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Policies and guidelines

Our policies and guidelines provide information on matters such as bringing food, drinks and bags into the library, how we develop and manage collections and much more.

State Library of Queensland

Our purpose

Founded in 1896, the State Library of Queensland is the leading reference and research library in Queensland. State Library is responsible for collecting and preserving a comprehensive collection of Queensland’s cultural and documentary heritage, providing free access to information for all Queenslanders, and for the advancement of public libraries across the State.

We will provide:

  • Efficient, friendly and professional staff to assist you with your information needs
  • Accessible spaces, resources, and services that embrace Queensland's diversity
  • A safe, welcoming, inclusive and respectful environment where people pursue their needs and interests freely
  • Opportunities for you to make comments and suggestions about our services
  • Services that are continuously developing and improving
  • Timely acknowledgement of your feedback

You can help by:

  • Interacting with others at State Library with courtesy and respect
  • Showing consideration for the rights and privacy of others when using State Library
  • Using State Library collections, facilities, equipment and property with care and respect
  • Supervising the children in your care while at State Library

If you would like to know more

Please ask us via our feedback form - we are happy to help you and receive feedback.

Responsible Client Conduct Policy

How State Library provides a safe and welcoming place for all, and information on unacceptable behaviour and how staff and security officers will respond.

PDF · 235 KB

Bags and Belongings Policy

The State Library provides visitors with a cloakroom facility as a secure location to deposit their personal belongings while visiting the premises.

PDF · 135 KB

Lost Property Policy

Provides a set of guidelines to manage the receipt, storage and disposal of property left or lost in the State Library.

PDF · 117 KB

Public Access ICT Services Policy

Information on the free ICT services provided at the library, including using the internet through the library’s computers and through visitors’ own devices.

PDF · 110 KB

Ask a Librarian Service Policy

PDF · 169 KB

Comments Policy

Ensures contributions to State Library’s online spaces including the website, blogs and catalogue are appropriate and respectful

PDF · 415 KB

Client Complaints Management Policy and Procedures

The State Library welcomes feedback. The Client Complaints Management Policy and Procedures describes how to make a complaint and how the State Library manages complaints.

PDF · 167 KB

Identity Management Principles

How State Library manages personal data about our clients in an ethical and accountable manner.

PDF · 43 KB

Loans to Clients Policy

The Loans to Clients Policy governs State Library’s lending service for the borrowing of physical items from the Information Collection. The policy provides guidelines on how individuals can engage with our diverse collections.

PDF · 178 KB

Your Information Guidelines

How State Library collects and stores your personal information.

PDF · 115 KB

Work Health and Safety Commitment Statement

PDF · 730 KB

Content Strategy

The framework for State Library's holistic development and management of collections and content.

PDF · 575 KB

Content Acquisition Policy

Guides all collection acquisition activities to ensure that they are efficient, consistent, ethical and provide value for money.

PDF · 418 KB

Content Guidelines - Memory Collections

Guidelines for the development of our Memory Collections, which contribute to a greater understanding of Queensland past and present.

PDF · 456 KB

Content Guidelines - Extraordinary Collections

Guidelines for the development of our Extraordinary Collections, which provide exceptional examples and context of books as objects.

PDF · 776 KB

Content Guidelines - Information Collections

Guidelines for the development of our Information Collections which provide for the information needs of all Queensland residents.

PDF · 392 KB

Content Guidelines - Public Library Collections

Guidelines for the development of our Public Library Collections which support public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres across Queensland.

PDF · 532 KB

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections Commitments

These Commitments provide a foundation for State Library to appropriately enable greater access and use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections.

PDF · 443 KB

Indigenous Intellectual Property and Ownership

Indigenous Intellectual Property and Ownership

PDF · 218 KB

Reconsideration of library collections policy

State Library provides open and equitable access to information. This policy enables State Library to assess and respond to requests made to change the availability, access or catalogue descriptions of physical or online content.

PDF · 214 KB

Preservation Policy

Provides a framework for the preservation and protection of State Library's physical and digital collections.

PDF · 262 KB

Integrated Pest Management Policy

The Integrated Pest Management Policy outlines the risk to State Library's collections posed by potential outbreak of pests, mould, and other contaminants while detailing prevention and response initiatives.

PDF · 208 KB

Digitisation Policy

How State Library digitises collection items to enable our clients to have a rich digital experience of Queensland content.

PDF · 105 KB

Digital Capture Specifications

This document details the State Library of Queensland's provision of digital source files and the standards for their capture to meet future access and preservation of requirements.

DOCX · 86 KB

Content Description Principles

This documents sets out principles that guide how State Library describes content in our collections, which is fundamental to how it is discovered, accessed, use and preserved, now and into the future.

PDF · 228 KB

Content Withdrawal policy

Outlines the standards, policies, guidelines and methodologies which guide State Library staff on the withdrawal and disposal of collection items from the Memory Collections, Extraordinary Collections, Information Collections, and Public Library Collections.

PDF · 166 KB

Vancouver statement on collections-as-data

State Library of Queensland supports the 2023 Vancouver statement on collections-as-data, which provides guidance to organisations invested in developing, providing access to, and supporting responsible computational use of collections as data.

PDF · 87 KB

Collections Disaster Plan Part One Planning and Preparedness

This document has been developed to ensure we are prepared for almost any given disaster scenario impacting on State Library’s collection

PDF · 212 KB

Collections Disaster Plan Part Two Response and Recovery

This document has been developed to ensure that almost any given disaster scenario impacting on the library’s collections should be prepared for

PDF · 290 KB

Intellectual Freedom Policy

How State Library manages our commitment to intellectual freedom, including equitable access and freedom of expression, and how we manage censorship and privacy.

PDF · 182 KB

Open Data Strategy 2022-24

State Library's strategy to uncover data in our collections, make it more usable, provide learning and skill development opportunities, create rich digital experiences, empower experimentation, and ensure open access to cultural heritage.

PDF · 202 KB

Exhibition Policy

The Exhibitions Policy outlines the purpose of exhibitions at State Library of Queensland.

PDF · 160 KB

Intellectual Property Management Policy

How State Library manages the Intellectual Property we create or own, and how the State Library uses Intellectual Property owned by third parties.

PDF · 194 KB

Volunteer Program Policy

Volunteer Program Policy

PDF · 219 KB

Public Interest Disclosure Policy

Outlines our commitment to encouraging the internal reporting of wrong-doing and the procedures for appropriate action, resolution and protection for disclosers.

PDF · 303 KB

Naming Rights Policy

How State Library grants and manages naming rights of spaces and activities

PDF · 85 KB

Complaints about the State Librarian and CEO policy

PDF · 158 KB

Policies that relate to how we work with other organisations.

Loans and Copies to Libraries Policy

The Loans and Copies to Libraries Policy governs the interlibrary loan and document supply service for the borrowing and copying of items from State Library collections by Australian and international libraries. The policy provides guidelines on how libraries can access State Library’s diverse collections.

PDF · 187 KB

Loans for Exhibition Policy

The Exhibitions Loans Policy governs the loan of items from and to State Library of Queensland while outlining the requirements for incoming and outgoing loans and detailing the responsibilities related to managing loaned items.

PDF · 194 KB