Overview
Audiovisual
Library
Access & visiting
Preservation
Donating material
Collections
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Collections at a glance
The world's most comprehensive collection of print, moving image, sound recordings and photograph materials relating to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
Audiovisual Archive
Our Audiovisual Archive vaults contain approximately one million items including:
- 45,000 hours of recorded sound
- 650,000 photographic images
- 6000 video titles and 6 1/2 million feet of motion picture film
- 1000 artefacts
The majority of the items held in the Audiovisual Archive represent the primary results of field research funded by the AIATSIS Research Grants Program as well as historical and contemporary items which have been deposited by individuals, families or organisations for safe-keeping and appropriate access.
The material is unique and irreplaceable and provides an invaluable link between past, present and future generations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Library
Our Library collections include
- One of the most comprehensive collections of print materials on Australian Indigenous studies in the world
- Print materials in all formats; manuscript materials, serials, language materials, books, the records of organisations, art catalogues, newspapers and newspaper clippings, maps, posters and kits, ephemera, microforms and CD ROMS.
- Australian Languages Collection contains over 3,500 items in print produced by various Indigenous literacy centres covering traditional and original stories, Bible translations, factual and topical information on health, science, history, and other subjects.
- Manuscript collection of over 5,000 titles includes unpublished letters, diaries, notebooks, field books, transcripts of sound recordings, higher degree theses, records and personal papers of significant individuals and organisations.
- Rare books. The Library holds over 2500 rare and valuable books and pamphlets. These are selected on the basis of age, rarity, value or sensitivity of the material for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and individuals. The Rare Book Collection is housed in secure, temperature-controlled storage facilitites appropriate for the preservation of special materials. Click here to view an online exhibiiton of some of the items in the collection.
- Ephemera collection of print and non-print materials which are often associated with a particular event, such as an exhibition, performance, dinner, course or seminar, public gathering.