Antarctic aerial photograph collection (Added 10 July 1998 From NLA Gateways, no 33, June 1998.) Aerial photography of the Antarctic continent commenced after World War 2, when nations with interests in the Antarctic began to establish mapping programmes and produce maps — activities which continue through to the present day. In 1957, the proclamation of the International Geophysical Year saw the establishment of international stations and equipment on the continent. The following year saw the formation of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). This body has the responsibility of coordinating scientific activity in the Antarctic to support a greater scientific programme of considerable circumpolar scope and significance. Australia was one of the 12 founding nations along with Argentina, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA and USSR. Since then another five nations have been added to the list, with five associate nations. SCAR Australian Antarctic Territory Aerial Photograph Collection In February 1998 the National Library of Australia took over management of the Australian Antarctic Territory Aerial Photograph Collection, previously cared for by the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLIG). A similar collection is maintained by the Antarctic Division in Hobart. The collection consists of trimet Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) photography flown between 1954 and 1965 over Australian Antarctic Territory, and vertical photography executed during the 1970s. Both prints and negatives (diapositives) are represented in the collection. Some ERTS 1 remote satellite imagery of the territory is also included. The collection is supported by ground photographs of the Australian bases and their activities, together with ANARE reports issued since 1954. A collection level catalogue record has been prepared and may be found through the National Library's online database at the Internet address : http://ilms.nla.gov.au/webpac/. For those with access to ABN, the record’s rid number is abn98-107894. The collection complements the SCAR Cartographic Collection, acquired by the library from AUSLIG around three years ago, which constitutes the primary research collection of SCAR member countries mapping activity. This collection has also been catalogued at collection level and the record can be found at the same Internet address. Its ABN rid number is abn97-079373 Access to the collections To protect the integrity of the collections, interlibrary loan is not available. Access is restricted to use in the National Library’s Map Reading Room which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday, with the exception of public holidays. Assistance will be given to researchers wishing to locate particular material or to place photocopying or photographic orders from the collection. Negatives of the aerial photography have survived and orders for first generation prints may be placed through AUSLIG’s contract photography service agency, United Photo & Graphic Services. Enquiries about access to this collect-ion may be made to the Map Curator, tel.:(02) 6262 1280; fax: (02) 6262 1653; email: moconnor@nla.gov.au Further information: >>NLA Gateways (NLA website)

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