Overview
Audiovisual
Library
Access & visiting
Preservation
Donating material
Digitisation of our collections
A fundamental activity of the Institute is to ensure that all Australians have the best and most appropriate access to the rich and diverse materials that comprise our collections. The aim of digitising material from our collections is twofold: to create, manage and deliver electronic information resources and services; and to preserve original materials for future generations.
Today we are witnessing the obsolescence of many popular analogue audiovisual technologies, notably VHS video, audio cassette, audio reel-to-reel tape, and traditional still photography. Digitisation, which is seen by many as the ‘final solution’ to preservation, in fact presents the biggest challenge ever faced by the international audiovisual archiving community. Digital carriers and software have extremely short lives, demanding ever-widening versatility and adaptability to ensure the preservation of digital objects. Regular migration of digital objects is required.
Recognising the need to create a digital collection the AIATSIS commenced a Digitisation Program. Originally funded by the former ATSIC, the program has since been extended with additional funding from Commonwealth agencies DEST, and then DIISR. The Audiovisual Archive has been able to expand its digitisation program and has now developed the technical capacity for copying film and video material to digital formats. However, the Archive’s ability to continue digitising—and hence preserving—its holdings, is dependent on ongoing funding from the Department.
Ongoing digitisation activities:
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Perfect Pictures database - contains approximately 60,000 images representing about 10% of the total holdings of the AIATSIS Pictorial Collection. Images are added to the database on a regular, ongoing basis as collections are digitised. Images are selected according to the popularity of collections, the depositor’s access conditions, digitisation priorities, and with the aim of presenting a broad cross-section of holdings in terms of subject and geography. Perfect Pictures database can be viewed in the Stanner reading room of the AIATSIS Library.
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State Protectors and Welfare Board reports. The Protectors Reports and Welfare Board reports from each state hold valuable information for Family History purposes as well as being of general research value. They contain vital statistics and document the administration of removal. The reports will be available via an online exhibition and Mura catalogue entries.
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Preservation of entire audiovisual analogue collection in digital format by 2025.
Forthcoming:
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Inquiries and Royal Commissions into Aboriginal Affairs. This project involves the digitisation of parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions from 19th century onwards. As most of this material is not held by AIATSIS Library, this project will serve to strengthen the collection as well as provide a substantial research resource on the AIATSIS website.
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R.H. Mathews database and papers. R. H. Matthews, a surveyor who worked in NSW, took an interest in Aboriginal people and took the opportunity to record a significant amount of information on the Aboriginal peoples of South East Australia from the 1860’s onwards.
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Mission journals - Our Aim and Australian Evangel. The Institute holds many mission magazines. Often these contain news and information (and sometimes photographs) of specific communities and individuals. Most of these journals are not indexed and it may be necessary for a researcher to spend a considerable amount of time searching. The journals will be available via an online exhibition and Mura catalogue entries.
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Maps - Digitised maps from rare books and journals