The library’s collection provides a comprehensive history of the planning and development of the National Capital. Collecting for the library began in the 1950s to provide technical information for those involved in the building of Canberra. Today it has a strong core of architecture and planning, landscape architecture, environmental planning and substantial material to do with capital city planning, development and maintenance.

Included in the collection are specialist journals, a section devoted to the works and influences of Walter Burley Griffin and documents associated with the former Building Better Cities Program containing information on urban redevelopment, renewal, consolidation, and revitalisation.

Over 3000 reports published by the National Capital Development Commission offer a rare insight into the early development of Canberra. This particular part of the collection is of significant value as it contains material dating from the first days of the NCDC in 1958 until it was abolished in 1988. Subsequent publications by the National Capital Planning Authority and the National Capital Authority are added as they come to hand.

The library has a substantial image collection holding approximately 25,000 images in print, slide and transparency formats. It is rich with rare historical images, which team up with contemporary shots of Canberra to form an especially valuable collection.

Operating Hours

Due to limited resources, the library facilities are open by appointment only.

All requests to use the library must first be approved by either the Chief Planner or the Executive Director of Estate.

Appointments can be requested by contacting the library officer via the form below.

The NCA will reply to your request once it has been reviewed by either the Chief Planner or the Executive Director of Estate.

Research and Discovery Services

The NCA does not offer research or discovery services for library material. Interested parties are welcome to inspect the catalogue. Unfortunately the NCA does not have the resources to maintain the library catalogue and the NCA makes no guarantee to the accuracy or content of that catalogue.

For interstate and international visitors we understand your time is limited. For this reason, subject to available resources and the scope of research required, we may be able to undertake some preliminary research when one of our staff is attending the library each week. For this reason we do require at least two weeks advance notice of any request to use our library and for any preliminary research to be done.

Fees and Charges

Access to the library facility is free of charge to all members of the public. Fees and charges apply according to the Terms of Use set in the document.

Loan/Removal of Material

The NCA does not offer a loan service for library material. All library material must remain in the collection and must not be removed from the premises.

Terms and Conditions of NCA Library Collection

Copying material from the NCA library

The NCA's library offers a range of copying services, including photocopying, scanning and provision for recording your documents onto CD or DVD. We also provide on request high-resolution scanning and printing through BICA Prolabs.

The library encourages the copying of its material, provided the copying does not infringe Copyright law and does not risk damage to fragile, rare or vulnerable material.

This document describes the methods by which you may copy and the restrictions. It also lists contacts for further information.

Photocopying services

The NCA library provides photocopying services, available onsite, and the charges are as follows:

• black and white photocopying - $0.15 for A4 and $0.30 for A3; and
• colour photocopying - $1.65 for A4 and $2.20 for A3 (when available).

Restrictions may apply.

Photography using your own camera

You may bring your own camera, whether digital (including digital cameras in mobile phones), film-based, still or movie, into the Library. Copyright law still applies.

There are no charges for copying material using your own camera, unless you are required to photograph or film under the supervision of library staff.

Photocopying on request

Some of the library's material is too fragile, rare or vulnerable for photocopying, but may be photocopied for you by library staff or sent offsite (service provided by provided by BICA Prolabs). Examples are rare books, manuscript items, large maps and black and white photographs (including slides).

High resolution printing and scanning

You may order high resolution digital scan and prints of library collection material. This service is provided by BICA Prolabs and is generally used by people who need high-quality images, or who need images of collection material that is too fragile, rare or vulnerable for other methods of copying.

The use of an offsite provider incurs an extra charge as per current pricelist found on the Bica Prolabs website http://www.bicaphotographics.com.au/downloads.php as well as postage and handling of the materials.

Copyright

The Copyright Act allows you to copy material that is out of copyright, and limited portions of some in-copyright material for research or study. You can find information on your copyright obligations at:

• Australian Copyright Council [External link]
• The Copyright Act [External link]

Safe use and handling requirements

You may copy books and periodicals, unless otherwise instructed by library officer.

Copying of rare, fragile or vulnerable material, however, is restricted. 'Rare' material is material that is not widely held in other Australian libraries. 'Fragile' material can include books and periodicals published before 1920, books with damaged bindings, and material with torn or weak paper. 'Vulnerable' material includes tightly-bound volumes, paintings, pastel and pencilled works, glass negatives, and material of a size or shape that puts it at risk when being moved (e.g. large maps).

You may not photocopy or scan any rare, fragile or vulnerable material, since those types of copying involve physical contact between the material and the copying equipment. Photography is generally of lower risk, and so some rare, fragile or vulnerable collection items may, with the permission of the relevant NCA executive director be photographed with your own equipment. You will be asked, however, to work under the library officer’s supervision.

The NCA reserves the right to require you to use a photograph ordered through the library's commercial photographic service provided by BICA Prolabs. In deciding whether to require you to use the commercial photographic service, the library officer will take into account the extent to which the material is rare, fragile or vulnerable, and whether suitable surrogate copies already exist or can be made easily.

When does scanning, photography require library staff supervision?

Copying. scanning or photographing will require staff supervision if you are working with rare, fragile or vulnerable material, or are required to work after hours.

All copying. scanning or photographing where staff supervision is required is subject to an hourly fee.

Are there special conditions if I want to copy, scan or photograph with intention to publish?

If you wish to reproduce all or part of a published book, journal, newspaper or map, and it is still in copyright, you don't need the library's permission, but you do need the copyright owner's permission. You generally do not need to obtain permission if you are simply quoting a small extract from published textual material.

To request the NCA's permission for reproducing NCA owned material, please complete a Application to Reproduce NCA Copyright Material.

In completing the form, you undertake to adhere to a number of conditions. The NCA applies these conditions on the basis of its ownership of the material. Further information on these conditions refer to Terms and Conditions of Reproduction at the bottom of the application.

Copying options

Make your own copy

The library’s photocopier is not coin-operated. Any payment will need to be made in cash or processed by EFTPOs at the NCA reception. If materials need to be sent offsite, payment is required prior to collection.

The use of an offsite provider incurs an extra charge as per current pricelist found on the Bica Prolabs website http://www.bicaphotographics.com.au/downloads.php as well as postage and handling of the materials.

The use of USB flash drives is not permitted. The NCA will supply you with the requested material on a CD or DVD at a cost of $15.

You may photograph material with your digital camera. Flash photography is permitted, unless it is assessed that it may damage collection material.

Photograph, published book, journal, newspaper or map scanning is allowed onsite unless the collection material is too fragile, rare or vulnerable. The NCA reserves the right to require you to use a photograph ordered through the library's commercial photographic service provided by BICA Prolabs, and whether a suitable surrogate copy already exists or can be made easily.

Contact the NCA Library

Name:

Email:

Your request (Please describe in detail the material you are looking for and the way in which it will be used):

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