National Library of Australia - Gateways

ISSN ISSN 1443-0568 | no. 65 | October 2003


Multicultural Documentary Heritage Project

Through the Multicultural Documentary Heritage Project—taking place from July 2003 to June 2004—the National Library is offering culturally and linguistically diverse organisations in Australia support in the form of an information kit and a workshop on collection management and preservation. The project will also encompass a survey of documentary heritage collections held by ethnic community organisations.

The Library hopes that the project will equip participants with new skills to help them manage or establish their organisation’s archives. The information kit and workshop will also provide them with information on resources for collection management and preservation activities. In addition, they will be able to make contact with people who are experts in the field of collection management and preservation in the National Library and/or state libraries.

It is expected that as a result of the project a number of ethnic collections will be included in national directories such as RAAM (Register of Australian Archives and Manuscripts) <www.nla.gov.au/raam/> and Oral History Directory <www.nla.gov.au/ohdir/>.

As a result manuscripts, letters, diaries, organisational records, photographs, newspaper clippings, oral histories and other unpublished material held by culturally and linguistically diverse organisations in Australia will be more accessible to researchers. Collectively these materials are a prominent part of Australia’s heritage, which needs to be preserved for future generations, as they document migrants’ experiences of settling in Australia and their significant contribution to Australian life.

The Library is well placed to undertake such a project. Since 1994 it has helped community organisations preserve their documentary heritage through the Community Heritage Grants program <www.nla.gov.au/chg/>, provided in collaboration with the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, National Archives of Australia and recently, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and Australian Film Commission/ScreenSound Australia: National Screen and Sound Archive. However organisations from culturally diverse backgrounds represent only a small percentage of grant recipients due to the high competitiveness of the grants. This has signaled a greater need in providing more direct assistance to these groups.

For more information on the project contact: Ms Barbara Rozmus
Tel: (02) 6262 1575
Fax: (02) 6273 2545
Email: brozmus@nla.gov.au

Following initial consultations with ethnic peak bodies and State Libraries a pilot project commenced in July 2003 in Queensland. The results of this pilot will allow fine-tuning of the project plan before taking a nation wide approach in November. The project will conclude with a workshop for up to 50 participants in July 2004 in Canberra.

The project website <www.nla.gov.au/multicultural/> will continue to provide ongoing support for the multicultural communities after the project is completed.
—Barbara Rozmus, Manager National Initiatives

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Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: mbrooks@nla.gov.au