What's new?

In this term's mailout you will find:

• Term 2 Topic List Update
• Infocus order form
• Topic suggestion form

The May Infocus Update includes new items on the following topics:

• A nutritional analysis of Australian Aboriginal bush foods (Items 2248 - 2249).


• Various family law issues feature in this terms new legal studies items, including articles about domestic violence, the debate surrounding the concept of double jeopardy and one article on Circle Sentencing complete this term's Australian law items (Items 2250 - 2261).


• Items on international law issues include a detailed analysis of Australia's implementation of the Rome Statute, the Tokyo Women's Tribunal and legal reform in China. We have also included an article on internet fraud and another on the status of refugees in Australia (Items 2257 - 2261).


• The latest Hot Topics title is Children & families (Item 2283). This replaces Hot Topic 26 with the same title.


• Those studying the Modern History National Study "Russia/Soviet Union 1917-1945" will be interested in the article on Alexandra Kollontai (Item 2272).


• Three new items have been added to support Studies of Religion: Sikhism (Items 2280 - 2281) and Taoism (Item 2282) are both Interest Studies for the Stage 6 HSC course.

This Update focuses on Ancient History and includes 10 new articles on the subject (Items 2262 - 2271). Specific topics covered include

• The role of women in Ancient Egypt, from royalty like Cleopatra and Hatshepsut to ordinary Egyptian women and their place in society (Items 2267 - 2268 and 2270 - 2271).


• The life and legacy of the Pharoah Akhenaten (Item 2269)


• The culture of the Spartans (Items 2264 - 2265)


• Cyrus the Great and his impact on Ancient Persia (Items 2262 - 2263).

We have added another item on Scott Monk's novel Raw which deals with a young boy's experiences in a detention centre (Item 2277).

On the topic of individuals in institutions, we have also included supplementary items on the life of New Zealand author Janet Frame whose autobiographical novel An angel at my table describes her experiences in psychiatric institutions (Items 2273 - 2274).

For an updated listing of articles related to The Journey, follow the links from the Infocus homepage: www.infocus.sl.nsw.gov.au - What's new -The Journey Or you can simply do a keyword search for "journey".

Infocus has two reviews of The Fifitieth Gate by Mark Raphael Baker this term (Items 2278 - 2279). In our research we came across the following web sites that could also complement your reading of the work. The first is an enlightening interview with the author about the writing of The fiftieth gate. See

www.harpercollins.com.au/authors/author_interview.cfm?ISBN=&Author=0000641

As well, McKenzie Wark lectures in Media Studies at Macquarie University. His review of The fiftieth gate is located at the following web address

www.media.mq.edu.au/mwark/warchive/Australian-HES/cs-baker-gate

Having trouble finding information on a particular HSC topic? Let us know at Infocus where we can search the State Library's vast collection of books, journals and newspapers and consider including your topic for the next update. Topic suggestion forms are included with each update but don't forget you can also phone, fax or email us.

The Infocus team has the capacity to visit members throughout the state and indeed we like to do so, as it's a great way for us to enhance our understanding of how we can best meet your needs. If you're planning a district or network meeting, and would like a presentation from us about State Library services for schools, including Infocus and iSELECT, please let us know. While we can't guarantee we can meet every request, we will certainly try to. Meetings with English teachers and teacher-librarians in Dubbo on May 12 are being planned as this issue of Close Up is being written.

For an online glimpse of the State Library's current exhibitions, visit www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/

Look out for an upcoming exhibition which highlights the presence and contribution of French residents in NSW since 1788.

Vive la Difference! The French in NSW
When? June 7 - September 19 2004
Where? The Picture Gallery

Long the most popular foreign language taught in Australian schools, French was also spoken by many educated and influential Australians. Launched in Sydney in 1893, The Courrier Australien remains the longest running foreign-language weekly newspaper in the country.

A replica of The Courrier Australien will soon be available for Infocus members. Its contents will be drawn from various significant periods in Franco-Australian relations. The articles will be in a mix of French and English and will include side-by-side translations and photographs. We'll have more details for you next term.

Infocus contact details

Infocus: linking people and information
State Library of New South Wales
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: 02 9273 1519 Fax: 02 9273 1248
E-mail: infocus@sl.nsw.gov.au