Documenting life in New South Wales

One of the principal responsibilities of the State Library is to collect, maintain and preserve the documentary heritage of New South Wales. This encompasses developing the Library's research-level holdings of materials relating to the history, life, culture and achievements of people associated with NSW.

It is fundamental to this purpose that the Library continues to build on its considerable collecting strengths while ensuring the long-term preservation of these holdings.

Through consolidating the holdings, we ensure the growth and development of a collection which interprets life in NSW and makes a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of the nation. This is achieved by collecting NSW-related material in many formats and making it accessible.

The Library holds significant collections of printed and electronic materials and a wide range of information resources as well as world renowned, unique original manuscripts, pictorial materials, oral histories, maps and architectural plans which range from European voyages of exploration to the present, including the earliest European documentation relating to Aboriginal peoples. These materials are not only important for their individual historic, aesthetic, research value but also for their contribution to the cultural record of the nation.

Research level subject areas within the Library's collections that document life in New South Wales have been grouped in the following categories.