Guide to the VTHC Library
Contact DetailsVTHC switchboard: (03) 9659 3511
Fax: (03) 9639 1689
email: info@vthc.org.au
Public website address:
http://www.vthc.org.au
The VTHC Library was established in 1984 with the aim of providing information services and research support to VTHC staff and affiliated unions, and to assist the VTHC to convey information on union issues to the wider community. The VTHC and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) operated a Joint Library from August 1998 until 2002, when the ACTU withdrew from the amalgamation.
The current Library is located on the ground floor of the Lygon Street wing of the historic Trades Hall Building on the corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton South. Some collections, including Federal awards, law reports and OECD publications, have been relocated to the ACTU Offices at 393 Swanston Street.
What is in the Library?An industrial and legal reference collection, including looseleaf industrial law updating services, company and general reference works on Australian and international industrial relations, economics and trade union journals. The most relevant articles are indexed on the Library's Articles database, including:
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Selected Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publications
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An excellent monograph collection of approximately 5000 books and government and university reports covering union and industrial relations issues
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Subject files and "hand out" collections on current issues
The Library also manages the archival collections of VTHC Documents and Publications and a Special Collection from the Trades Hall Council historic nineteenth century Library
Accessing the LibraryThe Library's primary client groups are officers and staff of the VTHC and personnel of trade unions affiliated with the VTHC.
Researchers, students and members of the public may use the Library for reference purposes. As the Library is staffed part-time, it is preferable to ring first for an appointment. The Library does not loan directly to individuals apart from VTHC staff and personnel from affiliated unions, but loans can be arranged through the inter-Library loan system. The Library charges external users for photocopying.
The Library maintains catalogues and indexes to its collections, which can be searched by Library users.
Library catalogues and indexes to all material held to the end of 1999 are available on the ACTU Online Internet site at http://www.actu.asn.au/public/library/
(A password is required to access this site which is restricted to primary client groups). It is hoped that access to up to date catalogues will be reinstituted.
