The National Library has endorsed the National and State Libraries Australia (NSLA) position statement on requests to take down access to content from our collections. The NSLA position statement expresses commitment to freedom of expression and universal access to information. It notes that libraries are responding to community expectations for greater access to online collections. It states that NSLA libraries will take down online content or impose other access restrictions only in extraordinary circumstances.
Operating context The Library is respected as a national and international leader in the sector. We create public value by increasing economic, social and intellectual wellbeing. We contribute to government priorities, including: a cohesive and inclusive society a strong digital economy excellence in research and the arts protection of cultural heritage public access to, and participation in, arts and culture in Australia. Everything we do is guided by our organisational values. We are:
Purpose of Collecting Scope of Collecting Ethical Collecting Comprehensive, Representative and Selective Collecting Priorities Formats Stewardship Relationship with Other Collecting Institutions First Nations Australians Collecting Principles
Environment In an environment of increasing collection volumes, increased audience demand, constrained resources and new digital opportunities, Australia’s cultural institutions must collaborate to achieve efficiencies and create value. Infrastructure to support discovery of national collections is increasingly shared - including through Trove - leading to changing models of stewardship and responsibility for different parts of the national collection.