Heritage and reference collections
The National library of Australia is the largest reference library in the country and prides itself on being the most important resource for materials that record Australia's cultural heritage. The library holds materials that Australians have produced and include works from writers, illustrators and editors that have been published in Australia and overseas. However, the library collects all formats of media, not just printed, including dance and performing arts, and in total has over 5 million items.
The library is home to the largest developing research resource on Asia in Australia. The National library of Australia holds an extensive manuscript collection of over 26 million items, which mostly relate to Australia and date from maritime exploration to the present date.
The collection consists of some very important pieces including the journal of James Cook and diaries from the Burke and Wills expedition. Numerous reading rooms can be found within the library, including the main one on the ground floor where the internet access terminals can be found. Advanced readers can enjoy the Petherick reading room.
There are numerous online collaborative services, which include picture Australia, which provides access to significant pictorial collections. The library also holds a vast selection of maps online from early times up to the present. You might also wish to visit the Australian dancing portal, which provides historical information on dance in Australia.
Venue Information
- Bus Route
- Wheel Chair
- Opening hours
- Bus Route r
- Wheel Chair r
- Opening hours r
.
Picture Gallery
National Library map