The National Library of Australia’s Building in Canberra Celebrates 50 Years

From The Canberra Times:

In many ways the National Library is the same as the day then-prime minister John Gorton cut the ribbon on the grand marble building 50 years ago.

But now, it has robots.

Fifty years ago the only way to view or use the collection was to walk into a reading room. Today the process can be completed online and the material gets to take a ride on a wheeled-robot affectionately called Isaac.

The library has four automated delivery robots that whiz around the cavernous lower levels of the building transporting material to and from the stacks and the reading rooms.

[Clip]

While robots traverse the basement of the library more than half a million people visit it’s upper levels each year.

The 50th anniversary marks the library moving into its home in the grand building that director-general Marie-Louise Ayres attributes a lot of it’s success over the years to.

Read the Complete Article, View Images

See Also: Listen: adio Program: National Library of Australia Has Stood on the Shores of Lake Burley Griffin For 50 Years (via ABC)

See Also: National Library of Australia “Open Day” Info

See Also: A Brief History of the National Library of Australia

See Also: National Library of Australia Facts and Figures

See Also: The Wonderful “Trove” Online Database From NLA