Policy statement

The National Library of Australia is the country's largest reference library. Our role is to ensure that documentary resources of national significance relating to Australia and the Australian people, as well as significant non-Australian library materials, are collected, preserved and made accessible either through the Library itself or through collaborative arrangements with other libraries and information providers.

The Library’s exhibiting role is mandated by the National Library Act 1960 Section 6 which requires the Library:

(b) to make library material in the national collection available to such persons and institutions, and in such manner and subject to such conditions, as the Council determines with a view to the most advantageous use of that collection in the national interest;

The Library develops exhibitions and displays to enrich the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the collections of the National Library of Australia and of the role of libraries and their collections more generally. It programs exhibitions and displays to aid in the development of the Library as a major tourism destination and to increase visitation to, and usage of, the Library.

Scope of Policy

This policy applies to public exhibitions and displays held onsite at the National Library of Australia and travelling exhibitions produced by the Library for tour to venues within Australia and internationally. It does not cover short term displays of collection material within the Library held in conjunction with internal or external events programmed at the Library.

Definitions

Audiences: The people who make up the Library’s public including exhibition visitors, researchers, readers, volunteers, media, institutions, donors and sponsors.

Display: A curated selection of collection items or facsimiles on public view in selected spaces across the Library other than the Treasures and Exhibitions Galleries.

Exhibition: A larger curated selection of collection items or loan items on public view in either the Treasures Gallery or the Exhibition Gallery.

Inward Loan: Is defined as the temporary bailment of Works from an external organisation or individual to the Library for the purpose of exhibition or display, where no transfer of ownership is involved. 

Work/s: Is used to describe  collection material for exhibition including (but not limited to) books, manuscripts, paintings, photographs, prints and drawings, maps, posters, ephemera, realia (objects), serials and sheet music. Digital files, facsimiles, audio and video recordings and multimedia may also be considered Works within the scope of this policy.

Key roles and responsibilities

Assistant Director General, Engagement Group: Chairs Exhibitions Committee meetings.

Director, Exhibitions: Provides oversight for the Exhibitions Program.

Exhibitions Committee: Assesses Exhibition Proposals and approves the inclusion of Exhibitions in the forward program.

Exhibitions Committee

The Exhibitions Committee meets at least two (2) times in each calendar year. Additional meetings may be convened at the request of the Director-General.

The Exhibitions Committee is chaired by the Assistant Director General, Engagement Group.

The Exhibitions Committee shall be comprised of nominated staff representatives from (but not limited to) the following Branches of the Library: Exhibitions, Preservation, Facilities and Security, Collections, Publications, Communications & Marketing, and Community Outreach.

The Exhibitions Committee advises the Library’s Executive in relation to the evaluation, selection and scheduling of Exhibitions and Displays at the Library.

The Exhibitions Committee should ensure that adequate lead time for the development of exhibitions and displays is maintained and that Library exhibitions remain a priority for development.

The Exhibitions Committee must ensure that Exhibitions are regularly evaluated through visitor surveys or other means.

The Exhibitions Committee will ensure that a risk assessment and mitigation to an acceptable level be completed for each proposal. This risk assessment will include risks such as financial, reputation and privacy, indigenous consultation, collection integrity as well as community standards and expectations be considered before final approval.

Temporary Exhibitions

Temporary Exhibitions are developed specifically for the Exhibition Gallery located on the ground floor of the National Library building adjacent to the Treasures Gallery and the Main Reading Room.  Temporary Exhibitions may be developed in-house or in collaboration with other institutions or individuals; or the Library may buy-in a Temporary Exhibition from an external provider.

Principles:

Exhibitions will address the Library’s CONNECT priority – we connect with communities, and connect communities with their national collections by:

  • enriching understanding of what it is to be Australian;
  • enhancing access to the collections and services of the Library;
  • promoting a greater understanding of Australian life and culture for audiences;
  • attracting new audiences to the Library and where resources permit be supported by an appropriate range of public programs and publications;
  • promoting research and interpretation of the Library’s collections;
  • contributing to the public awareness of the Library as a significant national cultural institution;
  • enhancing public awareness of the collecting and access roles of libraries generally;
  • and providing, where possible, opportunities for audiences to access significant Works and Exhibitions from other institutions both nationally and internationally.

Exhibition Proposals

The Exhibitions Committee must receive a written Exhibition Proposal for each Exhibition or Display submitted for consideration.

Exhibitions and Displays will only be included on the Forward Program after they have been approved by the Exhibitions Committee.

Exhibition proposals can be submitted to the Director of Exhibitions by email at: exhibitions@nla.gov.au.

Proposals will be evaluated by the Committee based on (but not limited to) the following criteria:

  • the relevance of the Exhibition to the Library’s strategic directions, collections and resources;
  • the historical and educational significance of the Exhibition;
  • the Exhibition’s appeal to audiences and its ability to attract and develop new audiences for the Library;
  • the quality of the proposal, exhibition content, artistic merit and originality;
  • the Exhibition’s suitability to, and the availability of the Exhibition Gallery;
  • the opportunities for related public programs including education programs, publications and events;
  • an assessment of any risk to the reputation of the Library including legal risks such as collections integrity, privacy and defamation, need for indigenous consultation, financial risks as well as any risk that the proposed exhibition could contravene community standards and expectations;
  • an assessment that the exhibition proposal has assessed risks to workers and/or public inherent in the design, build and installation of the exhibition;
  • a connection to community events, significant anniversaries or commemorations.

Proposals for Exhibitions that have commercial or political purposes or are staged for the purposes of fundraising will not be considered by the Committee.

The Library will not accept proposals for Exhibitions that include the sale of works.

In assessing exhibition proposals Committee members will be expected to declare any real or perceived conflict of interest in line with PCY10/011 Conflict of Interest Policy.

Treasures Gallery

The Treasures Gallery is located on the ground floor of the National Library building adjacent to the Exhibition Gallery and Main Reading Room.  The Treasures Gallery provides a permanent space for the Library to display iconic, rare and interesting items from its extensive collections.

Principles

Treasures Gallery will address the Library’s CONNECT priority – we connect with communities, and connect communities with their national collections by:

  • enhancing access to the collections and services of the Library;
  • promoting a greater understanding of Australian life and culture for audiences;
  • attracting new audiences to the Library;
  • promoting research and interpretation of the Library’s collections;
  • contributing to the public awareness of the Library as a significant national cultural institution;
  • enhancing public awareness of the collecting and access roles of libraries generally;
  • providing an opportunity for the Library to display nationally and internationally significant Works from the collections;
  • and providing an opportunity for the Library to acknowledge significant anniversaries and/or commemorate significant events if timing and resources permit.
  • an assessment of any risk to the reputation of the Library including legal risks such as collections integrity, privacy and defamation, safety of the design and installation, financial risks as well as any risk that the proposed exhibition could contravene community standards and expectations;

Treasures Gallery exhibitions

Works on display in the Treasures Gallery will be primarily drawn from the Library’s collections.

Inward Loan of Works may be considered for display in the Treasures Gallery provided such works add context and significance to Works on display from the Library’s collections.

Works in the Treasures Gallery will be changed over or page-turned on a regular basis to ensure adherence with Preservation guidelines and to accommodate any other Loan or Exhibition commitments for the Works.

The Library may accept proposals for Displays in the Treasures Gallery from external institutions or individuals if timing and resources permit.

Library Displays administered by the Exhibitions Branch

The Exhibitions Branch services a number of Display spaces within the Library building including (but not limited to) the fourth floor area adjacent to the Conference Room, the Council Room, the Rex Nan Kivell Room and the audiovisual presentation and showcase in the central foyer.

Principle

Displays in these areas will address the Library’s CONNECT priority – we connect with communities, and connect communities with their national collections by:

  • promoting access to the collections and services of the Library;
  • promoting a greater understanding of the work of the Library;
  • promoting the Library’s significant new acquisitions;
  • promoting current temporary exhibitions;
  • and contributing towards further promotion and interpretation of the Library’s collections and activities including (but not limited to) the Oral History collections, the Library’s born digital collections and its digital preservation initiatives.
  • an assessment of any risk to the reputation of the Library including legal risks such as collections integrity, privacy and defamation, safety of the design and installation, financial risks as well as any risk that the proposed exhibition could contravene community standards and expectations;

Library displays

Displays in these spaces will be curated from the Library’s collections.

Displays will be changed over on a regular basis as advised by the Exhibitions Committee taking account of available timing and resources.

The Exhibitions Branch will select and propose Displays for these spaces.

The selected Displays will be endorsed by the Exhibitions Committee at their regular meetings.

Travelling Exhibitions

The Library may from time to time tour Travelling Exhibitions to venues outside of the Library building where resources permit.

Travelling Exhibitions will be developed and designed to be consistent with the presentation and standards and principles of Temporary Exhibitions and Displays presented within the Library.

The Library will, where possible, fund all costs associated with Travelling Exhibitions through grants and external support.

The Library may apply a hire fee for venues to exhibit Travelling Exhibitions. These fees will vary depending on the size and content of the exhibition and the location of the venue.

Revision schedule

This policy will be reviewed annually at the second Exhibitions Committee meeting held in each calendar year.

References and related documents

The following documents and/or legislation were considered when developing this policy

The following documents are related to this policy:

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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