The Collection Development Policy provides the Library with an overall framework for the collecting of Australian and overseas materials.
The Library also endorses the Collaborative Collections Principles of the National & State Libraries Australasia (NSLA).
Australian material
The Library acquires Australian material mainly through legal deposit, purchase (direct from publishers or through library suppliers), gift or donation.
Copies of all works published in Australia are received by the Library under the legal deposit provisions (s201) of the Copyright Act, 1968 - which cover books, journals, maps, newspapers and printed music. Commonwealth, State and Territory Government publications are also received by deposit under a variety of special directives and circulars. Material issued in microform is normally purchased by the Library to supplement its collections in other material formats. Electronic formats, such as CD-ROM, are also acquired through voluntary deposit or purchased. Unpublished Australian materials such as manuscripts and pictures are acquired through purchase or donation, oral history recordings commissioned for the collection.
Overseas material
Overseas material is acquired primarily through purchase from commercial vendors where material is supplied according to previously specified profiles. The Library (including the Regional Office in Indonesia) also selects material on a title-by-title basis to ensure that acquisitions are maintained in accordance with the Collection Development Policy. Publications of international organisations and world governments are deposited with the National Library as a regional centre - this includes material from the United Nations etc.
Recommend a title for acquisition
The Library has an active acquisitions program and welcomes comments or suggestions from anyone who wishes to recommend titles for acquisition. Please check the Library's catalogue and Collection Development Policy before emailing your suggestions to select@nla.gov.au or by post - all suggestions received are considered.
View our list of wanted items
You may be able to help us acquire wanted items - see our acquisitions wish list.
Offer material as a donation or for purchase
The Library welcomes offers of material as donations or purchase. Although we are unable to accept all offered material, we are always grateful for the opportunity to assess it. For more information about offering material to the Library - see Offers of material.
