Former Prime Minister Robert Menzies, who had played a key role in shepherding the development of National Library of Australia, laid the foundation stone for the structure at the Parkes site in 1966, and Prime Minister John Gorton opened the building on 15 August 1968 (>).  The building covers 47,000 square metres on eight floors; there are also repositories in Hume.  All told the National Library houses about 10 million items (>).  Previously the collections were spread out in multiple buidings including a building on Kings Avenue. 
The Main Reading Room.
There are many artworks in and around the building.  Machine-embroidered panels by British textile artist Alice Kettle in the Main Reading Room nicely convey the essence of the forms and colors of the Australian landscape. 
Newspaper microfilm.
Reports on water.
Romantic fiction.