Summary of Session Four

LIBRARIES AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
Convener: Assoc. Professor Dr. Dincho Krastev

Presenter: Krassimira Anguelova, University of Sofia, “Integrative Contacts of Academic Libraries in the Information Society”

  I would like to start on a pessimistic note but I will become more optimistic in the course of this presentation. We are trying to be in the same boat. Today academic libraries world-wide are living through dramatic changes. All these factors are important for libraries. Libraries should take advantage of this unique chance to exert a leadership role in the new electronic world. On the one hand, management, and on the other hand, the exchange of information. Plays a role in selecting and organizing information. What is the role of the information of academic libraries. Challenges our academic libraries have to face: political, outdated legislative structure that is out of sync with the market economy. The academic libraries are also subject to a number of economic pressures. The lack of funds in Bulgaria, forces the leading academic libraries to act as archives rather than leaders in the new electronic age. Growing trend toward libraries offering consulting and advising services to the university administration and external clients. This can help generate revenues. This is an example of how these libraries are taking on new functions. However, many things that are accepted in libraries in other countries are still novelties in this country. Over the past 10 years, we have had a successful relationship with the Open Society Foundation. Challenges to the libraries are the need to integrate with the market economy. Bulgarian libraries are still not providing a number of important functions such as content providing and summarizing. We need to have more effective communication between the libraries, scholars, students and others. To become centers providing both training and services. The interlibrary cooperation which has a tradition in this country needs to expand. We need to exchange information electronically. In conclusion, I would like to express my optimism at the prospect of overcoming challenges. Bulgarian academic libraries should come t the realization that the best approach to these challenges is to cooperate, to share resources and professional knowledge and to work together to establish standards.

Commentator: (Student) Doesn’t this produce conflicts with other stakeholders?

Response: Yes, there are conflicts such as conflicts with publishing houses when libraries provide the capability of copying materials. There are other conflicts too, for example with commercial electronic information providers.

Commentator (Lars Leon): President of KU is starting discussions about the publishing model whereby faculty provide content to publishers for free and the publishers then turn around and charge money --- why not have faculty work together to share resources without going through the publishers?

Response: We are providing very humble efforts to provide content that can be shared. We cannot afford to have high quality content providing services.

Commentator (Terry Weech): There has to be a fundamental change in academic culture. He is pessimistic about this because of the long tradition of using publications in prestigious journals as a basis for tenure and promotion.

Krastov: Privatization has failed. Example: Internet lines fail, and the company that provides the service tries to promote the analog lines over the digital option.

Commentator: I want to express anger with some comments expressed. The library should not be in conflict with other information units. I would like for us to think in terms of cooperation rather than competition.

Presenter: Associate Professor Dr. Alexandra Dipchikova, St. Cyril and Methodius National Library, “New Information Technologies and the Challenge before Catalogers in Bulgaria”

I would like to start by expressing support for my colleague who just spoke and her emphasis on cooperation. I noticed that speakers focused on particular types of libraries. I do cataloging. This is the area where we are dependent upon cooperation within the system. Who are these questions addressed to? Are questions addressed to users who are unaware of what’s involved in cataloging? Are they addressed to library administrators? To others within the libraries who perceive cataloging as boring and routine? It’s important to understand the dynamic nature of the librarian’s activities. Catalogers are aware that automation will transform their work. Early efforts in this direction did not lead to successful results but further efforts have been made. Over the past two decades, catalogers have achieved 3 things: (1) created bibliographic and control stock to put into the network; (2) built online catalogs at individual libraries; (3) perfected the Mark format. The catalog is a critical factor if libraries want to make progress. The concerted efforts of catalogers and software experts have led to good results. We need to catch up, to overcome the lag between our catalog system and the rest of the world in order to meet international standards and integrate, connect with the rest of the world. Wherever we work in cataloging, there are lots of regulations. This corresponds to the vast Internet ocean and the potential it offers. One of the challenges facing librarians is to take advantage of the Internet. The conversion of the card catalog to an electronic catalog has been a quiet revolution. Library catalogs could be a channel through which Internet information could be organized. We need to use the strategy of the search. The issue of cataloging images and related resources such as medieval manuscripts is an important one. We need to integrate metadata of information resources. We need to emphasize training for library professionals, including lifelong learning and interdisciplinary studies, for example the study of computer science. 

 

Presenter: Gordana Ljubanovic, City of Belgrade Public Library, “The Building and Infrastructure of the Serbian National Library”

First, I was thinking about the term “infrastructure” and what it means. Merriam Webster dictionary definition: The underlying foundation.

  1. Social

  1. Economic

Library structures/networks follow local structures. On the international level, there are all kinds of examples of joint projects. NGOs and related “third force” organizations are not well known. Librarians have trouble making their way through these organizations to find funding. We need skills in this area.

  1. Human

Referred to a painting by Vasili Kandinski--a white diamond on white background --- subtle  --- like the  invisible human infrastructure. Invisible, but not less precious

  1.   Technical

Interoperability

  1. Professional.

Respecting  -----> <---- Defining

Fast Libraries of Serbia (building on the metaphor of Fast Train of Serbia, which really isn’t fast --- representing projects that are not successful. This is an ironic analogy. There has been an attempt to build a library network in Serbia--that effort began in the 1980s. At the beginning of the 90s, the system fell apart, which continues today. Only individual library systems exist, such as the Library of Belgrade. Libraries have decided not to “wait for Godot” any more and are banding together to try to develop networking initiatives. In addition to public and private libraries, there are now NGO libraries. The former administration had a very antagonistic attitude toward them, thus they are not included in the recognized library infrastructure. This is changing. Nothing is stable in Serbia these days. But there is a positive attitude on the part of the managers of the NGOs.

  Professional requirements and training need to be considered.

 

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
Convener: Professor Jitka Hurych

Presenter: Elena Janakieva, St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library, Bulgaria, “Reference Services and the Internet”

During the 1970's electronic catalogs were developed; in the 80's catalogs were stored on CD-ROMs;  and in 90's the catalogs have been moved to the Internet. The Internet has a revolutionary impact on library service. Bulgarian libraries have difficulty using electronic technologies; they are not as advanced as other countries. They are influenced by the work of U.S. colleagues.

Changes in society pose new questions. How do you find information? How do you build stock and provide access to this stock? In 1997 one of the VPs of the Disney company said that we should have a clear goal for our work to set our methods. The role of libraries is to serve people and their success is measured by service. Reference service acquired new meaning and importance in recent years with the rise of the Internet.

Some proponents believe that the need for service is declining and don’t need the librarian as a mediator. Librarians are not aware of the contents of the Internet. Some say that information services in libraries are dying out. Other proponents say that librarians as filters of information will continue to be important.

Successful service results in more use of libraries. Requirements for all librarians have increased, especially for libraries providing electronic reference services. Whatever technologies are used, requirements of professionals remain. Different models to service appeared. Basic service has not changed radically. Differentiated servicing provides a variety of information services which provides less trained staff at a desk who can refer patrons to professional staff for more complex questions. Some libraries provide team work in providing information service. Provision of remote access is not a service; some libraries provide e-mail reference service.

It is important for administrators to continuously assess information service and to assess the training of librarians. Bulgarian librarians feel the need to offer new services but they have a fear and lack the equipment to offer electronic information services. Only good interaction among librarians can provide positive results.

What is the role of librarians in the new electronic information environment? Personal assistance to the user is still important. The role of the librarian as mediator does not diminish in the new information environment. As expert consultants aware of information sources, librarians can provide what is sometimes called “information therapy.” Many libraries are trying to provide remote service but we get to the participation of a librarian. In the future, the role of librarian as mediator will be preserved. It is another question how well librarians are prepared for this role. Let’s not forget that no matter how we develop reference services, it is still the role of librarians to help patrons locate, evaluate, and use information successfully. Bulgarian librarians lag behind in technologies, yet the level of service is still good.

The model of differentiated staffing has been used in Bulgaria since the 1970s. Our Internet experience is only a couple of years old.

Question: What is the role of the type of library providing service? I believe that the mission will determine the service. Is there a distinction in level of service in the literature

Response: The model of differentiated service is most appropriate for academic libraries. This model is universal.

Comment: Would like to support the speaker. The issues she articulated are accurate.

Question: Have you implemented service by appointment?

Response: Not sure what you have in mind by appointment. In reference service as organized here, the issue is to divide according to expertise of the reference librarians.

Question: Do librarians have double degrees? Can a patron make an appointment with a librarian just as they would do with another type of professional?

Response from audience: A library school faculty member gave example of a model in which the university librarian does just this.

Presenter: James Van Roekel, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Sam Houston State University, “Electronic Books: Portable Access to Digital Information”

Several examples of e-books are described with their unique features. Other content that the devices can store--Project Gutenberg began in 1971. Idea was to give access to books in electronic form. The documents are formatted in ASCII format, which enables storage is a much smaller space.

Ability to read web pages is a critical capability of e-books because some publishers are publishing only on-line. Another service is that of Net Library, which allows 24-hour access to volumes which can be checked out on an Internet browser. Net Library has made agreements with many presses to provide access to electronic books. Advantages: search by phrase, key word, author. Software is being developed for Palm Pilot and Windows CE to enable portability. A related device is electronic Ink.

We can expect many changes and dropping prices in the future. The value added is the ability to download and use at any time and place. Then the digital copy can be cleared when the user is finished.

Presenter: David Thomas, General Manager, Gale Group, “Reference Information Delivered via the Internet--the Gale Group Strategy”

Gale Group is owned by Thomson Corporation, a Canadian Company, now including Macmillan and Saur. It is a primary publisher of reference material, periodicals, full text newspapers, and technology.

Gale Group works extensively with consortia. They will accommodate each consortia’s procedures and can assist institutions in creating consortia. They have a flexible approach and many models to suit all consortia.

He described Gale Group’s key databases--Expanded Academic International, InfoTrac One File, General Business File International, Custom Newspaper Database (new since 1997), Literature Resource Centre, Biography Resource Centre, History Resource Centre, Student Resource Centre. Resource centres are cumulations of collections, periodicals, and reference materials.

InfoMark is the ability to bookmark or cut and paste whatever you do in InfoTrac into an email or your own web applications. The URL’s will not change, so applications can be built and the links will work years from now. Any page capable of an InfoMark is marked. Can create online course packs using this accessory.

Gale can integrate databases into a library. They can incorporate database content into a library’s programs. For students, they have a fast and effective way to retrieve essential information.

Question: Do you include publications in languages other than English?

Response: In Expanded Academic International, everything is in English except a few journals in Spanish. Will soon include a few journals in German. The plan is to include more foreign language journals in the future, including Chinese and Japanese.

Question: Could you elaborate on the applied sciences that you provide information on?

Response: Databases are approached from an academic perspective. Everything is from a general student level. Gale does not provide specialized indexes or databases, but Thomson does.

Questions: What is the pricing of your products?

Response: Pricing is flexible. They understand that some countries do not have the budget of countries like France or the UK. Prices are decided by region.

Question: Do you allow free opportunities to use databases for educational purposes.

Response: They use trials to show products to faculty members for 30-90 days.

Question: Does Gale Group have a bibliography of databases?

Response: Gale does publish a directory of databases for about $500 (subscription). They are moving away from offering databases on CD-ROM and moving to the web. Few libraries want the CD-ROM format.

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