Guide to Archives Collection - Parliamentary Library

This is an updated electronic version of the Guide to the Archives of the NSW Parliamentary Library, which was published in 1990. It describes all processed archives from the foundation of the Library of the first Legislative Council in 1840. It is arranged in administrative order, with the records being divided into those relating to the Library's collection; administrative records; records relating to reference services; records relating to the Library Committee; and the private papers of a Parliamentary Librarian. Photographs will be treated in a separate Guide. It gives the series number ('PRS' denotes 'Parliamentary Record Series'), the series title, the date range, the quantity, a description of the records, and where appropriate an item list.

All records over fifty years old and which are otherwise unrestricted are available to be consulted at Parliament House, Sydney, upon application to the Parliamentary Archivist.

Description of the Records

Records relating to the Library Collection: These records relate to the cataloguing, stocktaking, accessioning and binding of the Library collections.
Administrative Records: These records relate to the administration of the Library - accounts, correspondence, staff and stores.
Records relating to Reference Services: These relate to the reference services offered by the Library over the years.
Records relating to the Library Committee: The Library Committee is in fact a joint meeting of the Library Committees of each House and is concerned with the strategic direction of the Library.
Private papers of Parliamentary Librarians: These are the papers of Robert Rogers, the second Parliamentary Librarian.

Records relating to the Library Collection

Cataloguing Records
PRS 260.L Manuscript Catalogues of the Library's Collection, 1845 - 1868
PRS 326.L Printed Catalogues of the Library's Collection, 1849 - 1958
PRS 300.L Shelf Lists to the Fixed Location Collection, to 1958
PRS 301.L Subject Indexes of the Shelf Lists to the Fixed Location Collection, to 1958
PRS 302.L Guide to the Classification Headings used in the Subject Indexes to the Fixed Location Collection, 1969
PRS 329.L Cataloguing Working Papers, c. 1910 - 1956

Stocktaking Records
PRS 261.L Records relating to Stocktaking, 1887 - 1980

Loan Records
PRS 280.L Registers of the Issue and Return of Books, 1880 - 1962
PRS 281.L Loan Cards, 1969 - 1985
PRS 282.L Registers of Loans for Books used in the Chambers and the Party Rooms , 1924 - 1941
PRS 283.L Registers of Loans to Ex-Members ("Books Issued to Ex-Members"), 1945 - 1962
PRS 284.L Register of Loans to Parliamentary Staff, 1936 - 1944
PRS 285.L Registers of the Issue and Return of Periodicals, 1936 - 1979
PRS 286.L Records relating to Outstanding Loans, 1916 - 1964
PRS 311.L Registers of Books Required from the Liverpool Street Repository, 1964 - 1983

Accession Records
PRS 287.L Accession Registers ("Registers of Books Ordered & Received"), 1894 - 1978
PRS 288.L Copyright Accession Registers, 1953 - 1978
PRS 289.L Registers of Accessions by Gifts, Exchange, and Binding, 1904 - 1978
PRS 290.L Register of Members Orders for Books, 1855 - 1926
PRS 332.L Register of Books Ordered, 1890 - 1894

Binding Records
PRS 291.L Register of Books for Binding ("Books for Binding"), 1855
PRS 264.L Registers of Requisitions for Binding ("Requisition Books"), 1889 - 1960

Administrative Records

Accounting Records
PRS 262.L Accounts of the Library of the first Legislative Council, 1844 - 1855
PRS 80.L Accounts of the Legislative Council Library, 1858 - 1860
PRS 297.L Copies of Vouchers and Abstracts, 1840 - 1919
PRS 263.L Accounts and Salaries, 1889 - 1922
PRS 265.L Register of Adjustments of Advances, 1872 - 1888
PRS 292.L Petty Cash Books, 1898 - 1921

Correspondence
PRS 266.L Registers of Correspondence, Books etc Received ("Gifts and Exchange Registers"), 1889 - 1928
PRS 267.L Letters Received, 1858 - 1867
PRS 268.L Correspondence - Main Series ("Letters and Invoices"), 1857 - 1923
PRS 269.L Files extracted from the Main Series of Correspondence by Francis Walsh, 1862 - 1918
PRS 270.L Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1860 - 1962
PRS 271.L Copies of Letters Sent ("Letter Books"), 1846 - 1939
PRS 272.L Correspondence relating to Book Purchases, 1923 - 1959
PRS 273.L Correspondence and Papers relating to the Recall of Overdue Books, 1874 - 1954
PRS 274.L Correspondence relating to Deposits under the Copyright (Amendment) Act of 1952, 1952 - 1959
PRS 293.L Correspondence and Papers relating to Exchanges with the Smithsonian Institution, 1877 - 1888
PRS 304.L Correspondence and Papers relating to the Formation and Growth of the Library, 1840 - 1863

Staff
PRS 277.L Leave Register, 1944 - 1953
PRS 308.L Leave Cards ("Non-Current Staff Leave Records"), 1923 - 1987
PRS 278.L Papers relating to Staff Salary Claims, 1965 - 1977
PRS 309.L Library Staff Rosters, 1982 - 1986

Stores
PRS 275.L Samples of Stationery Forms Used, n.d. (? compiled c. 1985)
PRS 276.L Registers of Stores Received, 1922 - 1978

Records relating to Reference Services

PRS 322.L Newspaper Clippings relating to the Federation Conventions, 1889 - 1891
PRS 323.L Newspaper Clippings relating to Labour Settlements, 1893 - 1895
PRS 324.L Newspaper Clippings in relation to Projected Legislation, 1970 - 1972
PRS 321.L Documentary Film Programmes, 1948 - 1974
PRS 330.L Index of Parliamentary Precedents, n.d. (c. 1910 - 1930) ("Precedents - Notes and) References", n.d.
PRS 331.L Register of General Reference Information ("General Information"), 1953 - 1972
PRS 320.L Register of Reference Inquiries, 1964
PRS 333.L Register of Visiting Readers ("Visitors Book"), 1947 - 1974

Records relating to the Library Committee

PRS 294.L, Minutes of the Library Committee of the first Legislative Council, 1843 - 1855
PRS 295.L, Minutes of the Library Committee of the Legislative Assembly, 1856 - 1862
PRS 305.L, Minutes of the Library Committee of the Legislative Council, 1856 - 1862
PRS 306.L, Index to the Minutes of the Library Committee of the Legislative Council, n.d.
PRS 307.L, Minutes of the Joint Library Committee, 1862 - 1966
PRS 310.L, Printed Reports of the Library Committees, 1862
PRS 279.L, Annual Reports of the Parliamentary Librarian, 1926 - 1989
PRS 325.L, Visitors Book, 1891 - 1895
PRS 296.L, Completed questionnaires relating to proposals for an illustrated biographical record of Members, 1979

Private Papers of Parlliamentary Librarians

PRS 259.L/P, Rogers Collection - Papers, 1861 - 1867

NOTE: The papers (correspondence and notebooks) of Conrad Martens (1801 - 1878), Assistant Librarian in charge 1868 - 1878, are in the Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales.

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