Consultations on Australian National Bibliography (Added 30 June 1998) Edited from original notice posted to NIAC-L, 30/6/98. The National Library of Australia ceased publication of the Australian National Bibliography at the end of 1996. Since that time files of Recent Australian Records have been made available each month on the National Library's ftp server (see http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/auspub.html for details). The Library is currently consulting with users about the usefulness of these files, and is attempting to draw up a statement of user requirements for the national bibliography which will better meet their needs. The statement below has been developed by a group of state, university and special library representatives, and the NLA now seeks wider comment on the issue. All comments are welcome, and should be directed by Friday July 10 to: Sandra Henderson Manager National Bibliographic Publications National Library of Australia shenders@nla.gov.au or Fax: 02 6273 1180 Statement of Requirements for Australian national bibliography Drafted 24 June, 1998, By Sandra Henderson (NLA) in consultation with Warwick Cathro (NLA), Sue Moir (State Library, NSW), Beth Reece (LISWA), Joyce Searle (State Library, SA), Tony Beale (NT Library Service), Anne Robertson (State Library, Qld), Janet Thorp (State Library, Tas.), Penny Scott (State Library, Vic.), Roxanne Missingham (CSIRO), Ann Miller and Margot Hyslop (La Trobe University). Target groups. While selection librarians are the primary target group for a national bibliographic product, other users include researchers in libraries, bibliographers of the future (who use it as a record of Australian publishing), and library management who may use the product as the basis of statistical analyses of collection development achievement. Content. The product should include all published Australian items, which are those available to the public free or for sale. This includes CD-ROMs and other physical format electronic publications, Internet publications, and video and sound recordings. The information provided about each item should include classification number, subject headings, title, statement of responsibility, publisher, place, date, format, state of publication and ISBN/ISSN. Price and availability information is also useful. A national bibliographic product should not include unpublished or restricted access material, theses, ephemera or standards. Legislation (Acts, Statutory Rules, Bills) should not be included. For ease of use, it may be appropriate to have a separate listing for films and recordings (both sound and video), and for Internet publications. "Australian items" should include those published in Australia and those published overseas which have significant Australian content or which are by an Australian author. Format. For ease of searching an electronic version is preferred. The search facilities should include being able to restrict a search by format, type of material (such as government publications), subject, date and state of publication. It is important to be able to browse the list in Dewey order. The need for a paper version needs to be established. While this is a convenient format for scanning, it may be more efficient to ensure users of an electronic version are able to easily print all or part of that e-version according to local needs. If a searchable version of the file is made available on the Web, with flexible search facilities and print options, a complete paper listing would not be necessary. There may be a case for a CD-ROM, cumulating over three to five years, to serve as a permanent record of national publishing. Further information: >>Australian National Bibliography (NLA website) >>Recent Australian Publications (NLA website)

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