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First Roundtable on Library and Archives Collections and Services of Relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

State Library of South Australia, Adelaide, 4 May 1995
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for Libraries, Archives and Information Services: Report on Progress at the National Library of Australia

As a participant in the Consultative Workshop on National Protocols for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the National Library of Australia is very willing to assist with the implementation of the protocols which were developed at the workshop. The report which follows documents the Library's progress on implementing the protocols.

  1. Content and Perspectives
  2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Intellectual Property Issues
  3. Accessibility and Use
  4. Subject Headings/Classification of Materials
  5. Secret/Sacred Materials
  6. Offensive Materials
  7. Governance and Management
  8. Staffing
  9. Education and Taining for Professional Practice
  10. Awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Issues

1. Content and Perspectives

1.1 Consult in an appropriate and ongoing manner with relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in regard to the development and management of the collections.

The Library is conscious that it needs expert advice both on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture and about the source material that future historians will need. The Library is also conscious that its more active collecting may touch on political and cultural sensitivities, as has happened in relation to museum artefacts and certain types of archives. It is therefore important that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander intermediaries assist the Library in its collecting and liaison efforts. These are issues that the Library has not yet solved. Most of the National Library's consultation to date has been with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), particularly in the fields of unpublished materials, photographs, ephemera, and oral history materials.

1.2 Seek to balance collections by acquiring material by as well as that about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In its collections of printed materials, the Library seeks to build a comprehensive collection of materials produced in Australia, and this includes material by as well as about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. As a result of legal deposit legislation, the printed materials collections are strong in works published since 1910. The Library is keen to improve its mechanisms for collecting material from remote communities, possibly in cooperation with the relevant state libraries.
Non-print collections within the Library also contain original works and oral history recordings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As with all of its non-print materials, emphasis is given to persons and organisations of national standing as well as groups representative of particular racial and cultural groups The Library has an active policy of commissioning photographic portraits of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be interviewed or whose papers come to the Library.
A number of the Library's current oral history interviewers, notably Chris Woodland and Jeff Carter regularly interview Aboriginal informants, while past interviewers including Hazel De Berg, Chris Sullivan, John Meredith and Wendy Lowenstein have included a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their interviews. (See also 10.3)
As with printed materials the Library is seeking to strengthen its efforts to ensure that material by and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is adequately represented in the Library's collections.

1.3 In the case of government archives, consult through the relevant government agency. Agencies should be advised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content of materials and appropriate access policies.

1.4 Promote the existence and availability of collections and provide clients with an explanation of any conditions governing access.

The existence and availability of the Library's materials is promoted through a variety of activities ranging from printed guides, articles in publications such as the National Library of Australia News, exhibitions, displays, and lectures. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander materials have featured in this program, and will continue to be highlighted to illustrate the richness and diversity of the Library's collections. A recently produced guide for readers was resources on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. A tour group of Aboriginal students also visited the Library for a specialised tour.
Where particular conditions affecting access apply, these are documented in the Library's records.

1.5 Facilitate the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community keeping places.

2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Intellectual Property Issues

2.1 Become aware of the issues surrounding cultural documentation and the need for cultural awareness training.

Staff members of the Library have begun to participate in conferences, seminars and workshops which focus on cultural and intellectual property issues. This awareness-raising is expected to continue and to involve more staff.

2.2 Develop proper professional recognition of the primary cultural and intellectual property rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and consult with appropriate people on their application.

2.3 Develop ways of protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and intellectual property.

It has been suggested that the National Document and Information Service (NDIS) might be able to record such information as the moral rights holder of recorded stories and ceremonies, but activity in this area is still in the formative stage.

2.4 Share information on initiatives involving cultural documentation.

3. Accessibility and Use

As a research library, geographically remote from most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies, the National Library recognises that direct service provision to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is generally more appropriately provided by State and public or community libraries. All Australians are welcomed to the Library, and arrangements may be made for visiting groups. Many of the Library's resources are available nationally on interlibrary loan. In terms of access, the Library has considered national co-ordination and cooperation to be of primary importance to ensure access to all collections and services by all Australians no matter where they are located.
The Library's resources are listed in the online catalogue. The collection is listed, alongside other materials on the National Bibliographic Database (NBD) which can be accessed on the Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN) throughout Australia.

3.1 Develop and implement clear statements of the types of resources and services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people want by initiating consultation to determine appropriate resources and services.

3.2 Arrange to have visible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public areas such as reference desks and user service points as well as in other areas such as client liaison.

3.3 Ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are involved in community liaison and that the liaison is ongoing, responding to the changing interests and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

3.4 Encourage and foster positive relationships between staff members who are not Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and clients.

3.5 Employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as liaison officers to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or communities served by the organisation.

3.6 Promote libraries, archives and information services in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

3.7 Encourage the use of the organisation's facilities as a meeting place and resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

3.8 Involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the planning, design and layout of libraries, archives and information services to create welcoming and suitable environments.

4. Subject Headings/Classification of Materials

The National Library will seek, in collaboration with other parties to implement these Protocols involving the creation of current and future data on the national database, and to implement them retrospectively if funding can be provided.

4.1 Develop, implement and use a national thesaurus for describing documentation relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and issues.

The National Library will host the Aboriginal thesaurus in its National Document and Information Service, to be implemented in 1997. It will apply the Aboriginal thesaurus in the data which the Library contributes to the National Bibliographic Database (11 million titles and 21 million locations in Australian libraries). It will foster the adoption of the Aboriginal thesaurus by the 250 Australian libraries contributing to the National Bibliographic Database, through reference to the Protocols in publicity material, user manuals and training courses.

4.2 Develop and use subject headings which are sensitive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and which promote effective retrieval.

(See 4.3 below)

4.3 Promote appropriate changes to Library of Congress Subject Headings with the aim of retrospectively recataloguing items recorded with undesirable subject headings.

The National Library will use the Aboriginal thesaurus as a basis for proposing specific additions and changes to the Library of Congress Subject Headings, which are used in English speaking countries throughout the world.

4.4 Promote classificatory systems which identify items by their geographic, language and cultural identifiers to provide access better.

The National Library will, in response to suggestions from users of the Dewey Decimal Classification scheme, propose changes to the classification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander subjects in this classification system, which is used throughout the world. The Library will also pursue the definition of codes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in international standards. The rate of progress will be dependent on the resources available.

4.5 Consult with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at both local and national levels in relation to the description, cataloguing and classification of materials in libraries, archives and information services.

5. Secret/Sacred Materials

The National Library holds some material which is of a confidential and sensitive nature. This material, which is most obvious in a small number of photographic collections, has been identified with the assistance of AIATSIS staff, and restrictions placed on its access. These restrictions have been clearly documented, and are scrupulously observed. Both staff and users of the Pictorial Section are informed of the access conditions.
Material in other collections, eg. printed material or manuscripts has not been identified as secret or sacred, and will need to be examined as described under 5.4.
The Library has expressed willingness to define standard methods of linking entries on the National Bibliographic Database to entries in the proposed databases of secret/sacred or abusive materials. Work would commence on this once the specifications of the secret/sacred database have been drawn up.

5.1 Consult in the identification of such materials and the development of suitable management practices with the most appropriate representatives of the particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities involved.

5.2 Facilitate the process of consultation and implementation by developing effective mechanisms including liaison with reference groups at local, state and national levels.

5.3 Participate in the establishment of reference groups [to] consisting of senior library and archival services staff and Aboriginal representatives.

5.4 Seek actively to identify the existence of secret/sacred and sensitive materials by retrospectively surveying holdings and by monitoring current materials.

5.5 Each appoint specific, designated Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander liaison officer/s to serve as the specific point/s of contact between their institution and the relevant reference group/s.

5.6 Provide suitable storage and viewing facilities with limited access as may be required.

5.7 Ensure that any conditions on access are understood by staff and users and are fully implemented.

5.8 Support the establishment of a national database for the identification of publications with secret/sacred content and of suitable management practices.

6. Offensive Materials

The Library is aware that among its materials will be items which are racist, sexist, offensive, derogatory or demeaning to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. At present, pending the establishment of consultative mechanisms for dealing with such materials, the Library observes due care in the handling, use, display and exhibition of such materials.

6.1 Develop an awareness of the extent to which their collections may contain materials which will be offensive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

6.2 Take advice from and develop effective consultation strategies with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in relation to sensitive materials including materials which are offensive.

6.3 Develop strategies to deal appropriately with offensive materials in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

7. Governance and Management

7.1 Ensure appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander membership of governing bodies, boards, advisory committees, etc.

7.2 Ensure meaningful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in effective development, adoption and implementation of relevant policies.

7.3 Develop mechanisms to ensure effective monitoring and review of policy implementation.

7.4 Facilitate organisational change to accommodate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.

8. Staffing

The National Library of Australia is currently devising an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Career Development Strategy. In addition to the Strategy, a working group is examining what is required to establish an ATSI identified position in the Library. It is hoped that this position will be established during the next financial year. These developments will assist the Library fulfil the protocols, in particular those under Section 8.

8.1 Aim to reflect the composition of the client/community population in each organisation's staffing profile.

The National Library aims to comply with the Australian Public Service's implementation of Equal Employment Opportunity in the workplace, with a stated goal of an increase to 2% of APS employment for ATSI people by the year 2000. (The Library's percentage is currently 0.6%.)

8.2 Take affirmative action to recruit and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This responsibility will require employers, educational institutions and professional bodies to be proactive in developing employment and promotional pathways.

Through the introduction of an ATSI Recruitment and Career Development Strategy and the proposed establishment of an ATSI identified position, the Library is accepting a responsibility to recruit and develop ATSI people.

8.3 Recognise the value and/or relevance of prior learning and/or qualifications in other fields when appointing [of] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

8.4 Involve members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the selection of staff when it is appropriate.

The Strategy promotes the provision of ATSI people on selection panels where ATSI applicants are to be interviewed.

8.5 Ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members are suitably trained and supported.

This protocol is covered in the Strategy.

8.6 Facilitate the entry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members into management positions through support strategies such as mentoring and training.

The Strategy promotes the establishment of a mentoring system for ATSI staff and the facilitating of training courses which would particularly assist ATSI people.

8.7 Recognise and respond to the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members.

Covered in the Library's cross cultural awareness training.

8.8 Develop and implement cross cultural awareness programs which ensure that all staff are approachable and sensitive to cultural diversity.

The National Library's Staff Training and Development Program provides cross-cultural awareness training for all staff members. The course focuses on cultural diversity and is being presented to all staff.

9. Education and Training for Professional Practice

9.1 Ensure that library and archive education and training courses at all levels adequately cover issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander materials, clients and staff.

9.2 Provide indigenous cultural awareness training for every staff member who deals with the public.

9.3 Provide appropriate models for professional practice in cataloguing, acquisition, collection management and other areas on matters of concern to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

9.4 Ensure that education and training programs involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in both design and delivery.

10. Awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Issues

The Library is consciously making its collections accessible through publications, exhibitions and seminars which interpret the collections or provide comment on Australian culture and heritage.

10.1 Be proactive in the role of educator, promoting awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultures and issues among non-indigenous people.

Exhibitions relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have included the visiting exhibition Poignant Regalia (Aboriginal breastplates) and Its about friendship - Rom: a ceremony from Arnhemland in co-operation with AIATSIS and the Museum of Australia. The Library also participates in special occasional programs. During 1994 the Library arranged a program of entertainment and educational events to celebrate Aboriginal and Islander cultures during NAIDOC week (4-10 July). The National Library also sponsored the International Folklore Studies & Indigenous Peoples symposium in July 1994.
With AIATSIS the Library jointly published The Songs of Dougie Young, a CD and cassette of songs held in the sound recording collections of the two institutions. The Library has also published some non-Aboriginal studies of Aboriginal peoples including The Native Tribes of Western Australia by Daisy Bates, and the Lycett Album: Drawings of Aborigines and Australian Scenery, a collection of watercolours from the 1820's.
The Library also maintains a Fellowship scheme to assist scholars using the Library's collections for research. During 1994 the anthropologist Roslyn Poignant researched the visual portrayal of Aboriginal people, the history of their contact with other races in Arnhem Land and changing attitudes towards them. In past years other Library Fellows Dr Paul Turnbull, Dr Anna Shnukal and Professor Henry Reynolds have held fellowships and researched topics connected with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.

10.2 Be proactive in acquiring materials produced by Aboriginal and Islander people.

The degree of proactive activity in acquiring materials produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people varies with the form of material. Printed publications are received on legal deposit, and some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander publications covering both rural and urban communities are regularly scanned for additional material.
During 1994 a project was undertaken to strengthen holdings of printed material related to Aboriginal health, which resulted in the acquisition of a number of resources including 70 posters. Further projects in the field of acquiring printed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander materials are under consideration.

10.3 Be proactive in highlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content and perspectives through such means as oral history and indexing and record copying projects.

A number of initiatives aimed at highlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content and perspectives in the field of oral history are underway. Interviews with a number of outstanding Aboriginal young people conducted by Dr Peter Read with Jackie Huggins as co-interviewer are planned. The interviews or "life biographies" will be repeated with the informants at regular intervals of seven years. (Jackie Huggins is the first Aboriginal interviewer to be commissioned by the National Library.) Other special projects are interviews with Australians of the Year (which includes a number of Aboriginal identities) and a planned series of interviews of Australian Aboriginals of the Year in a joint collaborative venture with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Return to the Aboriginal Roundtable

Peter Haddad, March 1995
Last updated 12 June 1998
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