Contents
Contents
Contents
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Commonwealth legislation
This Conservation Management Plan sets out how to protect and manage the heritage values of the National Library of Australia building in Canberra, assessing its condition and prescribing policies and actions to guide maintenance, upgrades, access and consultation.
It affects Library staff, visitors, heritage professionals and relevant Commonwealth agencies, ensuring the building meets legal heritage obligations while balancing conservation with operational needs like accessibility, safety and sustainability.
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Direct links to the current provisions in National Library of Australia Conservation Management Plan.
Contents
As a project to review and update the 2012 conservation management plan, the earlier plan provides the basis for the current plan. The methodology adopted for this plan is in accordance with the Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS 2013). This can be summarised as a series of steps as shown in Figure 1 below.
In order to follow these steps and prepare this management plan a range of consultations, research, inspections and analyses were undertaken. Importantly, the assessment of significance relied upon:
a range of information gathering tasks related to the common descriptors of significance (for example historic value); and
an analysis of this evidence for heritage values using the Commonwealth Heritage Criteria, including comparisons with other places where relevant, in order to test the understanding of such values.
| Figure 1. Basic Steps of Conservation Management PlanningSource: Summarised from Australia ICOMOS 2013 |
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This work provided a sound understanding of the place, and led to the preparation of a statement of significance. This work also provided an understanding of the constraints and opportunities related to the current and future management of the place. The statement of significance and the information about constraints and opportunities were used as the basis for developing conservation policies and implementation strategies.
In some cases, the information in the earlier plan was reviewed and found to be satisfactory for the current plan. In other cases, the text was updated given the passage of time and other changes.
Review of the 2012 Conservation Management Plan
The guidance provided by the Department of the Environment and Energy identifies a range of matters to be addressed in a review of the plan under section 341X of the EPBC Act. These matters and summary responses are provided below.
Who would carry out the review and the procedures to be used
The review was carried out by the consultant for the project, Duncan Marshall. The procedures used are outlined above. In addition:
the 2012 conservation management plan was reviewed for currency and any issues;
work was undertaken to update sections such the history, description and condition;
the analysis of values was completely re-worked and a refined statement of significance developed; and
the suite of policies and strategies was revised in the light of current information and circumstances.
In undertaking this review and update work, consultations were also held with key Library staff responsible for management of the place, in part to ascertain the effectiveness of the 2012 plan and any issues to be addressed in the update work.
An assessment of whether the plan addresses the matters prescribed in the regulations including the Commonwealth Heritage management principles
The 2012 plan addressed matters prescribed in the regulations including the Commonwealth Heritage management principles.
An assessment of the effectiveness of the plan in protecting and conserving the Commonwealth Heritage values
The plan has been effective in protecting the Commonwealth Heritage values of the Library through a period of some change to the building. In particular, the condition has improved, there are no significant threats, and the values have generally been conserved.
Recommendations for the improved protection of values
The improved protection of heritage values is achieved through the revised and updated conservation management plan with:
an improved understanding of the heritage values of the Library (Chapter 4); and
an improved suite of conservation policies and strategies (Section 6.3).
In both cases there have been refinements made although these are not dramatic changes.
Outline how new and changed information that may have come through monitoring, community input and further research will be incorporated into the revised management plan
As noted above, new and changed information and analysis has informed the update of the plan in sections such as the history, description, condition, analysis of values, statement of significance, and policies and strategies.
Details of any significant damage or threat to the heritage values.
No significant damage or threats to heritage values were identified.
This conservation management plan:
describes the National Library of Australia in Sections 2.1\-2.2;
provides an overview of the history of the place in Section 2.4;
offers evidence related to aesthetic and social values in Sections 2.5 and 2.7;
analyses all of this evidence in Chapter 3 and provides a statement of significance for the place in Chapter 4;
considers opportunities and constraints affecting the management of the place in Chapter 5; and
provides a conservation policy and implementation strategies to guide management and conservation in Chapter 6.
A draft version of this plan was made available for public consultation in the period 13 June to 10 July 2017. A notice was placed in The Australian newspaper inviting comments, and the Library’s website was also used for this purpose. A hardcopy was also made available from the Library information desk.
Comments were received from four organisations or individuals. In general, the comments recognised and were supportive of the heritage values of the Library, and also related to:
views of the Library from surrounding areas;
the landscape surrounding the building;
moral rights;
the condition of some fabric; and
the wording of some policies, including those related to conservation, conflict resolution, additions, and supporting or secondary uses.
Positive comments were also made supporting the draft plan or various aspects of it.
In response, a number of refinements were made to produce the current plan.
1.3 Purpose of Plan
The purpose of this plan is to provide a conservation management plan for the National Library of Australia, in accordance with the obligations under the EPBC Act, including an understanding of their heritage values (Chapter 4), and conservation policies and implementation strategies for their future management (Chapter 6).
1.4 Limitations
There was one factor limiting the preparation of this plan, sufficient specific research into community-based heritage values. While some research was available, it did not cover the full scope of these potential values.
1.5 Authorship
The 2012 version of this conservation management plan was researched and written by Dr Michael Pearson (Heritage Management Consultants Pty Ltd) and Duncan Marshall, Heritage Architect. The updated plan was prepared by Duncan Marshall.
1.6 Acknowledgements
The consultant wishes to acknowledge the kind assistance of the following person.
Dr Michael Pearson AO Heritage consultant for the previous version of the CMP
2.1 Location and Boundaries
The National Library of Australia is located at Parkes Place West, on Block 4 of Section 27, Parkes. The block incorporates the podium of the Library building, small extensions to the northeast and northwest occupied by services, the entry stairway to the east, an access ramp and steps to the south, and the service courtyard to the southwest with a service road off King Edward Terrace.
| Figure 2. Location Plan for the National Library of AustraliaSource: Base image Google Maps |
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| Figure 3. Block and Section Plan for the National Library of AustraliaSource: Base image ACTmapi |
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| Figure 4. Lease area for the National Library of AustraliaSource: National Library of Australia |
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| Figure 5. Aerial view of the National Library of AustraliaSource: Base image Google Imagery |
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2.2 Brief Description and Condition of the Place
National Library of Australia Building
Overview
The National Library of Australia building is a prominent feature of the Parliamentary Zone. This large rectangular building sits on a podium on the western side of the zone near the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin.
| Figure 6. Library from the north, across Lake Burley GriffinSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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The building is generally clad in Italian travertine and Carrara marble with an encircling colonnade; it is rectangular in plan and was inspired by the style and proportions of the design of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The podium is clad in rock faced grey trachyte in contrast to the light stones of the building above. The podium contains two basements and the building above has five storeys. The building has a low pitched copper roof. The building’s exterior is clad with marble, travertine, granite, bronze, slate and copper, while its interior has fine Australian timber finishes.
More detailed information is provided in Appendix C.
It should be noted the landscape surrounding the building is not within the control of the National Library of Australia, and it is accordingly not within the scope of this plan. None the less, it is the important setting for the building, as is discussed at Section 2.3 and elsewhere.
Structure and construction
The building has a reinforced concrete structure of columns and slabs. The two service cores are reinforced concrete and these are rendered. Exterior walls are masonry clad with marble on the outside and rendered internally. Internal walls are a variety of construction including blockwork, brickwork, and lightweight framed construction. The roof has steel trusses. Refer to plans at Appendix C.
High quality materials were used in many of the key spaces and building detailing. This includes:
Furniture throughout the building was designed by Frederick Ward and Arthur Robinson in collaboration with the architects, and many pieces remain in use or in storage.
| Figure 7. Foyer stairs and Serpentino tiled wall from Mezzanine floorSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 8. Former Director General’s OfficeSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 9. Patterned paving on PodiumSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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Planning layout
The planning layout of the building as it exists in 2017 includes:
Figure 10. Current Ground Floor Plan
Source: National Library of Australia
Macintosh HD:Users:duncanmarshall:Desktop:NLA-AP-GND-MBP-rev10-Floor Plan + Furniture.jpg
Architectural style
The building is in the Late Twentieth Century Stripped Classical style. Features of this style displayed by the building include the:
| Figure 11. Building from northwestSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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Notable Interiors
The building contains a number of largely original spaces which are notable because of their design, details, their use of high quality materials, and/or their distinctive original library function. These include:
| Figure 12. Main Reading RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 13. Entry FoyerSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 14. Café with Leonard French windowsSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 15. Nan Kivell RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 16. Nan Kivell Room foyerSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 17. Lamson Tube RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 18. TheatreSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 19. Former Keeper of Rare Books office, adjacent to the Nan Kivell RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 20. Asian Collections Reading RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 21. Former Viewing Room (one of two), now meeting roomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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Facilities
The Library building provides a range of facilities including storage areas and reading rooms for a wide range of materials which comprise the Library’s collection, a visitor centre, catalogue areas, exhibition spaces, theatre, offices, a shop and eating facilities. A floor by floor description of uses is provided below.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:5.4pt; border:0.75pt solid #808080; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:428.65pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#cccccc"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Table</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> </span><span style="font-weight:bold">1</span><span style="font-weight:bold">. </span><span style="font-weight:bold"></span><span style="font-weight:bold">Use of the </span><span style="font-weight:bold">Library</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> Building</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold"></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#cccccc"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Floor</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#cccccc"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Use</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold"></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Lower Ground Floor 2</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Book stack areas, mailroom, sales and distribution, </span><span>digitisation, </span><span>photography, document supply</span><span>, loading dock, exhibition preparation</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Lower Ground Floor 1</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Book stack areas, theatre, </span><span>café</span><span>, Oral History</span><span>, offices</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Ground Floor</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Foyer, shop, restaurant, exhib</span><span>ition galleries, reading rooms</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>First Floor</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Executive offices, meetings rooms, offices</span><span>,</span><span> Special collections reading room</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Second Floor</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>S</span><span>tack areas, </span><span>Rex N</span><span>an </span><span>Kivell</span><span> </span><span>room, computer room</span><span>, offices</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Third Floor</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Offices, </span><span>Asian Collections </span><span>reading room, book stack areas, meeting room</span><span>s</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:116.55pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Fourth Floor</span></p></td><td style="width:301.3pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Brindabella Room, Conference R</span><span>oom, training rooms, offices, preservation services lab</span><span>oratory</span><span>, stack areas</span><span>, </span><span>Friends L</span><span>ounge</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Artworks
The building features a number of notable art works, both commissioned for the building when first opened, or subsequently acquired. A large horizontal sculpture by Tom Bass over the public entrance, referred to both as the Lintel Sculpture and as Knowledge, was commissioned as part of the design and is a beaten copper bas-relief sculpture depicting themes derived from Sumerian seals, representing the sun (enlightenment), the tree of life, and the ark of knowledge.
Large stained glass windows by Leonard French are in-built decorative features within the entry café and bookshop (originally the lobby exhibition areas). There are sixteen windows in total, six pairs of windows and four single windows made from Saint Gobain dalle de verre glass. These 50 mm thick glass pieces are each cut and chipped to maximise light refraction. Every panel comprises four sections with the dominant images of crosses, stars and mandalas, and the general theme is the planets. The panels range through the colours of the spectrum, with blue representing the planet Venus and red the planet Mars. Each window has four sections and each overall window is 3.3 metres high and 1.25 metres wide.
The lobby also features three Aubusson tapestries designed by the French artist, Mathieu Matégot, with woven images of Australia. Matégot visited Australia, and his three tapestries hung in the foyer depict a radio telescope at Woomera (not Parkes, as commonly believed), Australian flora, the Great Barrier Reef, a pineapple, a riverboat, the Sydney Opera House and a ram’s head. The tapestries are made of Australian wool.
A series of seven copper panels is located above the General Reading Room bay windows on the exterior lake side of the building. The panels were designed within Bunning & Madden’s office by Arthur Robb. The panels have striking patterns of circles, diamonds, crosses and other shapes, based on gladiator’s shields, and echoing the geometric patterns in Leonard French’s windows.[2]
The fountain opposite the entry steps (and not owned or managed by the Library) was designed by the Bunning & Madden office.
| Figure 22. One of the Robb panels above a Reading Room windowSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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In the grounds surrounding the Library (but not owned or managed by the Library) is the Henry Moore sculpture Two Piece Reclining Figure Number 9. The Moore sculpture is located on land managed by the National Capital Authority, and is a Commonwealth asset administered by them.
These latter items are therefore not items whose conservation is directly covered by this conservation management plan, though their contribution to the significance of the place is highlighted later in the plan.
Other newer art works include the Alice Kettle embroideries in the Main Reading Room and the Myer tapestry, installed on level 1 in the Special Collections Reading Room.
Condition
This section provides information about the condition of the place, prior to consideration of its heritage significance in the following chapters. It provides a general impression about condition. Section 5.6 provides an analysis of condition and integrity related to the actual significance of the place.
The Library is in generally fair to good condition and the exterior is largely intact. However, there are a number of maintenance issues as noted elsewhere in this report.
The podium has been extended and modified although these changes are sympathetic and were envisaged in the original design, and was re-paved and handrails modified to meet the Building Code in 2007-09. There have been substantial internal alterations to the building. The changes include construction of a restaurant (refurbished in 2016) and bookshop (redesigned in 2011) in the entry foyer, the Treasures and Exhibition galleries (2011), the executive suite, refurbishment and relocation of reading rooms, and redistribution of stack and office accommodation.
2.3 Associated Places
The Library has associations with the following places:
| Figure 23. Henry Moore sculpture Two Piece Reclining Figure Number 9 in the foregroundSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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2.4 History of the Origins and Development of the National Library of Australia
This history provides an overview of the origins and development of the National Library of Australia, concentrating on the establishment and construction of the Library building in Canberra.
The history text is structured as follows:
The following provides a timeline for key events in the history of the National Library of Australia. Particularly notable events are shown in bold.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:5.4pt; border:0.75pt solid #808080; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:428.65pt; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#cccccc"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Table 2.</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> </span><span style="font-weight:bold">Timeline of events related to the National Library of Australia</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#cccccc"><p class="FootnoteText" style="widows:0; orphans:0"><span style="font-weight:bold">Date</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#cccccc"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Event</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold"></span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FootnoteText" style="widows:0; orphans:0"><span>1901</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Parliamentary Library established and the Joint Libraries Committee appointed. </span><span></span><span>Arthur Wadsworth </span><span>‘</span><span>borrowed</span><span>’</span><span> from Victorian Parliamentary Library to run the Commonwealth</span><span>’</span><span>s library.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1909</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Petherick collection acquired, as cornerstone of the Australian collection (formalised in the Petherick Bill in 1911)</span><span style="font-weight:bold">.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1911</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Griffin plan for Canberra located art galleries on the northern shore of the lake.</span><span> </span><span>‘</span><span>Courts of Justice</span><span>’</span><span> were included in planning diagrams, but not on the competition final plan.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1912</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">Passing of the </span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:italic">Copyright Act 1912</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> required the depositing of one copy of every book published in Australia in the </span><span style="font-weight:bold">Library</span><span style="font-weight:bold">.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1919</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FootnoteText" style="widows:0; orphans:0"><span style="font-weight:bold">A separate Australian or </span><span style="font-weight:bold">‘</span><span style="font-weight:bold">national</span><span style="font-weight:bold">’</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> section was established in the Parliamentary Library</span><span style="font-weight:bold">.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1914-1925</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The Library publishes 33 volumes of the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Historical Records of Australia</span><span> edited by Fredrick Watson, the first comprehensive index of source material on Australia</span><span>’</span><span>s history drawn from many libraries.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1923</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">The Australian section of the Parliamentary Library was given the name </span><span style="font-weight:bold">‘</span><span style="font-weight:bold">Commonwealth National Library</span><span style="font-weight:bold">’</span><span style="font-weight:bold">. </span><span style="font-weight:bold"></span><span style="font-weight:bold">The Library acquires the </span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:italic">Endeavour</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> Journal of Captain James Cook, and the Ellis Rowan Collection of wildflower paintings, its first substantial pictorial collection.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1927</span><span style="font-weight:bold">-28</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="FootnoteText" style="widows:0; orphans:0"><span style="font-weight:bold">National Library and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library move to Provisional Parliament House.</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> </span><span style="font-weight:bold">Kenneth Binns succeeds Arthur Wadsworth as Librarian (until his retirement in 1947).</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> </span><span style="font-weight:bold">Part of West Block also occupied for a short time.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1930-1981</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Library introduces a lending service to Canberra residents.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1934</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Munn-Pitt report on Australian libraries funded by the Carnegie Corporation—generally critical but praised the National Library.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1936</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">National Library building on Kings Avenue opened. </span><span style="font-weight:bold"></span><span style="font-weight:bold">The </span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:italic">Annual Catalogue of Australian Publications</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> first published by the Library, the start of the national bibliography.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1937</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The first part of Sir John Ferguson</span><span>’</span><span>s collection of 34,000 books, paintings and manuscripts is acquired.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1947</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Harold White succeeds Kenneth Bi</span><span>n</span><span>ns as Head Librarian.</span><span> </span><span></span><span>White continues the expansion of the Library holdings.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1948-1993</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), microfilming British documents relating to Australia, funded by the National Library and the State</span><span> </span><span>Library of NSW.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1949</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The first half of the Rex Nan Kivell </span><span>collection </span><span>arrives in Canberra, the second half purchased in 1959.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1957</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Paton inquiry recommends separation of the parliamentary library, national library and archives functions of the Parliamentary Library.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1959</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>NCDC plans placed the National Library on the lakeside west of the proposed Parliament House.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1960</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">The </span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-style:italic">National Library Act 1960</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> separates the National Library from the Parliamentary Library.</span><span style="font-weight:bold"> </span><span style="font-weight:bold">An Asian section and a rare books section formally created to deal with the growing holding in these fields.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">1968</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="font-weight:bold">The new National Library of Australia building opened.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1968</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Parliament rejects lakeside location for Parliament House in favour of Camp or Capitol Hill.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1970</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Alan Fleming succeeds Harold White as National Librarian (to 1973).</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1973</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Amendment Act increased </span><span>the N</span><span>ational Library of Australia</span><span> Council from 9 to 12 members, changed the designation of the National Librarian to Director-General, and made that person a member of the Council.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1974</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>George Chandler appointed Director-General of the National Library.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1980</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Harrison Bryan appointed Director-General of the National Library.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1981</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Australian National </span><span>Bibliographic</span><span> Network (ABN) launched, providing shared online cataloguing for Australian libraries.</span><span> </span><span>Sound Preservation and Technical Services Unit established for the preservation of oral history material.</span><span> </span><span>Canberra Public Library Service moves to Department of the Capital Territory.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1983</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>National Film and Sound Archive established, and most of the Library</span><span>’</span><span>s holdings of motion pictures, music recordings and audio-visual material transferred.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1985</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Warren Horton succeeds Harrison Bryan as Director-General.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1983-86</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Podium extended to west and north.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1989</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>New exhibitions section created to expand exhibition activities.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1990</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Friends of the National Library founded to foster community support and promote the Library.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1998</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The </span><span style="font-style:italic">Bringing Them Home</span><span> oral history p</span><span>roject established to collect Indigenous oral histories.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>1999</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Warren Horton succeeded by Jan Fullerton as Director-General.</span><span> </span><span>Kinetica replaces ABN.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2001</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The Cook </span><span style="font-style:italic">Endeavour</span><span> Journals and the Mabo Collection are included in UNESCO</span><span>’</span><span>s </span><span style="font-style:italic">Memory of the World</span><span> R</span><span>egister.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2003</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The Cook </span><span style="font-style:italic">Endeavour</span><span> Journals, the Mabo Collection and Landmark constitutional documents of Australia are included in UNESCO’s Australian </span><span style="font-style:italic">Memory of the World</span><span> R</span><span>egister.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2004</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Pandora, Australia’s web archive is </span><span>included i</span><span>n UNESCO</span><span>’s</span><span> </span><span>Australian </span><span style="font-style:italic">Memory of the World </span><span>Register</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2005</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The space to the northeast of the Library was named the Patrick White Terrace in honour of the Australian writer.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2007</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The National Library of Australia, the Library of Congress, the British Library and Library and Archives Canada begin work on the coordinated implementation of RDA: Resource Description and Access, the successor to the Anglo–American Cataloguing Rules.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2007-2009</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Extended podium refurbishment including the replacement of the waterproof membrane under the slate and upgrading the Bookplate (café) outdoor area.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2008</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The Library celebrates the 40</span><span style="font-size:6.67pt; vertical-align:super">th</span><span> anniversary of the opening of the building.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2009</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Forecourt redeveloped by the National Capital Authority.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2010</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>National online discovery service Trove launched, incorporating the Library’s suite of individual online services: </span><span>Register of Australian Archives and Manuscripts (1997), Picture Australia (1999), Music Australia (2004), </span><span>Australia Dancing (2004), t</span><span>he search service for the PANDORA Web</span><span> Archive (2005), t</span><span>he ARROW Discovery Service (2005), Libraries Australia (2006), </span><span>and </span><span>Australian Newspapers (2008)</span><span>.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2010</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Friends Lounge relocated to Level 4</span><span>.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2010-2011</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Refurbishment of the Ground F</span><span>loor including the demolition of the old gallery and visitor centre and the construction of a Treasures Gallery, Exhibition Gallery, new entry to the Main </span><span>Reading Room and central foyer.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2011</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Anne-Marie Schwirtlich succeeds Jan Fullerton as Director-General</span><span>.</span><span> </span><span>The 1796 </span><span>Playbill </span><span>and the Minute books of pre-Federation Australian trade unions are included in UNESCO’s Australian </span><span style="font-style:italic">Memory of the World</span><span> Register.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2011-12</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Finalisation works for the Treasures and Exhibition galleries.</span><span> </span><span>Refurbishment of Main Reading Room, Library Bookshop, passenger lifts, Level 1 office accommodation, Manuscripts Reading Room, Conference Room and several collection storage areas, and initial stage of the Foyer refurbishment, including restoration of the original marble floor.</span><span> </span><span>Continuation of the fire and mechanical services upgrade project
.</span><a id="_ftnref3"></a><a href="#_ftn3" style="text-decoration:none"><span class="FootnoteReference" style="font-size:6.67pt; color:#000000">[3]</span></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2012-13</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Continuation of the fire and mechanical services upgrade project, construction of a new storage area for corporate records, refurbishment of the data centre
, disability access improvements, including a wheelchair lift</span><span> to the Theatre stage</span><span>.</span><a id="_ftnref4"></a><a href="#_ftn4" style="text-decoration:none"><span class="FootnoteReference" style="font-size:6.67pt; color:#000000">[4]</span></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2013</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>John Meredith’s folklore collection is included in UNESCO’s Australian </span><span style="font-style:italic">Memory of the World</span><span> Register.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2013-14</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Refurbishment of the Executive and Public Programs office area</span><span> (Level 3)</span><span>, installation of an equipment lift to storage </span><span>areas on Lower Ground 2 (LG2)</span><span>.</span><a id="_ftnref5"></a><a href="#_ftn5" style="text-decoration:none"><span class="FootnoteReference" style="font-size:6.67pt; color:#000000">[5]</span></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2014-15</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Commencement of Re</span><span>ading Room Integration project</span><span> </span><span>to</span><span> complete the refurbishment of the prominent public areas of the Library with works being undertaken on Levels 2, 1, Ground and Lower Ground 1.</span><span> </span><span>The project </span><span>was to</span><span> improve and modernise the public spaces.</span><span> </span><span>Outcomes include</span><span>d</span><span> the integration of the Pictures and Manuscripts, Maps and Petherick Reading Rooms on the first floor </span><span>(as the </span><span>Special Collections Reading Room</span><span>) </span><span>and the integration of the Main and Newspapers
</span><span> </span><span>and Microforms Reading Rooms on the ground floor.</span><span> </span><span>The project </span><span>also sought to</span><span> improve sustainability, upgrade building services such as fire systems and air-conditioning plant, and meet compliance requirements.</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>The Manuscripts Reading Room was re-named the Nan Kivell Room.</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span></span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Also, refurbishment of change-room facilities on Lower Ground 2, installation of new energy efficient lighting and control systems in the Main Reading Room and Foyer, upgrade of the fire detection system throughout the building, refurbishment of collection storage areas to facilitate replacement of motorised shelving, increasing storage capacity and improving efficiency.</span><a id="_ftnref6"></a><a href="#_ftn6" style="text-decoration:none"><span class="FootnoteReference" style="font-size:6.67pt; color:#000000">[6]</span></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2015</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="color:#151515">The Gallipoli letter is included in UNESCO’s Australian </span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#151515">Memory of the World</span><span style="color:#151515"> Register.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2015-16</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="color:#151515">Completion of the Reading Room Integration Project, </span><span style="color:#151515">including refurbishment of LG1 public spaces for café and work areas, </span><span style="color:#151515">installation of new energy efficient lighting and controls in the Treasures and Exhibition galleries, fire corridors, plant rooms and lift lobbies</span><span>.</span><a id="_ftnref7"></a><a href="#_ftn7" style="text-decoration:none"><span class="FootnoteReference" style="font-size:6.67pt; color:#000000">[7]</span></a></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2016</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="font-size:10pt"><span>The</span><span> </span><span style="font-style:italic">Copyright Act 1968</span><span> was amended to allow for e-legal deposit.</span><span> </span><span>This was a very significant change to the Library’s collecting mandate.</span><span> </span><span>It provided the Library with the right to collect electronic materials published in Australia rather than requiring the Library to seek the permission of publishers individually.</span><span> </span><span>As a result, the national collection of Australian material published online can be acquired more efficiently and will be more comprehensive.</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:8pt"><span style="color:#151515"></span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="color:#151515">Café refurbishment on ground floor.</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:45.9pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-right:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="margin-top:0.1pt; margin-bottom:0.1pt; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>2017</span></p></td><td style="width:371.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #808080; border-left:0.75pt solid #808080; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span>Dr Marie-Louise Ayres</span><span> succeeds Anne-Marie Schwirtlich as </span><span style="color:#151515">Director-General.</span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="color:#151515"></span></p><p style="widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:10pt"><span style="color:#151515">Theatre refurbished on Lower Ground 1.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
2.3.1 The origins and early development of the National Library of Australia
The genesis of the Commonwealth National Library
The concept of a national library only became an issue when the federation of the Australian colonies began to look like an achievable objective. Each of the colonies had established colonial libraries, which commonly had their origins in local subscription libraries. Other nations had central national libraries, and it seemed inevitable that Australia would do the same, though considering the form of such a library was not a high priority for the politicians trying to negotiate their six respective colonies towards an agreed federated nation.
Edward Augustus Petherick put forward a proposal that foreshadowed a broadly-based national library collection, when he offered his private collection of Australiana and Pacificana to the Federal Council in the 1890s, through Sir Edward Braddon, Premier of Tasmania, as a ‘nucleus of a State Library for the Federated Australian Colonies’.
Petherick (1847-1917) was born in the UK and brought to Australia as a child. He was apprenticed at the age of 15 to book sellers Robertson and Mullens in Melbourne, and sent to London as a buyer in 1870, where he remained based until 1909. Petherick developed a passion for collecting Australiana and Pacificana, especially early voyages, and after floating several other ideas for the long-term housing of his collection, offered it to the embryonic nation. The collection, of over 10,000 items, was to be temporarily stored in the Australian section of the Imperial Institute Library in London. Formal acceptance and transfer of the ‘gift’ was delayed because Petherick insisted that his services went with the collection. This stipulation was finally accepted in 1909, and the Commonwealth government appointed him Commonwealth archivist at £500 per annum, a position he held until his death in 1917. The acquisition was formally endorsed by Parliament in the Petherick Bill in 1911.[8]
At Federation, however, that acquisition was still a decade into the future, and the needs of the new Commonwealth government for access to a reference library were pressing. While the federal parliament was housed in the Victorian Parliament House, however, it had access to that institution’s library, and the Victorian State Library was close by, so the need to make hard and costly decisions about an independent library service for Parliament was able to be deferred. This did not stop planning and lobbying by those who had aspirations for a national library.
Principal Librarian of the Public Library of NSW, Henry Charles Lennox Anderson, for example, lobbied Prime Minister Edmund Barton by letter on 26 February 1901, recommending that Barton establish a copyright act to secure copies of all published Australian books, and appoint a skilled librarian to systematically collect Australian material. While a Copyright Act was passed, mandatory deposit was not achieved until 1912.[9] There was also lobbying within Parliament. One of the Commonwealth government interim Cabinet’s early decisions (taken on 13 April 1901, prior to the inauguration of the first Parliament on 9 May) was that Australia was to have a federal public library, separate from the Parliamentary Library, and that a conference of librarians was to be convened to advise it. When Barton was asked in the new Parliament, on its 10th day of sitting, whether steps would be taken to secure Australia’s documentary history in the Parliamentary Library, Barton replied that he intended to appoint a committee of experts to advise him on that matter. The same day, 5 June 1901, both houses passed resolutions to appoint a Joint Library Committee.[10]
Barton’s secretary, Atlee Hunt, wrote to selected librarians and other gentlemen on 11 June flagging the possible creation of a Board to advise on a Parliamentary Library and on the production of publications relating to the early history of Australia and the establishment of the Commonwealth as a special feature of the library, but seeking advice on these matters in the meantime. Several responded, recommending a skilled librarian be appointed.
H C L Anderson wrote again on 8 July 1901 outlining his views on the setting up of a federal Parliamentary Library and the appointment of a librarian. His key model was the Library of Congress, serving not only Parliament but also as the core of a national library collection, underpinned by a Copyright Act. Anderson also mentioned the availability of the Petherick Collection as a core of the new national collection, but did not think Petherick a good choice for Librarian, hence warned against the acquisition of the collection if Petherick’s employment was a condition.[11]
It is an interesting aside that a debate has occupied library historians for several decades as to whether the Library of Congress was really the model for the development of the Commonwealth National Library. It was certainly proposed as such by Anderson, and championed by Frederick Holder, as first chairman of the Joint Library Committee, and was the model for National Librarians including Kenneth Binns and Harold White. It was also a continuing model referred to repeatedly by the Parliamentary Library Committee, and the Public Works Committee in 1924 accepted the Library of Congress model when they decided West Block should be occupied by the Library.[12] However, it appears never to have been stated government policy or its intention to create a parallel to the Library of Congress, and this was not given statutory effect. The long history of the development of the Library, and the form it finally took, suggests that if the Library of Congress was a model at all, it was only in the broadest form as a great national library.[13] The general feeling that the Library of Congress was an appropriate model was not really questioned until the Paton Inquiry in 1957.[14]
What is clear, however, is that contrary to many other parliamentary processes borrowed from Britain and adopted by the new Commonwealth Parliament, the British House of Commons Library was not the model for the Australian Parliamentary Library and National Library, as it operated on an entirely different basis and was never seen as being a broad-based national library.[15]
As early as 15 April 1901, Atlee Hunt approached the Victorian Chief Secretary asking for several officers, including the Parliamentary Librarian, to be allowed to act temporarily for the Commonwealth. However, the Victorian Parliamentary Librarian died, and was not replaced by the time the Joint Parliamentary Library Committee was elected by the Senate and House of Representatives on 5 June 1901.[16] The Library Committee met on 26 June, and discussed the appointment of a librarian. It referred a request to consider such an appointment to Barton, and he replied on 1 July that the arrangement would be that the Victorian Parliamentary Library would be used, and a Victorian Parliamentary Librarian borrowed to run it. The Victorian Parliament appointed Arthur Wadsworth to the position on July 5, and on the same day gave an executive order for ‘certain officers to act for and on behalf of the Federal Government for such time as the Government may remain in possession of the Victorian Parliament House.’ [17]
Wadsworth remained a ‘borrowed officer’ of the Commonwealth Parliament for almost 27 years, while Parliament remained in Victoria. Wadsworth was formally appointed Commonwealth Librarian as a Commonwealth public servant only shortly before his retirement, on the eve of the move of Parliament to Canberra in 1927. Only a small proportion of the Victorian Parliamentary Library collection was moved to that parliament’s new home in the Exhibition Building, the substantial part staying at Parliament House for the use of the Commonwealth under Wadsworth’s control.
The national library within the Parliamentary Library
The Joint Library Committee, while generally supporting the idea of a national collection and library, had to deal also with the day-to-day demands of parliamentarians for library resources, and these in-house needs tended to take precedence. This worked against the consistent and active development of the ‘national’ component of the library’s functions while Parliament was located in Victoria.
In its early years the Library Committee maintained a sense of injustice at its treatment by Barton, who had made good statements at the start but had clearly not given priority support for a national collection when trying to establish the Commonwealth administration with limited funds. The Committee’s Chairman, Sir Frederick Holder, who strongly supported the idea of a national collection, in 1907 made a statement in the Committee’s annual report that the committee ‘was keeping before it the ideal of building up, for the time when Parliament should be established in the Federal Capital, a great Public Library on the lines of the world-famed Library of Congress…’. A later National Librarian, Harrison Bryan, suggests that ‘It was a surprising assertion, in that it accorded ill with the Library’s actual operations, especially the acquisition of library material.’[18]
The Executive showed ambivalence to the idea of a national library while Parliament sat in Melbourne, on the one hand supporting the acquisition of the Petherick Collection (1909), the Endeavour Journal, and the creation of the Commonwealth National Library within the Parliamentary Library structure (both in 1923—22 years after Federation), while on the other hand not actively pursuing the idea of developing a separate national collecting institution. In the absence of a clear government policy or an influential and persuasive champion within Parliament, only small and faltering steps were taken to advance the development of a national library.
Kenneth Binns was appointed to the Parliamentary Library as Cataloguer in 1911, and instituted many practices that professionalised the library. He got along with Petherick and Frederick Watson, the latter then preparing the Historical Records of Australia series, whereas Arthur Wadsworth did not. Binns, in conjunction with Wadsworth, put forward in 1919 a proposal for the creation of an Australian Section of the Library with Binns as its head. Binns appears to have become a primary influence in the operations of the Parliamentary Library. Binns fostered a strengthening of the idea of a national library within the Parliamentary Library itself, but there was no government sanction for such a development, and it was not openly promoted.[19]
The question of the separate development of a national library remained an issue that was only to be gradually resolved over a long period. In 1912 an important step in developing the collection of the national library came when a new Copyright Act was passed that included the compulsory depositing in the Parliamentary Library’s collection of a copy of any work published in Australia. Wadsworth, however, did not pursue the requirement of the mandatory deposit provision, and did not even retain all items so deposited.[20]
In 1923 the Library, funded by Cabinet, made an acquisition that bolstered its national credentials when it beat the Mitchell Library (NSW) in buying the Cook Journal manuscripts (for £5,000) and the Ellis Rowan collection of paintings (also £5,000). Following the Cook acquisitions, in what might be interpreted as a ‘rush of blood to the head’, the Joint Library Committee on 11 July 1923, resolved that the Australian section of the Parliamentary Library be given the name ‘Commonwealth National Library’.[21]
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Contents
As a project to review and update the 2012 conservation management plan, the earlier plan provides the basis for the current plan. The methodology adopted for this plan is in accordance with the Burra Charter (Australia ICOMOS 2013). This can be summarised as a series of steps as shown in Figure 1 below.
In order to follow these steps and prepare this management plan a range of consultations, research, inspections and analyses were undertaken. Importantly, the assessment of significance relied upon:
a range of information gathering tasks related to the common descriptors of significance (for example historic value); and
an analysis of this evidence for heritage values using the Commonwealth Heritage Criteria, including comparisons with other places where relevant, in order to test the understanding of such values.
| Figure 1. Basic Steps of Conservation Management PlanningSource: Summarised from Australia ICOMOS 2013 |
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This work provided a sound understanding of the place, and led to the preparation of a statement of significance. This work also provided an understanding of the constraints and opportunities related to the current and future management of the place. The statement of significance and the information about constraints and opportunities were used as the basis for developing conservation policies and implementation strategies.
In some cases, the information in the earlier plan was reviewed and found to be satisfactory for the current plan. In other cases, the text was updated given the passage of time and other changes.
Review of the 2012 Conservation Management Plan
The guidance provided by the Department of the Environment and Energy identifies a range of matters to be addressed in a review of the plan under section 341X of the EPBC Act. These matters and summary responses are provided below.
Who would carry out the review and the procedures to be used
The review was carried out by the consultant for the project, Duncan Marshall. The procedures used are outlined above. In addition:
the 2012 conservation management plan was reviewed for currency and any issues;
work was undertaken to update sections such the history, description and condition;
the analysis of values was completely re-worked and a refined statement of significance developed; and
the suite of policies and strategies was revised in the light of current information and circumstances.
In undertaking this review and update work, consultations were also held with key Library staff responsible for management of the place, in part to ascertain the effectiveness of the 2012 plan and any issues to be addressed in the update work.
An assessment of whether the plan addresses the matters prescribed in the regulations including the Commonwealth Heritage management principles
The 2012 plan addressed matters prescribed in the regulations including the Commonwealth Heritage management principles.
An assessment of the effectiveness of the plan in protecting and conserving the Commonwealth Heritage values
The plan has been effective in protecting the Commonwealth Heritage values of the Library through a period of some change to the building. In particular, the condition has improved, there are no significant threats, and the values have generally been conserved.
Recommendations for the improved protection of values
The improved protection of heritage values is achieved through the revised and updated conservation management plan with:
an improved understanding of the heritage values of the Library (Chapter 4); and
an improved suite of conservation policies and strategies (Section 6.3).
In both cases there have been refinements made although these are not dramatic changes.
Outline how new and changed information that may have come through monitoring, community input and further research will be incorporated into the revised management plan
As noted above, new and changed information and analysis has informed the update of the plan in sections such as the history, description, condition, analysis of values, statement of significance, and policies and strategies.
Details of any significant damage or threat to the heritage values.
No significant damage or threats to heritage values were identified.
This conservation management plan:
describes the National Library of Australia in Sections 2.1\-2.2;
provides an overview of the history of the place in Section 2.4;
offers evidence related to aesthetic and social values in Sections 2.5 and 2.7;
analyses all of this evidence in Chapter 3 and provides a statement of significance for the place in Chapter 4;
considers opportunities and constraints affecting the management of the place in Chapter 5; and
provides a conservation policy and implementation strategies to guide management and conservation in Chapter 6.
A draft version of this plan was made available for public consultation in the period 13 June to 10 July 2017. A notice was placed in The Australian newspaper inviting comments, and the Library’s website was also used for this purpose. A hardcopy was also made available from the Library information desk.
Comments were received from four organisations or individuals. In general, the comments recognised and were supportive of the heritage values of the Library, and also related to:
views of the Library from surrounding areas;
the landscape surrounding the building;
moral rights;
the condition of some fabric; and
the wording of some policies, including those related to conservation, conflict resolution, additions, and supporting or secondary uses.
Positive comments were also made supporting the draft plan or various aspects of it.
In response, a number of refinements were made to produce the current plan.
1.3 Purpose of Plan
The purpose of this plan is to provide a conservation management plan for the National Library of Australia, in accordance with the obligations under the EPBC Act, including an understanding of their heritage values (Chapter 4), and conservation policies and implementation strategies for their future management (Chapter 6).
1.4 Limitations
There was one factor limiting the preparation of this plan, sufficient specific research into community-based heritage values. While some research was available, it did not cover the full scope of these potential values.
1.5 Authorship
The 2012 version of this conservation management plan was researched and written by Dr Michael Pearson (Heritage Management Consultants Pty Ltd) and Duncan Marshall, Heritage Architect. The updated plan was prepared by Duncan Marshall.
1.6 Acknowledgements
The consultant wishes to acknowledge the kind assistance of the following person.
Dr Michael Pearson AO Heritage consultant for the previous version of the CMP
2.1 Location and Boundaries
The National Library of Australia is located at Parkes Place West, on Block 4 of Section 27, Parkes. The block incorporates the podium of the Library building, small extensions to the northeast and northwest occupied by services, the entry stairway to the east, an access ramp and steps to the south, and the service courtyard to the southwest with a service road off King Edward Terrace.
| Figure 2. Location Plan for the National Library of AustraliaSource: Base image Google Maps |
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| Figure 3. Block and Section Plan for the National Library of AustraliaSource: Base image ACTmapi |
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| Figure 4. Lease area for the National Library of AustraliaSource: National Library of Australia |
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| Figure 5. Aerial view of the National Library of AustraliaSource: Base image Google Imagery |
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2.2 Brief Description and Condition of the Place
National Library of Australia Building
Overview
The National Library of Australia building is a prominent feature of the Parliamentary Zone. This large rectangular building sits on a podium on the western side of the zone near the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin.
| Figure 6. Library from the north, across Lake Burley GriffinSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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The building is generally clad in Italian travertine and Carrara marble with an encircling colonnade; it is rectangular in plan and was inspired by the style and proportions of the design of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The podium is clad in rock faced grey trachyte in contrast to the light stones of the building above. The podium contains two basements and the building above has five storeys. The building has a low pitched copper roof. The building’s exterior is clad with marble, travertine, granite, bronze, slate and copper, while its interior has fine Australian timber finishes.
More detailed information is provided in Appendix C.
It should be noted the landscape surrounding the building is not within the control of the National Library of Australia, and it is accordingly not within the scope of this plan. None the less, it is the important setting for the building, as is discussed at Section 2.3 and elsewhere.
Structure and construction
The building has a reinforced concrete structure of columns and slabs. The two service cores are reinforced concrete and these are rendered. Exterior walls are masonry clad with marble on the outside and rendered internally. Internal walls are a variety of construction including blockwork, brickwork, and lightweight framed construction. The roof has steel trusses. Refer to plans at Appendix C.
High quality materials were used in many of the key spaces and building detailing. This includes:
Furniture throughout the building was designed by Frederick Ward and Arthur Robinson in collaboration with the architects, and many pieces remain in use or in storage.
| Figure 7. Foyer stairs and Serpentino tiled wall from Mezzanine floorSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 8. Former Director General’s OfficeSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 9. Patterned paving on PodiumSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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Planning layout
The planning layout of the building as it exists in 2017 includes:
Figure 10. Current Ground Floor Plan
Source: National Library of Australia
Architectural style
The building is in the Late Twentieth Century Stripped Classical style. Features of this style displayed by the building include the:
| Figure 11. Building from northwestSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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Notable Interiors
The building contains a number of largely original spaces which are notable because of their design, details, their use of high quality materials, and/or their distinctive original library function. These include:
| Figure 12. Main Reading RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 13. Entry FoyerSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 14. Café with Leonard French windowsSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 15. Nan Kivell RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 16. Nan Kivell Room foyerSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 17. Lamson Tube RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 18. TheatreSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 19. Former Keeper of Rare Books office, adjacent to the Nan Kivell RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 20. Asian Collections Reading RoomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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| Figure 21. Former Viewing Room (one of two), now meeting roomSource: Duncan Marshall 2017 |
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This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.