National Library of Australia

Pictures digitisation - progress so far

Selecting material for digitisation  

General selection criteria for the National Library’s digitisation program can be found in our Collection Digitisation Policy.

The Library aims to digitise all new Pictures acquisitions and selected materials already in the collection. The selection is usually based on historical and/or cultural significance, uniqueness of, and likely demand for, the material. Copyright and preservation considerations are also taken into account.

Progress as of 30 June 2008

Approximately 16% of the currently estimated volume of the National Library’s Pictures Collection has been digitised. This amounts to 104 126 items, consisting of 164 891 images.

Examples of Pictures collections already digitised

Future digitisation plans

Selective digitisation of items in the Pictures collection will be undertaken for inclusion in the Treasures Gallery.

All new Pictures acquisitions and a selection of other Pictures materials will continue to be systematically digitised, where copyright permits. A target of 9 750 items has been set for 2008-09. 

The current priorities include some large significant collections such as:

The Library’s long term plan is to digitise a projected 80% of its Pictures collection. The remaining 20% represent items which are lower priority or restricted by copyright.

More Pictures

Other online resources

October Curator's Choice

  • Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) Laughing kookaburra
    George Raper 1769-1796

This image, held by the Pictures Collection of the National Library, is part of the Ducie Collection. The collection, acquired in 2004, contains 56 watercolours attributed to George Raper, a midshipman on the Sirius, flagship of the First Fleet. Raper's watercolours detail the flora and fauna of the Port Jackson area between 1788 and 1790. It recently featured in Betty Churcher's Hidden Treasures series, screened on ABC Television.