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Special reference collections

In addition to the other information resources and collections listed elsewhere on this website, Portsmouth City Council's Library Service maintains additional special collections to provide an even wider range of materials and information to everyone.

These include:

European Information

Portsmouth Reference Library is a European Public Information Centre (EPIC).

We can provide free leaflets and booklets produced by the European Commission.

Access to European Legislation is available on CDRom and assistance can be provided to trace Uk implementation of EU law.

Processes covered include:

• Treaties
• Directives
• Decisions

Other legal and statistical works are available and guidance can be given on the use of EU databases and journals.

Statistics

Do you need statistical information? Population figures, retail price index, import/export figures, crime survey are available and much more.

Some of the major series available include:

• Annual abstract of statistics
• Census reports
• Health and hospitals
• Transport
• Crime
• Social trends
• ...and much more

Backfiles are available for most series.

Government publications

Do you need to know what is happening in Government?

Portsmouth Central Library has a range of publications available (see Central Library page under Internal Links) :

• Hansard for both Houses of Parliament
• • Commons 1878 to date
  • Lords 1974 to date
• Public and private Bills
• Acts of Parliament, from Magna Carta onwards. Complete from 1801
• Statutory Instruments from 1901
• Select and Standing Committee reports
• Green and White papers
• Command Papers
• Major Government reports

Many more Non-Parliamentary publications are available

We accept enquiries in person, or by:

• Telephone: 023 9268 8044
  Fax: 023 9283 9855
  Email to reference.library@portsmouthcc.gov.uk