General selection criteria for the National Library’s digitisation program can be found in our Collection Digitisation Policy.
The Library aims to digitise selected Maps collections, based on such factors as historical and/or cultural significance, uniqueness of the material, likely demand for the material. Copyright and preservation considerations are also taken into account.
7225 items, consisting of 13 704 images, from the National Library’s Maps Collection have been digitised.
The map collections fully digitised are: Nan Kivell (860 items), Ferguson (915 items) and Tooley (1643 items) collections. Good progress has been made on the Rare Maps collection, with 3733 items already digitised.
A selection of Maps materials will continue to be systematically digitised. A target of 1300 items has been set for 2007-08. The current priorities include:
The Library's long term plan is to complete digitisation of the following categories of its map material:
George Raper The exquisite paintings of First Fleet artist George Raper are featured in Betty Churcher's Hidden Treasures series, currently screening on ABC television. This beautiful picture is one of the 56 watercolours from the recently discovered collection of First Fleet art.