Role

To provide high quality, impartial, timely and confidential information, analysis and advice to senators and members of the House of Representatives in support of their parliamentary and representational roles.

Clients

• senators, members, and their staff
• parliamentary committees
• the Governor-General
• staff of parliamentary departments.

Governance

• Presiding Officers—jointly vested with responsibility for the administration of the Department of Parliamentary Services, including the Parliamentary Library.
• Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library—provides advice to the Presiding Officers on matters relating to the Library.
• Parliamentary Librarian—statutory officer responsible for the control and management of the Library, reporting directly to the Presiding Officers and the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library.

Structure

• Parliamentary Librarian
  • Office of the Parliamentary Librarian
• Research Branch
• Library Collections and Databases Branch.

Resource Agreement: 2017–18

• operational funding: $15.491 million
• capital funding: $3.593 million
• average staffing level: 137.5 FTE.

Services

• comprehensive library collection for reference and loan
• media monitoring—press, broadcast and social media
• confidential and tailored research and analysis
• mapping (electoral, social-economic and demographic data)
• assistance with parliamentary delegation briefings
• research publications to help inform parliamentary debate, scrutiny and policy development
• 24/7 access to online databases and services
• training, lectures and seminars.