1003.0 - LEP Newsletter (Issue No. 49), Aug 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/08/2004   
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LEP and university libraries - Supporting research

Do students know that they have a great range of ABS statistics @ their fingertips through their universities? ...That these can be used as evidence to back up arguments in their assignments? ...That ABS statistics are a valuable resource - both as a research tool, as well as an aid to sensible decision making in their personal and professional lives?

University librarians have long had a role in promoting information literacy in their institutions. They are in an ideal position to contribute to students' being able to locate, identify and use ABS statistics as a resource, strengthening their statistical information literacy skills. And the LEP is there to support its 98 university member libraries with a range of complimentary ABS products, as well as advice and training for library staff.

And there's more...

Most universities also have access to additional ABS services:

AusStats
The AusStats web service is provided through a special arrangement between the ABS and the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee. Staff and students have free access to a huge array of ABS statistics in AusStats:

    • all ABS publications from 1998 in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format
    • over 2,000 spreadsheets of economic and social data
    • Multidimensional datasets - data cubes
    • 1996 and 2001 census data
CURFs
No, they're not warm, cuddly creatures! They're Confidentialised Unit Record Files which provide a valuable, rich research resource for staff and students of many universities under the ABS/AVCC Confidentialised Unit Record File Agreement.

Using ABS material responsibly
Data obtained using AusStats or CURFs may only be used for research and teaching and is not to be used for commercial or income generating purposes. Not sure about ABS copyright or "fair use" issues? Visit the CURFs web page, or contact the ABS Tertiary Client Management section on (02) 6252 5853.

Check out the Web pages for Universities
Comprehensive information for universities appears on the ABS web site. Visit the Services for Universities web page to find out more.