Indigenous services and collections

Apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples in Parliament, February 13 2008

Full speech delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Motion tabled by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

Protocols

The State Library of South Australia endorses the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for Libraries, Archives and Information Services and was also a contributor to the National Policy Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Library Services and Collections, the purpose of which is to guide the development of library services and collections for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Policy Framework can be obtained from all State and Territory libraries, or download here  3561 kb.

State Library Collections

The Library has a significant and developing amount of specialist material relating to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The online Library catalogue contains details of material in all formats held in the Library. This material includes photographs, (with over 70,000 viewable digitised images), other pictorial items, ephemera, article references, unpublished material held in personal, society and business categories, including mission records, as well as oral histories from interviews with Aboriginal people. Staff can assist with searching the catalogue. Some library materials will be available on the open shelves however some items may need to be specially retrieved, for which prior arrangement should be made.

Library staff have compiled a number of factsheets, aimed at bringing together resources on topics including Languages, Health, Native Title and Family History. See here for a complete list.

Archival material
The Library has a great deal of unpublished South Australian material which is catalogued in the Library database including some relevant to Aboriginal people, such as the Point McLeay Aboriginal Mission (SRG 698) and the Aboriginal Education Foundation of S.A (SRG 102).

The Mountford-Sheard Collection (PRG 1218) is a unique and significant collection of materials created by ethnologist C. P. Mountford during the 1930s to 60s. The collection includes field notes and diaries, photographs and audiovisual material, and covers a selection of Aboriginal communities from South and Central Australia and the Northern Territory. Work is currently taking place to further assess, describe and digitise this collection to enable easier and more appropriate access. Access is through Collection Specialist staff only. Enquire at the Information Desk.

Pictorial images
Photographs of Aboriginal Australians are searchable via the Library catalogue, but currently the images can only be viewed from computers inside the Library. People are advised that these will include names and photographs of Aboriginal people who have since died. This may cause distress to their relatives; discretion should be used when viewing them.

Research queries

In the first instance research queries should be directed to the State Library's Research Services team.

In-depth queries regarding Indigenous subject matter or collections will often be forwarded to Collection Specialist librarians Denise Chapman and Suzy Russell.

Reconciliation Week Film Screenings

The State Library of South Australia holds an annual film screening to celebrate Reconciliation Week (27 May - June 3) and showcase its collection of South Australian film.

2009 Journeys from heartache to hope and Kanyini (TBC)
2008 Sister, if you only knew, Wrong side of the Road and Why Me?
2007 Why me?

Link-up service

SA Link-Up was established at Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc. in December 1999. The service exists to provide family tracing and reunion services to Indigenous people who have been affected by past Government policies and practices of removal, i.e. 'the Stolen generations'. 
See the SA Link-up website for more information www.salinkup.com.au.

In 2001, the State Library of South Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Link-up. The MOU was renegotiated and improved in 2006. As a result, Link-up clients are eligible to have the costs associated with their family tracing reduced or in some instances, waived.

For more information speak to the Library's designated contact staff Denise Chapman, 8207 7295 chapman.denise@slsa.sa.gov.au or Suzy Russell, 8207 7262 russell.suzy@slsa.sa.gov.au

Partnerships and digital repatriation

The Library works cooperatively with Ara Irititja, the Social History Unit of the Pitjantjatjara Council, to further describe and digitise images and other material relevant to the Pitjantjatjara communities of Central Australia. Access to this material is then provided through a mobile community database.

We also supply content for community databases which are being developed under guidance from the Northern Territory Library. The 'Our Story' databases enable communities to digitally record, store and access materials relevant to their community.