Government publications are a major source for parliamentary information, and play a key role in parliamentary libraries. The Legislative Library is a full depository for all publications published by the Government of Saskatchewan and for all legislative materials relating to business in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly. The collection includes material published before Saskatchewan became a province in 1905.
The Library has an historic collection of Government of Canada publications released through the Depository Services Program (DSP) from the DSP's inception in 1927 to 2011. In 2011, the Federal Government moved to make electronic publishing their primary method for disseminating information, and the DSP ceased to operate. The Library now maintains a curated collection of Federal Government publications that pertain to Saskatchewan, the prairie provinces, and/or western Canadian issues.
For other Canadian provincial and territorial governments, the Library acquires some legislative materials (such as debates (Hansard), statutes, and Journals), as well as a selection of other government publications. Contact the Library or search the catalogue for details. Many legislative materials are also available online.
In addition, the Library has a microfiche collection which contains many government documents from a variety of Canadian jurisdictions. These are not listed in the catalogue, but can be found by searching the Canadian Research Index.
The Library also obtains selected publications from other jurisdictions such as Great Britain, other Commonwealth countries, the United States, and international bodies.
The Legislative Library subscribes to all currently published Saskatchewan newspapers. (Local "shopper" publications whose primary purpose is to disseminate advertising and sales information are not acquired.)
The daily papers from Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert are retained until they are replaced by microfilm (after approximately 2-3 months for Regina and Saskatoon, 4-6 months for Prince Albert). The microfilm is kept in the Library for 5 years. After 5 years, the microfilm is transferred to the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan where the public may consult it. However, the Library does have some older issues of Regina Leader Post, Saskatoon Star Phoenix, and Western Producer on microfilm. Contact us or check the catalogue for details.
For weekly newspapers, the Library retains only the current year. At the end of the year, the paper copies are sent to the Provincial Archives where they are microfilmed, stored, and are accessible to the public.
Occasionally Library staff may be unaware that a new Saskatchewan newspaper is being published. If you notice that your home town newspaper (other than a "shopper") is missing from our collection, please call the Reference Desk at 306-787-2276 or send an email and provide the librarian with the details.
All of the Saskatchewan newspapers currently held by the Legislative Library are listed in the catalogue.
Despite its name, the Local Information File is not limited to information about local topics. LIF is a collection of folders containing leaflets, brochures, clippings, etc. on a wide variety of subjects, associations, and individuals. LIF also contains files of election campaign literature produced by Saskatchewan candidates such as pamphlets, candidate biographies, and party platforms for recent federal and provincial elections.
The folders are listed in the Library’s catalogue. If you are searching the catalogue and see a call number of "LIF," that refers to the Local Information File. Materials in LIF do not circulate outside the Library.
From 1984 to 2004, the Legislative Library maintained a Saskatchewan news clipping file. The newspapers clipped were the daily papers from Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Prince Albert, and the Western Producer. Only stories with a Saskatchewan focus were clipped. The files include a variety of subjects, organizations, and individuals. Some files remain in paper, others have been converted to microform.
The individual clipping files are not listed in the Library's catalogue. However, the list of subject headings is available in the Library. Some of the files are stored off-site. If you wish to consult them, please advise the Reference Desk 24 hours in advance. Clipping files do not circulate outside the Library.
The Legislative Library tries to obtain a copy of every new Saskatchewan local history that is published. All local histories acquired by the Library are listed in our online catalogue. Because of space limitations in the Legislative Building, they are currently stored in another building. If you wish to consult a local history, please advise the Reference Desk 24 hours in advance so the item can be retrieved for you.
If you are aware of a local history that is not in our collection, please contact the Reference Desk at 306-787-2276 or send an email with information about how to order it.
Local History Bibliography - In 2005, the Library published a list of all the local histories in its collection entitled Saskatchewan Local Histories at the Legislative Library (in print and online). Print copies are available to view in the Library, and are also available for sale through the Library or Publications Saskatchewan. Since new books are being published all the time, we have created a supplement to that publication, covering bibliographies published from 2005 to 2011/12. The supplement is freely available online.
The Legislative Library is a parliamentary library and as such collects extensively in areas relating to government and public policy. While these areas are of special concern, the Legislative Library strives to maintain a basic reference collection on many subjects. The Library is primarily concerned with the following areas: economics, law, parliamentary studies, political science, public administration, social issues, and western Canadian history.
