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Under terms of the Copyright act of 1911 and the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003, the Library would expect to have almost complete coverage for all printed format Official publications that have been published since 1911. Every effort is made to ensure that principal publications are acquired.

Where publications were available in both individual item and bound volume formats the Library has in the past received copies in both formats, however, since 2010 where individual item and bound volume formats are available, only the bound volumes are accessioned. As bound volumes are not published immediately, access to online versions are usually available

The collection includes material from the Northern Ireland Parliament (1922-72) as well as the subsequent assemblies.

Access is also available to online resources via Public Information Online.

Official publications relating to Northern Ireland published by the UK Government are treated as part of the UK Official Publications Collection. This includes reports and publications of the Northern Ireland Office, covering all matters (except secondary legislation) during the period when no devolved structures were in operation, and reserved and excepted matters (matters outwith the remit of the devolved institutions) at all times.

The Library's interpretation of what constitutes a Non-Parliamentary publication is very broad and inclusive. In addition to Government departments and executive agencies, it includes Public Bodies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and organisations that are publicly funded.

Searching the collection

All Northern Ireland official publications since 1985 are listed in the OPAC. Publications before 1985 are listed on microfiche. Certain publications such as Statutory Rules, Bills & Acts and NIA papers (until 2009) are treated as serials and are not searchable by title or ISBN. The TSO annual catalogues or online catalogue should be used to identify the number of individual publications. Since 2009, when numbering of NIA papers ceased, these are now treated as monograph publications and are listed in the OPAC.

Since the decentralisation of official publishing, many departments and agencies publish independently of TSO, and so their publications may not be listed in TSO catalogues.

Items may be ordered in advance and may be reserved unless another reader requests the same item.

Parliamentary Papers

  • Northern Ireland Parliament, Commons Debates: Complete set 1922-1972
  • Northern Ireland Parliament, Senate Debates: Complete set 1922-1972
  • Northern Ireland Assembly (1973-4), Official Report of the Assembly: Complete set 1973-4
  • Northern Ireland Assembly (1982-1986), Official Report of the Assembly: Complete set 1982-1983
  • Northern Ireland Assembly (1999-), Official Report of the Assembly: Complete set from 1999 (bound and unbound)
  • Northern Ireland Assembly (1999-), Northern Ireland Assembly Papers (NIA): Complete set from 1999

Northern Ireland Executive

  • Various publications of the Northern Ireland Executive and Departments

Legislation

  • Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland: Partial coverage 1982-1985, Complete set from 1985 (bound and unbound)
  • Acts of the NI Assembly: Complete set from 1999
  • Northern Ireland Statutes: Complete set from 1992

Journals

  • The Belfast Gazette: Complete set from 1921

Online

  • Public Information Online (wide selection of NI Assembly publications from 2006). This resource can be accessed from the External Electronic Resources page.

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