The J S Battye Library (more properly known as the J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History) is an arm of the
State Library of Western Australia
The State Library of Western Australia is a research, education, reference and public lending library located in the Perth Cultural Centre in Perth, Western Australia. It is a portfolio agency of the Western Australia Department of Culture and t ...
. It stores much of the state's historical records and original publications including books, newspapers, periodicals, maps, and ephemera, as well as oral history tapes, photographs and artworks, films and video, and non-government records which are kept in the library's Private Archives collection. The Library provides a range of services, including reference, copying, and genealogical services, as well as consultancy and reader education.
Founder
![J S Battye bust at Battye Library](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/J_S_Battye_bust_at_Battye_Library.jpg)
The Library is named after Dr.
James Sykes Battye, the first State Librarian, who began the collection in the early 1900s. It was established in December 1956.
Librarians
Mollie Lukis and Margaret Medcalf were successors to Battye as Battye librarians, and their long service to the Library was an important part of the library's development.
Location
The Battye Library is housed on the Level 3 of the State Library of Western Australia (formerly known as the
Alexander Library Building
The Alexander Library Building, is located in the Cultural Centre of Perth, Western Australia.
It was named after Western Australian historian and former member of the Library Board, Fred Alexander.
It houses the State Library of Western Aust ...
). The public access can access rare and precious material from the Leah Jane Chen Reading Room. There is a help desk, microfiche readers, reference materials and computers.
The separate
State Records Office of Western Australia
The State Records Office of Western Australia (SRO) is the Western Australian government authority with responsibility for identifying, managing, preserving and providing access to the state's archives. The SRO also delivers best-practice records ...
houses the State and local government archives.
The current administrative structure of the State Library has removed mention of the name of the library from the library catalogue and now refers to it as ''3rd Floor'' of the Alexander building, however it still has a web page.
Friends
The Friends of Battye Library has been a significant support to the library during an era where staffing and funding have been reduced by government restrictions on funding. The organisation has been instrumental in attracting external funding for a range of projects including publishing.
Publications
At different stages in the library history, publications have been an important indicator of the library collection and its holdings.
See also
*
Izzy Orloff, Fremantle photographer who has a significant collection held by the library
Notes
References
* Jamieson, Ronda. ''A people with a past and the J S Battye Library of West Australian history'' . Fremantle studies, Vol. 4 (2005), p. 22-31.
Publications
*
*
External links
Official website of the State Library of Western AustraliaOfficial website of the State Records Office of Western AustraliaFriends of J. S. Battye Library Inc.Official website of State Library of Western Australia: Dead Reckoning
{{Authority control
Battye Library
The J S Battye Library (more properly known as the J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History) is an arm of the State Library of Western Australia. It stores much of the state's historical records and original publications including books, ...
Libraries in Western Australia
Archives in Australia
1956 establishments in Australia