FOI 1-26: Information regards to the number of books rented from the Assembly library in each of the last two years by MLAs.
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
3 February 2026
Our Ref: FOI 1-26
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 8 January 2026 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your request was as follows:
“Under FOI, can the Assembly provide details of the number of books rented from the Assembly library in each of the last two years by MLAs.
Can the response also detail a list of which books have been rented by MLAs during the same time period.”
Our response
The Assembly Commission does not hold a record of the number of books rented from the Assembly library in each of the last two years by MLAs.
In line with the Library Privacy Notice, the Library Management System does not retain details of past loans once a book has been returned by the Library user (including MLAs, party staff and Assembly Commission employees).
The Assembly Commission holds some information in relation to books rented at the time of your request. In total, thirty-nine books were recorded as being on loan to MLAs at the time of your request, as outlined in Appendix A below.
Further Information
You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission. If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address. If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised.
Yours sincerely,
INFORMATION STANDARDS
