The National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa today announced the appointments to the Public Lending Right Advisory Group.

The group was established under the Public Lending Right for Authors Act 2009. The Act sets up a scheme to provide payments for New Zealand authors to recognise that their books are available for use in New Zealand libraries.

It replaces the previous New Zealand Authors' Fund administered by Creative New Zealand.

The Advisory Group's role is to advise the Chief Executive and National Librarian Penny Carnaby, on policy and administrative matters that affect the scheme.

The appointments are: Liz Allen, New Zealand Society of Authors nominee; Dr Phillip Temple, New Zealand Society of Authors nominee; Allison Dobbie, Library Manager, Auckland City Libraries, LIANZ nominee; Kerry Harvey, Policy Manager, Ministry of Culture and Heritage; Lis Morgan, Director Strategy, Policy and Communications, National Library.

The first Advisory Group meeting will be held by the end of August 2009.