Legislation and policies

The Library's plans and policies inform our services, programs and initiatives and provide guidelines on practical matters such as accessing the collections, bringing food, drink or bags into the Library, copyright and photocopying.

Legislation

Library Act 1939

Library Regulation 2018

Policies and plans

Access to Special Collections Policy	Policy	The Library balances public access to special collections material with the security and long-term preservation of the state's cultural heritage.
Accessibility Action Plan	Plan	This document outlines concrete actions to which the Library is committing to be more accessible for people with disability.
Accident, Incident Reporting and Investigation Procedure	Policy	The State Library has rules around the reporting and investigating of accidents and incidents in the workplace.
Business Continuity Management Policy Currently under review	Policy	The Library has a strategy in place so we can still deliver critical services and products following a disruption or major crisis.
Child Safe Policy	Policy	The Library is committed to being a child-safe institution, and to providing environments where children are safe and can flourish through learning and enjoyment. The Library acknowledges that when executing any of its functions in accordance with this policy, the safety, care and protection of children is paramount.
Code of Ethics and Conduct	Policy	We have standards by which State Library staff are expected to conduct themselves at all times.
Collection Development Policy	Policy	This gives information about the Library's collections and what our collecting priorities are.
Collection Preservation Policy	Policy	This policy defines the Library’s approach to preservation in line with its duties and responsibilities.
Collection Retention and Withdrawal Policy Currently under review	Policy	How we look after and dispose of collection material and donations.
Complaint Handling Policy	Policy	The Library is committed to engaging with its readers and visitors to find ways of improving services and increase satisfaction to visitor feedback
Copyright	Statements and plans	The Library has comprehensive copyright information which addresses key aspects of the application of copyright law to its collections.
COVID-19 Safety Plan	Policy	This Safety Plan outlines how the State Library of New South Wales (the Library) is complying with Public Health Orders and NSW Health advice in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, and managing risks posed by the virus to staff, volunteers, readers and visitors.
Data Breach Response Plan	Statements and plans	The Data Breach Response Plan covers the key actions and responsibilities to be followed in the event of a data breach.
Digitisation Strategy	Statements and plans	The Library digitises collection material in order to improve access to collections, preserve its collections, support the Library’s programs and meet reader requests for digital copies.
Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy	Policy	It's critical that the State Library establishes and maintains a healthy ethical culture.
Gifts and Benefits Policy and Procedures Currently under review	Policy	The State Library has strict rules about receiving any gifts and benefits.
Guidelines for accessing sensitive collections	Guidelines	These guidelines support the Library’s mission to collect and preserve materials and evidence relating to our place in the world and make them accessible to everyone in New South Wales and beyond.
Incoming Loans Policy	Policy	The Incoming Loans Policy provides a framework for the management of incoming loans for temporary exhibition at the Library.
Information Security Policy	Policy	The Library is committed to a secure information environment that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of its information assets, and systems.
Interlibrary Lending Policy	Policy	How we manage the lending of library material from the State Library’s collections to other libraries.
Legislative Compliance Policy	Policy	The Library is committed to complying with its relevant legislative obligations. Compliance with the provisions of all legislation applicable to the Library’s operations, collections and services is essential.
Legislative Compliance Register	Register	This Legislative Compliance Register contains only significant legislation and major NSW Government policy and compliance requirements which impacts the Library’s operations and is directly relevant to its policies, procedures and guidelines.
Metadata framework: principles & standards for cataloguing Currently under review	Policy	How are collection materials catalogued in the Library?
Multicultural Plan	Plan	We are eager to hear the observations of people from multicultural communities about their experiences of the Library and how we can make it ever more welcoming.
Naming Policy	Policy	Naming policy for buildings, parts of buildings and collections that is followed when philanthropists make a significant contribution to the Library.
Outgoing Loans Policy Currently under review	Policy	The Outgoing Loans Policy applies to the outward loan of collection items from the Library to other cultural institutions for exhibition including travelling exhibitions.
Policy for the administration of gifts to the State Library of NSW Foundation	Policy	This document outlines the ways in which gifts given to the Library Foundation are administered.
Policy on Exclusions and Directions to Leave	Policy	This key piece of legislation explains just how the Library is meant to be used. Under this law, anyone who breaches the regulation can be excluded from the Library.
Privacy Management Plan	Statements and Plans	The State Library is very careful with any personal and health information. Here's our plan for managing it.
Procurement and Contract Management Policy	Policy	The State Library aims to get the best value for money in all its buying activities.
Public Interest Disclosures Policy	Policy	This policy states the Library requirements for the reporting of public interest disclosures (PIDs) and seeks to provide staff with an understanding of their responsibilities, to encourage reporting of wrongdoing.
Reader and Visitor Code of Conduct	Policy	This document outlines the conduct the Library expects from its readers and visitors in all public spaces, both onsite and online.
Respectful, Inclusive and Fair Workplace Policy	Policy	The State Library of NSW (the Library) is committed to providing staff with a positive, diverse, safe and healthy workplace where all activities are undertaken with respect, inclusion and fairness.
Requests to produce documents: subpoenas, summons, statutory notices and orders	Policy	This policy sets out the approach of the State Library of New South Wales for dealing with and responding to subpoenas.
Risk Management Policy and Framework Currently under review	Policy	The State Library is committed to developing a risk management culture, where risk management is seen as integral to the achievement of our objectives at all levels and where all staff are alert to risks, are capable of an appropriate level of risk assessment and confident to report risks or opportunities perceived to be important to our priorities.
Security Systems Surveillance Policy	Policy	The State Library uses security systems to safeguard its valuable collections and people and property. This explains how they are used in accordance with legislation.
Smoke Free Workplace Policy	Policy	The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the risks to health associated with environmental tobacco smoke are eliminated and to provide direction to State Library of NSW workers concerning the smoking of tobacco on the Library’s premises and workplaces.
Social Media Policy	Policy	How we suggest Library staff communicate with customers when using social media platforms.
Take down requests	Policy	Have you seen something you like that we've published online? Read about our principles for using and taking down content.
Unattended Children Guidelines	Guidelines	These guidelines outline the responsibilities of parents, guardians and carers with regard to their child's use of the State Library of New South Wales (the Library). It also details the responsibilities of library staff if and when unattended children are deemed to be at risk in the Library. This document is framed with reference to the Library Act 1939 (NSW) and the Library Regulation 2018 (NSW) and should be looked at in conjunction with the Library's Child Safe Policy.
Web Privacy Statement	Statements and Plans	Everything you need to know about how the Library uses any personal information and what we will and won't publish.
Work Health and Safety Policy	Policy	The health and safety of all workers and visitors on the Library premises is extremely important to us and so we've put steps in place to safeguard anyone who's on the site.