This metadata is harvested monthly by the National Library, and stored in XML in a single, searchable index. By using the same standards, Dublin Core metadata and XML, separate online collections can be searched and accessed by a single web portal. The PictureAustralia system is scalable and more institutions will be participating over time. Searching for images using PictureAustralia is fast and straightforward. Most exceptional is the variety of collections which may be accessed in a single search.
Trails are groups of images gathered from the collections which relate to specific themes.
They are designed for casual users, or those who do not have a specific search in mind. Simple and effective, PictureAustralia can become a model for a new breed of museums sites which allow access to many collections simultaneously. Its successful use of standard metadata and XML demonstrates how these tools can effectively coordinated and implemented on a cross-institutional basis to meet the demands of users. A Reference Model and Assessment Tool , written by Kimberly Barata, Piers Cain, and Dawn Routledge. The work's primary focus is on financial records and it is principally oriented towards the governments of developing countries, but its carefully articulated foundation on basic recordkeeping concepts makes it interesting reading for many audiences.