Stokes donates $1m to NLA for fellowships

Outgoing council chair of the National Library of Australia (NLA) Ryan Stokes has donated $1 million to support research fellowships at the library.

The $1 million gift from the Stokes family will provide three fellowships per year for the next 10 years, and will be administered through the NLA’s fellowships program. The fellowships will allow the researchers to each spend three months in the NLA collection, working alongside library staff.

Stokes’ father, Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes, told the Australian that the family was supporting the fellowships because such programs did not always attract private donations.

Stokes, who has served as chair of the NLA council for six years, will be replaced by diplomat, academic and former member of Parliament Brett Mason, who will commence the role on 9 August.

More information about the NLA’s fellowship program is available here.

Category: Library news