The Legislative Information Centre (LIC) offers a range of services to the Hon. Members of Parliament, Parliament Secretariat Officers and Staff, and authorised researchers through providing a responsive and user-friendly information and library service. The Centre is located in the central point on the ground floor of the main Parliament Buildings. This Service Guide explains the services that are available at the LIC and the standards of service that the users of Legislative Information Centre can expect.

Services of the LIC

Records Held

The Legislative Information Centre (LIC) of the Parliament Secretariat provides an archive service for the House and facilitates public access to valuable records preserved in the Library. The records include full parliamentary documentation of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, parliamentary documentation of some countries, official gazettes and judicial papers, bound editions of Bangladesh newspapers, and scientific, historic, political, law, international affairs and economics literature, with special emphasis on constitutional and parliamentary matters. Printed sources such as the Journals of the House, Reports of Committees and volumes of Sessional Papers can also be consulted.

On Line Public Access Catalogue

A comprehensive description of the records is provided on the On-line Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), which is an automated catalogue of the Library. It is possible to conduct record searches from the OPAC terminals provided in the library (Members’ Reading Room and Researcher's Reading Room).

How to use the automated catalogue

When you approach the OPAC Terminals, you will see a screen like this:

You can use the help button to get more information. You can also initiate your search by authors, titles or subjects. If you wish to initiate an expert search, click the first button on the right.

If you have initiated a search (e.g. an author search as in the screen above), type at the cursor the author’s surname, or subject or title, and the screen will change to your query with many more than just your selected author. Find from the list which one you want, and click on that one (only one at a time). Then click on OK Search at the bottom of the screen.

You can now VIEW COPY INFORMATION, or VIEW COMPLETE INFO by clicking at the appropriate box. At every search you will get the shelf number of the item, whether the title is on loan, or available for loan.

Reference Stocks

Some reference stocks are available for reading in the library only and may not be issued out. Please ask the Librarian.

This guide offers basic information about the use of the automated library catalogue. The Librarians at the LIC Library are ready to assist you in conducting your search.

Digitised Documents On CD-ROM

The LIC is developing a library of CD-ROMs (Compact Discs – Read-only-Memory) on which important archives, rare books and relevant parliamentary documentation has been digitised and preserved. The staff of the Library will be pleased to inform you about documentation available on CD-ROMs. These documents can be read on computers both at the Members’ Reading Room and at the Researcher's Reading Room

The Legislative Information Centre is, primarily, a service devoted to the Hon. Members of Parliament and is aimed at assisting them in the discharge of their high duties. The LIC is committed to providing the Hon. Members of Parliament with updated and reliable information, in the minimal possible time. The LIC also provides access to modern information technology, allowing the Hon. Members and their duly authorised personal staff to conduct research through the Internet services and to communicate through the E-Mail services available at the LIC Computer Users’ Centre and in the MPs’ Reading Room.

Members’ Reading Room

Located at the centre of the Library, the Members’ Reading Room offers a reserved and silent atmosphere for concentration, quiet conversation and undisturbed reading. Daily newspapers, journals and any book of the Library can be read in the comfort of the lounge or in sound-proof cubicles and reading tables. The Reading Room is also fitted with computers, allowing for free access to the on-line catalogue of the LIC, the Internet and the MP’s e-mail accounts. The Members’ Reading Room is reserved for Hon. Members of the Bangladesh Parliament.

Computer Users’ Centre

Located at the entrance of the Members’ Reading Room, the LIC Computer Users’ Centre is open to the Hon. Members or to the authorised staff of Hon. Members, as well as to senior Secretariat Staff. A pool of twelve modern desktop computers and network printers are at the disposal of the users. Passwords are provided by the Chief Librarian to all authorised users of the Centre. The network also allows free access to the Internet allowing for fast electronic communication of the users.

LIC Researcher's Reading Room

Hours of Opening

The Researcher's Reading Room is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m during working days (excepted certain public holidays). The Library is closed for annual stocktaking in the last two weeks of December. The Library remains open at lunchtime but no documents can be produced between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. No documents will be produced after 3.00 p.m. The Library remains closed or subjected to certain restrictions when the House is sitting and no permission can be given to any researcher for use of the library when the Parliament is in session.

Admission and Access

Prospective researchers should address a written application to the Secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 identifying themselves, describing the nature of their research, the duration of their proposed visits to the LIC, and (if possible) the specific documents to be consulted. Members of the academic community (teachers and students) should enclose a forwarding letter signed by the Chairperson or Head of their Department. Civil servants should attach a certification of their superior. No readers' tickets are issued.

Access to the office is by the Parliament Building’s main entrance, the public access of the House under the tunnel accessible from Mirpur Road and from Begum Rokeya Sharani. The entrance is suitable for disabled access. The adjacent Pass Office will issue a day pass for admission to the LIC on proof of identity and on confirmation of appointment.

Facilities

The LIC Staff assigned to the Researcher's Reading Room will advise about use of the records and explain the range of lists and finding aids which are available together with works of biographical and parliamentary reference. OPAC terminals are available to researchers both in the LIC Reception Area and in the Researcher's Reading Room. Researchers are requested to help safeguard our documentary heritage for the use of future generations by observing care and diligence in the handling of records. The use of portable computers, scanners and dictaphones is at the discretion of the Director (Library and Research) or Chief Librarian, and should be stated in the initial request for research and access to the LIC. Copying facilities are available (see below). Toilets and first aid points are in the vicinity of the VRR. Refreshment and lunch facilities in the Parliament canteen are open to the public. No food or beverages are allowed in the Members’ Reading Room, Researcher's Reading Room and Computer Users’ Centre. Food or beverages and smoking are strictly prohibited in the book preservation/stack areas.

Copying of Records

The LIC can supply a maximum of 10 A4 photocopies of hard-copied documents. The LIC will allow photocopying only if there is no risk of damage to original records and provided all copyrights are respected. The LIC and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat shall not be liable for any contravention of copyrights by researchers using its facilities. By special arrangement, researchers may commission a commercial photographer to undertake all types of photographic work in the LIC.

Use of Records

Permission from the Director (Library and Research) or Chief Librarian is required for any reproduction of, or extended quotation from, the records, and is usually given provided suitable acknowledgement is made in the work. Researchers are asked to refer to documents in the custody of the LIC of the Parliament Secretariat, whenever they are quoted in printed works. Researchers are requested to supply the LIC with off-prints or other copies of work in which use is made of the records.

Postal Enquiries

The LIC is not able to undertake research for searchers but it is pleased to provide advice about the scope of the records for particular topics and to supply photocopies of readily identifiable material.

The Standards of Service express the commitment of the Legislative Information Centre (LIC) to offer quality services to the users as a centre for information on legislative functions of the Government of Bangladesh and related issues.

All library personnel are aware of the Standards of Service. Performance of the LIC staff in the context of these Standards will be monitored.

◙ The services offered by the LIC will be courteous, user friendly, confidential and efficient

◙ The service will be providing in a befitting manner by offering the users a suitable environment to browse, read and gather information in their fields of interest

◙ The Centre will provide information on parliamentary practices of other countries, as well as disseminate information about the Parliament of Bangladesh worldwide

          ◙ The Centre would be vigilant to arrest any lapse in the services

          ◙ The Centre would deal with any complaints received

◙ The Centre will provide a clean and quiet working environment, and will 
    expect the users to respect it.

          ◙ There will be professional librarians available for receiving, assisting and servicing 
             the users

          ◙ Internet service for Research and Development (R & D) will be readily available  
              for Hon. Members of Parliament and authorised Parliament Secretariat Officers 
              and Staff

          ◙ Computerised catalogue of books and journals will be available in the Centre and 
             through the Parliament website

          ◙ Important and current documents of the Parliament will be available in digitised  
             formats

          ◙ Guidance for research will be available

Suggestions and comments will always be welcome verbally or in written form. Complaint/s received will be acknowledged within three days of receiving the same, and a reply will be given by the Director (Library and Research) within seven working days. If not satisfied, the complainant may say so, and the complaint will be sent to the Parliamentary Joint Secretary concerned, who shall reply to the same in fifteen working days. If unsatisfied, the complaint will be taken to the Parliament Additional Secretary concerned for his/her reply.

Our website address and our online public access catalogue (OPAC) can be found at:

http://www.parliamentofbangladesh.org

Our postal address is at:

The Director (Library and Research)

Legislative Information Centre (LIC)
Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar
Dhaka-1207

Our telephone numbers are:

Director (Library and Research): + (8802) 9116514

Chief Librarian: + (8802) 8130392

Parliament Exchange: + (8802) 913 1100-39

Extension Number of Director (Library and Research): 2507

Extension Number of Chief Librarian: 2579

Extension Number of Librarian (Documentation): 2591

Extension Number of Librarian: 2565

Extension Number of Information Desk: 2362

Our E-mail address is:

kth@parliamentofbangladesh.org