A new era for shared library collections

The original OneCard project was a revolutionary step for South Australia’s public libraries. For the first time, it connected every library in the State through a single, shared system, giving communities access to millions of items with one library card. It transformed how people borrow, how collections are shared and how libraries work together.

The OneCard 2.0 Collections Reform Program is building on that success, and continues to reshape how public library collections are managed across South Australia. The Libraries Board is investing in major projects to create a fair, consistent and flexible statewide Collection Strategy that balances physical and digital resources so communities can access what they need.

We made strong progress on long-term sustainability planning and began exploring new technologies to improve how collections are moved, stored and responsibly disposed of. Work also commenced on reviewing procurement processes to reduce duplication, streamline subscriptions and strengthen vendor contract management across the State.

These efforts are being advanced in partnership with Local Government to ensure public library collections remain responsive, sustainable and ready to meet the changing needs of South Australians.

Celebrating the legacy of Holden

The State Library opened Rear Vision - The Holden Collection, a major exhibition inviting visitors to explore the rich social history of General Motors Holden, a company that helped shape Australia’s industrial identity. Drawing on the State Library’s extensive archives, it traced Holden’s story from its beginnings as a saddlery in 1850s Adelaide, through its 1931 acquisition by General Motors, to the launch of Australia’s first locally made car in 1948, and its eventual closure.

Original materials, rare documents, photographs and memorabilia were brought together with personal accounts from former employees. These stories offered a detailed look at Holden’s operations, its workforce culture, its technological achievements and its lasting place in the national imagination.

Supported by the Libraries Board and delivered in partnership with GM Australia, the University of Adelaide and the Holden Heritage Manufacturing Association, the exhibition was accompanied by a vibrant program of events. Holden Car Club displays, curator talks, behind the scenes tours, family activities and film screenings helped deepen community connections and enrich the visitor experience.

Presented across the State Library Gallery and the Spence Wing Foyer, the exhibition welcomed more than 80,000 visitors, attracted strong media coverage and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Explore the Rear Vision: Holden Collection website.

Significant collection activity

The State Library, in partnership with Artlab Australia and the South Australian Parliament, has conserved and digitised the historic women’s suffrage petition presented to the House of Assembly on 23 August 1894. This collaborative project underscores the importance of safeguarding the State’s documentary heritage. Over 200 petition sheets were meticulously prepared and captured in high-resolution, creating preservation-grade files to ensure long-term care, research, and public access.

The State Library recently received an important donation of oral histories from the United Aborigines Mission (UAM). Recorded by Stewart Gill in 1995–96, the collection includes interviews with missionaries, administrators, and members. Founded in 1895 as an interdenominational mission, UAM was later renamed United Aboriginal Ministries and was mentioned in the Bringing Them Home Report (1997) for housing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children removed from their families.

With the support of the Friends of the State Library of South Australia, the Library acquired a rare early panorama of the Port River and North Parade, Port Adelaide, created in 1855 by artist Frank George Hankey. Produced across eight watercolour and mixed-media panels, the panorama offers a unique visual record of Port Adelaide just two years before the Great Fire of 1857 and represents an important addition to the State’s visual history collection.

The State Government is developing a new shared storage facility for collection material currently at Netley Commercial Park. The State Library holds a substantial amount of material there and made strong progress in 2024–25 to prepare for relocation in early 2026. Work included auditing, rehousing, labelling, and processing items to ensure the collection is preserved and ready for its new purpose-built home.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives

The Aboriginal Reference Group (ARG), a partnership between the State Library and State Records of South Australia, continues to guide culturally informed practices across collections, programs, and services. In alignment with the Future Directions – Towards 2030 Strategic Plan, the ARG advises on archival access principles to ensure respectful representation of Aboriginal histories and cultures and supports the Tandanya-Adelaide Declaration. Its collaborative work strengthens engagement with Aboriginal communities and enhances the accessibility and cultural integrity of the State Library’s collections.

The State Library again supported the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and hosted a Great Book Swap on Indigenous Literacy Day, 4 September 2024. Participants donated a gold coin or note in exchange for a book from the State Library’s bookstall. By taking part in this event, the State Library continued to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to provide new, culturally relevant books to children in remote communities across the country.

A festival of firsts across South Australia

In its second year, Firstival returned to South Australia’s public libraries in July with a month-long program inviting people to try something new at their local library.

58 library services took part, including the State Library, creating opportunities for discovery, creativity and connection.

Firstival continued to show strong community impact, drawing more than 42,000 people to 330 events across the State and highlighting the important role libraries play in inspiring curiosity and lifelong learning.

Events and activations

The State Library partnered with major Festivals and city-wide events including Illuminate Adelaide, Adelaide Fringe, South Australia’s History Festival, Nature Festival and the Adelaide City Council's Christmas in the City to welcome audiences to the Library.

The State Library and South Australian craft gin producer, Storytellers Distillery partnered again in July 2024 to welcome guests to Storytellers @ The Morlock, a pop-up gin bar held in the iconic Mortlock Chamber throughout Illuminate Adelaide's City Lights event. Over 36,000 visitors enjoyed a curated selection of gins, music, ticketed performances and State Library exhibitions, held in the historic Mortlock Chamber and other State Library exhibition spaces.

The State Library brought some Christmas cheer and magic to the city with Adelaide’s largest indoor Christmas tree. Now in its fifth year, a visit to Christmas at the Mortlock has become a festive season tradition for many South Australian families. Visitors enjoyed storytelling, school and community choirs, family activities, and memorabilia on loan from the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant, and a special visit from the Pageant King and Queen.

The State Library was delighted to partner with the Courtyard of Curiosities to welcome the Adelaide Fringe to our Institute Building in 2025. For four weeks, the historic space came alive with 22 spectacular shows across two venues. The program embraced the bold, the quirky and the cutting-edge in contemporary performance, including inventive theatre, alternative comedy, improv, cabaret, clowning and more. Around 7,000 people joined us to experience this vibrant celebration of creativity.

Programs and stories

Talks and ideas at the State Library included a wide range of programs such as lectures, tours, book launches, exhibition floor talks, and workshops.

The State Library continued its popular monthly talk series, Stories from the stacks, revealing fascinating stories from the collections. These free talks are livestreamed to public libraries, and are available for anyone to watch on demand.

The State Library has continued to develop its digital engagement strategies focusing on engaging and intriguing South Australian stories presented in a visually rich format.

Highlights include:

• A lifetime of stitching - Historic needlework representing the lives and work of South Australian girls
• If walls could talk - the story of a 160-year-old South Australian farmhouse
• Rear vision - the Holden Collection
• History of the Mortlock Chamber
  
  And many more are available on the website.

The State Library also partnered with many cultural, literary and history organisations to support their talks and programs, including National Archives of Australia, History Trust of South Australia, State Theatre Company South Australia, Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, Royal South Australian Society of Arts and the Friends of the State Library.

The Library has expanded programs for kids and families including the Start Art Book Club in partnership with the Art Gallery of South Australia, family reading nooks, school holiday activities and workshops with local artists and writers.

Supporting innovation across South Australia’s libraries

The Libraries Board Innovation Fund encourages the South Australian Public Library Network to explore creative ideas that strengthen libraries as vital community hubs. In 2024–25, funding supported a diverse range of projects that enhance access, wellbeing and community connection.

Burnside and Roxby Downs Libraries partnered to livestream Burnside author events to Roxby Downs, expanding access for regional audiences with recordings available on demand.

Kingston Community School Library is delivering Big Hearts, Big Play, using social gaming to build community connection and support wellbeing in partnership with local organisations.

Onkaparinga Libraries launched a Health Literacy workshop series, offering practical health education and support across the council’s six libraries.

Robe Public Library is leading Robe Reflections, a creative writing and art project developed with the Friends of the Robe Library and supported by council.

Salisbury Library Service is expanding its Social Worker in Libraries program to strengthen support for people with complex needs and increase service capacity.

Unley Libraries introduced Accessible Libraries, a suite of tools and resources to improve access and inclusion at Unley and Goodwood libraries.

Yorketown School Community Library received funding for a new makerspace and a series of workshops and events through its Community Learning Project.