Vietnamese collection
The National Library of Australia maintains a collection of Vietnamese language materials consisting of publications from Vietnam and Australian publications in the Vietnamese language. It has over 4 000 volumes of monographs, and 200 serial titles, including 10 currently received newspaper titles.
In addition, the National Library has a large collection of English language works relating to Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. Microfilm and microfiche collections, many of them dealing with Vietnam s recent history add to the depth of the Library s resources on Vietnam and Indochina.
The collection grows through new titles purchased from Vietnam and Vietnamese language publications from Australia that are received by the Library through legal deposit.
Artwork in the Main Reading Room
The National Library of Australia s Main Reading Room houses a collection of sculptures and paintings inspired by Indigenous stories of the Australian landscape.
Australian Landscapes I–IV
Australian Landscapes I–IV 2000 ca.1998 ; 4 machine-embroidered tapestries, Main Reading Room
Since 2001, four machine-embroidered panels by British textile artist Alice Kettle have been displayed in the Main Reading Room. Kettle estimates she used 5 million stitches over a period of 18 months to create the panels. Many of the fine threads are made from synthetic rayon and cotton. They ‘capture the luminescence of the shifting light and the brilliance of the landscape’.
Artwork in the Special Collections Reading Room
The Special Collections Reading Room on Level 1 houses art relating to Australian history and culture in the post-colonial era, focusing on modern Australian people and places.
Finding Kenneth Myer
Finding Kenneth Myer 2011, wool and cotton; 230 x 302cm, Special Collections Reading Room
Finding Kenneth Myer was donated by the Myer family through the Tapestry Foundation of Victoria in 2011. It commemorates the life and adventures of American-born Australian patron of the arts Kenneth Baillieu Myer AC DSC (1921-1992). In 1961, Myer was a founding member of the National Library Council and, from 1974 to 1982, was Chair of Council.
The
Lintel Sculpture is spread in monumental proportions above the exterior of the Library’s front doors. Comprising over 3 tonnes of copper, the sculpture was transported in 3 trucks to the Library, where the pieces were welded together on site.
The work is based on allegorical symbols based on ancient Sumerian and Akkadian seals dating back to 3000 BC. At the centre is the winged sun, symbolising enlightenment and inspired truth. On the right are spear-like tree branches representing the source root and continuous growth of knowledge. On the left is the curved ark of knowledge, referring to the Library’s place in collective memory and preservation of intellectual endeavour.
Thai treasure trove: the Thai collection
Thai Treasure Trove: the Thai Collection at the National Library of Australia by Rosemary Borthwick. Originally published in
National Library of Australia News, 6 (9), June 1996, pp 14-16.
It is now almost 40 years since the establishment of a bilateral exchange agreement at governmental level between Thailand and Australia, to be implemented through the respective National Libraries of the two countries, was successfully concluded with an exchange of notes in December 1956. These formal arrangements received a further impetus in the same year from discussions begun in Japan between the National Librarian of Australia, Sir Harold White, and the Chief Librarian of the National Library of Thailand, Nai Tri Amatykul.