National Library of Australia

National Library of Australia
source
Name	National Library of Australia
Established	0 1960
Location	Parkes, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates	35, 17, 47, S...
Collection size	Over 10 million items
Director	Marie-Louise Ayres
Website	https://www.nla.gov.au

National Library of Australia. It is the largest reference library in Australia, charged with collecting, preserving, and providing access to the nation's documentary heritage. Established by the Commonwealth Parliament through the National Library Act 1960, its origins trace back to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library. The library's vast collections encompass millions of items, from rare Australiana to extensive digital resources, serving researchers, the public, and institutions nationwide.

History

The institution's foundations lie in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library, established in Melbourne following Federation in 1901. Key figures like Librarian John G. L. Anderson and Prime Minister Alfred Deakin were instrumental in its early development. The collection was significantly expanded by the 1923 purchase of the Australiana collection from Sydney book collector David Scott Mitchell, forming a core national resource. Following the move to the new capital Canberra, the library operated from the Provisional Parliament House. The vision for a separate national institution gained momentum under the Menzies Government, leading to the passage of the pivotal National Library Act 1960. The library's iconic building in the Parliamentary Triangle was opened by Governor-General Paul Hasluck in 1968.

Collections

The library holds over ten million items, forming a comprehensive record of Australian history and culture. Its renowned Australiana collections include the world's largest accumulation of material by and about James Cook, the diaries of Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, and the original manuscripts of the Banjo Paterson ballad "Waltzing Matilda". The Pictorial Collection contains more than a million images, including the entire archive of the Sydney photographic firm Charles Kerry & Co. and works by prominent photographers like Frank Hurley. The library is a legal deposit library under the Copyright Act 1968, receiving copies of all materials published in Australia. It also houses significant collections of Asian materials, particularly from Southeast Asia, and maintains extensive collections of maps, sheet music, and oral history recordings.

Services and access

The library provides a wide range of services to the public, researchers, and other institutions. The main reading rooms offer access to the general collection and specialized materials, supported by expert staff in areas like manuscripts and maps. A cornerstone of its digital services is Trove, a free online discovery platform aggregating metadata from hundreds of Australian libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions, providing access to millions of digitized newspapers, images, and websites. The library also offers extensive interlibrary loan services, runs public programs and exhibitions, and provides publishing services through its imprint, National Library of Australia Publishing.

Building and architecture

The library's main building is located on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin in the Parliamentary Triangle in Canberra. Designed by the architectural firm of Walter Bunning of Bunning and Madden, in association with the Commonwealth Department of Works, the structure is a prominent example of Late Twentieth Century Brutalist architecture. Its defining feature is the dramatic facade of concrete and travertine columns. The building houses the vast stacks, multiple reading rooms, the 450-seat Theatre named for benefactor L. J. Hume, and the Treasures Gallery which displays iconic collection items. The grounds feature sculptures such as "The Fourteen Stations of the Cross" by Antonio Masi and the Henry Moore sculpture "Reclining Figure: Angles".

Governance and funding

The library operates under the provisions of the National Library Act 1960 and is governed by a Council appointed by the Governor-General. The Council is responsible for the library's strategic direction and policy. The day-to-day management is led by the Director-General, a position held by Marie-Louise Ayres since 2017. Primary funding is provided through annual appropriations from the Australian Government, specifically the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. The library also receives support from philanthropic bodies like the National Library of Australia Council of Friends and the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program.

Category:National libraries Category:Libraries in Canberra Category:Buildings and structures in Canberra Category:Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register Category:1968 establishments in Australia