The Social Science Data Archives (SSDA), located in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University, was set up in 1981 with a brief to collect and preserve computer-readable data relating to social, political and economic affairs and to make the data available for further analysis. Data sets resulting from research by academic, government and private organisations and individuals have been deposited in the Archives, and further deposits are actively sought. In this way the results of research, costly in both financial and human terms, are preserved for future use, rather than lost or destroyed. In addition to its acquisition and distribution activities, the Social Science Data Archives has established a library of reference sources to data collection activities in Australia and will endeavour to locate and obtain relevant data for researchers. Reference materials cover the data collection activities of Commonwealth and State government agencies, major polling organisations and individual researchers.