Access to AIATSIS collections

Visiting

You may be a student, a researcher, a community representative with a special interest in language recordings, an individual tracing your family history, or you may have a general interest in improving your knowledge and understanding of Australia's rich Indigenous cultural heritage. Whatever your purpose, AIATSIS welcomes those who wish to access its collections.

 

Reading room visitors

Visitors in the Stanner Reading Room

For further enquiries or assistance:

Library (for reference or research enquiries)

(02) 6246 1182
library@aiatsis.gov.au

Audiovisual Archive (for assistance finding images, films and sound recordings)

(02) 6261 4212
audiovisual@aiatsis.gov.au

If you are travelling to Canberra in order to view manuscripts or audiovisual materials it is important to ensure, before you arrive, that you can access them on the day. If you require permission to access and/or copy any manuscripts we recommend you obtain this prior to your arrival as this can take some time to arrange. Audiovisual items often need to be prepared for access and this can not always be arranged at short notice.

More information about visiting AIATSIS

Searching our catalogue

Information about our collections is held on our online catalogue Mura© which can be searched via any internet connection. For help using Mura, please try our online demonstration.

Users should be aware that materials included in the collections may be subject to access, copying and/or quotation conditions according to the wishes of the owners or depositors of the material. Users are advised that access to materials may be subject to these terms and conditions which the Institute is required to maintain in order to preserve and protect the integrity of the collections.

In the case of collections with closed access, copying or quotation conditions, Reference staff  will advise you on who to contact to obtain authorisation to access,  copy or quote from the manuscript.  Authorisation must be in writing and must be signed by the depositor.

Requesting copies of material from AIATSIS Collections

Visitors are welcome to make use of our collections on site, but AIATSIS does not lend material from its collections to individuals. Certain materials may be copied, depending on Access and Copyright conditions.

Print collection

For print materials, an interlibrary loan service and a Document Supply service are available. These are provided in accordance with Copyright and access conditions determined by depositors. Photocopiers are available for visitors to do their own photocopying in our reading room. Photocopying charges are set out here.

Other libraries may borrow books and request document delivery via the Libraries Australia Inter-library Loan system or by email (ill@aiatsis.gov.au) or fax (02-6261 4287). Standard ILRS code rates apply.

Manuscripts, pamphlets, rare materials and items from the Language Collection are not loaned at all. Copying of these materials depends on the Access conditions applied by the depositor, and the Copyright Act.

Digital cameras in the AIATSIS library

You are permitted to photograph any published material or manuscripts issued to you in the reading room unless it is likely to result in damage to the material, or in the case of manuscripts, is against the access conditions specified by the depositor. If you are at all in doubt, please seek the assistance of the reference librarian. Click here for more information about our digital camera policy.

Audiovisual collection

Most of the material held in the Audiovisual Archive is not owned by AIATSIS.  For this reason, it is necessary to obtain permission from third parties before material can be copied. Additionally, if the material is being requested for publication, we require that the relevant Indigenous individual, family or community be consulted. 

If you have found a catalogue record for an Audiovisual item (photograph, film or sound recording), which you would like copied, use the online Audiovisual request form. Audiovisual Access Unit staff can also assist you with your initial search free of charge and are sometimes able to uncover material not described on Mura by searching off-line resources.  We are happy to help. 

Our schedule of fees and services can be viewed here (PDF).

Learn about our ROMTIC Program which allows Indigenous clients to obtain copies of up to twenty audiovisual items, relating to their family or cultural group, free-of-charge.

AIATSIS cannot guarantee that all materials will be made available to all clients, or that permission will be received within a set timeframe. 

Help with your research

If you need help with reference question, please complete the online Reference enquiry form . Requests for information are usually completed within 25 working days. Requests can also be made in person or email. Please note what we can and cannot do.