Hawkesbury City Library ~ Local Studies Collection
The Local Studies Collection was established in the early 1980s to collect and look after material relevant to the local Hawkesbury community and make accessible to the public. The Local Studies Collection has a variety of materials, both historical and current, available for research. Items in the Local Studies Collection are not for loan.
Published books
Books relating to the Hawkesbury district on
local history, architecture, local families, genealogy and Australian history
are available. Books on local environmental issues are also held.
Church, Cemetery and Census Records
The library holds many cemetery inscriptions and church registers. Most
of the records relate to the Hawkesbury and surrounding area. Various musters
and census are included in the collection.
Newspapers
Various Hawkesbury newspapers produced during the 19th - 21st centuries
are held on microfilm. Windsor & Richmond Gazette from 1888+ as well
as incomplete sets of other papers. The Sydney Gazette and parts of the Sydney
Morning Herald are also available.
Environmental Impact Studies
A large collection of reports relating to the Hawkesbury are held. These
include environmental issues, social plans, land use, conservation and business
studies. These are available upon request.
Newsletters and Journals
The library holds an array of newsletters and journals relating to family
history and local groups.
Maps
Historical, geographical, topographical and parish maps of the district
are held.
Photographs
The library has a large collection of images of the Hawkesbury district.
Most of these images have been scanned with a large number indexed. The database,
known as Hawkesbury Images, is available to consult on the Library's computers.
The Library is always seeking to add additional images and moving pictures
(movie, video or DVD) to the collection.
Microfiche/film
A lot of historical material has been produced on microfilm & fiche.
Includes BDMs, church registers, shipping, Will indexes, directories, electoral
rolls, convict data, publican licences & land grants. Also Arndell Index
to Hawkesbury Pioneers & Mutch Index.
Electronic Resources
Some family history material are now produced on CD-ROM and available to
access. It is necessary to be a library member to use the PCs (Library membership
is FREE & you do not have to live in the area) or visitor access is available
for a small fee. Computer bookings are essential so please contact the Library.
The Internet is also available to access on the Library's computers. Wireless
access is also available but it is necessary to make prior arrangements.
Contact the Library for more information about free wireless access. The
Library has produced a Fact Sheet on useful websites for family history see
http://hawkesbury.local-e.nsw.gov.au/library/2166/11197.html
Types of Electronic Resources available include BDM indexes, FamilySearch,
Pedigree Resource File, Census data, NSW Govt Gazettes, Police Gazettes.
The Library also has a subscription to Ancestry Library, a genealogical database
of 1000s of individual databases including UK Census 1841-1901, UK BDMs as
well as Australian content such as convict data & electoral rolls.
Pamphlet file
The pamphlet file includes information such as newspaper & journal articles,
ephemera, pamphlets, unpublished family histories & research. This collection
is also useful for assignments on the local area. See staff to access the
information.
Local Studies Service
Hawkesbury City Council Library Service collects, arranges for use and preserves
materials, both historical and current, in the Hawkesbury area.
Facilities
Facilities include fiche readers, film readers & film/fiche reader-printers
(A4), coin & card operated. Also colour/B&W photocopiers (A3 & A4).
Research
A personal visit to the library is recommended as the best way to further
your research. Library staff can assist by directing researchers to various
sources. If you are making a special visit to use the collection, you can
contact the Local Studies Librarian prior to discuss your research needs.
For researchers unable to visit, we do have a Research Service. Basic research
is undertaken on a fee basis however only on material that is unique to our
collection. This service is only available to people living unreasonable
distances from the library, making a personal visit impossible. Contact the
Local Studies Librarian for more information.
Access
The collection can be utilised during library opening hours and is free
to use. Material can be accessed using the library catalogue or on the library
web page http://catalogue.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/
Specialised guides are also available to consult.
Hawkesbury
CONTACT: Michelle Nichols (Local Studies & Outreach Librarian)
ADDRESS: Hawkesbury City Council Library Service
Deerubbin Centre
300 George Street
Windsor 2756 NSW
POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 146
Windsor 2756 NSW
TELEPHONE: (02) 4560 4466
FAX: (02) 4560 4472
EMAIL:michelle.nichols@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au
OPENING HOURS:
Monday to Friday: 9am - 7pm
Saturday: 9am - 1pm
Sunday: 2pm - 5pm
Closed Public holidays
VISIT OUR WEB SITE:
Library Link to website >>
Council website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au
NB* International callers, add the +61 prefix for Australia and drop the 0 from the area code from phone and fax numbers.