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Developing Collaborative Services
Unknown photographer The diaries and political papers of Alfred Deakin were digitised in 2003 The Library’s commitment to collaboration makes it easier for users to find and access information resources at the national level. The Library recognises that many users seeking information online do not know or do not care who holds that information. In this environment, it makes good sense for the National Library to collaborate with other Australian cultural institutions in the development and delivery of simple, easy-to-use aggregated services. In January, the Library, in collaboration with the Council of Australian State Libraries, officially launched AskNow! Online Answers Australia-Wide, www.asknow.gov.au. As a pilot project, this nationwide interactive reference service commenced in September 2002. AskNow! allows a reference librarian to chat with the user online and to send web pages through to the user’s computer screen. Available from 9 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday, the service, which is attracting users from all age groups and from all over Australia, offers libraries an effective means of reaching off-site clients. Participation in AskNow! is being extended to include public and other libraries. International interest has resulted in the National Libraries of Singapore and New Zealand joining to evaluate the possibility of delivering similar services to their users. In February, Australia Dancing, www.australiadancing.org, was launched. This portal, hosted by the National Library, provides users with access to information about Australia’s dance people, companies, performances and oral histories. Based on a web directory developed with Australia Council funding by the Library, ScreenSound Australia and Ausdance, the Australia Dancing portal makes Australian dance resources held by the Library, other collecting institutions and Ausdance readily accessible. Currently, Australia Dancing averages 16 000 user visits each month, with half of these being from overseas. Through the Council of Australian State Libraries Consortium, the Library has worked with public and state libraries to ensure a basic set of Australian electronic resources can be purchased at a reasonable price. In November, the Library launched InformationAustralia, a pilot project to improve access to these resources via a user-friendly portal that allows simultaneous searching of a range of electronic and print resources. Libraries participating in the project range from large metropolitan to small and remote community public libraries. While the primary focus is on providing immediate access to electronic materials, InformationAustralia offers users the opportunity to request materials through interlibrary loan services. The Library has also strongly supported the formation of a national body, Public Libraries Australia, to represent and promote the interests of public libraries at the national level. The Library has continued to collaborate at the international level.
In 2003, the Library finalised the Guidelines
for the Preservation of Digital Heritage, commissioned by UNESCO. The Library also joined two
international consortia of national libraries, the International Internet
Preservation Consortium and the International Federation of Library Associations
Conference of Directors of National Libraries Alliance for Bibliographic
Standards. Through these bodies, the Library will contribute to international
activities related to the collection and management of online digital
resources. |