Six Australian libraries, led by the University of Western Australia, have collaborated to build a national database of finding aids - electronic guides - to 86 collections of Australian literary manuscripts. The Encoded Archival Description (EAD) format will form the basis of this service, with national guidelines and a national training strategy being developed to promote its wider use.

The RIEF Project is believed to be the first significant collaborative use of the EAD format in Australia and is intended to serve as a demonstrator site, as well as providing a service in its own right for researchers in Australian literature. The database will greatly enhance access for researchers to consistent and detailed information about collections of Australian manuscripts. It will significantly enhance the value of existing Australian and international research infrastructure in this field.