National Centre for Australian Children's Literature

In July, the University and ACT Branch of The Children's Book Council of Australia signed a formal agreement outlining roles and responsibilities of both parties in the management of the Archives.

In October 2015, the Lu Rees Archives changed their name to the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Inc.[3] An agreement outlining the respective roles and responsibilities exists between the University of Canberra and The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature.

The Centre’s book collection holds over 50,000 volumes including different editions, reprints, and translations of published works.

A large part of the Centre’s collections is its holdings of original artwork, both final and preliminary as well as documentation that showcases the creative process involved in the production of a children’s book.

Stage One of the Resource was initially aimed at Early Childhood and was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.

The Centre conducts a range of outreach activities to share the collection and knowledge of the creative process.

[7] In 2018 Dr Belle Alderman the centre's director organised an exhibition at the University of Canberra of children's book illustrations.

Artists included May Gibbs, Kylie Dunstan, Vivienne Goodman, Graeme Base, Bob Graham, Shaun Tan and Kerry Argent.

From 1981 - 2013 the Centre published an annual journal The Lu Rees Archives: Notes, Books and Authors.

In recent years, the hours contributed by the Centre’s volunteers is the equivalent of 4.5 full time staff.