Local Studies
The Local Studies Service aims to systematically acquire, preserve and make accessible, information relevant to the Blue Mountains region. This includes the historical, natural and built environments; as well as social, economic, political and cultural aspects of the community.
The collection includes:
- Books: local and regional history, biography, theses, guidebooks, reports, pre-history and archaeology, etc. Please check the library online catalogue for holdings.
- Pamphlets and Ephemera: programs, brochures, clippings, menus, souvenirs, leaflets.
- Newspapers: many local newspapers have been published in the Mountains, from the late 19th Century to the present day. Titles and issues are shown in the library online catalogue and are held on microfilm at Springwood library.
- Serials: magazines, newsletters of local groups and societies, etc.
- Images: photographs, postcards and posters. The main photograph collection is available for use at the Blue Mountains Image Library website, see below.
- Maps: parish maps, town maps, tourist maps, subdivision maps.
- Oral history recordings.
- Archives: local groups and organisations, personal papers.
Access
The Local Studies Collection is located in historic Braemar House adjacent to the Central Library at Springwood.
While the collection is for reference use only and not available for borrowing, the Local Studies Librarian will provide personal assistance with enquiries and advice on research projects. Family history research enquiries are referred to Blue Mountains Family History Society volunteers at Springwood Library.
A comfortable reading room is available for research use and photocopiers are situated in the adjacent Central Library.
Access is normally available by appointment, Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:00 pm. Extended access can be arranged for ongoing research projects via a Reader's Ticket.
Please see the Information Services page for contact details.
Donations
Over the years the Local Studies Service has benefited enormously from the generosity of many donors, however the library does reserve the right to evaluate donations and accept only those that are relevant to the collection, unwanted material may be offered to other libraries and archives.