The Akaltye Antheme Collection has two aims: to facilitate indigenous people's use of the Public Library and all its collections; and to provide insight into local culture for non-indigenous patrons and visitors. This Collection is a small but central part of the Alice Springs Public Library's profile and of its thinking about provision for indigenous people. Partnership is a key element in the establishment of the Collection in 2002 and in its continuing management and development. This partnership incorporates all the Library staff, particularly the Indigenous Services Officer and the Special Collections Librarian; the Council; key local organisations and the Library's membership.
The Collection's establishment will be outlined; and steps to the future will be discussed in detail. A new Local Languages Collection; the acquisition of unusual resources; and a partnership with students at Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in the production and use of resources, are examples of those steps. We will describe successes, including how we measure success, eg in terms of access; as a physical space and meeting place; as a means to promoting the reality of indigenous culture in the region; and in relation to policy documents such as the ATSILIRN protocols. We will also describe challenges and the Library's responses to emerging issues.