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National Library of Australia

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ALG for researchers

Some suggestions of ways researchers might use the Australian Libraries Gateway:

  1. 'Find a library' - basic contact details for all libraries including street/postal address, location map, email address, phone number (including TTY), hours of opening and staff directory.
  2. Find all the libraries of a particular type in an area (eg all the university libraries in the ACT, all mobile library services in the Central Western NSW or all the law libraries in Central Metropolitan Perth). Or even ... find 'All' of the library types all over Australia or the farthest flung Australian libraries (eg those in the Australian Antarctic Territory or in Useless Loop, WA).
  3. Find all the libraries who claim to have strong collections in a specific subject area - use the subject search and/or search subject comments for those libraries who haven't done a full collection assessment via the 'Advanced search' option. Read the definitions for the subject collecting levels and tell someone if you find a library's stated levels a little suspicious ...
  4. Plan library visits - including, for example, use of email and online reference services, remote catalogue checking, download maps, check access for disabled, exploration of a library's own website from the Gateway.
  5. Explore other directories, for example of manuscripts and archives, oral histories, archives, museums and the wider Australian cultural sector.
  6. Check a library's collection development policy - what a library's collection includes and what their collecting intentions are.
  7. Search an individual library catalogue or the catalogues of a group of libraries via the Web or telnet session - find alternative locations for material.
  8. Find libraries and library catalogues overseas.
  9. See what a librarian can do to help - find out about inter-library lending or even send a reference enquiry.
  10. Easily identify key collections of Australiana within Australia then find out more by searching within the library catalogues etc.
  11. Do picture research for your own publications, family history or other research via online image collections and online exhibitions.
  12. Tell ALG Administration about libraries to be added to the Gateway.
  13. Find out about dial-up catalogue services for a particular library (explore the options within 'Advanced search').
  14. Find out about Australian library suppliers and bibliographic agents for distribution of your publication/s.
  15. Build your own mailing lists.
  16. Find all the 'Family/local history' libraries in a specific regional or major capital city metropolitan area.

Please let us know how you use ALG to your best advantage.

Last modified: July 28 2004.


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Last updated: 26 May 2000