Media Releases
MEDIA RELEASE - Monday, 24 March 2003
Alfred Deakin to go online through collaborative project
The National Library of Australia has entered into an important partnership with Deakin University by agreeing to digitise the Library's papers which belonged to Alfred Deakin, Australia's second, fifth and seventh Prime Minister.
Jan Fullerton, Director General of the National Library of Australia and Professor Sally Walker, Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University will sign a legal agreement this Wednesday finalising the arrangement.
Ms Fullerton said the project is aligned with the Library's digitisation goals, and its commitment to provide users with fast and convenient access to library collections and services.
"The National Library is pleased to be collaborating with Deakin University on this project. We are committed to digitising selected material from the Library's collection that is of high research content and cultural value," Ms Fullerton said.
"We recognise the importance of the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library and are allocating significant resources to it. The digitisation of the collection will take about six months and culminate in over 30,000 digitised images.
"We are also dedicated to working in partnership with other institutions in order to make our material more readily available to the Australian public," the Director General added.
The National Library's collection includes original material such as Deakin's early diaries, his Prime Ministerial papers, his papers as a Federation Delegate and Opposition Leader and his family papers that include some selected photographs.
Professor Walker said the digitisation will be a key feature of the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library.
"This project is being undertaken by Deakin University to create a dynamic learning environment which celebrates the significant contribution Alfred Deakin made to Australia's political and social institutions," Professor Walker said.
Once the project is completed anyone interested in researching the former Prime Minister, a key figure in Australian history, will have access to the National Library's comprehensive collection though the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library.
Media enquiries:
Susan Grigson,
Media Liaison Officer
Telephone: (02) 6262
1160 or 0411 519 420
Email: sgrigson@nla.gov.au
