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The CSIRAC Program Library
Image: Don Beresford at tape punch keyboard
Source: Museum Victoria
The CSIRAC Program library consisted of tried and tested paper tape programs and sub-routines (sections of programs).
A wooden "pigeon hole" cabinet was located on the program preparation desk in the Computation Laboratory and used as the storage location for the Program Library. The library programs were numbered and stored in individual cardboard boxes. The Library only contained 12 hole paper tapes.
The Program Library was built up in order to make the writing of programs more efficient. The Library consisted of previously written, tested sub-routines or programs designed to perform common functions. Programmers could incorporate copies of required library sub-routines, like building blocks, into their own program. This avoided the necessity of each programmer having to create new sub-routines for common functions every time a new program was developed.
The Library was started in 1956 and was added to on a continuous basis until 1964.
Official CSIRAC Library Tapes were identified with an extra line of holes, and were kept in labelled boxes.
Many tapes were produced by users but were not part of the official Paper tape Library. They were left in the Library Pigeon Holes for convenience. A number of tapes did not have any identification and are listed as unknown. 'T#' was used to identify tapes. The CSIRAC History team in the 1990s found tapes inside tapes; these were given suffixes eg T001.1
John Spencer was creator and sole user for all tapes in the range T800 to T893 (except tapes T807 and T849 to 854 inclusive).
Tapes numbered T>800 are dated 1959-1964.
Programs and sub-routines related to the teleprinter were written up to and including 1960.
Programs and sub-routines related to the flexowriter were written after and including 1959.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 1 - 50) 428 items
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Keyboard - CSIRAC Computer, Program Preparation Area, Editing 12 Hole Paper Tape Punch,195 ...
Keyboard, part of the program preparation equipment for CSIRAC (previously CSIR Mk 1). The keyboard was used to edit 12 hole paper tape. Initially, the CSIR Mk1 used punch card techno ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Paper Tape Reader - CSIRAC Computer, Program Preparation Area,12 Hole, 1955-1964
12 hole paper tape reader used in the off-line program preparation area of the CSIRAC computer. Positioned on right hand side of desk, opposite to where the console reader is positione ...
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 0 -
Paper Tape Reader - CSIRAC Computer, 12 Hole, 1955-1964
12 hole paper tape reader used with CSIRAC computer and located on left hand side of console. Small metal tray at one end is the front of the reader, and faces the user. The large inb ...
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Base Plate for Manual Editing - CSIRAC Computer, Program Preparation Area, 12 Hole Paper T ...
Prototype plate to be used for manually editing 12 hole paper tapes by making more holes if necessary. The plate is a prototype made by the workshop at CSIRO Division of Building Resea ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
No Image Available
Manual Editing Equipment - CSIRAC Computer, Program Preparation Area, 12 Hole Paper Tape,1 ...
Manual editing equipment for 12 hole paper tape used with the CSIRAC computer, consisting of a metal plate and a punch. The punch is attached to the metal plate by a chain. The comple ...
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Paper Tape Punch - CSIRAC Computer, 12 Hole, 1955-1964
12 hole paper tape punch used with CSIRAC computer.
From: Sydney, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Pigeon Hole Unit - CSIRAC Computer, Program Preparation Area, Paper Tape Library, 1955-196 ...
Upright open-fronted timber unit with 96 compartments (or pigeon holes) for storing CSIRAC computer paper tapes, 66 of the holes are filled with labelled (mostly numbered) cardboard bo ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape Library - CSIRAC Computer, 1955-1964
Collection of 12 hole paper tapes used for input to CSIRAC. They comprise the original program library tapes, tapes of work in progress by Computation Laboratory staff and tapes from o ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Primary & Control, T004, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The Primary & Control Program was used to enable a program to be run on CSIRAC. The c ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Tape Symbol Punch, T002.1, 1959-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The program provided a means of displaying the instructions in a computer program in a ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Gamma Function, T123, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This tape has two sub-routines, each a self contained unit designed to carry out a spe ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Exponential, T121, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This tape has a sub-routine, a self contained unit designed to carry out a specific ta ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Logarithim Base Two, T120, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This tape contains three sub-routines, each a self contained unit designed to carry ou ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
Paper Tape - 12 Hole, CSIRAC Computer, Tape Symbol Punch (5-hole ), T002.2, 1959-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The program provided a means of displaying the instructions in a computer program in a ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Floating Binary. Basic Arithmetic, T300, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This is a sub-routine, a self contained unit designed to carry out a specific task wit ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Floating Binary Interger Ops., T302, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Bessel Functions, T126, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Sterling Coinage Analysis, T150, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This is a program tape. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Random numbers, T151, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Runge-Kutta Integration, T510, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This is a program tape. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Sine, T104, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Tangent, T101, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Sincos, T103, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Integer prints, T030, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Positive integer prints, T031, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Integer prints, T032, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Integer prints, T033, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction prints, T034, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction prints, T035, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction prints, T036, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction prints, T037, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction prints, T038, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction inputs, T010, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Integer inputs, T011, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Check print, T012, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Input numbers with check sum, T013, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fraction input with check sum, T014, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Print, Scale of 32 & 8, T039, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Angle Prints, T040, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Floating Binary Arith. Ops I & O, T300a, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Sterling prints, T041, 1955-1960
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Square root, T080, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Square root, T082, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Cube root, T083, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Fourth root, T084, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Optimization 12A 14/11/62, T849, 1962
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. This is a program written by Dr R.W. Muncey of CSIRO Division of Building Research fo ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Reader Test Loop, T006, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Teleprinter Test, T007.1, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Primary facilities tests, T008, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
No Image Available
12 Hole Paper Tape - CSIRAC Computer, Store Test, T009.1, 1955-1964
Paper tape, part of a collection of paper tape programs and sub-routines used for input to CSIRAC. The collection includes the original University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0
