Heritage Collecting Principles
Purpose
Our heritage collections are primarily built on the basis of long term preservation and permanent retention.
Heritage collecting falls into two main parts:
- rare, non Western Australian documentary material; and
- Western Australian documentary material.
In recognizing and acknowledging the importance of collecting Indigenous heritage we:
- actively collect all published material relevant to Western Australian Indigenous people; and
- promote the care, preservation, collection and access to Western Australian Indigenous documentary material.
Work toward repatriating Western Australian Indigenous documentary material to the community of origin in the most appropriate format
We develop this collection to a level that satisfies the immediate and future needs of Western Australians for historical or post graduate research.
Collecting intent
Rare, non Western Australian collections
We do not proactively develop these collections other than in areas specified in collecting profiles.
We accept donations of non Western Australian rare items only if they relate directly to a Western Australian resource or enhance Western Australian access to unique documentary resources.
Changes to the value of reference items already in our collections may add to our rare non Western Australian collections.
Western Australian documentary heritage
The J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History (Battye Library) is the prime repository for Western Australia's documentary heritage, though significant collections of heritage material can be found across the State Library.
Specific collecting information can be found in the specific collecting profiles.
Collaboration
We provide online access to older issues of major Western Australian newspapers in collaboration with other Australian State Libraries, the National Library and publishers.
We encourage collection, preservation and access of locality specific documentary resources. If adequate controls are in place locally for long term preservation and access, we support retention of these resources within the local community. Where collection, preservation and access at a local level is not possible we collect these resources.
Our main focus is the collection of materials of wider significance to Western Australia and where this material also has local significance, we endeavor to provide access locally.
Format
We collect a range of formats, with access and preservation as influencing factors.
We collect a resource in its original format.
Where both print and digital formats are available, digital is collected if it meets current standards. We may reformat and/or provide digital derivatives of these resources as appropriate.
Digital derivatives are selectively created to ensure access and long term preservation.
Duplication
We collect a maximum of two print copies of heritage material however, additional digital derivatives may be created.
Language
Languages other than English are collected to ensure collection comprehensiveness where:
- the original language of the resource is not English; and
- the resource is deemed to have significant Western Australian content.
Budget emphasis
Western Australian unpublished heritage material is the prime focus of the budget for collection resources provided from the State Library.
Page last updated: Tuesday 23 November 2010
