1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2002  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 25/01/2002   
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Contents >> Service Industries >> Libraries, museums, commercial art galleries and botanic gardens

Libraries

The ABS conducted its second survey of the libraries industry in respect of 1999-2000, following a survey in respect of 1996-97. The survey included local government libraries, National and State libraries, and archival service organisations. Excluded from the collection were libraries with restricted access such as those operated by educational institutions (universities and schools), and libraries operated by businesses and organisations for internal reference purposes.

At the end of June 2000, there were 505 local government library organisations with 1,510 library locations, eight National and State library organisations with 26 locations, and eight National and State archive organisations with 27 locations. During 1999-2000, there were 99.4 million visits to local government, National and State libraries, with visits to local government libraries accounting for 94% of this figure (93.3 million visits) (table 21.37).

The total library holding stock of these organisations was 54.3 million books and other library materials at the end of June 2000, of which 36.4 million were available as lending stock and 17.9 million as non-lending stock.

In total, 12,596 employees worked for libraries and archives at the end of June 2000, with 9,592 persons (76%) employed by local government libraries. Of the 12,956 employees, 3,513 persons (28%) were employed as qualified librarians and archivists.

Total income of the industry in 1999-00 was $792m. The great majority of income was from government funding, which accounted for $725m or 91% of total income. Expenses incurred by the industry totalled $767m, with wages and salaries of $362m accounting for 47% of all expenses.


21.37 LIBRARIES INDUSTRY - 1999-2000
Units
Local Government
libraries
National and
State libraries
National and State archives
Total
Organisations at 30 June
no.
505
8
8
521
Locations at 30 June
no.
1,510
26
27
1,563
Visits to library locations
'000
93,335.1
6,063.5
n.a.
99,398.6
Library holdings -
- Lending stock
'000
36,416.4
. .
. .
36,416.4
- Non-lending stock
'000
2,963.9
14,925.0
n.a.
17,888.9
- Total
'000
39,380.3
14,925.0
n.a.
54,305.3
Employees at 30 June -
- Librarians and archivists
persons
2,422
732
359
3,513
- Other employees
persons
7,170
1,516
397
9,083
- Total
persons
9,592
2,248
756
12,596
Income -
- Government funding
$m
455.7
190.9
78.2
724.8
- Income from services to clients
$m
17.1
11.4
8.2
36.6
- Other income
$m
5.3
24.7
0.8
30.7
- Total
$m
478.0
227.0
87.2
792.2
Expenses -
- Wages and salaries
$m
244.0
88.0
30.1
362.1
- Other expenses
$m
212.5
144.1
48.2
404.8
- Total
$m
456.4
232.1
78.3
766.9
Source: Public Libraries, Australia, 1999-2000 (8651.0).


Museums

The most recent survey of the museums industry was conducted in respect of financial year 1999-2000. This survey was different to those conducted in respect of 1996-97 and 1997-98 in that the 1999-2000 survey attempted to cover all museum establishments, whereas previous surveys were both of limited scope. For the purpose of the 1999-2000 survey, a museum establishment was defined as an enclosed area which stored artefacts, artworks and museum objects and which was open to the general public.

At the end of June 2000, there were 2,049 museum establishments in Australia, of which 1,188 (58%) were operated on a volunteer basis (table 21.38). The 2,049 museums contained a total of 61.6 million artefacts, artworks and museum objects at the end of June 2000, and were visited by 27.5 million visitors during 1999-2000. The majority of admissions to museums were free of charge (60%) and, on average, museums were open for 30 hours per week during 1999-2000.

At the end of June 2000, there were 37,402 persons working in museums, comprising 6,956 persons directly employed by the museums, 29,963 volunteers and 484 persons paid by other (related) organisations. The volunteers worked a total of 379,110 hours during June 2000, representing an average of 13 hours per volunteer for the month.

During 1999-2000, museums accrued a total of $716m in income. The main sources were Government funding ($487m), fundraising income ($54m) and admissions income ($52m).

Of the $643m incurred in expenses by museums during 1999-2000, labour costs were the most significant at $233m (36% of total expenses). Other major expenses for museum establishments included depreciation and amortisation ($45m), repair and maintenance expenses ($43m), and exhibition/display development costs ($25m).

21.38 MUSEUMS INDUSTRY - 1999-00
Employment size

Units
Nil
employment
1-4
persons
5-19
persons
20-99
persons
100 or more persons

Total
Museum/gallery establishments at 30 June 2000
no.
1,188
461
237
84
78
2,049
Artefacts/art works/museum objects at 30 June 2000
'000
9,960.0
8,340.1
n.p.
n.p.
36,574.9
61,635.3
Admissions during the year ended 30 June 2000 -
- Paid
'000
1,379.1
1,676.1
2,660.6
1,709.3
3,540.6
10,965.7
- Free
'000
3,623.3
1,574.3
4,235.4
1,213.4
5,919.9
16,566.1
- Total
'000
5,002.4
3,250.4
6,895.8
2,922.7
9,460.5
27,531.8
Average hours per week museum/gallery open during year ended 30 June 2000
no.
23.6
38.2
38.9
40.6
50.2
30.4
Total employment paid by the museum/gallery at 30 June
persons
-
822
1,198
1,098
3,838
6,956
Employees paid by a related organisation at 30 June
persons
364
*80
40
-
-
484
Volunteers during the month of June
persons
14,570
6,045
4,490
1,888
2,970
29,963
Volunteer hours worked per volunteer during the month of June 2000
no.
11.8
14.6
13.5
14.7
10.5
12.7
Income -
- Government funding
$m
4.4
24.3
51.5
38.9
368.2
487.2
- Fundraising income
$m
1.8
3.9
8.0
14.0
25.7
53.5
- Admissions income
$m
2.9
5.9
9.6
9.4
24.6
52.4
- Sales of goods
$m
1.6
*4.1
7.8
*8.3
29.9
51.7
- Other income
$m
1.6
4.8
*10.8
13.3
41.0
71.6
- Total
$m
12.3
43.0
87.7
83.9
489.4
716.4
Expenses -
- Labour costs
$m
-
17.2
30.1
29.3
156.7
233.4
- Depreciation and amortisation
$m
*0.3
*1.9
2.8
5.3
35.0
45.3
- Repair and maintenance (a)
$m
*3.5
*4.2
*5.5
8.0
21.9
43.2
- Exhibition/display development costs
$m
*0.9
3.1
6.2
1.9
12.8
24.9
- Other expenses
$m
5.7
15.7
21.1
32.2
221.1
295.7
- Total
$m
10.4
42.1
65.7
76.7
447.5
642.5
(a) Includes conservation expenses of artefacts, artworks and museum objects.

Source: Museums, Australia, 1999-2000 (8650.0).


Commercial art galleries

The ABS conducted the second survey of the commercial art galleries industry in respect of 1999-2000, following an earlier collection in respect of 1996-97. The businesses included in the survey were those mainly engaged in the display and sale of artworks, and also included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres. The survey did not cover direct sales by the artist, or sales of artworks by auction houses, art museums, department stores, etc.

At the end of June 2000, there were 514 commercial art gallery businesses operating in Australia, comprising 31 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres and 483 other commercial art gallery businesses. Commercial art gallery businesses employed 1,409 persons, females accounting for 61% of total persons employed (table 21.39).

The total income of commercial art gallery businesses in 1999-2000 was $132m. Income from the sale of artworks owned by the business was $73m (55% of total income), while commission income from the sale of artworks (selling artworks on behalf of others) was $43m, or 33% of total income.

Commercial art gallery businesses incurred total expenses of $122m during 1999-2000, the most significant expense being the purchase of artworks for resale at $44m (36% of total expenses).

The total value of artworks sold by commercial art gallery businesses in 1999-2000 was $218m, the total value of artworks sold on commission accounting for $145m. The total value of artworks sold of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists was $36m, while the sale of artworks of other Australian artists raised $168m.



21.39 COMMERCIAL ART GALLERIES INDUSTRY
Units
1996-97
1999-2000
Businesses at 30 June no.
457
514
Employment at end June -
- Males no.
434
552
- Females no.
721
857
- Persons no.
1,156
1,409
Income -
- Commission income from the sales of artworks$m
25.7
43.4
- Income from sales of artworks owned by the business $m
49.5
72.7
- Other income $m
12.1
15.6
- Total $m
87.3
131.8
Cost of artworks sold -
- Purchases of artworks for resale $m
30.2
44.4
- Plus opening inventories of artworks $m
28.0
33.1
- Less closing inventories of artworks $m
25.5
32.2
- Total $m
32.7
45.3
Other expenses -
- Wages and salaries(a) $m
11.3
22.0
- Other $m
40.4
55.7
- Total $m
51.7
77.7
Operating profit before tax $m
**2.5
*8.8
Operating profit margin %
**3.5
*7.0
(a) Excludes drawings of working proprietors and partners of unincorporated businesses.

Source: Commercial Art Galleries, Australia, 1996-97 and 1999-2000 (8651.0).


Botanic gardens

The ABS conducted its second survey of botanic gardens in respect of 1999-2000, following a previous collection in respect of 1996-97. The information relates to employing businesses and statutory authorities, the main activity of which was the operation of a botanic garden, herbarium or arboretum. In addition, botanic garden activities of Commonwealth and State government departments and local government authorities which employ staff to operate and maintain botanic gardens were included in the collection. However, non employing organisations operating botanic gardens were excluded.

At the end of June 2000, there were 72 employing organisations operating botanic gardens. These organisations operated from 123 locations, comprising 74 mainly botanic gardens, 24 arboreta and 25 herbaria. During 1999-2000 there were 11.8 million visits to botanic gardens (table 21.40).

At the end of June 2000 there were 1,250 employees and 1,991 volunteers working for botanic gardens, a total workforce of 3,241 persons. The main employment groupings of employees were curatorial, horticultural and gardening (692 persons), managerial and administrative (186 persons), educational, public relations and retail sales (183 persons) and specialists and research (158 persons).

The total income of botanic gardens during 1999-2000 was $92m, income from government funding ($73m) accounting for 80% of their total income. Other significant sources of income were fundraising ($5m) and rent, leasing and hiring income ($4m).

During 1999-2000, botanic gardens had total expenses of $82m, the major expense being labour costs of $50m, of which wages and salaries accounted for $44m. Other major expenses included depreciation and amortisation ($6m), repair and maintenance expenses ($5m) and electricity, gas and water charges ($3m).


21.40 BOTANIC GARDENS
Units
1996-97
1999-2000
Organisations at 30 June no.
53
72
Locations at end June -
- Botanic gardensno.
64
74
- Arboretano.
19
24
- Herbariano.
20
25
- Totalno.
103
123
Employees at end June no.
1,129
1,250
Volunteers during Juneno.
1,493
1,991
Number of visitsmillions
n.a.
11.8
Income -
- Government funding$m
70.9
73.4
- Other income $m
11.8
18.4
- Total $m
82.7
91.8
Expenses -
- Wages and salaries$m
40.7
44.0
- Other expenses$m
29.5
37.5
- Total $m
70.2
81.5
Source: Botanic gardens, Australia, 1999-2000 (8563.0).



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