National Library of Australia - Gateways

ISSN ISSN 1443-0568 | no. 66 | December 2003


Australian Library Collections Task Force

The Task Force <www.nla.gov.au/initiatives/alctf/> was set up by the Library in 1999  following the National Round Table on Access to Overseas Monographs Through Australian Libraries <www.nla.gov.au/niac/meetings/rtable.html>. The Task Force brought together representatives of the library and research communities, to discuss issues relating to the collecting activities of Australian libraries. Notable achievements over the past four years include the publication of Looking for Books <www.nla.gov.au/initiatives/alctf/cantrell.html> and Access to Scientific Journals in Australian Libraries <www.nla.gov.au/initiatives/alctf/fletcher.html>, as well as other collection analysis and user behaviour studies recorded in reports of the Task Force meetings. Printed copies of both reports are still available upon request to Sandra Henderson at the National Library, email: shenders@nla.gov.au.

In October this year the Task Force met for the final time, although many aspects of its work will continue to be followed up in other ways and by other bodies. User behaviour studies have been explored by the Task Force over recent years, and at this meeting Colin Steele from the Australian National University provided a summary of recent studies in this area. The use of online journals was also discussed at the meeting, and further work on the impact and use of e-journals was referred to Council of Australian University Librarians and the Council of Australian State Libraries Consortium. Other attendees provided updates on the National Collections Advisory Forum (Janine Schmidt, University of Queensland), the Australian Research Libraries Collections Analysis Project (Ross Coleman, University of Sydney), a study of overlap in university library collections (Roxanne Missingham, National Library) and National Library projects related to improving collecting and access.

Additional topics suggested as possible areas for future research include library websites, theses, collections outside the library sector, metadata, and interlibrary loans.
—Sandra Henderson, Manager, Research, Coordination Support Branch

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