AARL

For someone special: the development of the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library

Alan Bundy

Abstract The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library (BHPML) is the world's first prime ministerial library established during the lifetime of the prime minister, and is the only prime ministerial library complemented by a research institute. Its developmental challenges, scope and potential, are thus similar to those of the US presidential libraries the planning for which normally commences before the president leaves office. Established in 1997 as part of a university library-led initiative for the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, the BHPML has made considerable progress in digitising Bob Hawke's speeches, acquiring his papers and those of cabinet colleagues, collecting memorabilia, and responding to enquiries from children, scholars and the general public. Among issues identified in a 2004 external review of the library were the need for greater funding and staffing for it, formalisation of its collection policy, a targeted digitisation strategy, and a renewed fundraising strategy. The development of a prime ministerial library in a new university, and university library, with limited funds and no collecting tradition has tested the philosophy and processes of both the university and its library. The issues encountered with its funding and development highlight whether all universities, old or new, do have responsibilities as national collecting institutions in areas appropriate to their location or mission. In particular it raises the issue of whether an academic institution and its library can absolve itself of such a responsibility on the grounds of the institutionally marginal funding required for it.

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