Hands up who knows about the National Library of Australia eResources Card?
That’s ok, I admit that I didn’t know about it until recently, and I have Shauna Hicks to thank for enlightening me the real value of the card during several of her talks on the recent History & Genealogy Cruise.
So lets start with what does a National Library of Australia eResources card do?
Having one of funky little cards allows you to not only request collection items for use onsite in the NLA reading rooms, but also (and more importantly) it gives you access to a wide selection of resources that the NLA subscribes to. These allow you to locate indexes, full-text ejournals, newspapers, websites and guides. Divided into easy categories: Arts & Humanities, Asia Pacific, Biography, Business & Commerce, Communications & Media, Encyclopedias & Dictionaries, Genealogy, Law & Politics, Librarianship & Archives, Science & Technology, and Social Sciences. The information here is useful to a wide range of people, including local historians, social historians, family historians and genealogists.
But how can I get one?
Ahh this is easy. Simply log on to http://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources/ and click on the “Not Registered? Get a Library Card” in the top righthand corner, and follow the prompts.
What will is cost me?
They say not much is free these days, but I can assure you that this one is. Cards are valid for two years, and can be renewed.
So who can apply?
To be eligible for a eResources library card you must live in Australia and supply an Australian residential address. International visitors can apply for a temporary onsite card when visiting the National Library in person.
Still not convinced? Some of the databases you can view online are …
When trying this out, once logged in I clicked on the Browse Category, and then on Genealogy (of course!!), and up pops a list of 151 Resources. Now I’m not going to list all of these for you … I need to leave something there for you to discover, but here is just a few as a taster of what is available …
Australian Resources
AIF Project
Assisted British Immigration: Index to Registers of Assisted British Immigrants 1839-1871
Australian Censuses and Musters
Australian Medical Pioneers Index (AMPI)
Chinese Naturalisation Database 1857-1887 (New South Wales)|
Convict transportation registers database
Divorce Index, Victoria 1861-1900
Free Passengers to NSW 1826-1837
Historical Death Index (A.C.T.) 1930-1973
Historic Maps Index (Northern Territory)
Index to Assisted Immigrants, 1848-1912 (Queensland)
Index to Census Records 1837-1857 (Tasmania)
Index to passengers arriving at Fremantle, Perth Airport and outports, 1898-1978 (Western Australia)
Queensland Government Railway Index to Staff Records 1878-1946
Overseas Resources
Index to Immigrants to Australia from the Netherlands 1946-1991
Irish Newspaper Archives 1768-recent
Irish Transportation Records
London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes
New Zealand Burial Locator ver 1.
New Zealand Marriages 1836-1956
Origins Network
Times Digital Archive [1785-1985]
The NLA have kindly provided a short intro video to the eResources and what it offers, which says (and shows) it better than I can. But I bet a few minutes after reading this blog post, and after watching this video you’ll be signing up … and I guarantee you won’t be sorry.
I have a eResources Card and it’s handy to have to get access to extra resources if needed. I’ve used the Times and the NZ records with success.
I am putting up my hand! I agree though it is the most under “advertised” gem for AU geneaology lol Although I know the potential I have not yet utilised it!
I have already subscribed, and about to embark on the vast array of websites that can be accessed using the eResources Card. I’ll keep you posted.
I also have a Reader’s card and in the past have found it very useful for things like overseas newspapers which you would otherwise have to pay for.
Alona, just to clarify for readers of this blog, many of the resources you listed are actually free on the internet (without the card). Yes, they appear on the NLA site but are actually just links to the websites referred to (I recognise them because I use them). For example:
AIF Project
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/index.htm
Assisted British Immigration: Index to Registers of Assisted British Immigrants 1839-1871
http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/indexes/index_search.asp?searchid=24
Australian Censuses and Musters
http://members.iinet.net.au/~perthdps/convicts/census.html
Convict transportation registers database
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/fh/convicts
Chinese Naturalisation Database 1857-1887 http://www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/naturalisation.htm
etc…
Symbols next to the resources tell which of the 3 ways they are available -1. Websites freely available on internet; 2. Licenced resources (available by logging in with your library card); 3. Onsite resources (like CD-ROMS).
Thanks for explaining how to obtain this card and what’s available on eResources. I’ve tried for months, and now just must negotiate registering with the NAA – an horrendously circular and difficult process.