Colourfully illustrated series of articles written to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of the National Library of Australia. Discusses the library's collections which include early Australian manuscripts, documentary paintings and rare maps and books. Also discusses related topics such as using and interpreting the national collection. Includes chapter notes and sources. The contributors are experts in their fields, and include well-known historian Stuart Macintyre and Jonathan Wantrup, author of 'Australian Rare Books 1788-1900'.