Describes the growth, rationale, and operation of a no-charge cooperative formed in 1982 by group of small Australian health science libraries to combat rising costs of interlibrary loans (GRATIS), and its South Australian equivalent (GRATISSA). Membership, coverage, features, problems, applications, and future developments are noted. Nine…

Surveys the impact of computers and related technology on reference work in Australia highlighting online information retrieval and related databases; Australian Information Network; coverage of Australian material in local and foreign databases; Australian Bibliographic Network; electronic mail; Australian Consortium for Social and Political…

Outlines the present status of library automation and networking in Australia and explores the issues arising when regional network operations consider their relationship to the national Australian Bibliographic Network: provision of services, standards, network technology, contractual arrangements, economics, and policy. Thirty-eight references…

Describes Infocus, a membership-based service of the State Library of New South Wales (NSW) that provides students with information for their study of the NSW Higher School Certificate curriculum. Developed in collaboration with school and public libraries, Infocus provides reproductions of resources held by the State Library of NSW. (LRW)

Four papers on biological and medical sciences libraries were presented at the 1986 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference. "Activities and Services of Medical Libraries in Japan--Past, Present, and Future" (Kazuo Urata and Toshinobu Suga, Japan) discusses the inauguration of the Japan Medical Library…

The three papers in this collection on library statistics were presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference. In "The Management Use of Library Statistics," Geoffrey G. Allen of the Western Australian Institute of Technology discusses current uses and misuses of library statistics and illustrates some practical applications of statistics…

The Library Committee of the Victoria Institute of Colleges prepared these guidelines for the administration of libraries in the colleges of advanced education. The function of the colleges, and the libraries' role within the academic community are briefly discussed. Guidelines for the improvement of services are offered in the following areas:…

Focuses on the centralized, online, shared-cataloging facility of the Australian Bibliographic Network operated by the National Library of Australia. Existing automated library systems in Australia, selection and implementation of Washington Library Network software, comparison of Australian and U.S. automation, and projections for future…

This study examines the library services provided by school, academic, and public libraries in the shire and municipal areas and recommends a voluntary network to share resources and facilities. Among the specifics, it advocates the conclusion of a formal networking agreement; apointment of a network coordinator; establishment of an administrative…

Summarizes the topics covered at a seminar for rural librarians in Australia that focused on practical solutions to the problems inherent in being physically and professionally isolated. Areas discussed included education and training, communication and networking, and library management and services. (10 references) (CLB)

This paper discusses reference services in the digital library. The introduction provides definitions of a digital library, and the first section summarizes the purposes of a digital library system, as well as key roles for information professionals. The second section provides examples of mediated and unmediated digital reference. The third…

This report recounts the experiences of an Australian librarian who spent five months in England, where she visited the University of London and the Open University for discussions on library services to external students in order to: (1) gain practical knowledge of the work and responsibilities of the Open University Liaison Librarians and their…

Pre-circulated papers, comments on these papers, documents compiled as a result of group discussion, and resolutions adopted at Australia's 1980 National Workshop on Joint-Use Libraries are presented. A joint-use library is defined as one in which two or more distinct groups of users are given equal priority in the same premises, the governance of…

This booklet brings together papers, reports, and associated material from the seminar on school library resource coordination and librarians' groups in New South Wales held at Summer Hill Public School in Sydney. The collection includes a general introduction to the scope and goals of the seminar; a list of seminar speakers; papers on cooperative…

This paper considers innovation in academic libraries. The first part explores the definition and nature of innovation and the literature relevant to academic libraries in particular. In the second part, the outcomes of a search of library World Wide Web sites and a survey of International Association of Technological University Libraries (IATUL)…