State Library of Queensland

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The State Library of Queensland is a large public library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the State Government.

Its major roles are as follows:

to act as the major custodian of Queensland's documentary heritage
to provide a major reference and research library and related services to all Queenslanders
to serve as an advocate and financial partner of a statewide public library network
(its most recently acquired role) to provide public programs that complement and extend its collections

1 History
2 Architecture
3 Photos of the old State Library building
4 External links

[edit] History

The Brisbane Public Library was established by the government of the Colony of Queensland in 1896, but was renamed the Public Library of Queensland in 1898. The library was not opened to the public until 1902, however.

In 1934 the Oxley Memorial Library (now the John Oxley Library, and named for the explorer John Oxley) opened as a centre for research and study relating specifically to Queensland. The Libraries Act of 1943 established the Library Board of Queensland to manage the Public Library of Queensland; three years later, under the terms of The Oxley Memorial Library of Queensland Act, it took over management of the Oxley Memorial Library as well.

A year later, James L. Stapleton was appointed Queensland's first State Librarian. He remains the longest-serving CEO, and has been followed by three others:

Sidney Lawrence (Lawrie) Ryan (1970-1988)
Des Stephens (1988-2001)
Lea Giles-Peters (2001- )

In 1971 "Public Library" became "State Library." The following year the Public Library Service was established to liaise with Queensland local authorities regarding their public libraries. A qualified staff subsidy for public libraries was also established. A few years later the Country Lending Service (CLS) was established to provide book exchange and other services to public libraries in the smaller local government areas. The CLS is still going strong today, administered by the State Library's Public Library Services program.

In 2003 the State Library began a new mission when it established the first eight of its Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) in the Cape York and Torres Strait regions. Other IKCs have been opened in 2004 and 2005.

[edit] Architecture

The then-Brisbane Public Library moved into the old State Library building in William Street, Brisbane in 1899. This building had formerly been occupied by the Queensland Museum.

The Library originally shared accommodation in the building with an art gallery. In the late 1950s, an extension, with a distinctive tiled mural on the exterior, was built onto the building to provide more space. The mural was the winning design in a national competition held in 1958.

In 1988, the State Library of Queensland moved to its home at the Queensland Cultural Centre at South Bank, near the Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery.

The State Library of Queensland building at the Queensland Cultural Centre is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment, expected to be completed and officially opened on 2 December 2006.