(25 June 2015) The State Library of NSW’s collection has just been valued at AUD$3.15 billion, highlighting its reputation as the most valuable library collection in Australia and among the most valuable in the world.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant said this latest valuation, just over a $1 billion increase since 2010, reinforces the State Library as one of the leading libraries in the world.
“I’m proud the NSW Government’s support of the State Library’s Digital Excellence program is making our most historically significant cultural treasures available to all through a major digitisation project. This benefits regional NSW and beyond.”
The State Library’s heritage collection contains some of Australia’s most historically significant items, including the original charts by Matthew Flinders and First Fleeter William Bradley, early drawings of Australian flora and fauna, and the works of famous literary figures of the past and today such as Henry Lawson, Patrick White and Kate Grenville.
According to Alex Byrne, NSW State Librarian & Chief Executive: “With the Library’s entire world-class collection now searchable online as a result of the Government-funded eRecords Project, the independent valuers were able to identify more collection items which met the criteria for individual valuation.”
“The valuers were also able to sight a greater number of collection items thanks to the Digital Excellence Program’s digitisation project,” said Dr Byrne
The announcement in full is here.
See the full media release. (pdf)
