NSW 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
Closes: Tues/Wed 7pm, Thurs 6pm, Fri 5pm

Parliamentary Librarian

Deborah Bennett
Parliament House
SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone: (02) 9230 2380
Fax: (02) 9231 1932
Email: deborah.bennett@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Inquiries: DPS.Library@parliament.nsw.gov.au