A new search interface is being developed, focusing on Australia, Australians and items found in Australian collecting institutions.  The National Library of Australia’s Single Business Discovery Service (SBDS) will be a single point of access to resources currently searched separately through the websites and catalogues of NSLA Libraries. Later, this service will also link to the resources of the National Library of New Zealand.  Check it out now! 

The primary purpose of this first prototype version is to develop the technical framework. NLA is seeking feedback, ideas for improvement, and input into the design of new features from a wide range of people.  Heading up this project, on behalf of NSLA and Re-imagining Libraries, are Warwick Cathro with Debbie Campbell at the National Library of Australia.
 

The Australian Newspapers beta site is now available and attracting great feedback and use. It is a fully searchable database with 5.5 million fully searchable articles from
historic newspapers and more being added every day.  It shows both the scan of the original newspaper and the OCR text version. This “optical character recognition” has an error rate and people are invited to correct any errors they find as they read and use the text. In the first 6 months of beta release, 2 million lines of text in 100,000 articles were corrected by the public and 46,000 tags were added to articles. Try it yourself! 

On 25 July 2008 the Australian Newspapers Beta service was launched to the public. It is a free online service that will enable full-text searching of newspaper articles published in each state and territory from the early 1800s to the mid-1950s. The first Australian newspaper, published in Sydney in 1803, is included in the site.  Long term, the Australian Newspapers beta service will be integrated into the Single Business Discovery Service also in development at the National Library of Australia.
 

The Do it Now! project is all about initiatives that can improve services immediately.  The two items currently in focus are free wireless broadband in all NSLA libraries, and new copyright messages in plain English, so everyone knows what they can use and how they can use it.  Have a look!

This project is about giving users the freedom to work with the device of their choice in the environment of their choice.  NSLA has developed a set of principles for the provision and implementation of wireless services in libraries. Free wireless broadband without registration or other barriers is already available in most of our libraries.  Copyright communications are the second focal point - using plain English to ensure users understand where, when and how they can use our content. It will lead to clearer communication about copyright restrictions and what they really mean to the user.
 

Vicky Carlyon, State Library of Western Australia
Project Manager, Project 4 – Delivery

I’ve been at SLWA for four and a half years now in a variety of roles, working on specific projects and as a Public Library Liaison Librarian. I enjoy the statewide focus of working at the State Library and the continual need to be innovative in the way I work to empower colleagues, clients and myself.

One of my first jobs was as a chimney cleaning tout… progressing to a biscuit factory chain, climbing store, a BSc, followed by a diploma in teaching which led to teaching in diverse places such as Greymouth, NZ, the Falkland Islands, Tower Hamlets and Kalgoorlie.

I started a MSc Applied Science (Library Studies) on arriving in Australia in 1998, and combined study with part time and later full time work. There was much celebration from the whole family when the Masters was finally completed.

The pile of books by my bed includes The Slap, The Story of Ferdinand (a favourite from childhood), The Week Magazine and The Cloudspotter’s Guide.

When I’m not working I try to stop our golden retriever puppy digging up the entire garden (I’m failing) and enjoy life with two rapidly growing teenage sons. We love camping in remote parts of WA, walking, exploring wild beaches, desert skies at night and my “you must do this” cry at the moment is go swimming with the whale sharks if you get the chance!