Both the Parliamentary Library and Parliamentary Research Service have a common core function, which is to provide accurate information resources and services to Members of both the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council, and their staff. The mission statement of the service reads: "To provide timely and confidential information services, specifically designed to assist Members of Parliament in performing their duties".

The Library subscribes to about 250 current serials and newspapers, and has a collection of approximately 4,000 monographs. The Library also holds a comprehensive collection of Australian State, Tasmanian and Commonwealth Parliamentary publications.

CATALOGUE

Holdings of the Parliamentary Library are found on TALIS
(Tasmanian Automated Library and Information System), available through the State Library of Tasmania web site. The system is shared by the State Library, schools and colleges throughout the State, and can be accessed via the Internet at www.talis.gov.au:8000

INTER-LIBRARY LOANS

Inter-Library Loan arrangements with other libraries enable staff to obtain items not held in the Library's own collections, at short notice if necessary. Contact: Reference Resources Librarian on extension 6484 for further information on inter-library loans.

ACCESS

We request that clients other than MPs, Clerks and their respective staff, should contact the library before visiting it. Ph: (03) 6233 2244.

LIBRARY SERVICES

REFERENCE SERVICE

The staff of the Parliamentary Library provide an extensive reference and research service for Members and their staff. Contact a librarian on 62332244 or email library@parliament.tas.gov.au for any enquiries.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Education and training can be provided for Members and their staff in the use of resources and services of the Library. Internet searching instruction is also available. The librarians will provide tours and induction information for new staff on request. Contact the Parliamentary Librarian on 62336255 or janet.thorp@parliament.tas.gov.au.

MEDIA MONITORING

The Library digitally records daily radio and television news and current affairs broadcasts as follows:

Television

ABC News: 7:00pm (7days) plus Stateline (ABC) Friday
Southern Cross News: 6:00pm (7days)
WIN News: 6:00pm (7 days)

Television recordings are retained for 6 months.

ABC Radio

Radio recordings are retained for 3 months.

The Parliamentary Library provides viewing and listening facilities.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

Parliamentary Library staff maintain a newspaper indexing service for Members and their staff. The Mercury, Examiner and Advocate are indexed daily and the articles are available full-text on the Parliament Intranet. The database of clippings was begun in 2004 and can be searched for articles retrospectively.

CURRENT AWARENESS READING (CAR)

Librarians index topical articles from current serials and online resources which are then made available to Members electronically. The service provides Members with information on current issues.

DATABASE SERVICES

Staff maintain external and in-house databases directly relevant to Tasmanian political and parliamentary affairs including:

· BILLS: an index which tracks the progress of bills through both Houses
· GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS: an index to selected Parliamentary Papers and government publications from all Australian jurisdictions
· TRAVEL REPORTS: a database containing information about reports of Member’s study tours
· QUESTA: an index to Tasmanian parliamentary questions and answers in both the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly since 1987
· PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS INDEX: an index to papers tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament. This database is available on the Internet and Intranet.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

The Library maintains files containing biographical information on each Tasmanian MP, both past and present, at both State and Federal level. These files commence upon the election of a parliamentarian. The files continue after an MP leaves office so that basic material may be located to outline their full career before, during and after they no longer hold a parliamentary seat or have passed away. The files remain open to collect posthumous material from any source.

PARLIAMENTARY BACKGROUNDERS

The Library has produced a series of backgrounders providing information about parliamentary procedure and history. The sheets are distributed free of charge to interested parties, or they may be viewed and downloaded from the Internet. The Backgrounders are available in a folder for Members to use when visiting community groups and schools.

PARLIAMENTARY MUSEUM

The Parliamentary Museum, also managed by the Parliamentary Librarian, is located in the basement of Parliament House and contains a number of displays and photographs illustrating the history and development of the Parliament and of individual parliamentarians.

Members’ queries regarding the Parliamentary Library should, in the first instance be directed to the Parliamentary Librarian, ext. 6255.

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Last Update: 2 March 2006