The service, Electric Library Australasia, provides real-time access to content from a variety of media sources including newspapers and newswires, magazines, reference collections, television programs, photographs and maps.
Users enter search queries in plain English and receive results in seconds.
Based on a US service', Electric Library Australasia incorporates local information to ensure users do not end up with an American-centric view of the world. This enables rapid search and download times. The trials have been organised by Australian information provider Infosentials, which has licensed the service from Infonautics. Infosentials managing director and former TV journalist Michael Schildberger said he expected most of the organisations trialling the service to purchase a subscription. It is a service that has much to offer anyone undertaking research.