National Library of Australia

Summary subject collecting information (definitions of the ALG collecting levels are available for reference):

History and biography [Study - Basic]

- History (general works and world history) [Advanced basic]

- Biography and family history [Basic]

- Ancient history and archaeology [Basic]

- European history (general and medieval) [Basic]

    Comments: History of France, with less emphasis on Germany & Italy. Concentration on 1789 French Revolution - main periodicals held (original or microcopy); more than 12,000 pamphlets supplemented by microcard copies of pamphlets in the Talleyrand, Melvin & other American collections; statutes in several cumulations running through Napoleonic period. Gosse collection includes Napoleon's exile in St Helena; 44 newspapers published at the time. 1848 Revolution & 1870-71 crisis well represented.

- British history [Study - Basic]

- History of other European Countries [Basic]

- History of Asia [Study - Basic]

    Comments: Extensive collecting since 1950s, augmented by notable formed collections: J.M. Braga collection on the Portuguese in Asia; Professor George Coedes (1886-1970) collection on Indo-China; Professor H.G. Luce (1889-1979) collection on Burma; Professor H. Otley Beyer (1883-1966) on the Philippines; Harold S. Williams (1898-1987) collection on Japan; London Missionary Society collection relating to the Taiping Rebellion & Christianity in China. Microform resources also considerable.

- History of Africa [Basic]

    Comments: The collection is uneven, and generally at the basic level. Two special collections are devoted to the former Belgian Congo and French exploration and activity in Africa. The Library also holds a notable privately formed collection of approximately 4500 pieces on Mauritius.

- History of North and Central America [Basic]

    Comments: America on Record: a guide to works and other materials relating to the United States of America in the National Library of Australia (published in 1976 to mark the Bicentenary of American independence), details the NLA's extensive collection of books, serials, government documents, maps and microforms relating to the United States. Materials relating to Canada are slightly less extensive but include government publications and a microform collection of Canadiana published prior to 1900.

- History of South America [Basic]

    Comments: The Mendel collection, together with the Guimares, Lacap-Booth, Lopez and Paraguayan collections were transferred on long-term loan to La Trobe University Library in 1991.

- History of Australia [Research]

    Comments: Australian library materials collected include: print materials (monographs, serials, newspapers, ephemera, music scores & sheet music); microforms; manuscripts; pictorial materials (paintings, drawings, prints, posters and photographs); maps (atlases & sheet maps); oral history tapes; & electronic publications (hard copy CD-ROM, and on disk from the Internet). Major formed collections include the Rex Nan Kivell collection, Ferguson collection & the E.A Petherick collection.

- History of other regions [Study - Intermediate]

    Comments: Extensive collection of material relating to Antarctica - includes comprehensive collection relating to the Australian Territory, most publications of expeditions to the Mainland of Antarctica, significant holdings of maps, manuscripts & pictorial material including diaries, papers & photographs of figures such as T. Griffith Taylor & Frank Hurley. Considerable resources relating to the Pacific. Comprehensive microfilm collection of manuscript material copied by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau .

Highlights of the collection: The National Library of Australia holds a comprehensive collection of material relating to Australia and the Australian people. The Library's collections of Australiana have developed into the nation's single most important resource of materials recording Australian cultural heritage. The Library collects Australian materials of all kinds - not just works in print form - books, serials, maps, music and ephemera - but also online publications and unpublished material such as manuscripts, pictures and oral histories. The Library also has considerable collections of general overseas and rare book materials, as well as world-class Asian and Pacific collections which augment the Australiana collections.

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