The collections
PROMPT finding aids
The National Library is developing a large and comprehensive collection of printed ephemeral material documenting Australias performing arts.
Programs, flyers and brochures complement the other collections of books, magazines, posters, manuscripts, and pictorial materials which record Australias performing arts heritage.
The printed ephemera collection is known as the PROMPT collection. It comprises approximately 100 000 items. The coverage includes all periods from colonial to contemporary, all types and genres of performing arts, companies and individuals visiting Australia, and Australian performing artists touring overseas or those expatriates settling abroad.
The collection is arranged by company names, individual names of solo performers, names of key entrepreneurs, and titles of touring productions.
Minimal level bibliographical records for individual files in the PROMPT collection are regularly being added to the Librarys online public access catalogue (OPAC). There are now over 1500 such entries. The Librarys OPAC is accessible at http://www.nla.gov.au/webpac/
In order to further enhance access to the collection, PROMPT finding aids are being compiled by staff in the Australian Collection Development Unit. These finding aids are descriptive lists covering individuals or companies for which the National Library has developed significant holdings of printed ephemeral material.
Existing PROMPT finding aids lists and their URLs are :
Sir Robert Helpmann (190986) nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/helpmann.html
Ballet Rambert in Australia (194749) nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/rambert.html
Kirsova Ballet (194144) nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/kirsova.html
J. C. Williamson Opera Companies (190169) nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/jcwill.html
Barry Humphries in Australia and Overseas (1955 )http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/barry.html
The Sharp Collection Sydney Theatre (18901910) http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/sharp.html
Marie Lohr (18901975) http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/lohr.html
Garnet H. Carroll Management (194966) http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/carroll.html
Dame Judith Anderson (18981992) http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/andersn.html
Australian TV Soap Stars in British Pantomime (1991) http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/pantomim.html
Annie Get Your Gun Australasian Seasons (194763) http://www.nla.gov.au/collect/prompt/annie.html
Enquiries to Richard Stone, Australian Collection Development Unit; email: rstone@nla.gov.au tel: (03) 62621306
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: lkirwan@nla.gov.au