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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 54| December 2001
Gathering Treasures
Sureq Baweng c.17th century
lontar leaf manuscript on reel; 46.6 cm high,
diameter of reel 13.2 cm
Courtesy of the National Library of Indonesia
In celebration of its 100th anniversary and the Centenary of Federation, the National Library of Australia presents Treasures from the Worlds Great Libraries, as its gift to the nation. This extraordinary exhibition, featuring over 160 treasures from 38 great libraries, traces the story of civilization and celebrates the role of libraries as collectors of the recorded memory of humanity.
Why Treasures? It is the items generously lent from all over the world that give the exhibition its distinction not its title. The loans are the stars of the show. Sir Roy Strong, once Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum said that an exhibition title must contain sex, death and jewels to draw a crowd. Treasures from the Worlds Great Libraries certainly does not fit his prescription but surely an eye-stopping title is really a bonus only when an exhibition is being sold to the public. The National Library did not want to sell this exhibition to the Australian public. Treasures is that great rarity these days, a free admission exhibition which celebrates great collections and collecting, and brings many objects of world significance to the Australian public for the first time.
As I reflect on the official visits I have made to libraries and archives around the world, I think of the remarkable kindness of the people I have visited. In 16 cities and 25 libraries I have found staff to be encouraging, enthusiastic and full of interesting suggestions or refinements to the exhibition content or concept. People in libraries love information, and their collections, and generally wanted to give Treasures the benefit of both.
To be able to see ancient texts and forms of writing in the same room as some of the manuscripts for great literary masterpieces and the objects owned by famous writers will hopefully be a memorable experience for our visitors. To view published works that showcase the development of printing and highlight the transition from handwritten scroll to codex and on to the ubiquitous printed book will again be, we hope, an enlightening experience. The development of the book, which we probably take for granted, particularly in our media saturated age, is seen in Treasures through remarkable example. Never before has a Gutenberg bible visited Australia. Most Australians have never seen the 1615 posthumous printing of Shakespeares collected workshis First Folio, nor have they seen Caxtons printing of Chaucers The Canterbury Tales. Again, this exhibition brings people face to face with some of the great moments in printing, illustrating and publishing.
The exhibition also allows visitors to see what most libraries do not always show; items which may at first viewing seem removed from the world of libraries. The first Xerox made by Chester Carlson in New York 1938 or a 78 r.p.m vinyl recording of Bessie Smith singing Wasted Life Blues or the conclusion to Martin Luther Kings famous 1968 I have a dream speech or the lone copy of a 1939 Warsaw telephone book may not seem like the sorts of materials held in libraries. But if not held in libraries where would these items from the relatively recent past be kept for the future?
In their quiet significance, these items await discovery and publication by researchers and writers. Libraries provide the bones to a million books and in turn become the stories read by the many or, perhaps more often than not, the few. The comfort is in knowing that in a library, whether the book is a bestseller like Nelson Mandelas The Long Walk to Freedom (in the exhibition) or even an impenetrable textbook on some abstruse branch of philosophy it will be there when you need it. The Librarys own extraordinary Collection reflects the breadth of Treasures and, in infinitely greater depth, tells the same stories we are attempting to tell in this exhibition.
Charlotte Brontës
travelling desk Late Regency c.1820
padauk wood, brass and mother-of-pearl travelling desk; 46.0 x 30.0 x 7.0
cm open
Courtesy of the Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and
American Literature,
The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
Courtesy of The New York Public Library
Treasures from the Worlds Great Libraries is a testament to the great generosity of individuals and governments around the world who have lent us their treasures for this landmark exhibition. Treasures also presents us with a unique opportunity to view our Australian treasures in the context of wonderful items from around the world. To see highlights from international library collections in Australia is very special. This kind of exhibition has not been attempted before in the library world. Not only has it been very expensive and complex to undertake but it also has not been without risks. It is fitting that in its centenary year the Library has chosen to stage such a comprehensive, innovative and exciting project setting new benchmarks for library exhibitions worldwide and fostering greater public awareness of the role of libraries. The exhibition could not tour to other Australian cities. Many of the items were lent because they were not to travel to more than one destination. We are grateful to the Federal Government for allowing indemnification of this exhibition through Art Indemnity Australia even though it will not tour.
Numerous libraries have lent some of their treasures to this exhibition
and no doubt many others would have if asked. Some important libraries
were asked to lend and could not for reasons beyond their control. We
could not represent every nation in this exhibition and the final
representation of items in Treasures is the result of some long
and complex negotiations and also of spontaneous generosity from some
lenders. The scope of the exhibition was defined also by the space and
facilities available to accommodate and provide security for loan items.
For each item included there are many that could have been in the
exhibition and we had to make some very difficult decisions when refining
our final list. We greatly appreciate the forbearance of our lenders and
the prospective lenders in creating this unique exhibition and look
forward to working with them again in the future.
Nat Williams
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Exhibition dates: T R E A S U R E S from the Worlds Great Libraries
is proudly supported by Singapore Airlines, The Exhibition is organised and managed by the
National Library of Australia |
Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au