National Library of Australia - Gateways>

ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 49| February 2001


Renewed reading room

The Petherick Reading Room in the National Library is a special facility supporting advanced research. It is used by some 200 academics, postgraduate students, authors and independent scholars researching topics as diverse as the ‘removal of Aboriginal children 1850–1950’, ‘medieval Jewish history’, ‘holism in 20th-century urban design and planning’ and ‘cannibalism’. Readers may keep published collection materials for use in the Petherick Reading Room for up to three months. They are offered additional interlibrary loan privileges, special assistance from reference librarians and regular or long term Petherick readers have their own desks.

The Library regularly communicates via an email list with Petherick readers about new reference resources and services and special events such as reader education programs. Petherick readers give work-in-progress seminars and have the opportunity of talking to senior staff at lunchtime meetings twice yearly. Petherick readers are strongly attached to the physical and social spaces in the Petherick Reading Room, perceiving it as an important place for reference and research. The Petherick Reading Room provides a facility for use of manuscripts and other special collection materials in the evenings and on weekends when special reading rooms are not open.

Petherick Reading Room

Increasing demand for access to the Petherick facilities led to a recent building project to extend this reading room and upgrade its facilities. The reading room is now more spacious, with 58 desks for individual readers, additional large tables for the use of manuscripts and other special materials, and a separate room available for group work or to discuss research with other readers. All readers’ desks now have access to power for convenient use of laptops, a dedicated printer has been provided for use by readers and comfortable lounge chairs are available for informal reading and relaxation.

A new reference desk has been installed which provides increased functionality for staff and for readers, and there is more space available for secure storage of collection materials.

More information about the Petherick Reading Room is available at www.nla.gov.au/infoserv/prr.html or by contacting the Petherick Librarian, Ann Triffett on 6262 1607, email: atriffett@nla.gov.au.
—Ann Triffet

Above: The refurbished Petherick Reading Room
Photograph: Greg Pook

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Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au

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