Notices
State Records Office update - important changes in retrieval times and location of the SRO Search Room.
Late last year, an email was circulated from SRO regarding imminent changes to the retrieval times. From 7th January 2020 archives retrieval times - whether from onsite or offsite storage areas – was only available for use in the Search Room at 12 noon for each opening day being Tuesday to Friday. Requests placed before 4pm are available the next working day at 12 noon. At this stage, there is no change in the number of records available to clients each day – being up to 10 records held onsite and 10 records held offsite – only the set delivery time. Requests for archives can be made online through registering as a researcher via the SRO's catalogue and SRO encourages clients to search the catalogue and place requests in advance. Requests can also be made by telephone on (08) 9427 3600 or in person at the SRO during opening hours. No retrievals occur on weekends or public holidays. The SRO's catalogue also allows clients to place orders for digitising archives. The SRO is available to receive feedback from the public about this change in retrieval times by emailing: sro@sro.wa.gov.au.
In addition to the changes in retrieval there is also a proposed change of location for the Search Room of SRO. Damian Shepherd, Director of State Records Office, responded to a letter from our President Jenny Gregory regarding the proposed changes to the location for the Search Room. The letter went some way to clarifying the scope of the proposed change and also indicated that further consultation is proposed with customers and staff.
In brief, the Battye Library and SRO search rooms will be co-located in the Battye Library mainly with the aim of enabling researchers to access relevant archival material from a single location. Other potential advantages being promoted by this move includes:
to provide greater access to SRO searching aids and reading room facilities than is available with the current opening hours
improve customer service by facilitating a better exchange of knowledge and experience between State Records Office and State Library staff.
The proposed change will only effect the location SRO Search Room. No changes to the respective roles and responsibilities of the SRO and State Library and their staff are planned.
Planning for this change will be jointly managed by the SRO and State Library and is intended to be completed by the end of April 2020. Customers and staff of both services will be consulted and informed about plans as they are developed over the coming months and arrangements will also be made to seek ongoing feedback and regularly review and refine the service into the future.
Mr Shepherd has made an assurance that the SRO will provide further updates to History Council of WA as the project proceeds which we will then pass on to all our members. However, in the meantime members who would like to provide feedback and suggestions directly to the SRO can send an email to sro@sro.wa.gov.au.
John Douglas Kerr Medal of Distinction for Research and Writing Australian History
Deadline for entries is 31st March 2020.
Nominations are open for the John and Ruth Kerr Medal which is awarded by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland and the Professional Historians Association (QLD) each year for distinction in research and writing Australian History.
The renamed medal – formerly known as the John Douglas Kerr Medal of Distinction – recognises the combined contribution of both John and Ruth Kerr: John as an historian and statistician, Councillor and Honorary Librarian of The Royal Historical Society of Queensland, and as a founder and Honorary Treasurer of the Professional Historians Association (Queensland) and Ruth for her work in historiography, her contribution to community and academic history in Australia, and the major role that she has played in the RHSQ Society for over 50 years.
Details of the award are available on the Royal Historical Society of Queensland’s website at: