National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) joins cultural organisations across Australia and a growing chorus of voices beyond the sector to ask for future funding to be secured for Trove.
Launched in 2009, Trove is a collaboration between the National Library of Australia (NLA) and hundreds of partner organisations and community groups, including Australia’s six state and two territory libraries. Thanks to a sustained commitment from the NLA, and to the financial or in-kind contributions of these partners, Trove has run for 14 years as a free, easily accessible, online research portal. It continues to bring together the collections of our libraries, universities, museums, galleries, and archives including digital copies of newspapers, books, pictures, maps, art, magazines, music, archived websites, and personal collections such as letters, diaries, and oral histories – all helping to tell the story of Australia.
Today, Trove contains more than 6 billion collection items and receives over 20 million visits per year. This immense cultural heritage resource has become fundamental to the work of educators, academics and researchers, historians, and members of the public – metropolitan, regional and remote – who wish to undertake research, learn about Australia’s cultural heritage, trace family histories, and teach the generations of tomorrow.
Federal funding to secure the future of Trove beyond July 2023 is at present uncertain. This is why individuals, community groups and cultural institutions across Australia, including the members of NSLA, are coming together to call for generous, sustained financial support for this essential part of our cultural infrastructure.
How can you help?
The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has put together advice for those who would like to write to MPs and Senators, or share media coverage to raise awareness of the risks currently facing Trove and its partner organisations.
We value your support in ensuring that this world-class, indispensable service for Australian communities continues through 2023, and for many years to come.
