for this preference.
The ABS sought input from the Collections Council (and from other interested peak bodies in the collections sector) into the decision making process for proposed cuts.
Click HERE to read the Collections Council’s response to the ABS on the proposed cuts. This response stated unequivocally:
The Collections Council does not support the cutting of one or the other of these two important and complementary surveys of our sector.
and suggested that:
- the budgetary efficiencies currently being sought by the ABS be achieved for the collections sector by:
*** combining the two current surveys, and
*** gathering data using online techniques.
- data could be collected in a slightly lengthened cycle, every five years.
The ABS has subsequently confirmed to the Collections Council that the Libraries survey will indeed not occur for the coming year. The ABS has, however, started to discuss with National and State Libraries Australasia a plan for trying to fill the data gap that will be left behind as a result of the survey not being undertaken.
The ABS has advised the Collections Council that both the Libraries and Museums surveys should continue in the long term, but that it is not yet possible to announce the frequency of future surveys.
Click on the links provided to read:
A summary statement by the Australian Statistician, Mr Brian Pink says: ‘The ABS will be conducting a review of its long-term budget funding with the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The outcomes of this review will enable me to determine the future direction of the ABS statistical program taking into account the needs of our clients.’
The ABS has advised that they will seek the Collections Council’s input to the review process, and will also consider all the submissions already made both as a result of the 2007 consultation process for the Museums and Libraries Surveys, for previous reviews, and for the recent round of decisions regarding budget cuts.