Showcasing local collections held at the John Oxley Library

While attending the Regional Libraries Queensland training course in Brisbane in 2015, Sue Laycock - Injune Library Service Officer and Jan Norton - Boulia Library visited the John Oxley Library to build an understanding and awareness of the collections and services available.

L - R Jan Norton of Boulia Library and Sue Laycock, Injune Library Service Officer visit the John Oxley Library, November 2015.

It was great to showcase diaries, photographs, published works and colourful posters, Queensland songs and music on CD and ephemera collections  - all with links to the communities of Boulia in the far west of Queensland and the township of Injune in the Maranoa district.

Boulia is located in the far west of Queensland. Source: http://www.whereis.com/qld/boulia-4829

Sue and Jan were surprised by the extent of the collections and their importance in helping to preserve the history of events, people, places and ideas that shape Queensland.

The Maranoa Rabbit Board: a synopsis of its work from April 1892 to June 1897 / by C. L. Morgan. RBJ 591.65 MOU John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

It was also an opportunity to discuss the role of legal deposit in the John Oxley Library, enabling Sue and Jan to understand the responsibility on the part of publishers, government departments, commercial organisations, clubs, churches, societies and private individuals to deposit Queensland content. It also explained why Jan was able to hold a copy of a small exhibition catalogue - Infinite horizons: an exhibition of red and white quilts travelling to communities in North West Queensland in 2012.

Boulia was one of the destinations to host an exhibition helping to raise funds for aged care in regional areas.

Even though Sue and Jan are aware the John Oxley Library collections are not for loan as part of the State’s inter-library loan network, they are now aware of the growing number of collections now digitised that are specific to Boulia and the Maranoa district.

Anne Scheu - Engagement Officer, State Library of Queensland

References:

The Maranoa Rabbit Board: a synopsis of its work from April 1892 to June 1897 / by C. L. Morgan. RBJ 591.65 MOR John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.

Infinite horizons: an exhibition of red and white quilts travelling to communities in North West Queensland in 2012. RBHEC MOU John Oxley Library, State Library of Qyeensland.

6333 Ellen Humphreys Papers 1941-1967