Information Development

Aims to suggest approaches that can be applied to close the digital divide between Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the rest of the world, including the provision of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, access to ICTs and the development of appropriate content and information literacy skills. Identifies some international initiatives to develop ICT infrastructure and proposes the development of telecenters, techmobiles and technology resource centers, and the use of the ‘old boy network' or ‘past students' associations’, to provide access to digital technology. Identifies the need to create Internet content in African languages, developing African language keyboards and conduct needs assessments of local users. Makes proposals for training teachers to teach information literacy skills, involving libraries in information literacy skills development and instituting mass information literacy programs. Concludes that implementing these approaches to closing the digital divide calls for strategic interventions by governments.

Reviews the development of UNESCO's CDS/ISIS information retrieval software over the past ten years, including the impact of the Internet, the development of CDS/ISIS for Windows and CDS/ISIS for DOS, efforts to provide continuing support for the software and the implementation of international standards in CDS/ISIS. Refers to the work of the late Giampaolo Del Bigio in developing the software. Discusses the roles of CDS/ISIS User Groups and distributors and training programmes. Notes that CDS/ISIS on CD-ROM is still useful in organizations without adequate Internet access. Identifies the available software documentation and the relationship between CDS/ISIS and integrated library systems. Discusses the future of the software and concludes that ‘CDS/ISIS deserves to survive since it enables less wealthy institutions in any part of the world to join the information society'.

Comparison of motivational preferences of the staff of two university libraries in Ghana indicates that age groups and professional positions of the workers in a survey determine their motivational factor preferences. Respondents from the two sites have different motivational values. Different strategies are therefore required to motivate the workers and it is suggested that library managers avoid the assumption that what motivates them motivates the employees as well.

India presents a good example of the applications of information and communication technology (ICT) for other developing countries. Presents case studies of three state-sponsored and two corporate initiatives in India dealing with ICT applications in: the E-Seva e-governance project in Andhra Pradesh; the online ticket booking facility at Indian Railways; online student counseling in educational administration; the E-choupal information services for farmers provided by Indian Tobacco; and telemedicine at Apollo Hospitals for facilitating delivery of quality healthcare services to people in remote areas. Concludes with recommendations on policy aspects to be considered by other developing countries.

Currently, 13 Malaysian e-journals are found on the Web. Focuses on the Electronic Journal of the University of Malaya (EJUM),which hosts the ejournals Malaysian Journal of Computer Science (MJCS), Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science (MJLIS),and Journal of Problem-Based Learning (JPBL). EJUMis modelled for uniformity in terms of searching, retrieval and display of search results. Independence is ensured for each journal in terms of editorial policy, style of publication and content. Through EJUM, academic publishers can be involved in electronic publishing. Publishers are able to archive older issues, automate the editorial and refereeing process, and receive subscribers' access reports. Users have varied search and retrieval options and a profiling service to alert them of new articles. This host allows refereed journal publishers to ‘park' within the system free of charge.

Describes the development of the major cooperative electronic networks or consortia among academic libraries in Southern Africa: Gauteng and Environs Library Consortium (GAELIC); Free State Libraries and Information Consortium (FRELICO); Cape Libraries Cooperatives (CALICO); Eastern Seaboard Association Libraries (ESAL); and South Eastern Academic Libraries' System (SEALS), all concentrated in South Africa. Also discusses cooperative activities in the region of the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) and the eIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) Direct Project. Describes the strategic importance of the (South African Bibliographic Information NETwork (SABINET) for cooperating libraries, and the formation of the Coalition of South African Library Consortia (COSALC). Advises academic and other libraries to embrace the concept of cooperative electronic networks in order not to lose their relevance, but notes that the sustainability of such projects can be a problem due to resource constraints.