Soldiers with access to the Defence intranet can now make use of an on-line information service that provides a wealth of information of specific interest to Defence members.

Entering the portal to increasing knowledge

The Defence Library Service (DLS) Portal allows Defence intranet users desktop access to things like electronic databases, library catalogues, news sources, electronic publications and research assistance.

Assistant Director ElectronicLink Iain Brown said the portal was intended to be the way the DLS did business.

"We devised a goal to move to the Defence intranet as a way of doing business because the number of physical library sites and staff had been reduced," he said.

"The portal is a way of using the intranet to extend our reach to clients who no longer had direct access to a physical library."

With the modernisation of the method of access to information, the information resources were modernised to maximise their use to clients.

"What we've done is bring together on the desktop, access to information resources in static form such as word and pdf documents with services like interactive forms, applications, research management and a full-blown electronic learning environment."

Information available includes regularly updated documents on issues of interest to the Defence community, on-line journals such as Jane's publications, Internet research resources and reference tools such as dictionaries and encyclopedias.

The portal supports a publishing model that allows authorised DLS staff to contribute and maintain information on the site, which is then approved by an authorising content manager for publication.

"We want to take it much further down the 'personalisation' road - the ability for users to register on the site and create their own image of the site, integrating their own selection of information, resources and services,"he said.

Any Defence member with access to the Defweb can make use of the DLS portal by going to http://library.dcb.defence.gov.au