Donating collection items

Search our catalogue for the title of your publication. We do not collect duplicate copies of items, unless the editions are significantly different. This step does not apply for original materials.

Queensland Memory Collections

State Library is committed to growing its unique Queensland collections for the benefit of current and future generations. We acquire our Queensland collections through purchases, donations, private sales, legal deposit, auctions and bequests.

We appreciate hearing from individuals, businesses and organisations about possible donations to our Queensland collections.

 Donations are assessed in relation to:

• State Library’s Content Strategy (Memory and Extraordinary Collections)
• Content Guidelines for Memory and Content Guidelines for Extraordinary Collections
• the physical condition of the item(s), and
• our existing collections.

We collect material and are interested in items not already held which are:

• published in Queensland (legal deposit)
• substantially about Queensland
• by a Queensland author/creator (imaginative writing such as fiction, drama or poetry)
• significantly related to the history, culture or development of Queensland.

Examples of material we do not collect are:

• duplicate copies of titles already held
• unpublished government records
• copies of original materials
• family histories published outside Queensland with little or no content relating to Queensland.

We also collect material related to Australian fine art and other rare items on a case-by-case basis.

If you think your item or collection meets the selection criteria for inclusion in the John Oxley Library, please make contact with us using the Donation enquiry form before sending any material.

Our collections are curated by expert staff who have the final decision on whether an item is accepted into the library’s permanent collections.

If your collection has multiple items, we ask that you assist us by listing them in the Donation enquiry form.