The WIB at 1000

Incredibly this is the 1000^th Edition and the 30^th Anniversary of the first publication of the Weekly Information Bulletin, known affectionately by many of us as the WIB.

WIB 1 (issued on 4 November 1978) was a pioneering innovation from the House of Commons Information Office which will itself celebrate its 30^th birthday later this year. It has faithfully brought together in a compact format everything you might need to know about what is coming up in Parliament as well as other handy facts. It is and has always been a no nonsense, no frills publication that gets you to what you want to find fast. Its endurance is a tribute to its usefulness to Members of Parliament and others inside and outside of the Westminster Village.

The WIB has trail-blazed for many other innovations in the communication of what is going on in Parliament to the public at large. In the early years it was exploring uncharted territory but now can look with pride at the wide range of services available to engage the public with the work of Parliament:

The website has improved beyond all recognition in the last two years as a first port of call for information relevant to the work and role of Parliament past, present and future.

The welcome Parliament provides to visitors has been transformed over the last five years or so with a range of services suited to the casual passer by or a specifically arranged school trip.

The services available to those who do not visit or use the website have also blossomed from the original telephone bureau and hardcopy materials like the factsheets and WIB to encompass media and broadcasting services, a guide for all new voters, citizenship teaching and broader outreach.

Across all our services we are keen to carry on innovating; making what we provide more useful. If you would like to let us know your views on the WIB or our other services please e-mail (hcinfo@parliament.uk), come to the information desk in Westminster Hall if you are visiting or call us on (020 7219 4272).

John Pullinger

Librarian and Director General, Information Services