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

Progress Reports 1994-1996

Section C - Working Group on High Priority Cross Sectoral Projects
Projects



Completed Projects

Study of in-house indexes to Australian newspapers and journals

(Resolution TC7, 1992 Conference)

Project Officers: Margaret Henty and Rachel Jakimow, National Library of Australia (Stage One); Library and Information Service of Western Australia staff (Stage Two pilot project)
Grant: $10,000

That the NLA and SLC undertake a study to determine whether and by what means existing in-house indexing of Australian newspapers and journals by State/Territory libraries, Parliamentary libraries and local/regional libraries may be more effectively integrated to provide better national access and improved cost-benefit of operation.

In 1993 a survey of in-house indexes held or maintained by state, national, parliamentary and university libraries was undertaken by Margaret Henty, National Library of Australia, on behalf of the Working Group. A number of unique indexes of national importance were uncovered, and details published in the survey report Indexes in Australian libraries (National Library of Australia, 1995).

Stage Two of the projects, consisting of a survey of indexes held in public libraries and historical/genealogical society libraries, has recently been completed as a pilot project by the Library and Information Service of Western Australia. Indexes of national importance from this survey, and others which might be conducted in other states, will be incorporated into a later edition of Indexes in Australian libraries.


National survey of the overall state of national bibliographic access (including indexing and listing in directories) (pictorial format)

(Resolution TC1, Conference and RC3, Review Meeting)

Project Officer: Julia Trainor, National Bibliographic Services, National Library of Australia
Consultant: Paul Hodgson, Informed Sources
Grant: $20,000

That a national survey on the overall state of national bibliographic access (including listing and indexing in directories) be carried out to facilitate as needed the development of action plans, and a report on the findings be compiled. In particular, the survey should identify, with regard to all formats and certain categories of material which represent problems of bibliographic access (e.g. non-English language):

Early discussions on the survey proposed by the above Conference resolution resulted in the Working Group limiting its scope to pictorial documentary heritage. Julia Trainor, National Bibliographic Services, National Library of Australia was appointed as project officer and Convenor of the Steering Group, and Paul Hodgson, Informed Sources was appointed as a consultant for the survey. Several libraries and museums in capital cities were visited in early 1994 and the National Survey of Bibliographic Access to Documentary Pictorial Collections was produced the same year. This report was divided into two parts:

This report is available in print and electronic format from the National Library. The electronic version is mounted on the National Library's Website at http://www.nla.gov.au/pict/survey1994/pictorial.html.

As a result of the Review Meeting held in December 1993, a new resolution was passed which was to build on this survey viz:

That, following the completion of the Survey of Bibliographic Access to Documentary Pictorial Collections, the Working Group on High Priority Cross-Sectoral Projects initiate follow-up action, which may include:

Further action relating to this project will be considered in the light of technological developments which have overtaken the intent of the resolution in regard to other formats.


Production of a priority listing of nationally important retrospective bibliographic projects for possible future funding

(New task arising from a reassessment of the 1992 Conference resolutions on retrospective bibliography)

Project Officer: Carmel McInerney
Grant: $5,000

As a result of discussions centering around projects relating to retrospective bibliography, Carmel McInerney was commissioned in 1993 to prepare a report on nationally important bibliographic projects which could be considered for possible future funding. Projects, which were mostly in the literary filed were grouped into three sections:

The report was distributed to the National Library, State Libraries, Australian Studies Centres, and ACLIS for comment.

Three projects which were listed as being of highest priority have received funding from the Working Group. These are the Microfilming of the index to the Argus (1860-1909), the indexing of the literary content of the Bulletin for 1921-1987, and the Index to serial fiction in nineteenth century newspapers and periodicals by the National Library. Details of these projects follow.


Microfilming of the index to the Argus (1860-1909)

Project Officer: Dr John Hirst, School of History, La Trobe University
Grant: $11,000

With the funding provided by the Working Group on High Priority Cross Sectoral Projects, the project team were able to complete the indexing of the Argus up to the end of the 1860's. It is planned to publish the nine volumes covering the years 1861-1869 during the course of 1996. With the appearance of these volumes, it is hoped that major funding bodies will see the value of the project and continue to provide support.


Indexing of the literary content of the Bulletin for 1921-1987, for inclusion in the AUSTLIT database

Project Officer: Mary Bryden, Database Manager, Australian Defence Force Academy
Grant: $10,000

Retrospective indexing of the Australian literary content of The Bulletin was undertaken by staff at the Australian Defence Force Academy from June 1994 to January 1995. During that time 6500 items were generated for inclusion in AUSTLIT, covering the period January 1921 to January 1927.


Index to serial fiction in nineteenth century newspapers and periodicals

Project Officers: Carmel McInerney and Kay Walsh, National Library
Grant: $4,000

This project involved the identification of new titles, in view of research published since the original compilation of the Australian literary periodicals bibliography published in 1975 by the National Library, and the completion and verification of bibliographic details. The resulting data was mounted on OZLINE in 1995.


Indexing of Overland, Scripsi and Island for the AUSTLIT Database.

Project Officer: Lynn R. Hard, Australian Defence Force Academy
Grant: $4453

Funding was provided to the Australian Defence Force Academy for indexing of the literary content of Overland (1954-1955, 1958-1959), Scripsi (1982-1987) and Island Magazine (1981-1987) on AUSTLIT. A total of 1444 items were generated for the database.


Indexing for the AUSTLIT database of Australian serial fiction and other literary items in Australian newspapers, 1860-1900

Project Officer: Elizabeth Morrison, Research Officer, Academy Editions
Grant: $10,000

Under this project, serials indexed for the AUSTLIT database were by Australians or substantially on Australian themes. During this project, indexing of the Australian literary items in the Melbourne Leader was completed for the years 1862-1888, yielding a total of 679 items for addition to the database.


Analytical access on the NBD to Pre-1890 Australian Children's Books Microfiche package.

Project Officer: Joyce Searle, Database Management Services, State Library of South Australia
Grant: $5,300

The Working Group on High Priority Cross Sectoral Projects for the provision of analytic records for each of the titles included, in whole or in part, in the Pre-1890 Australian Children's Books Microfiche Package published by the Sate Library of South Australia, on the NBD. The Pre-1890 Australian Children's Books Microfiche Package identifies books published prior to 1890 in Marcie Muir's Bibliography of Australian children's books volumes 1 & 2, and consists of images of actual books which have been microfilmed. Provision of bibliographic access to the items contained in the package contributes significantly to research and preservation efforts in the area of historical Australian children's literature.


Cataloguing of 19th century Australian serials in the Dictionary catalogue of the National Library of Australia onto the Australian Bibliographic Network.

Project Officer: Jasmine Cameron, Senior Manager, Serials, National Library of Australia
Grant: $12,000

The National Library received a grant for the conversion of 19th century Australian serials from the library's dictionary catalogue to the National Bibliographic Database. The creation of these catalogue records on ABN will enable other libraries to add their holdings which will enhance access to this material. This project was completed in May 1996.


Active Projects

Development of a quantitative survey model for use in assessing client needs for access to Australia's documentary heritage

(Resolution TE7, 1992 Conference, RE4, 1993 Review Meeting)

Project Officer: Dr Lynn Allen, State Librarian, Library and Information Service of Western Australia

TE7 That the NLA, Australian Archives, State Libraries and State archive authorities cooperate in the development of a qualitative survey model for use in assessing client needs for access to Australia's documentary heritage and those institutions ensure that the surveys be conducted.
RE4 That the NLA encourage the Library and Information Service of Western Australia to complete its development of a qualitative survey model for use in assessing client needs for access to Australia's documentary heritage; and when it is complete, CASL, the Council of Federal, State and Territory Archives and the NLA determine whether further development is necessary and support the use of the model in conducting surveys of client needs.

This project is being undertaken by the Library and Information Service of Western Australia (LISWA) using their own resources. A preliminary survey model for assessing client needs for access was developed by LISWA and trialled at the Battye Library in between December 1995 and January 1996. The questionnaire is intended to provide as an outcome a statement of issues rather than being a tool which provides statistically significant data. It aims to identify the major categories of clients, formats of materials sought by these clients and the perceived barriers to access. The survey is currently being assessed by members of the Council of Australian State Libraries for use throughout Australia.


Directory of Australian holdings of oral history and folklore collections

(Resolution TC12, 1992 Conference)

Project Officers: Mark Cranfield, Chief Oral History Officer, National Library of Australia; Ann Baylis, Senior Manager, Collections, National Film and Sound Archive
Grant: $22,500

That Australian holdings of oral history and folklore collection and ongoing projects, whether involving institutions or individuals, be identified in a directory.

This project will result in a directory which will document oral history and folklore holdings in libraries and archives at national, state and regional levels; in government departments and agencies at national, state and local levels; in universities and colleges; in museums and galleries; in businesses and unions; in ethnic organisations and in broadcasting. Compilers were appointed in all states, with an overall coordinator located in Canberra. Work is well underway on the entry of information into a database and the final production of the directory.


Development of guidelines for the management of material in electronic format

(Resolution RG5)

Project Officer: Keith Parrott, Australian Archives, Convenor, RG5 Working Group
Grant: $5,000

Funding has been provided by the Working Group on High Priority Cross Sectoral Projects for the RG5 Working Group (Preservation of Australian Digital Information) to undertake and initial survey of the literature and an analysis of the results of the study by the United States Commission on Preservation and access and Research Libraries Group: Task Force on Archiving of Digital Information. Additional funding ($20,000) has been provided by the AVCC Electronic Publishing Working Group. The RG5 Working Group has made a submission to the US Task Force on the Archiving of Digital Information. Sanger and Associates have been appointed as consultants.


Publication of an Aboriginal thesaurus

Project Officer: Alex Byrne, Chief Librarian, Northern Territory University
Grant: $6,000

The Aboriginal thesaurus has been developed as one aspect of a cooperative project involving the Northern Territory University, University of South Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies with financial support from the three institutions and the Australian Research Council. Further support has been provided by the National Priority (Reserve Fund) for a new phase of the project which involves, in addition, the National Library of Australia, the Australian Library and Information Service, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Information Network. In this current phase the thesaurus will be brought to a state in which it will be ready for implementation. A pilot implementation with a selected set of books in Northern Territory University and other libraries will be pursued to ensue that the thesaurus will be used effectively. The National Library of Australia has been involved in testing of thesaurus terms. Consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers will ensure that the terminology is broadly acceptance.

The Working Group has approved funding for the publication of the thesaurus in both printed and disc forms, packaged together. The thesaurus will be distributed widely to libraries, archives, information services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations. Publication of the thesaurus is planned for November 1996, and will be launched at the ATSILIRN conference.


Survey of thesaurus usage in Australian libraries

(Resolution TC10, 1992 Conference, RC11, 1993 Review Meeting)

Project Officer: Pam Dunlop, Chair, Australian Committee on Cataloguing, National Library of Australia
Grant: $15,000 + $5,000 from ALIA

TC10 That NLA and ACOC investigate the feasibility of establishing a commonly accepted thesaurus of Australian terms suitable for the subject indexing of Australian materials in all formats and report to the library community.
RC11 That the Australian Committee on Cataloguing, in conducting its survey of thesaurus usage in Australian libraries make use of the survey of in-house indexing conducted by the Working Group on High Priority Cross Sectoral Projects, and extend the information by surveying special and other appropriate libraries.

The Australian Committee on Cataloguing has received a grant for a study which will determine subject headings/thesauri practices in Australian libraries. The study will provide an overview of Australian thesaurus practices in Australian libraries with an identification of overlaps an gaps in thesaurus development and of opportunities for rationalisation of effort in particular subject areas. AIMA Training and Consultancy Services Limited were appointed as consultants for the project. The final report will be received in July 1996 and will be mounted on the National Library's Server.


News from the Moreton Bay District 1840-1860: a newspaper subject index.

Project Officer: Helen Darch, Library Research and Development Manager, University of Queensland
Grant: $9,000

This project will edit, convert to machine readable format, and publish an existing, comprehensive personal card index of people, places and events relating to the Brisbane Region (then known as the Moreton Bay District) complied by Dr Rod Fisher during the early 1980s. The index covers the period from free settlement in 1842 to separation from New South Wales in 1849. The project is due for completion in December 1996.


Guide to collections of manuscripts relating to Australia

Project Officer: Graeme Powell, Manager, Manuscripts Section, National Library of Australia
Grant: $30,000

The project will replace and expand upon the current Guide to collections of manuscripts relating to Australia with an on-line directory, mounted on the National Library's server. It will provide summary information about holdings of manuscripts and private archives in Australian repositories.


Return to Section C: Report from the Working Group on High Priority Cross Sectoral Projects
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