Agency Controlling: A6 Council 9to 31 Dec. 1975)
A9 Education committee (1 Jan 1976-)

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: Established by Council at meeting 28 July 1876, as a Committee of Council, to consist of all members of the Professorial Board and two Council members, Mr Hartley and Mr Jefferis. Responsible for allocation of the annual grant (then 150 pounds) for the library. Determined at its first meeting to divide 120 pounds among the professors, each to supply a list of books required for approval by Council, and the use of 30 pounds for general purchases and purposes.

Proposed appointment of a superintendent for the library 1886 but not approved; resolved instead to institute fines and deposits. Propsed again 1897 the appointment of a librarian to assist the Registrar. Joseph Coleman appointed under the title assistant librarian but unsatisfactory and services dispensed with December 1899. First Librarian appointed March 1900, required to furnish monthly reports to the Library Committee, which retained responsibility for the allocation of the grant.

Executive arm (Working Party) of the Library Committee established 1933 to consider matters relating to book purchases and grant allocation and to assist the Librarian generally. Membership of Committee increased and admitted Librarian ex-officio from 1933, student representatives from 1969 and Library staff representatives from 1974. Became a Committee of Education Committee from 1st January 1976 following general review of University committee structure. Revised constitution was approved by the Education Committee April 1979.

Under amendment accepted September 1980, the W.A.R.I. Library was removed from the jurisdiction of the Committee. Revised terms of reference- to make recommendations to Education Committee on policies and rules, advise Education Committee on matters referred or delegated to it, report annually to Education Committee, advise the Librarian on needs of readers and interpretation of policies and consider major submissions for resources.

The Working Party was empowered by a decision of Committee on 24th July 1976 to take action on behalf of the Committee in matters of urgency.