Adapting library spaces to enable
collection engagement by diverse
audiences: a case study of the State Library of
New South Wales
Adapting
Vicki McDonald
Director Library Services
IFLA Satellite Meeting, 12-14 August 2014
Library Buildings & Equipment and Acquisitions & Collection Development
goes here
2009)
P&D-3152-11/2012
Australia’s first library | A world leading library
Collections that document the
heritage of Australia and Oceania
Shoe buckles, Captain Cook, http://acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=421679
Rich, iconic and diverse collections
Book of Hours, Rouen, ca. 1500-1510 http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=421703
First Folio http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/record=b2032206~S2
Volume 2: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 15 August 1769 - 12 July 1771
Australia’s history a key strength of the
Manuscript collection
Collections across three buildings
Storage. Growth. Access |ongoing challenges
Total collection =140
linear kilometres
57 linear kilometres = 40%
offsite
Growth 2 linear km per
annum
Range of formats
0.8% open access
Marie-Celeste de Villentroy in Australian flag, ca. 1920 / photograph by Albert de Villentroy
http://acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=71087
Buildings on the State Heritage Register
Mitchell Renewal | providing greater public
access to collections and spaces
 State Library of NSW Foundation campaign to raise
AUD$25M for renewal of the Mitchell Library Building
 Many spaces not accessible to the public
 Many spaces not refurbished in 50 years
Mitchell Library Reading Room |
Sydney’s grandest public space. An “everyman’s Library”
Amaze: The Michael Crouch Gallery
First gallery in 90 years – converted from a store room
Funded by a single major donor
Continuous exhibitions – new acquisitions and
linked to key events / celebrations
 Provides interpretive material content for
temporary exhibitions

Information on features of the Mitchell building

Facts on the origins and legacy of the Mitchell Library

Content continuously updated for new exhibitions

Remote access | review saved tours
Transformation of the State Reference
Library | A contemporary 21 century cultural destination
st
The
Verandah
Casual space for
accessing online
collections,
catching up on
emails, meeting
friends
Free Wi-Fi
PCs & BYOD
 Bags
 Food & drink
 Talking
eRecords project | enabling discovery
 Project 2008 – 2014
 Commitment of AUD$23m
Insert image of
catalogue
drawers
 Majority of collection accessed
through handwritten
catalogue cards
 34 separate paper-based
catalogues
 ~1.3million electronic records
created
Digital Excellence Program |
making our collections accessible online
Coogee Beach, 1922 / panoramic photograph no. 12 by R. P. Moore
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=877381
 Government commitment | AUD$48.6M for initial five
years of a ten year program
 Renewal of infrastructure and systems
 Digitisation of the most significant, at risk or high demand
collections
Digitisation of iconic collections
Digitisation commenced in
2013/14
In-house and contracted
digitization projects
Prioritisation of collections
Development of standards
Pilot of formats: maps,
negatives, oral histories
Alan & Dene Fry
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailP
aged.cgi?itemID=1055267
Exposing
Exposing our
our collections
collections ||enabling
enablingdiscovery
discovery
where
whereour
ourusers
usersare
aresearching
searching&&where
wherethey
theyare
areactive
active
 Active in social media : part of roles and
responsibilities
Active
in social media
: [insert
logos]
 Engagement with the digital humanities
| THATcamp
#madewithslnsw
 Conferences | LODLAM 2015; International
Digital Humanities 2015
THATcamp
Conferences
:LODLAM 2015,
International Digital
Humanties 2015
Open data |
making our content available for use and re-use
Dixson maps
Sir William Dixson started
collecting books,
manuscripts and maps in
the 1890s, particularly
focusing on the discovery,
exploration and settlement
of Australia. This set focuses
on many rare and
valuable maps from the
15th to the mid 20th
century.
Maps of Antarctica
This set focuses on the
mapping of Antarctica
from the 15th to the 21st
century, from crude
woodcut maps of the
known world through to
the latest satellite imagery.
World War I posters
This set focusses on a
selection of posters
published from 1914 to
1918, part of the Library's
extensive collection of
material on World War
One.
Researching the visitor experience |
informs service planning and space design
Annual
client
surveys
Website
analytics
Client
behavior –
focused
analysis 2014
Thank you
vicki.mcdonald@sl.nsw.gov.au
Colours
BRANDING PRESENTATION TO THE LIBRARY COUNCIL, OCTOBER 2009