What's News

1 April 1999

Finding ALG

Can't remember the Australian Libraries Gateway URL - http://www.nla.gov.au/libraries/? To make things easier for you, we have implemented a redirect from the front of the National Library of Australia's site. Simply add 'alg' (ie http://www.nla.gov.au/alg/) and you'll find us!

Trying to find an overseas library?

If you are trying to find a library overseas and perhaps want to search their webpages and/or catalogues? ALG provides access to 'Directories of libraries world wide' from within the 'For Libraries' page. Search for library catalogues or Web sites world-wide directories by library type and/or region/country.

You’ll never, never, know what’s out there if you don’t give it a go!

Queries about subject collection level display

ALG Administration has received a couple of queries regarding some aspects of the way that information about subject collection levels is displayed within a library entry.

Q. It seems misleading when I have only entered information against one subject that the ‘All’ option still appears in my entry as a link option. Why ??

A. The ‘All’ link is automatically generated by the system when you enter any subject levels so that users can click and quickly see (and print) a summary of all the subject categories and the values assigned against each. This is particularly useful when you have assigned collecting levels to more than one subject because when a user clicks on an individual subject, only that subject is displayed. Someone searching on 'Language & Literature' may also be interested to see what your collection is like in areas such as 'History & Biography', 'Art & Architecture' and 'Politics & Military Studies'.

Q. If I say ‘Nothing in this category’ – why then are the subject categories showing up in the main list on my entry?

A. After consultation with libraries and users, it was clear that users are interested to know, from a single search, those libraries with a low or high level of collecting in a given subject area (ie collecting levels not collecting strengths). ALG displays everything known about a library's collection - and results of subject searches are sorted from the highest level to the lowest (ie 'Comprehensive' through to 'Nothing in this category' - have a look at the definitions). Users are as interested to know what your library does hold as they are in what you don't.

Discussions/Feedback received this week

Over the passed 10, or so, days feedback has been received from many people from the Library community as a result of the discussions posted to the FLIN-L discussion list. This feedback was very encouraging, so we thought we would share some with you in the hope that it will also encourage you to use ALG and share your comments and suggestions with ALG Administration.

“For the libraries on this list I suggest that you check ALG and ensure that you are there, that the data is accurate, and look into the possibility of taking over responsibility to keep it up to date yourself.”

“I am impressed with the ALG so far and I appreciate how difficult it must have been to get this going as the Information Science Section of ALIA put forward a proposal to ALIA for just such a searchable database at least 12 years ago… Our idea was that a central searchable database could then be used to spin off specialist printable directories instead of everyone pushing their own barrows. So I am delighted that finally someone has succeeded and I am sure it will become a better and better resource as time goes by. Congratulations to all concerned with ALG!”

“Quick and easy to use, easy to update (as long as you don't lose your password!).”

“The site is very impressive and links to other sites most useful”

Easter Break

Just a reminder: due to the Easter break (this long weekend, 2-5 April) any requests/messages sent to ALG Administration after c.o.b Thursday 1 April (EST) will not be attended to until Tuesday 6 April.

Staff of ALG Administration would like to wish you a very happy and safe Easter!

What was news ...

18 March 1999 | 4 March 1999 | 18 February 1999 | 4 February 1999 | 21 January 1999
7 January 1999
In 1998

Last modified: October 01 2004.