Copies direct: an innovative service from the National Library of Australia

Abstract

One of the great challenges for the National Library of Australia is to enable individuals, whatever their institutional affiliation, and wherever they are, to access copies of material from the collections. Copies direct was developed to enable online ordering and payment for copies of material, regardless of format, and has already increased use of the collections. This is consistent with the Commonwealth GovernmentOnline strategy, based on developing more and better services online to overcome barriers of distance and access and to meet more effectively the real needs of individuals, organisations and enterprises. Through online access Australians are better able to obtain services from agencies, in this case access to their national documentary heritage. This paper describes the development of the service, its technical infrastructure, issues considered in its development and includes a report on an evaluation undertaken in 2004.