Libraries, 1936-1961

Component identifier:

Series 66

Content Summary:

Latham first became actively involved with the development of public libraries in 1937, when he was elected President of the Free Library Movement in Victoria. In 1950 the Australian Institute of Librarians was reconstituted as the Library Association of Australia and Latham was the first President, holding office for three years. In 1952 he was the chairman of the Advisory Committee for the UNESCO Library Seminar held in Canberra and Sydney.

The series contains publications of the Free Library Movement, and the Library Association of Australia and other printed works, such as C. R. Pitt's State aid to libraries (1939), K. Binns' Library services in Tasmania (1943), and H. L. White's Australian library development (1943). Items 79-181 consist of correspondence, dating from March 1937-May 1953, concerning the Free Library Movement, the Australian Institute of Librarians, the organisation of the Library Association of Australia, a grant of $35,000 to the Library Association by the Carnegie Corporation in 1951, and book import restrictions. The correspondents include G. C. Remington, K. S. Cunningham, John Metcalfe, and Irving Benson. The other papers are roneoed reports and minutes of the Library Association of Australia General Council and committees (Items 183-285), correspondence and minutes of the 1952 UNESCO Library Seminar (Items 286-313), newscuttings and a typescript entitled 'Library planning in Great Britain'.

Comprises Files 1-9 (Items 1-321).

Immediate source of acquisition:

The bulk of the collection was presented to the National Library by Sir John Latham in December 1963, a few months before his death. In November 1974 the Library purchased some further papers from a secondhand book dealer. They comprised family letters and photographs, some diaries and papers relating to the High Court. These papers have been amalgamated into the original collection.

Access and use