URN_NBN_SI_DOC-SJFHMJSD

This free access is not happening in Australia. The major source of computerised information for Australians is DIALOG. Excellent as it is, DIALOG has a bias towards North American and English-language data­ bases. There is virtually no access to the large number of European databases. Australian technological information, then, is based on Ameri­ can technology, or on other technologies as perceived by the American system. Another problem in Australia is that we have profound difficulties in communicating with our neighbours. Many Australian scientists and tech­ nologists can read French, or German, or Italian material, perhaps with difficulty but well enough to cope if the subject is familiar. However, very few people indeed can read, never mind understand, the Asian languages used by our neighbours. This difficulty is further exacerbated by the Australian wish to be published overseas. Australia has few important scientific and technologi­ cal journals. Yet many foreign journals have little space for Australian work which, therefore, goes unreported overseas and fails to find its well-earned place in the databases. Communication within Australia is not easy, because of the distances between the major cities, and between the institutes of learning. Perhaps the situation will ease in the next few years, with the expected advent of a Very Fast Train service which wjll reduce the travelling time dramatically. The paper concludes with an optimistic comment that Australian librari­ ans are keen to co-operate and hope that the future will make it both more profitable and of mutual benefit to their colleagues in other countries. 36 Knjižnica. Tematska št. IA TU L 1989