State Reference Service collection loans policy

The print and online collections held by, or accessible through, the State Reference Service are selected to address the specialised queries of current clients and to provide future historians with valuable social history and cultural information. Unlike the Heritage Collections, whose focus is uniquely Tasmanian, the State Reference Service collection provides a national and international perspective on information.

The State Reference Service collection differs from those held in the city and branch libraries not only by size but also by subject coverage. The city library reference collections serve to provide immediate (or “ready reference”) access to general topics. Accordingly, city library reference collections comprise basic reference sources providing general or survey coverage of subject disciplines that may or may not entail assistance from library staff. Branch libraries hold a very limited range of basic single-volume reference books (e.g., a dictionary or encyclopaedia) that entail minimal assistance from library staff. In contrast, the State Reference Service collection covers all disciplines with some subject areas supported at the academic level. The State Reference Service collection also includes coverage of Tasmanian, Australian, and significant international publications in print and electronic formats. Some of the items in the collections are valuable and rare and need preserving for future generations.

Reference collections are designed to provide access to sources of information that are available on demand rather than being in general circulation. Generally clients consult items from the reference collections on library premises. A range of materials including books are available at any time for any client who is able to visit the library and wants to find information or research a particular topic.

To ensure equity of access to reference materials the State Reference Service is able to lend some items from its collection to libraries outside the State Library of Tasmania (SLT) system, and to SLT libraries around the State, when City and Branch Libraries are unable to meet a particular need. Clients statewide have the same access to materials as they would if visiting the State Reference Library. SLT clients living and working in the Greater Hobart area with ready access to the State Reference Library are encouraged to visit the Library. Some items may not be available for loan because of their format, subject or condition.

Books which are loaned to city or branch libraries are for use in the library only, which enables State Reference Service staff to access the information via the telephone or fax for another client if required. In exceptional circumstances home loans may be considered. Conditions do apply and Library staff should be consulted.


Items with the following Collection Codes are not available for loan. Please see Library staff for assistance
 

General loan conditions:

•     The normal loan period for material from State Reference Service to Branch and City Libraries is 3 weeks. Workshop manuals will be loaned for 2 week due to client demand. This loan period includes travelling time to the library but all items will be posted.
•     State Reference Service items in high demand have restricted loan periods and limits may apply to the number of items lent on any one subject.

Opening hours of the State Reference Library

The State Reference Library is open at the following times:

Contact

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Phone             (03) 6233 7526    
Fax                 (03) 6233 7902