{"id":"library-board-state-library-regulations-1956","name":"Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956","slug":"library-board-state-library-regulations-1956","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":178561,"registerId":"wa-library-board-state-library-regulations-1956-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nLibrary Board of Western Australia Act 1951\n\nLibrary Board (State Library) Regulations 1956\n\nWestern Australia\n\nLibrary Board (State Library) Regulations 1956\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Terms used 1\n\n4. General control vested in librarian 2\n\n11. Photocopies 2\n\n14. Persons to comply with directions of librarian 2\n\n32. Persons may be excluded from library 2\n\n34. Use of books from library 4\n\n35. Recovery of penalties 4\n\n36. Penalty for breach of regulations 4\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 6\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nLibrary Board of Western Australia Act 1951\n\nLibrary Board (State Library) Regulations 1956\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956* 1.\n\n[Regulation 1 amended: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5737.]\n\n##### 2. Terms used\n\nIn these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —\n\n  Act means the *Library Board of Western Australia Act 1951* (as amended);\n\n  Board means The Library Board of Western Australia constituted pursuant to the provisions of the Act;\n\n  book includes periodical, newspaper, pamphlet, music score, picture, print, photograph, map, chart, plan, manuscript, film, slide, gramophone record, or any other article of a like nature, forming part of the contents of the library, whether or not the property of the Board;\n\n  librarian means the State Librarian, and includes the person for the time being in charge of any part or section of the library;\n\n  library means The State Library of Western Australia and includes any rooms, offices, passages, staircases, entrances, exits and gardens whatsoever forming part thereof and adjacent thereto.\n\n[Regulation 2 amended: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5737.]\n\n[**3.** Deleted: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5737.]\n\n##### 4. General control vested in librarian\n\nThe librarian has the general control and charge of the library and is responsible to the Board for the safe custody of the books and all other property therein or belonging thereto.\n\n[**5‑10.** Deleted: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5737.]\n\n##### 11. Photocopies\n\nPhotographic copies made by the librarian for the personal use of a person shall not be used for further reproduction without the permission in writing of the owner of the copyright and of the Board. The Board may impose conditions on such reproduction and the person shall comply with such conditions.\n\n[**12, 13.** Deleted: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5737.]\n\n##### 14. Persons to comply with directions of librarian\n\nA person shall comply with any reasonable direction of the librarian and shall not wilfully obstruct any officer or servant of the Board in the execution of his or her duty or wilfully disturb, interrupt or annoy any other person in the proper use of the library.\n\n[Regulation 14 amended: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5738.]\n\n[**15‑31.** Deleted: Gazette 6 Dec 2013 p. 5738.]\n\n##### 32. Persons may be excluded from library\n\n(1) The librarian may exclude a person from the library if the person —\n\n(a) is behaving in a disorderly manner; or\n\n(b) appears to be affected by alcohol or drugs; or\n\n(c) accesses any indecent, obscene or offensive content on a computer or other electronic device in a public area of the library and continues to do so after being directed to stop by the librarian; or\n\n(d) is not using the library for the purpose for which it is intended; or\n\n(e) has committed a breach of these regulations and it appears likely that the person’s continued presence in the library may lead to a further breach of these regulations.\n\n(2) The librarian must give a person who is excluded under subregulation (1) a written notice that —\n\n(a) states the person is excluded from the library; and\n\n(b) specifies the period of exclusion; and\n\n(c) explains the reason for the exclusion; and\n\n(d) informs the person about the person’s right to apply to the Board under subregulation (4)(c) for a review of the exclusion.\n\n(3) The librarian may determine the period of exclusion for the purposes of subregulation (2)(b) which must not be longer than 2 years.\n\n(4) A person who is excluded under subregulation (1) —\n\n(a) if applicable — must leave the library immediately; and\n\n(b) must not enter the library during the period of exclusion; and\n\n(c) may apply in writing to the Board for a review of the exclusion.\n\n(5) On application under subregulation (4)(c), the Board may —\n\n(a) confirm the exclusion; or\n\n(b) revoke the exclusion; or\n\n(c) substitute a different period of exclusion.\n\n[Regulation 32 inserted: Gazette 23 Jun 2017 p. 3178‑9.]\n\n[**33.** Deleted: Gazette 23 Jun 2017 p. 3178.]\n\n##### 34. Use of books from library\n\n(1) The Board shall conduct the State Library primarily as a reference library. Books from the stock of the State Library may, at the discretion of the Board, be lent —\n\n(a) to an approved library;\n\n(b) to any department or instrumentality of the Government of Western Australia or of the Commonwealth of Australia, for official use;\n\n(c) to other persons or bodies in exceptional circumstances.\n\n(2) No book shall be removed from the library without the authority of the librarian, who may at his discretion decline to give such authority or impose conditions as to the manner in which the book shall be used, the period of loan, or as to any other matter. A person accepting a book on loan shall be deemed to have assented to any such conditions and shall comply with them.\n\n(3) In respect of any such loan the *Library Board (Registered Public Libraries) Regulations 1985* 2 shall apply, in so far as they are applicable, as if the State Library were a registered public library and any person borrowing a book shall comply with those regulations.\n\n##### 35. Recovery of penalties\n\nAny sum or penalty payable under these regulations may be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction by the Board as a debt due to the Board.\n\n##### 36. Penalty for breach of regulations\n\nA person who commits a breach of these regulations is liable to a penalty not exceeding $100 and in addition to any penalty imposed, the amount of any expense incurred in consequence of the breach shall be paid by the person.\n\n[Regulation 36 amended: Act No. 113 of 1965 s. 8(1).]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\n1 This is a compilation of the *Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Regulations for the Conduct of the State Library* 3 | 3 Aug 1956 p. 1913-16 | 3 Aug 1956 |\n| *Decimal Currency Act 1965* assented to 21 Dec 1965 | | Act other than s. 4-9: 21 Dec 1965 (see s. 2(1));   s. 4-9: 14 Feb 1966 (see s. 2(2)) |\n| **Reprint of the *Regulations for the Conduct of the State Library* as at 6 Dec 2002**   (includes amendment listed above) | | |\n| *Library Board (State Library) Amendment Regulations 2013* | 6 Dec 2013 p. 5737‑8 | r. 1 and 2: 6 Dec 2013 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 7 Dec 2013 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956* as at 7 Feb 2014**   (includes amendment listed above) | | |\n| *Library Board (State Library) Amendment Regulations 2017* | 23 Jun 2017 p. 3177‑9 | r. 1 and 2: 23 Jun 2017 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 24 Jun 2017 (see r. 2(b)) |\n\n\n2 Under the *Interpretation Act 1984* s. 16(1), a reference to the *Regulations for the Conduct of Public Libraries* may be read as including a reference to the *Library Board (Registered Public Libraries) Regulations 1985*. The reference was changed under the *Reprints Act 1984* s. 7(3)(g). The *Regulations for the Conduct of Public Libraries* were repealed by the *Library Board (Registered Public Libraries) Regulations 1985* r. 32.\n\n3 Now known as the *Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956*; citation changed (see note under r. 1).\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nAct 2\n\nBoard 2\n\nbook 2\n\nlibrarian 2\n\nlibrary 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have shrunk significantly from their original 1956 scope. The compilation table shows the original 'Regulations for the Conduct of the State Library' ran from pages 1913-1916 of the Gazette (suggesting substantial length), but extensive provisions were deleted in 2013 (regulations 3, 5-10, 12-13, 15-31, and 33). What remains is a much narrower framework focused on core functions: librarian authority, exclusion powers, lending rules, and penalties. The 2017 insertion of Regulation 32 (exclusion powers) added modern behavioural controls not present in the original 1956 version, shifting focus toward public order and safety."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (only 8 substantive regulations remaining after deletions)","Only 5 defined terms in the interpretation section","Minimal cross-referencing (only one reference to external regulations in r. 34(3))","Simple, direct language with no nested exceptions or complex conditional logic","Straightforward penalty structure (flat $100 maximum)","Modernised in 2013 and 2017 with significant deletions of obsolete provisions, leaving a lean regulatory framework"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for how Western Australia's State Library operates and how visitors must behave. They give the State Librarian broad authority to manage the library, exclude disruptive patrons, and control access to materials.\n\n**Key things the regulations do:**\n\n*   **Put the librarian in charge:** The State Librarian has overall control of the library and is responsible for protecting its books and property (Regulation 4).\n\n*   **Set rules for visitor behaviour:** Visitors must follow reasonable directions from library staff, must not obstruct staff, and must not disturb other users (Regulation 14).\n\n*   **Allow the librarian to kick people out:** The librarian can exclude someone from the library for up to 2 years if they are disorderly, drunk or drug-affected, viewing offensive content on devices in public areas after being told to stop, misusing the library, or likely to break the rules again. Excluded people get written notice and can appeal to the Library Board (Regulation 32).\n\n*   **Control photocopying:** If the library makes photocopies for personal use, the person cannot make further copies without written permission from both the copyright owner and the Library Board (Regulation 11).\n\n*   **Make it mainly a reference library:** The State Library primarily operates as a reference library (materials used on-site), though the Board can lend books to other libraries, government departments, or in exceptional circumstances to individuals. The librarian decides if a book can leave the building and can set conditions (Regulation 34).\n\n*   **Set penalties:** Breaking these rules can result in a fine of up to $100 plus repayment of any costs caused by the breach (Regulation 36). The Board can sue to recover debts owed under these regulations (Regulation 35).\n\n**Who it affects:** Anyone visiting the State Library of Western Australia, library staff, and the Library Board itself."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Unable to assess scope change as no legislative text was available for analysis. The submission contained only a web error message indicating the page is no longer available on the WA Parliamentary Counsel's Office website."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was provided — only a website error/unavailability notice","Impossible to assess substantive complexity without access to the actual regulation","Score of 1 reflects absence of content, not simplicity of the law itself"],"plain_english_summary":"**No usable legislative content is available.**\n\nThe page that was supposed to contain the *Library Board (State Library) Regulations 1956* (a Western Australian regulation) is no longer accessible on the WA legislation website. The content returned is an error/redirect notice — not the actual law.\n\nWhat we do know from the title:\n- This is a **Western Australian regulation** (subordinate legislation made under an Act of Parliament)\n- It relates to the **Library Board of Western Australia** and the operation of the **State Library**\n- It dates from **1956**, making it quite old and potentially superseded, amended, or repealed\n\nTo find the actual text, visit the [WA Legislation website](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au) and search directly for this regulation."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Amendments since 1956 have altered scope: notably regulation 32 (inserted 2017) adds modern conduct grounds (eg. viewing indecent material on devices in public areas) and formalises exclusion procedure (written notice, up to 2 years, Board review). Other amendments (2013) removed many earlier provisions and updated terms; lending remains discretionary but now explicitly ties to other registered‑library regulations (r.34(3)). These changes expand behavioural controls and procedural safeguards compared with the original text."},"complexity_factors":["Broad, inclusive definition of “book” covering many formats (r.2) increases scope of application","Significant discretion vested in the State Librarian over custody, access, loan conditions and enforcement (r.4, r.34(2), r.11)","Express exclusion power with procedural steps: grounds, written notice, maximum 2‑year period, and Board review (r.32(1)‑(5))","Cross‑reference to separate regulations for registered public libraries when lending (r.34(3)) creates dependency on external instruments","Civil recovery of penalties as a debt (r.35) and liability for expenses in addition to a capped fine (r.36) affects enforcement and cost recovery","Copyright constraint on photocopies requires third‑party permission plus Board approval and allows the Board to impose conditions (r.11)","Multiple deleted provisions and later amendments (notes: 2013, 2017) mean reliance on consolidated text and historical changes for interpretation"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out how the State Library is run: the State Librarian has custody and control, the Board controls lending and conditions, and rules cover photocopying, behaviour, exclusions and penalties. The librarian may exclude people for specified conduct (written notice, up to 2 years, reviewable by the Board); breaches attract a monetary penalty and are recoverable as a debt. Readers must follow librarian directions, may need copyright owner and Board permission for reproductions, and must use library resources for their intended purpose."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/library-board-state-library-regulations-1956","history":"/api/acts/library-board-state-library-regulations-1956/history","analysis":"/api/acts/library-board-state-library-regulations-1956/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/library-board-state-library-regulations-1956/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/library-board-state-library-regulations-1956/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/library-board-state-library-regulations-1956/documents"}}