CAUL is a member association for the leaders of university libraries in Australasia and Oceania and the peak leadership body for university libraries in the region. CAUL’s Members currently comprise the university librarians (or equivalent) at Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand universities. Since 2025, membership has also been open to university librarians (or eqiuvalent) of Australasian and Oceania universities recognised as universities by their respective governments. CAUL is a not-for-profit organisation that supports Members in leading their libraries through:
- delivering key services, including the CAUL Consortium, Analytics Service, and Professional Learning Service
- convening Members
- fostering collaboration and cooperative activity
- representing Members’ interests, views and values to government and other stakeholders
- facilitating the sharing of best practice
- fostering the professional growth of current and future leaders in university libraries.
CAUL is governed by a [Board of Directors] and operated by the [CAUL Office], which the Chief Executive Officer leads.
Mission
The Council of Australasian University Librarians (CAUL) is the peak collegiate body for the leaders of university libraries in Australasia and Oceania. It facilitates connection and collaboration and optimises its collective knowledge, expertise, and resources to achieve strategic outcomes at scale in priority areas for the university library sector. CAUL is the trusted voice of the university library sector in the region.
Values
We are a values-led organisation. CAUL is:
- inclusive
- open and transparent
- ethical
- collaborative
- participative
- progressive.
How we achieve outcomes
- Deliver: We deliver robust and sustainable services that respond to the diverse needs of Members and Member institutions
- Advocate: We advocate to government and other key stakeholders to advance our strategic agendas
- Represent: We develop sector responses and public policy statements on issues of key importance to Members
- Partner: We partner with key stakeholders in the library, broader GLAM, higher education and cultural sectors to achieve strategic outcomes
- Connect: We connect Members and Member-institution staff through events, professional development, projects, and communities of practice
- Work at scale: We will prioritise work that is best done at a sector-wide scale or that can be done once, centrally, for the benefit of all
- Challenge: We promote and facilitate discussion amongst Members, challenging current ways of thinking and working to drive innovation
- Lead: We provide leadership for the university library sector through the development of policy, principles, and best practice statements
- Empower: By bringing Members together to address issues and priorities of shared concern, we leverage collective strength and capability, empowering all Members to succeed