**Guidelines for having a local studies collection**

**Introduction**
Local studies provide communities with resources that document, illustrate and record the history and cultural heritage of an area, offering a dedicated repository for material over time. Libraries are a trusted location for reliable, accurate and accessible information. Local studies is a combination of collections, services and skilled staff.

Local studies provides access for the community to materials of local interest and relevance, both historical and current. Local studies is a distributed national collection; with collections and services tailored to the unique needs and background of the community. It is important that each local studies collection contributes to the diverse story of Australia.Each library service should define the scope and role of its local studies collection and associated services within the long term strategic planning of the library.

[[https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/living_learning_libraries_2018.pdf | Living Learning Libraries]] provides standards and guidelines for NSW public library services including Local Studies 

[[The value of a local studies collection]]

[[Who is the audience local studies]]

[[Collection policy local studies]]

[[Managing collections local studies]]

[[Providing access local studies]]

[[Rights and permissions local studies]]

[[Staff local studies]]

[[Researching local studies]]

[[Programs and publicity local studies]]

[[Evaluation local studies]]