Responsibility: Principal Librarian, Scholars' Centre
The Australian Literature Collection has three main components: editions of literary works by Australians published before 1980, selected Australian literary manuscripts, and archival material relating to the Playhouse Theatre.
More detail about this collection is available in the Special Collections area of the Library Web site
The Australian Literature Collection directly supports the teaching and research of Australian literature conducted in the School of Social & Cultural Studies. There are relevant undergraduate courses in Australian literature, plus a strong programme of postgraduate research and coursework including units offered as part of the MPhil programme in Australian Studies. The Australian Literature Collection is also of great importance to the work of the Centre for Studies in Australian Literature. The collection is also relevant to all aspects of Australian studies conducted at the University.
The collection contains literary works in all genres, and includes autobiography, essays and critical writings as well as poetry, drama and fiction. It covers works by authors who are considered to have a significant association with Australia. Biographical works and critical writings about particular authors or Australian literature in general are not included in the collection.
The printed texts in the collection are limited to material written, and in most cases published, before 1980. However, delayed publications, significant new editions, collected works, compilations or anthologies which were not published until after 1980 but consist of material written wholly or in significant part before that date are included in the collection.
Also included in the Australian Literature Collection is a range of material associated with the former Playhouse Theatre in Perth. This covers the period from the 1950s to 1982, and includes copies of plays (published and unpublished), typescripts, prompt copies, programmes, playbills and posters. This is an archival collection which will not be developed further. This material is housed in the Theatre Collection.
The collection also contains some manuscript material. In most cases, this is limited to manuscripts of literary works written after 1980, with an emphasis on Western Australian literature. This material is housed in the Manuscript Collection.
When opportunities arise to acquire manuscripts in the future, the emphasis will be on Western Australian authors or in areas of research specialization within the School of Social & Cultural Studies, as long as this does not conflict with the collecting policies of the State Library of Western Australia in this area.
Some attempt will also be made to fill gaps in the existing collection of printed material, where appropriate.
