Issue 123

Kim Brunoro is the Director of Literature and Contemporary Music in the Creative Industries Branch, part of the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Kim discusses the Educational Lending Right (ELR) School Library Survey, as well as the Lending Right Schemes in general.

1. Before we go any further, are there books that you recall from your school days with affection or admiration? Can you remember any favourites?

I have been a prolific reader since I can remember, often in trouble from my parents for staying up into the early hours of the morning or reading all weekend instead of ‘getting out of the house’. This means that there are almost too many books blurring together for me to choose a favourite. However, several classics stand out, such as Anne of Green Gables and Lord of the Rings (neither of which I can get my kids to read). I will take this opportunity to let you know my favourite book of the month, Hannah Kent’s Devotion, which I consumed while in bed with COVID-19. 

2. The ELR School Library Survey provides up-to-date library data that ensures Australian creators and publishers can receive compensation for the free use of their books in school libraries. Why is it important for school library staff to participate in ELR if they’re invited?

School library staff are in an important position to be able to provide data on their library’s book collection in the annual surveys. School libraries are selected to participate in the annual surveys to be a representative sample. As a result, the annual payments for creators and publishers paid by the Educational Lending Right (ELR) scheme and Public Lending Right (PLR) schemes are reflective of national library collections. If your library chooses not to participate in the ELR survey when selected, another library will be chosen. It is important that  the survey includes a good representation across states and territories, size of school, urban and regional – so that a statistical weighting can be applied to estimate the number of copies nationally. 

School librarians and staff that have previously participated in the ELR scheme survey tell us that it does not take long. In some cases, the school simply provides permission and the data is extracted via the library software vendor. In others, the participating school runs a process on their catalogue system  and returns the data to Education Services Australia (ESA).   This does not take long and assistance is available from ESA.

3. Why do we have ELR surveys?

One of the objectives of the ELR and PLR schemes is to recompense Australian creators and publishers in recognition of income lost through free multiple use of their books in public and educational lending libraries. The second objective of the schemes is to support the enrichment of Australian culture by encouraging the growth and development of Australian writing.

In 2021-22, approximately $23 million was paid to over 12,000 creators and publishers.

The annual payment a creator or publisher receives is calculated from the estimated number of copies of their books held in Australian lending libraries. A minimum of 50 copies must be held in educational or public lending libraries to trigger payment. Books are surveyed annually for two consecutive financial years following their publication. If in the second year there are less than 50 copies of a book in public and/or educational lending libraries, it will not be surveyed in future years unless a new edition is released. 

In 2021–22, approximately $23 million was paid to over 12,000 creators and publishers. Feedback to the Australian Government suggests that the ELR and PLR annual payments are highly valued and an important part of the income received from writing. It is hoped that if authors have reliable income from their writing it will assist them to keep writing.

4. Does ELR only survey schools? Do preschools, universities and registered training organisations contribute?

The ELR survey includes a representative sample of primary and high schools (including kindergarten to year 12 schools), TAFES and universities. The survey also includes public and independent schools. 

5. The Public Lending Right (PLR) survey counts books that are kept in ‘classified libraries’. What sorts of libraries are these?

The term ‘classified libraries’ refers to most lending libraries in Australia. It is defined in the legislation for the Scheme as ‘public lending libraries other than the National Library of Australia and a reference library established by the government of a state or territory’. 

The Scheme’s legislative framework is the Public Lending Right Act 1985, the Public Lending Right Scheme 2016 and the Educational Lending Right Policies and Procedures 2011. 

6. Apart from authors and publishers, who is eligible for compensation under the Lending Right program?

Australian book creators may be eligible, if they have contributed significantly to the content of the work. In most cases this means that an Australian illustrator (or photographer), translator, compiler or editor of a book can claim lending rights in addition to an author. 

7. Might ELR pose a risk to schools’ privacy protocols?For example, does the survey record students’ names?

No. The survey only collects the titles and numbers of books held in an educational library. It is not based on borrowings and no information relating to library users or borrowers is collected. 

8. We know that the Australian Government is responsible for ELR. Is it possible to get an indication of other programs that the Office manages?

The Australian Government delivers a broad range of programs that encourage excellence in the arts, help to protect our cultural heritage, and support public access to and participation in arts and culture in Australia. 

This covers programs to assist games and screen production, and to protect and celebrate Indigenous arts and languages. The Government provides support to the major performing arts companies for sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities, and support to visual artists and musicians. It also safeguards, protects and provides funding support to the National Collecting Institutions (National Library of Australia, National Museum of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, Australian National Maritime Museum, National Film and Film Sound Archive, National Portrait Gallery of Australia).