NCACL Timeline

NCACL Timeline

1974 National collection of Australian Children’s books began
Children’s Book Council of Australia ACT Branch agrees to establish the Lu Rees collection.

1979 Collecting translations began

1980 Collection moved from private homes to the Canberra College of Advanced education

1980 Lu Rees Archives annual print journal began, continuing online from 2017, renamed Behind the Imagined

1988 Deductible Gift Recipient and tax-exempt charity status achieved

1991 Formal Agreements began with the CCAE, now the University of Canberra

1995 CBCA national body provided funding for part-time staff which ended in 2014

1997 Website created by University of Canberra students

2007 Words … Pictures … Book! First major exhibition

2012 Lu Rees Archives registers as an independent incorporated body in the ACT

2013 Annual reports began to Australian Government’s Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC)

2014 Rebranding with new logo, tag lines and collateral

2014 Social media began: X (Twitter) + Facebook (11.4K followers) plus e-newsletter (720 subscribers)

2014 Showcasing Treasures published as the history of the Centre’s development

2015 Name change from Lu Rees Archives to National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Inc

2016 Ambassadors appointed—Jackie French appointed followed by Christopher Cheng in 2017

2018 Launched free-standing website after website hosting by University of Canberra 1997-2014

2018 Sharing Stories exhibition, events and tour of IBBY International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) international collection

2019 Launched the Centre’s Cultural Diversity Database

2020 Launched the Centre’s Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Peoples database funded by the Australian Government

2021 Launched the Centre’s Verse Novels resource

2023 Launched the Centre’s The Barrumbi Kids website teaching resource

2023 Launched the Centre’s Picture Books for Older Readers database

2024 Celebrated the Centre’s 50th birthday