Association of Parliamentary Libraries of Australasia (APLA)
http://www.apla.org.au/information/contacts/index.shtmlAPLA Libraries and Parliamentary Librarians
Closes: Tues/Wed 7pm, Thurs 6pm, Fri 5pm
Australian Capital Territory | Australian | New South Wales | New Zealand | Northern Territory | Papua New Guinea | Queensland | South Australia | Victoria | Tasmania | Western Australia
Constituent Libraries - Historic and current services:
Parliamentary Librarians:
Australia (Commonwealth) | Australian Capital Territory | New Zealand | New South Wales | Northern Territory | Queensland | South Australia | Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia
APLA Libraries
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY LIBRARY
The ACT Legislative Assembly Library
ACT Legislative Assembly Home Page http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/
The role of the Library is to identify and meet the information needs of Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT and staff of the ACT Public Service.
Until 1989, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was managed by the Federal Minister responsible for Territories. The Library’s collection hence has been built over many years as a Commonwealth Government Departmental library. Its previous titles include Department of the Interior, Department of the Capital Territory, Department of Territories and ACT Administration.
Following the passing of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-government) Act 1988 along with other related legislation setting up self-government for the Australian Capital Territory, the first ACT Legislative Assembly was elected and had its first meeting in May 1989.
The Library took on the name of The ACT Government and Assembly Library. In 1994, the Assembly together with the Library relocated to its current premises, the Legislative Assembly Building.
Until recently, the Library was part of the ACT Library and Information Services (ACTLIS) and was funded by, managed by and reported to the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS). As part of ACTLIS, the Library provided specialist library services to two major client groups. Its primary clients include the 17 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) elected from three multi-member electorates – Brindabella, Ginninderra and Molonglo, their staff and committee staff. The Library caters to the needs of a unicameral parliament responsible for the management of state/territory as well as local government responsibilities. The Library’s secondary client group includes staff of the ACT Public Service.
After the 2008 ACT Elections, a ACT Labor minority government was formed with support from the ACT Greens in exchange for several commitments and reforms to Legislative Assembly procedures outlined in a Parliamentary Agreement between the two parties.
Section 4.1 of this Agreement states:
“Ensure that resources for the Assembly Secretariat and the Assembly Library to facilitate assistance for Members are improved, and the Assembly Library to become part of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, with its transfer to occur within six months of the first sitting of the Assembly. “
On 1 July 2009, the Legislative Assembly Secretariat assumed control of the Library which changed its name to ACT Legislative Assembly Library. The Library is integrated into the Hansard, Communications and Library section of the Secretariat and the Library reports to the Manager of that section. A new position of Assembly Librarian was created. Staff of the ACT Public Service continue to use the Library’s information and reference service under the provision of a Service Level Agreement drawn up between the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services (TAMS) and the Legislative Assembly.
The Library’s collection aims to
- maintain a comprehensive record of the activities of the ACT Legislative Assembly and the ACT Government
- provide an archival record of the history, policies and administration of the government of the Australian Capital Territory
- facilitate government research and the decision making processes of its clients
Services
The range of library services offered include:
- a high quality reference and information service provided by professionally qualified information specialists
- access to a specialised collection of government and ACT specific material
- access to collections outside the library through a documentary delivery service
- electronic media monitoring and distribution service of selected online radio and TV files only to MLAs and their staff
- current awareness service delivering online ACT and interstate press resources as well as journal table of contents tailored to the client’s information profile
- access to a range of electronic journals, databases and an online catalogue on the Library’s intranet
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday
8.30 am – 5.00pm
8.30 am – 6.00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of Sitting Weeks
Contact
Address: Level 2 Legislative Assembly Building, London Circuit CANBERRA 2600
Reference Desk: (02) 6205 0397
Email: ACTLALibrary@parliament.act.gov.au
AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY
(a) to provide high quality information, analysis and advice to Senators and Members of the House of Representatives in support of their parliamentary and representational roles; and
(b) to undertake such other responsibilities within the joint Department, consistent with the function set out in paragraph (a), as are conferred in writing on the Parliamentary Librarian by the Secretary of the joint Department with the approval of the Presiding Officers. (Parliamentary Service Act 1999 section 38B (1))
The Library’s primary clients include Senators and Members and their staff, and committee staff. These clients entitled to use the full range of the Library’s services. Other client groups include staff of the parliamentary departments and the Governor-General. Service entitlements for all clients are outlined in the Parliamentary Library Statement of Client Services.
The Parliamentary Library is composed of the Parliamentary Librarian and the employees of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) assisting the Parliamentary Librarian.
The Parliamentary Library Executive comprises Ms Roxanne Missingham, Parliamentary Librarian, Dr Jane Romeyn, Assistant Secretary, Research Branch, and Ms Nola Adcock, Assistant Secretary, Information Access Branch.
The Library’s services are:
(a) Research services. These services include responding to requests from individual parliamentary clients for information and research, and the production of general distribution briefs and publications; and
(b) Information access services. Information services are provided to the Library’s clients by acquiring and providing access to information resources, through the selection, processing and indexing of material for library and media data bases in ParlInfo, and by publishing print and electronic works.
The Library’s online publications available through the Internet can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/index.htm
Databases available to the public can be found at http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/
Contact information: Central Enquiry Point phone (02) 6277 2500 or email libraryenquiries@aph.gov.au
NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY
NSW Parliament Home Page - http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au
Mission:
To identify and fulfil the information needs of Members of Parliament and the Parliamentary Institution.
The Library's primary clientele are Members of Parliament, their staff, and the staff of the Parliament. Other, secondary, clients include former Members, Members of other parliaments and the press gallery. The Library's services are characterised as being timely, authoritative, personalised to meet Members' individual needs, objective, and politically neutral.
History:
The New South Wales Parliamentary Library is the oldest of Australia's parliamentary libraries, and is also one of the oldest official libraries in the country. Established by the administrative action of the Legislative Council in 1840, it became a Joint Parliamentary Library with the introduction of responsible government in 1856.
The collection has historical depths and riches in a number of areas, including a strong emphasis on official publications, as well as extensive legal resources. A growing emphasis on online resources increasingly frames the Library as a facilitator of end-user searching by clients from their desktops. Subsequently the Library plays an increasing role in user education and training, and in the delivery of information electronically to clients.
Structure:
The Library consists of three sections:
Reference and Information Services provides the services of professional librarians and support staff to deliver information to clients which is timely, accurate and impartial. Information inquiries are answered using an extensive collection of historic resources, print collections and online databases, and cooperation with other libraries and information networks. Reference and Information Services is also responsible for the building of databases and specialised information resources to meet the needs of Members. Other services include electronic media monitoring, the e-clips service and newspaper clippings.
The Library Research Service provides in-depth analysis and advice on legislation and major issues of public policy. The Research Officers have subject expertise in law, politics and government, environment and planning, economics and social issues. The service regularly produces Background Papers, Briefing Papers, Statistical Indicators, Electorate Profiles and E-Briefs on a variety of subject areas, in addition to carrying out individual research requests for Members of Parliament.
Technical Services is responsible for the selection, acquisition, cataloguing, processing and maintenance of an extensive collection of information resources, including books, serials and e-journals. Government Publications are a particular focus of the collection.
Opening hours
Non-sitting days: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sitting days: Opens 8:30am
NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY
Background
Established in 1858, the Library was until 1 January 1987 called the General Assembly Library. Since 1 October 1985 it is part of the Parliamentary Service which is administered by the Parliamentary Service Commission, consisting of seven Members of Parliament chaired by the Speaker. The Commission is advised by a Library Committee of five members of Parliament, also chaired by the Speaker. The Parliamentary Librarian reports to the General Manager who is the Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service.
Reference/Research Service
The reference service aims to supply reliable, accurate, impartial information within the Member's deadline. All enquiries are treated as confidential. A statistician provides statistics, analyses, graphs and advice on the validity and use of statistics. An economist provides information, background papers and advice on economics, trade and industry.
Bills Digest Service
The Bills Digest Service, started in 1993, provides all Members of Parliament with a concise summary and analysis of each Bill. Issued shortly after a Bills introduction, the digest contains the purpose background and main provisions. There may be notes on issues and implications arising, views of interested parties, and references to reading materials. It is also available on Kiwinet.
SDI
"PROFILE" is a selective dissemination of information service. Selected periodical articles, official publications, reports, documents and books are indexed, abstracted and stored in a database. Items corresponding with individual Members’ interest profiles are brought to their attention through periodic personalised bulletins. The system also generates a series of thirteen subject bulletins and a monthly PROFILE bulletin containing a selection of the items of greatest current interest.
Newspaper Index Database
The Reference Section's most frequently used tool is the Library's own newspaper index which is compiled daily by the Database Section. It currently indexes selected articles in the New Zealand Herald, Dominion, Evening Post, Press, Otago Daily Times and Sunday Star Times. Entries are on-line since January 1990 and on cards since 1949. The Library accesses this index, its own current catalogue and the PROFILE database through the Parliamentary computer system. Access to the newspaper index is available also to users outside the parliamentary complex via the National Library's Kiwinet system.
International Documents Collection
The International Documents Collection contains official and parliamentary publications from overseas countries and inter-governmental organisations. Access to this collection is not restricted and all who need to use it are encouraged to do so. Much material is available on interloan through other libraries.
Fax: Administration (04) 471 1250
Reference (04) 471 9619
International Documents (04) 471 2551
QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY
Queensland Parliament Home Page - http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au
Up-dating information.
PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Staff of the Library comprise a division of the Joint Parliamentary Service. Library policy is determined by the Joint Parliamentary Service Committee and administered by the Parliamentary Librarian.
The principal objectives of the Library are:
* to develop systems of information delivery; and
* to provide confidential and impartial information and research services to Members of Parliament.
The services offered by the Library may be summarised as follows:
LIBRARY SERVICES, of a traditional kind, based on the collections, including:
* the acquisition;
* the cataloguing; and
* the circulation of documents.
The collections contain reference and background reading in a wide range of fields, especially politics, history, law and economics. There are major holdings of official publications. Suggestions for purchases are invited. The Library does not collect fiction.
The Library participates in inter-library lending and is a full member of the Australian Bibliographic Network.
INFORMATION SERVICES including:
* the supply of information on request through the Information Desk;
* the maintenance on a daily basis of files of newspaper clippings drawn from the metropolitan press and arranged under broad subject headings;
* the weekly issue of Current Reading, which provides summaries of topical articles extracted from recently acquired periodicals;
* the annotation of South Australian and Commonwealth statute and South Australian regulations; and
* access to online information services.
RESEARCH SERVICES, providing support to individual Members, involving staff with specialist backgrounds (law, economics, statistics, science) by way of:
* oral briefings;
* written reports (more usually); and
* information papers, given general distribution.
The Library is situated on two levels on the northern side of Parliament House. The main reading rooms are to be found on the ground floor conveniently close to the two chambers.
The opening hours of the Library are normally from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. On sitting days the Library remains open after 5pm so long as either House continues to sit (though with a break during the dinner adjournment). The Members Reading Room is open at all times.
TASMANIAN PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY AND RESEARCH SERVICES
In March 1852 a Select Committee of the Legislative Council (established in 1825) was appointed to manage the affairs of its Library. A Joint House Committee was formed in 1856 when bicameral Parliament was established. Permanent staff for the Library did not eventuate until 1883, when a Library Attendant was first appointed, although the Clerks continued to oversee the operations of the Library. This modest establishment continued up to the second World War, despite burgeoning bookstocks, and inadequate housing for them. In 1940, following a major renovation of the Parliament, a new spacious room was set aside for the Library, and the following year the Librarian of the National Library in Canberra, Kenneth Binns, was requested to advise on Tasmanian library services, and specifically on improving the Parliamentary Library.
Binns recommended close co-operation with the State Library, and the provision by that organisation of a part-time trained officer who would also catalogue the collection. It was not until 1945 that the first appointee took up the post, and in 1948, following a decision to discard a considerable portion of the books, work began on a proper dictionary card catalogue. By 1962 the shelving capacity had been augmented, and Miss Eve Masterman, by now ostensibly a full time employee, was able to gain support for a part-time assistant. However on her retirement in 1967 there was still dispute over the need to continue with a Librarian. The Committee once again sought assistance from the National Library, and in 1970 the first fully qualified permanent appointment to the position of Librarian was made. By 1974 a post of Deputy Librarian was added and a newspaper clippings file was established. This was followed by the appointment of two assistants in 1975, and by 1985 the Library had embraced the new technology by engaging in television monitoring and use of PC's.
The 1990s have proved to be an era of political instability throughout Australia, ushered in by Tasmanian elections which gave the balance of power to Independents, intent on having adequate research and reference support. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the services provided by the Library, and the number of staff necessary to implement them. Today the 12 Library and PRS staff provide a wide range of library and resource services, including several unique services available only within the Parliamentary Library. Principle services to Members include:
· High quality information, analysis and advice
· Intermediary service (where Library anonymity is desirable)
· Electronic clippings from Tasmanian newspapers available on the intranet
· Digital capture of television news broadcasts, radio programs and a transcription service providing typed transcripts on request.
The Library also has a range of information which it creates for Members, including ISYS software to index Hansard (full-text); Questions and adjournments by indexing Hansard, a Bills register indexing speeches and progress and a digital store of extrinsic material relating to bills.
Within the neutral environment of the Library, the Parliamentary Research Service exists to provide Members with value-added services involving interpretation and analysis. This research activity includes Issue Briefs, written for all Members as background papers; Research Notes, confidential personal research of a limited nature, and PRS Papers, which are longer research papers provided on request by Members.
The Parliamentary Library has increased online information content and continues to explore opportunities as new technologies appear. The growing emphasis on the delivery of value-added, packaged information to Members has created an environment for the Parliamentary Library to develop new services and priorities in online formats.
The Library is developing services that recognise the priority of information provision when required by a Member and where-ever the Member is at the time.
PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
Mission Statement
To support the Parliament of Victoria in its constitutional responsibilities by providing information, research and education services.
The Library of the Parliament of Victoria is distinguished as the first government library established in Victoria and as a forbear of the National Library of Australia. The appointment of the Library Committee marking the establishment of the Library took place on 13 November 1851 which was the second sitting day of the first Legislative Council. The Library of the Parliament of Victoria was thus the first constituted under the newly established Colony of Victoria. The Library's links with the National Library of Australia date from the use of the Victorian Parliament's premises by the Commonwealth Legislature from 1901 to 1926. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Library, which developed over the years in the grand building in Melbourne, later, after relocation to Canberra, formed the basis of the National Library of Australia collection.
In 1886 C.W. Holgate, in a comparative study of major Australian libraries, described the collection: "Though not so large as some others in the colonies, its editions are so good, its sets so perfect, that it struck me at once as being the most desirable for purposes of reference and study in the whole of Australia". He went on to say that space was sadly wanted. Substantial additional space was not acquired until almost one hundred years had passed and unfortunately many of the editions and sets he describes along with others acquired since have had to be relocated to the State Library of Victoria, the University of Melbourne Library and to the more recently founded Monash, La Trobe and Deakin universities.
We should not dwell on the breaking up of such a significant collection as the volumes and sets that have been relocated form the basis of other great libraries, libraries which are much more accessible to the general public than the Parliamentary Library.
Nowadays the Parliamentary Library is responsible for the provision of information and research services for Members of Parliament and their staff. These services include reference services, document delivery, electronic database searching and preparation of research papers and statistical analyses. The Library is also responsible for the public relations and education functions of the Parliament of Victoria and, in this capacity, publishes pamphlets, educational material and the Victorian Parliamentary Handbook.
The Library's collection includes books, serials and government publications, electronic resources, audio visual material as well as extensive holdings of newspapers and photographs. In total, the collection numbers over 500,000 items. The Library manages numerous in-house databases including Hansard (1991 to date), Members' press mentions, Inform (periodical articles) ministerial service etc. These, together with information on a 21 CD-ROM tower, are made available to officers of the Parliament via the Parliament House network. These services will soon be available to Members in their Parliament House offices and their electorate offices.
The Library administers the Parliament of Victoria home page at - http://www.vicnet.net.au/vicnet/vicgov/parl/parlia.html - which includes educational material, sitting dates, Members' information, Hansard (including Daily Hansard) etc. In the very near future it will provide access to Bills, Parliamentary Papers and the Statutes.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY AND RESEARCH SERVICES
History
The Western Australian Parliamentary Library was first established as a joint Law Library under the Law and Parliamentary Library Act 1873. The joint library was physically separated in 1889 to form the Law Library under the control of the Judges of the Supreme Court and the Parliamentary Library to serve Members of the Legislature. Since then, the Library has grown into a sophisticated information service that provides a comprehensive library and information service to Members of the Western Australian Parliament.
Mission
The Parliamentary Library provides information services that are timely, effective and efficient, and functions as a central point for the collection, documentation, co-ordination and disseminiation of information to Members of Parliament.
Purpose
Resources and services offered by the Parliamentary Library are used by Members to prepare speeches, frame questions, prepare legislation, prepare media releases, contribute to party policies, for committee work and constituency work, etc.
General Information
The Library has been designed as a self-service information resource. Although that means we encourage our users to come into the Library, we also have a professionally staffed Reference Service that can be contacted by telephone, fax or e-mail. The Library databases can be accessed via the Parliament House network. Traditional library services, including relevant library collection, reference desk service, media monitoring - electronic and paper, information updating service keeps clients informed of selected new acquisitions and journal articles of interest through its current awareness service - e-currents. The Library staff can provide training in how to use the Library and its resources.
Opening Hours
Non-sitting weeks
# 8.30 am - 5.00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)
Sitting weeks
# 8.30 am - 5.00 pm Monday and Friday
# 8.30 am - 10.00 pm Tuesday
# 8.30 am - 7.00 pm Wednesday
# 8.30 am - 6.10 pm Thursday
# 8.30 am - 5.10 pm Friday
Web address: www.parliament.wa.gov.au.
Parliamentary Librarians
Australia (Commonwealth)
Roxanne Missingham
Parliamentary Librarian
Parliamentary Library
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Phone: (02) 6277 7102
Fax: (02) 6277 2403
Email: Roxanne.Missingham [at] aph.gov.au
New Zealand
Ms Moira Fraser
Parliamentary Librarian
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 1
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: (+644) 471 9621
Fax: (+644) 471 9619
Email: moira.fraser [at] parliament.govt.nz
Ms SiewChin Scholar
Assembly Librarian
ACT Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly Building
London Circuit
Canberra, ACT 2600
Phone: (02) 62050395
Fax: (02) 620 50392
Email: siewchin.scholar@parliament.act.gov.au
Deborah Brown
Manager, Reference & Information Services
Parliament House
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9230 2380
Fax: (02) 9231 1932
Email:Deborah.brown [at] parliament.nsw.gov.au
Ms Di Sinclair
Manager Parliamentary Library Service
Northern Territory Library
Northern Territory Library & Information Service
GPO Box 42
DARWIN NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8999 7442
Fax: (08) 8999 6920
Email: di.sinclair [at] nt.gov.au
Ms Mary Seefried
Parliamentary Librarian
Parliament House
Brisbane Qld 4000
Phone: (07) 340 67280
Fax: (07) 321 00172
Email:mary.seefried[at]parliament.qld.gov.au
library.inquiries[at]parliament.qld.gov.au
Dr Coral Stanley
Parliamentary Librarian
South Australian Parliament Research Library
GPO Box 572
ADELAIDE S.A. 5001
Phone: (08) 8237 9405
Fax: (08) 8211 7672
Email: coral.stanley [at] parliament.sa.gov.au
Ms Juliet Webster
Parliamentary Librarian
Parliament House
HOBART TAS. 7000
Phone: (03) 6233 6255
Fax: (03) 6223 3964
Email: juliet.webster [at] parliament.tas.gov.au
Ms Marion King
Parliamentary Librarian
Parliament House
MELBOURNE VIC. 3002
Phone: (03) 9651 8630
Fax: (03) 9650 9775
Email: marion.king [at] parliament.vic.gov.au
Judy Ballantyne
Parliamentary Librarian,
Library and Information Services Manager
Parliament House
PERTH W.A. 6000
Phone: (08) 9222 7256
Fax: (08) 9222 7859
Email: jballantyne [at] parliament.wa.gov.au