State Library of Queensland
Encyclopedia
The State Library of Queensland is a large public library provided to the people of the State of Queensland
, Australia, by the state government
. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988. It contains a significant portion of Queensland’s documentary heritage, major reference and research collections, and is an advocate of and partner with public libraries across Queensland. The library is at Kurilpa Point, within the Queensland Cultural Centre
on the Brisbane River
at South Bank
.
In 1934 the Oxley Memorial Library (now the John Oxley Library, and named for the explorer John Oxley
), opened as a centre for research and study relating specifically to Queensland. The Libraries Act of 1943 established the Library Board of Queensland to manage the Public Library of Queensland; three years later, under the terms of The Oxley Memorial Library of Queensland Act, it took over management of the Oxley Memorial Library as well.
A year after that, James L. Stapleton was appointed Queensland's first State Librarian. He remains the longest-serving CEO, and has been followed by three others:
In 1971, the "Public Library" became the "State Library." The following year, the Public Library Service was established to liaise with Queensland local authorities regarding their public libraries; a subsidy for employing qualified staff in public libraries was also established. A few years later the Country Lending Service (CLS) was established to provide book exchange and other services to public libraries in Queensland's smaller local government areas. The CLS is still going strong today, administered by the State Library's Public Library Services program.
In 2003 the State Library began a new mission when it established the first fifteen of its Indigenous Knowledge Centre
s (IKCs) in the Cape York and Torres Strait regions. Other IKCs were opened in the following years.
The library's current mission statement motto is Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other.
in William Street, Brisbane
in 1899. This building had formerly been occupied by the Queensland Museum
.
The Library originally shared accommodation in the building with an art gallery. In the late 1950s, an extension, with a distinctive tiled mural
on the exterior, was built onto the building to provide more space. The mural was the winning design in a national competition held in 1958.
In 1988, the State Library of Queensland moved to a new home within the Queensland Cultural Centre
at South Bank
, near the Queensland Museum
and the original Queensland Art Gallery
.
After three years of extensive redevelopment, the South Bank building officially re-opened on 25 November 2006 as "a new cultural and knowledge destination" and a fitting showcase for the collections. New services include the kuril dhagun Indigenous Knowledge Centre, and The Corner, an activities area for children under 8, their parents, carers, educators and friends.
The newly redeveloped building was designed by Brisbane based architecture firms Donovan Hill and Peddle Thorp. Their work earned them the prestigious RAIA Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2007 (award for best public building in Australia) and the RAIA Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture, 2007.
The building overlooks Stanley Place between the Queensland Art Gallery and the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia, by the state government
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988. It contains a significant portion of Queensland’s documentary heritage, major reference and research collections, and is an advocate of and partner with public libraries across Queensland. The library is at Kurilpa Point, within the Queensland Cultural Centre
Queensland Cultural Centre
The Queensland Cultural Centre is a multi-venue centre located at South Bank, Brisbane, capital city of Queensland. It consists of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre , the Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland , the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art...
on the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
at South Bank
South Bank, Queensland
South Bank is a cultural, educational and recreational precinct in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The precinct is located in the suburb of South Brisbane, on the southern bank of the Brisbane River.-South Bank Parklands:...
.
History
The Brisbane Public Library was established by the government of the Colony of Queensland in 1896, and was renamed the Public Library of Queensland in 1898. The library was opened to the public in 1902.In 1934 the Oxley Memorial Library (now the John Oxley Library, and named for the explorer John Oxley
John Oxley
John Joseph William Molesworth Oxley was an explorer and surveyor of Australia in the early period of English colonisation.October 1802 he was engaged in coastal survey work including an expedition to Western Port in 1804-05...
), opened as a centre for research and study relating specifically to Queensland. The Libraries Act of 1943 established the Library Board of Queensland to manage the Public Library of Queensland; three years later, under the terms of The Oxley Memorial Library of Queensland Act, it took over management of the Oxley Memorial Library as well.
- Sidney Lawrence (Lawrie) Ryan (1970–1988)
- Des Stephens (1988–2001)
- Lea Giles-Peters (2001–)
In 1971, the "Public Library" became the "State Library." The following year, the Public Library Service was established to liaise with Queensland local authorities regarding their public libraries; a subsidy for employing qualified staff in public libraries was also established. A few years later the Country Lending Service (CLS) was established to provide book exchange and other services to public libraries in Queensland's smaller local government areas. The CLS is still going strong today, administered by the State Library's Public Library Services program.
In 2003 the State Library began a new mission when it established the first fifteen of its Indigenous Knowledge Centre
Indigenous Knowledge Centre
There are two library services operating in Australia that have adopted the appellation 'Knowledge Centres' in relation to the delivery of library services for Indigenous clients. The Northern Territory Library first developed the Indigenous Knowledge Centre model of service and later changed this...
s (IKCs) in the Cape York and Torres Strait regions. Other IKCs were opened in the following years.
The library's current mission statement motto is Creatively linking Queenslanders to information, knowledge and each other.
Collection and services
- General collections, including books, journals and magazines, newspapers, audiovisual, family history, maps, music, ephemera, Internet and electronic resources.
- Research collections and services – including the John Oxley Library and the Australian Library of Art, which includes the James Hardie Library of Australian Fine Arts.
Services
- Access to collections, including access to 50,000 Copyright-free Queensland images through Wikimedia CommonsWikimedia CommonsWikimedia Commons is an online repository of free-use images, sound and other media files. It is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation....
- Provides books and other resource material to public libraries throughout QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. - Specialist services to public libraries in a number of areas, including services to young people and multicultural communities.
- Public programs and exhibitions, including exhibition loans to schools, museums and other community organisations.
- Outreach programs in reference, research, information literacy, Internet training and digitisation throughout Queensland for public library staff and the general community.
- Library services to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders including the establishment of Indigenous Knowledge Centres primarily in Cape YorkCape YorkCape York may refer to:* Cape York , a cape at the north-west coast of Greenland, in northern Baffin Bay* Cape York meteorite, meteorite found in 1894 near Cape York, Greenland...
and Torres StraitTorres StraitThe Torres Strait is a body of water which lies between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is approximately wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost continental extremity of the Australian state of Queensland...
regions and increasing the employment and training opportunities for Indigenous peoples in the library industry. - A digital culture centre called The Edge, for young people.
Architecture
The then-Brisbane Public Library moved into the old State Library buildingThe old State Library Building, Brisbane
The old State Library Building is situated immediately opposite Queens Gardens in William Street, Brisbane, Australia.The building was originally constructed for the Queensland Museum, which stayed in the building for 20 years ....
in William Street, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1899. This building had formerly been occupied by the Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum
The Queensland Museum is the state museum of Queensland. The museum currently operates four separate campuses; at South Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Townsville.The museum is funded by the State Government of Queensland.-History:...
.
The Library originally shared accommodation in the building with an art gallery. In the late 1950s, an extension, with a distinctive tiled mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
on the exterior, was built onto the building to provide more space. The mural was the winning design in a national competition held in 1958.
In 1988, the State Library of Queensland moved to a new home within the Queensland Cultural Centre
Queensland Cultural Centre
The Queensland Cultural Centre is a multi-venue centre located at South Bank, Brisbane, capital city of Queensland. It consists of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre , the Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland , the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art...
at South Bank
South Bank, Queensland
South Bank is a cultural, educational and recreational precinct in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The precinct is located in the suburb of South Brisbane, on the southern bank of the Brisbane River.-South Bank Parklands:...
, near the Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum
The Queensland Museum is the state museum of Queensland. The museum currently operates four separate campuses; at South Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Townsville.The museum is funded by the State Government of Queensland.-History:...
and the original Queensland Art Gallery
Queensland Art Gallery
The Queensland Art Gallery is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre, and is located nearest to Brisbane River at South Bank...
.
After three years of extensive redevelopment, the South Bank building officially re-opened on 25 November 2006 as "a new cultural and knowledge destination" and a fitting showcase for the collections. New services include the kuril dhagun Indigenous Knowledge Centre, and The Corner, an activities area for children under 8, their parents, carers, educators and friends.
The newly redeveloped building was designed by Brisbane based architecture firms Donovan Hill and Peddle Thorp. Their work earned them the prestigious RAIA Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture, 2007 (award for best public building in Australia) and the RAIA Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture, 2007.
The building overlooks Stanley Place between the Queensland Art Gallery and the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre at the South Bank area of South Brisbane. It holds most of Queensland Art Gallery's contemporary works, while also being the joint host to the current Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art...
.
Governance
The State Library of Queensland is governed by the Library Board of Queensland and comprises the following program units:- Collection Access
- Collection Preservation
- Finance, Facilities & Administration
- Heritage Collections
- Information Communications and Technology Services
- Indigenous Library Services
- Marketing & Communications
- People & Learning
- Policy & Planning
- Public Library Services
- Public Programs
- Queensland Community Books
- Reference Services
- Resource Discovery
See also
- SLQ donation of images to Wikimedia Commons in December 2010
External links
- State Library of Queensland
- The Edge
- State Library of Queensland images on Flickr
- Timelapse videos of building redevelopment – Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
- Libraries Act 1988 (Queensland)
- Music Queensland – tune in to scores of musical heritage
- Queensland State Archives