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NFSA takes over management of Film Australia Library

and NFSA adds “of Australia” to its title

Open letter from NFSA ….

It is with pride that I write this ‘open letter’ to confirm the National Film and Sound
Archive (NFSA) will be assuming management of the Screen Australia Library (formerly
known as the Film Australia Library) and associated Sales and Distribution program from
1 July 2011.

The high standard of current services provided by the staff managing these two programs
will continue with minimal disruption as these staff and the associated production facilities
are transferring to the NFSA’s Sydney Office located at 45 Murray Street, Pyrmont.
This transfer means the incoming collection of approximately 5000 film titles will become
part of the NFSA national audiovisual collection of over 1.6 million items which is managed
and cared for in the interests of all Australians. As part of this transfer, the NFSA has
decided to formerly reinstate the ‘Film Australia’ identity of the incoming collection which
from 1 July 2011 will be known as the ‘Film Australia Collection’. This transfer follows on
from the successful migration of the former Screen Australia Digital Learning websites to the
NFSA in 2010.
The transfer of the Film Australia Collection and the Sales and Distribution programs has
been affected by legislation named the Screen Australia (Transfer of Assets) Act 2011. In
addition, legislation also established a change in name for the NFSA, with the addition of the
words ‘of Australia’ at the end of our name. This action brings the NFSA in to line with the
majority of the Australian Government collecting institutions and from 1 July 2011 we will be
known as the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

At the time of introducing the transfer legislation to the Australian Parliament on
17 November 2010, The Hon. Simon Crean, Minister for the Arts, said, “This (the Screen
Australia film library) is a substantial archival resource and the government considers the
NFSA, as Australia’s premier collecting institution for audiovisual material, should be
responsible for preserving and supporting the development of this resource. The transfer of
this film library and digital learning functions will also enhance and complement the NFSA’s
new direction of providing greater online content and improving access to its collection of
audiovisual materials.”

Ann Landrigan
Acting CEO

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Source: NFSA website