The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature – An Overview

Lu Rees established the Lu Rees Archives in 1974, while she was president of the ACT Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, and since 1981, Australian authors have donated copies of their books to the archive, which has since become the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature, focusing on the role of children’s literature in Australia. The importance of an archive that is as vast and inclusive as this means that there is a record of at least 53,000 (when the website information was updated in June 2022) Australian books, with at least 5,300 of these books in translation in 68 languages.

The NCACL collection consists of other things as well – artworks, ephemera, authors’ papers, manuscripts, as well as research files from authors and illustrators in a physical collection and in databases available on the website – ncacl.org.au, and so far, there are two up and running: an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Resource and a Cultural Diversity Resource – more posts on those later, as I need to explore them a bit. The NCACL also has a picture book for older readers database planned, which I have been approached to write about after it goes up – hopefully – in early July.

As a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission,

The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature is run by volunteers and relies on funding from donors. It is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday between 9am and 5pm, and they are based at the University of Canberra. So, I am also doing this as a volunteer, and it is something I am enjoying because it is in the area I have studied and that the majority of my reading and blogging is in as well. I have started to explore this website, and hope to write a few more posts about this initiative – it’s something I think we really need because children’s literature, and Australian children’s literature needs attention and support to ensure that we continue to support and preserve it as part of our culture – and a part that represents the many facets of children’s literature – the way it represents us in all aspects of our culture and the people that make up our communities.

The website is extensive and is more than just the databases – it goes through how you can support the NCACL, from contacting your Federal MP to ask them to support finding a permanent home for the NCACL, creating teaching resources, becoming a member or simply joining the conversation about Australian Children’s literature – there are many ways to help the NCACL and its ambassadors, Jackie French AM and Christopher Cheng.

My first step is to explore some specific links the NCACL sent me, and from, there, write as many different posts as I can to help promote and support the NCACL in a voluntary capacity, which I am looking forward to doing. I am not sure how frequent these will be as some areas might take me longer to explore than others, but I will get them up as often as I can.