FEATURE ARTICLE

2007 Year Book Australia out Now!
As ever, the Year Book is a user-friendly publication that can be the starting point in answering a myriad of queries that come across your library's reference desk. Don't forget the 2007 Year Book along with earlier editions is available free in full text in the 'Statistics' section of the ABS home page. The Year Book can help all sorts of library clients. School students will find it full of well presented accessible information whilst researchers appreciate it as an introduction to Australian statistics.

As the principal reference work published by the ABS, it provides an excellent overview of the statistics that we gather. The Year Book also contains background information about the statistics to enable them to be put into a readily understandable context. Descriptive information about various aspects of Australia, such as the environment, government and health and welfare systems are also included.

As this year is the 100th anniversary of volunteer surf lifesaving in Australia, one of the main feature articles of the Year Book celebrates this icon of Australian culture. The other main article, on Australians in Antarctica, includes fascinating information about Antarctica's history and Australia's contribution.

Other articles address issues on the Antarctic theme such as Antarctic tourism and Fishing in Australia's Antarctic waters. There are also articles about matters such as retirement and retirement intentions and life satisfaction and measures of progress.

Year Book Australia 2007 provides a great starting point for answering many questions from students and researchers.

Tip: to access previous editions of the Year Book (or any ABS publication) on the web, click the Past & Future Releases tab.

ABS at Information Online 2007
Over 1000 delegates from all over Australia and New Zealand attended the Information Online 2007 Conference, held at Darling Harbour in Sydney from 30 January to 1 February. Large numbers also visited the ABS exhibition stand, taking the opportunity to talk with ABS staff about ABS data and services. The ABS also ran a product session on 'Census: a taste of what's to come' which gave attendees a view of upcoming Census 2006 products, including CData, which will replace CLIB and be available free online.

It was a great experience to meet and talk with library and information professionals from all types of libraries, and thank you to all who visited the ABS stand and gave us valuable feedback.