The future of Trove, Australia’s digital archives website, has been secured after the Australian government agreed to provide funding.
Trove allows researchers to view over six billion digital objects from the National Library of Australia (NLA) and hundreds of other Australian archives, including books, journals, maps, archives, photographs and old newspapers.
It is a major resource for people around the world with Australian ancestry or family history connections.
In February, the Australian government warned that the website’s funding was due to run out in July 2023, prompting an outpouring of concern from Australian archivists, historians and family historians.
However, on 4 April Australia’s Office for the Arts announced that the 2023-24 Federal Budget will provide $33 million in funding for the NLA over the next four years and $9.2 million in indexed ongoing annual funding beyond that period.
In a statement on its website, Trove said: “Trove is a place for all Australians, which is connected to all our places. It is a truly national treasure, and an international world leader. The overwhelming support we have received from the Trove community (both new and old) has been humbling. We take our role as the custodians of Trove, on behalf of the Library and our partner organisations, very seriously.
“The certainty of this funding decision will allow the National Library to continue to provide this essential service, enrich it with new content, and stabilise and secure the platform, in line with the Trove Strategy.”
Rosemary Collins is the features editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
