Within Robertson Library, advances in library automation continued to bring efficiencies and improvements to areas including acquisitions, lending services and cataloguing.

Installation of a security system meant patrons’ books no longer needed to be checked on exit.

With changes to the Australian Copyright Act in the early 1980s, the Library's busy photocopying service moved towards a self-service model.

WAIT Library ventured into serious, if small scale, publishing in the area of library studies.

Staff answered over 39 000 client enquiries in 1989 and some 7 200 students participated in the Library’s education programs.

Personal computers were introduced for staff use, providing word processing and email functionality.