Last updated:    28 November 2003

From the February recess 2004, the Library will operate an integrated reference enquiry service from the Current Affairs Room on the ground floor of 1 Derby Gate. Members’ staff will be able to ring just one telephone number (020-7219 6767) for all reference enquiries. It will no longer be necessary to telephone 020-7219 3838 if the request concerns parliamentary or legal documentation. There will also be one e-mail address for enquiries from both Members and their staff – hclibrary@parliament.uk.

The parliamentary collection will remain for the present on the first floor of 1 Derby Gate (room L1-01) and may be consulted during opening hours (9am to 6pm on sitting Mondays to Thursdays; 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays). We propose to discontinue the hard-copy collection of government department press notices in the Current Affairs Room since these are rarely used now that they are available electronically. The space is needed for essential parliamentary sources.

Finally, the role of the enquiry point in the e-Library on the ground floor of Portcullis House is to be broadened to accept general parliamentary and reference enquiries and the opening time brought forward to 9am. Staff on duty there will be able to provide any information which is readily available from electronic sources and to advise on the best source for more complex enquiries.

We hope that the above changes will result in an enhanced level of service for Members and their staff. If you have any comments or concerns please contact Keith Parry on 020-7219 5556 or e-mail: parryk@parliament.uk.