TOWARDS FEDERATION 2001: Linking Australians with Their Heritage Review Meeting 1993

Progress Reports 1994-1996

Section B - E: Physical Access


REA1 That national, regional and local document supply networks take note of any Australian standards for document requesting and document transmission developed by Standards Australia, and incorporate these standards into their own systems wherever this is feasible.

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information agree with this advice. They report membership of several national or international level electronic document request and supply networks such as ABN ILL module, ILANET and CARL UNCOVER.

1996 REPORT

The JEDDS Project, co-ordinated by the AVCC, is taking account of the ILL Protocol (an international and Australian Standard) and other key standards such as MIME. The CILLA Feasibility Study, supported by CAUL and ACLIS, is taking account of the Z39.50 and ILL Protocol Standards. The World 1 Project is also using the above standards (National Library of Australia).

At the University of Sydney Library standards are being monitored in relation to National Document Supply Initiatives (eg. JEDD). The Australian Defence Force Academy Library will incorporate recognised standards where this is feasible. They continue to participate in national and international document supply services. University of Adelaide agrees with this advice to institutions.

The State Library of South Australia uses the ABN interlibrary loan module, Carl Uncover, First Search, and Artel for the British Library. State Library of South Australia is a member of the national Electronic Libraries Forum and a member of the Internet Reference Group SA. Library and Information Service of Western Australia reports no progress at this stage. The State Library of New South Wales is monitoring development in document delivery, in particular through the JEDDs project which is based on these standards. The State Library is committed to the use of ISO 10162/163 and ISO 10160/161 for document requesting and document transmission where appropriate.

REA2 That institutions holding significant collections of Australia's documentary heritage develop a broad range of measures to improve physical access, for Australian and international clients, which may include:

1994 REPORT

All institutions who submitted information report a wide range of activities which are undertaken in support of this Resolution. The National and State libraries have developed more measures for improving physical access to their collections of Australian documentary heritage than other institutions.

Some of the activities which have been reported are:

In libraries which operate closed access systems, access to storage/stacks is either not permitted to members of the public, or allowed only with special authorisation and supervision.

1996 REPORT

The National Library of Australia has digitised 13,500 pictorial items from its collection and provided online networked access to then in a searchable database IMAGES1 (http://www2.nla.gov.au/imagecoll/). This project is part of the long-term strategy to improve national access to our documentary heritage materials through selective digitisation.

At the University of Sydney Library a limited exhibition program of rare and significant collections is carried out within the Library which includes some heritage collections. Visitor tours are welcomed.

The recent extension to the Australian Defence Force Academy Library has significantly improved physical access to its manuscript and rare book collections, with all materials now held on site, and a purpose built Reading Room available for public and student use of these materials. Display and seminar facilities have also been considerably enhanced. The launch of the Library's Web site will enable national and international users to browse the Australian Special Research Collection's list of manuscript collections, view brief descriptions of each collection, and request detailed finding aids by e-mail. The Curator co-convenes the Canberra History of the Book Group with an officer of the National Library of Australia, and is an active member of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature, promoting the use of documentary materials within those organisations.

Some activities in this area at the State Library of Victoria include:

The State Library of South Australia has continued to be active in all areas.

Library and Information Service of Western Australia has started the Leonardo Virtual Cultural Centre project in collaboration with the Western Australian Museum to create multimedia products using the collections of the institutions. The aim of the project is to tell stories of the state's history and enable access to the collections by those who may not be able to visit the Cultural Centre in person. Library and Information Service of Western Australia's database is now available on the Internet allowing people outside the building to find out what is available.

National Film and Sound Archive continues to develop outreach and touring programs, exhibitions and presentations based on the collection of documentary heritage materials. Decentralised access points are provided to National Film and Sound Archive materials in each State and in some regional areas.

University of Adelaide will continue to look at practices which improve access, including exhibitions and publications as well as many of the others mentioned.

The State Library of New South Wales reports:


Return to Section B: Final Report on Advice to Institutions
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