17 Gippsland Campus Library
17.1 Major Initiatives
Gippsland Library Staff Web Page.
Apart from the Gippsland Library Homepage, which is meant for users, a Gippsland
Library Staff Homepage, providing information for library staff at Gippsland,
was established. The contents include: `What's New', database usage statistics,
details of usage of the Gippsland Library Homepage, links to other pages of
library interest, contact points, reference desk material, and systems
information.
CD-ROM Network.
There has been an extension of the OVID system to provide access to selected
databases on campuses other than Gippsland. The CD-ROM databases specifically
for Gippsland Campus use will continue to be known as GILBERT (GIppsland LiBrary
ElectRonic Tool). Compendex (an engineering database) and Wilson Humanities
Index were added to GILBERT in December, to increase the subject coverage of the
local CD-ROM network.
Technical Services.
During the year many Gippsland Technical Services procedures were changed to
bring them into line with practices at Clayton. These included down-line loading
(involving significant staff retraining and changes to work flow, procedures and
duties of staff), closure of the shelf list for new items added to the
collection, microfiching of Gippsland theses and use of standard 'Monash'
barcodes as from January, 1997.
Open Learning library services.
The Gippsland Library was responsible for the coordination of library services
to Open Learning students from 1993 to mid-1995. From mid-1995, new arrangements
were implemented by the Open Learning Agency, but the Library as a whole
continued to be a major provider of library services to Open Learning students,
both in on-campus and off-campus mode. However, the University of South
Australia has been designated by OLA as the sole provider of library services as
from 1 March 1997.
17.2 User Education
Cooperative Training - As a cooperative venture between branches,
Patricia Naish (Biomedical Library), Averil Dent (Caulfield Library) and Jacqui
Conn (Gippsland Library) combined to provide uniform Internet training to
academics and general staff in Psychology.
Training Facilities - The facilities in the Reader Education
Room were improved by the purchase of a visualiser and by installation of a
ceiling-mounted screen and downlights.
17.3 Acommodation
Until the new building is completed, space in the existing library will be very
inadequate. Certain sections of the collection are already on the floor, in the
absence of sufficient shelf space. Little used materials which have been boxed
and placed in storage, will not be available for access until space is available
in the new building. The 'Library Portable' has now been relocated in
anticipation of the work for the new building, and the curriculum resources
collection will be transferred there shortly, to provide space in the library
for the reference collection, formerly housed in the 'Portable'.
17.4 Acquisitions
The collection of the former State Electricity Commission Technical Library at
Morwell was transferred to the Gippsland Library. It has been agreed that the
material will not be kept as a special collection, but will be integrated into
the library collection or the collection of the Centre for Gippsland Studies.
Approval has been given for the disposal of items surplus to requirements. The
collection is being stored in a room near the Library, and selection of items
for the Library is proceeding.
|
