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In
2001the centenary of Australia's federationthe National
Library of Australia celebrates its first 100 years of collecting,
preserving and providing access to Australia's documentary heritage.
Today the National Library serves the Australian people through
the provision of information and research services, interpretive
exhibitions, publications and events. Increasingly we are able to
extend these services by offering web-based access to digitised
copies of many of the unique items in our collections.
It
gives me great pleasure, in our anniversary year, to invite you
to celebrate the role of libraries and archives across the world
through the exhibition Treasures from the World's Great Libraries.
This exhibition presents an extraordinary sample of the cultural
treasures to be found in libraries throughout the world, ranging
from ancient texts and forms of writing to electronic books. The
National Library's own extraordinary collection is represented,
as well as the collections of some of Australia's State libraries.
Treasures
from the World's Great Libraries breaks new ground for the National
Library and is the first exhibition of its kind in Australia. It
pays tribute to the unique role played by libraries in collecting
and preserving the history and culture of the world. It is fitting
that in our centenary year the National Library has undertaken such
a comprehensive, innovative and exciting project.
The
exhibition owes its existence to the enthusiastic participation
of 38 major libraries around the world. I thank all the lenders
to this exhibition, as well as the many people who have worked hard
to turn an ambitious idea into a significant exhibition. They include
curators, conservators and collection managers in participating
libraries.
Exhibitions
such as this could not be staged without the support of our sponsors
who have recognised the importance of the exhibition and made it
possible for over 130 international treasures to come to Australia.
I
know that you will enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity to
see first-hand Treasures from the World's Great Libraries.
Jan
Fullerton
Director-General
National Library of Australia
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