NATIONAL LIBRARY (Professional and non-professional staff)

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Culture (a) by what standards does the National Library decide on the proportion of professional and non-professional staff; and (b) why do some professional staff in the National Library have to spend much time in non-professional work, such as stamping, issuing and shelving books, and whether steps will be taken to remedy the situation.

Mr Fong Sip Chee (for the Minister for Culture): Mr Speaker, Sir, in developed countries, the proportion of professional staff to non-professional staff is usually one to three, excluding manual staff. The National Library at present has a total establishment of 142 staff, excluding daily-rated staff. Out of this total, 45 are professional staff, including 25 who are qualified librarians.

Although the present proportion of professional staff to non-professional staff in the National Library closely approximates that of more developed countries, libraries in these countries have a very high degree of mechanisation of library routines. The National Library is, therefore, working towards achieving a higher proportion of non-professional staff, i.e., to have one-fourth instead of one-third professional staff in order that the non-professional duties may be carried out entirely by non-professional staff.