There are also hundreds of photographs showing Australia during the 1950s. The requests for photographic reproductions of paintings, drawings, lithographs and original photographs come in all forms. Today's sophisticated electronic communications now make it possible to maintain a reliable, efficient and rapid turn-around time for all enquiries, in direct contrast to the 1980s, when every letter had to be typed and the response often took some days to reach its destination. The reference team in the Pictorial Section numbers four. However all Pictorial staff members undertake some reference work by doing at least four hours a week in the Pictorial Reading Room .
Many Pictorial clients are researchers who require images to illustrate articles or books.
Most readers have an academic or literary focus but the section also caters for others, such as those engaged in genealogical research. Between June 1998 and the end of January 1999, the section answered 3496 user inquiries.