Report from Central Asia: How Electronic Resources Are Reshaping Libraries in Kyrgyzstan,Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,and Tajikistan

The “Digital Trends and the Global Library Community” column examines technological advances internal and external to libraries. The focus is on how technology is changing the way services are provided to users, the methodologies used in the provision of those services, and the resulting scope of responsibilities of libraries and parent institutions. Interested authors are invited to submit proposals and articles to the column editor at marta.deyrup@shu.edu. Please include “IILR Submission” in the header.     

Trip Report: Moscow and Krasnoiarsk,Russia, October 1–12, 2010

In this article, the author describes his participation in a conference in Krasnoiarsk on Gennadii Vasil'evich Iudin; in a meeting in Moscow on the Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii Collection of color photographs; and in a meeting on Russian émigré publications at the Russkoe zarubezh'e [Russian emigration] library in Moscow.     

Sofia 2006: Globalization,Digitization, Access,and Preservation of Cultural Heritage: A Conference Report

ABSTRACT

The article summarizes the fourth biennial conference on library and information science in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2006. It was the largest of these conferences ever held, with 225 participants, mostly from Central and Eastern Europe. Topics covered included digitization, LIS education, document delivery, preservation, and many more. The authors express concern about whether there will be a Sofia conference in 2008. Much more funding will be necessary.     

Current Trends in Research Resources from Russia,Eastern Europe,and Eurasia: Implications for Reference Services and Resource Sharing

ABSTRACT

In the last 20 years, national, regional, and academic libraries and other cultural institutions in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia have introduced subject portals, research databases, journal repositories, digital collections, research guides, and indexing resources, which scholarly communities outside these regions rely on to advance their research portfolios. In order to address the significant developments in scholarly communication and the proliferation of academic content, this article discusses recent trends in online research resources and strategies for incorporating these resources into research consultations. In addition, as these extensive networks of online resources continue to proliferate, possible models for collaboration with national and regional libraries are needed to strengthen existing partnerships with Slavic librarians outside these regions.     

Shaping the professional landscape through research,advocacy and education – an Australian perspective

This article is the first in a new series in this regular feature. The intention of the series is to look at important global developments in health science libraries. Librarians will be invited to share with HILJ readers key initiatives in their country or region. These articles should serve as a road map, describing the key changes in the field and exploring factors driving these changes. We initiate this series with an article by three Australian librarians who use research findings to depict the evolving professional landscape in their country. The starting point of their analysis is a report completed in 2011 which looked into likely future workforce and education requirements for health library professionals. The authors trace the achievements since then, most notably in the areas of research, advocacy and education. Clearly, a great deal has been achieved leading to a greater return on investment. The authors maintain that the key to shaping the profession and enhancing the status of librarians is ongoing professional development. To this end, Australia is promoting a systematic, competency based health specialist certification. Finally, they identify trends impacting on health librarianship, such as the growing importance of research data management and consumer health literacy. JM     

Slavic Approval Plans: What Works and What Doesn't

ABSTRACT

The paper looks at library approval plans for material published in Slavic, East European, and Eurasian countries from the selector's point of view. Reasons why a selector would or would not want one are examined. Success with approval plans requires monitoring receipts, as well as good and ongoing communication among the selector, the acquistions department, and the vendor. A preliminary list of vendors offering approval plans for the countries of the region appears in the appendix.