About us
The State Library of NSW partners with NSW public libraries to support and improve library services for the people of NSW.
Who we are
The Library’s Public Library Services team provides specialist advice and support to all councils providing public library services in NSW and assist the Library Council of NSW to meet its objects and duties under the Library Act 1939 in relation to public libraries.
State Library staff administer state government funding to support library services; coordinate statewide programs and initiatives; provide consulting services to libraries; subsidise internet connectivity; develop standards and guidelines; and collect, analyse, and disseminate library statistics.
The team also works with the public library network to share collections of community language material, electronic content, and materials in formats accessible to people with disability.
What we do
Advisory and consulting services
The team manages public library compliance with the Library Act 1939 and Library Regulation 2018 and reviews public libraries on behalf of Library Council. We also provide expert advice on the management and development of public libraries.
Each year the team works with more than 100 public libraries in NSW providing advice on services, collections, spaces, regional library agreements, building projects, reference services and promotion.
Policies, guidelines and statistics
The team collects and disseminates data on NSW public libraries. Each year the State Library collects comprehensive statistics from NSW councils about their library services.
In consultation with the public library network the team develops public library standards, guidelines, and policies; and identifies and researches industry-wide issues.
Statewide services
State Library staff develop and coordinate two statewide information services.
Drug Info is a free drug and alcohol information service for the community of NSW. It is a partnership between the NSW Ministry of Health, the State Library of NSW and the NSW public library network.
Information is provided to the community via the Drug Info website, a collection of plain language books and factsheets held in NSW public libraries and public programs delivered by public library staff.
Find Legal Answers is a free legal information service for the community of NSW providing quality, plain English legal information for the community of NSW.
Legal information is provided to the community via collections in NSW public libraries, the Find Legal Answers website, and partnerships with legal service providers.
NSW.net services
NSW.net is funded under the NSW Government’s annual public library funding allocation to offer NSW libraries and councils subsidised internet connectivity, eResources and associated services.
Through NSW.net all NSW public libraries are provided with free access to fifteen statewide online databases, covering a broad range of topics including the arts, science, literature, and health. They also have access to an extensive collection of ebooks and audiobooks through the indyreads platform.
Multicultural and cooperative services
The State Library supports the development of public library multicultural collections and services through consulting services and the cooperative purchasing of community language material.
The team manages bulk loans of multicultural, large print and talking books to public libraries from the State Library’s collection.
Contact the Public Library Services team to discuss how we can assist your library.