The Age Library

Staff at the Age Library

The Age Editorial Library was established in the early 1960s but was not staffed by trained librarians until the 1970s. As with newspaper libraries around the world the library’s major collection is of newspaper clippings arranged using a homegrown subject-heading system. Six years ago the library established an electronic full-text retrieval system using BRS Search retrieval software. Last year NewsLink, a system developed for John Fairfax by Digital Information Systems, was introduced giving much more powerful access to a wider range of electronic data. In the wake of this new sophisticated system the clippings files were closed off in July 1996 when the journalists were given access to NewsLink on their desktops.

The library’s goal is to provide information services to the Editorial staff of David Syme & Co and other Fairfax publications. NewsLink, the in-house database system, gives access to a wide range of Australian newspapers which the journalists can search on their own PCs. The library also offers access to information (from newspapers and other sources) from a wide range of online services, Australian and international. The library provides a seven day service, from 8am to 11pm.

The clippings collection covers from the early 1960s to July 1996. Much of this collection is in off-site storage but is available at an hour’s notice. There is a small book collection with an emphasis on encylopaedias, dictionaries and directories of various types. The are also sections covering journalism, Australian history and biography. The small collection of journals emphasizes journalism and current affairs.

Annual reports from Commonwealth and State government departments are kept along with selected other government reports and a collection of ABS publications. The library holds a complete run of The Age on microfilm and keeps the current state electoral roll on microfiche. Over the past few years a number of resources have been purchased on CDROM.

The electronic data produced by the library is sent to external clients such as Reuters and Ausinet and is used to produce The Age on CDROM and other CD products, such as The Age Issues in the News. The library’s data, both clippings and electronic, is also used by Fairfax Research, an information service provided to business and other clients.

The library staff are involved in two main activities:
· the maintenance of the electronic database, which involves the subject classification of most articles and the provision of this data to external clients such as Reuters and Ausinet. This needs good computer skills and attention to detail as well as a grasp of the principals of subject analysis.
· the provision of an efficient and prompt reference service. This requires a broad general knowledge and an ability to work under pressure.

The Age Editorial Library
5th floor
250 Spencer Street
Melbourne 3000

Library Manager:
Frank Prain 9601 2806
fprain@theage.com.au
Fax: 9670 1059