election ephemera

Australians head to the polls again on 2 July 2016, and as happens each election, between now and then we are bombarded with electoral material – flyers, brochures, how-to-vote info, banners, posters and more. However if you’re like me, you probably don’t take a whole lot of notice of it, and the junk mail and associated items usually end up in the recycle bin … but ‘DON’T THROW THEM AWAY as the National Library of Australia has a great use for them. They actually keep them for historical posterity.

Here’s a quote from their website:

“Instead of throwing it away please help us collect it.”

“We did it in 2013, and now we need your help to collect 2016 federal election ephemera for the National Library collection. From posters to how-to-vote cards, stickers, buttons and all original printed material, we want it all—even the occasional political pizza box or collection of pollie-themed teabags. By collecting, preserving and making this material available, we can ensure these stories live on in our nation’s history.”

“We add original printed campaign material to our holdings for each Australian federal election … we are keen to collect material from regional or remote electorates as well as those in the metropolitan centres.”

If you, your friends and/or relatives have access to this material (we want published original material, not photocopies or digital files) send it to us to add to the national collection:

Ephemera Officer
Printed Australiana – National Library of Australia
Reply Paid 83281
PARKES ACT 2600

For more about the National Library Collection and the 2016 electoral ephemera, please have a read on their website: https://www.nla.gov.au/ephemera/federal-election-campaigns.