Legislative Library

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Our Clients

The Legislative Library provides non-partisan reference and research services to the Members of the House of Assembly, their staff, the Officers of the House and legislative support staff.

The library will assist provincial government researchers and members of the public when this service does not conflict with the needs of these primary users. The Library does not provide legal advice or conduct legal research. Appointments are recommended.

Collection

The core library collection consists of legislative materials, including Journals, Order Papers, bills and Hansard (debates) of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly; Newfoundland and Labrador government documents; materials from all Canadian legislatures; House of Commons and Senate resources.

The Legislative Library is the official depository of publicly released government documents of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the Library’s responsibility to preserve these materials for long-term use and historical posterity. The authority for this depository role stems from the Rooms Act, 2016, SNL2016 c R-15.2 s.22

(3)    … where a public body produces, prints, publishes or releases a document for general or limited distribution to the public, that public body shall deposit that document with the Legislative Library of the House of Assembly.

The library also holds a significant collection of Newfoundland and Labrador works, as well as a general collection of books on political science, parliamentary procedure, public administration, economics and Canadian history. The library also has a broad range of electronic databases, subject files, indexes, as well as local, provincial and national newspapers and periodicals.

Staff of the Legislative Library can assist with training and orientation in research methods and in the use of these library resources.

History

The Legislative Library was founded in 1836, just three years after Representative Government was granted to the Colony of Newfoundland. The library was closed during the 15 years of Commission of Government (1934-1949) but was re-opened in August 1949, just five months after Confederation with Canada. The library continues to be the centre of parliamentary research in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Library Hours

The library's general hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (closed holidays). When the House of Assembly is sitting, the Library is open for extended hours for Members of the House of Assembly and Legislature staff.