Introduction
Makeup, structure and funding

Introduction

The present Library and Information Services Council (Northern Ireland) dates back to 1978 when it was known as the Library Advisory Council. It changed its name to LISC in 1982. An earlier Northern Ireland Library Advisory Council had been in existence from 1950 but had ceased activities on the establishment of the Education and Library Boards in 1973.

Today the Council's mission is

to maintain and enhance the standard of library and information services in Northern Ireland by

providing advice and consultation to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and other Government Departments;
providing a representative voice for the library and information sector;
acting as a catalyst for progress and development in all areas of library and information provision

The Council publishes an Annual Report and an occasional newsletter, LISC News.

Make up, structure and funding

The Council is made up of subscribing member organizations from library and information providers in the public, academic, government, voluntary and commercial sectors. Additional funding, currently some £40,000 per annum for core activities, is provided by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL).

The Council is governed by an Executive Committee made up of an elected Chair, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer and nominees appointed under the terms of the constitution. The Executive Committee appoints a Finance and General Purposes Committee to manage the detailed business including the setting and oversight of the budget and the drafting and monitoring of the annual Action Plan.

Two standing special interest panels work within LISC:

The Association of Information Managers (AIM) supports information workers in the 'specialist' sector within the Northern Ireland information community;
The Vision Panel seeks to raise standards of service for people with disabilities.

In addition the Council from time to time establishes sub-committees to lead on specific projects.

The Council employs a Director and a Finance Officer