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Pamela André Michal Demeš Tomaz Bartol Aino Kuik Marcela Chrenekova Ilona Dobelniece Ivanka Demireva Ivo Hoch Ctibor Perlin Krystyna Kocznorowska Participants Time schedule Photo documentation < Back |
CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY LIBRARY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Ivo HOCH Director, Central Agricultural and Forestry Library Institute of Agricultural and Food Information Slezska 7 12056 Prague 2 CZECH REPUBLIC Phone: 42-2-24255074 FAX: 42-2-24253938 e-mail : ihoch@uzpi.agrec.cz The Central Agricultural and Forestry Library in Prague was connected to INTERNET in December 1996 to improve the quality of tibrary serrices. International cooperntion was under way, including thc fulfilling of the Joint Program of Cooperation. Automated holdings processing was in progress. Currently main problem has gone on being absence of a complex automated library system. l. Change since Round Table V. The basic change, which will influence the library activities particularly in future, was connection of the Central Agricultural nnd Forestry library to the INTERNET at the end of 1996. By this the library was given a possibility of being involved more closely in international cooperation. We use the INTERNET possibilities to improve the quality of our services provided to users, especially for searchers processing within the framework of providing reference services and retrieval of information sources not contained in our library. Connection of most of large libraries in the Czech Republic to the INTERNET enables to realize international loan program (serviccs) more effectively than it was in the past. Further we use the INTERNET to acquisition and coordination in complementing the library holdings and to periodicals with other agricultural libraries. Within internntional coooperantion we consider using the INTERNET for our users within the international network of agricultural librariess AGLINET. Currently our home page for www is prepared as well as there is expected to make accessible a part of thceldings of our library being automated processed. Automatic processing has been under wny. At the cnd of 1996 the Central Agricultural and Forestry Library was enabled to have a share in the union catalogue of the Czech And Slovak Library Information Network (CASLIN project) owing to the fact that its catalogue records have been procesed of high quality. It means, that some ilbray accessions will be available through the INTERNET within the mentioned union catalogue. 2. International cooperation The Central Agricultural end Forestry library continued its work by implementing its tasks requested from the mcmbership in AGLINET. Annually the Library deals with about 30 requirements from libraries involved in AGLINET, especially requirements from Belgium, Denmark, Belorus, Spain, India, USA and other libraries shared in the Joint Program of Cooperation. We also began to use more the possibilities of AGLINET services for our users both for professionals of the Institute of Agricultural and Food Information, whose part the Central Agricultural and Forestry Library is, and for cexternal uscrs. Present lower usage of AGLINET services is in particular caused by so far incompleted transformation of agricultural research in the Czech Republic. We helieve that further impulse for better use of library holding, within AGLINET will be connection to INTERNET. Further the Central Agricultural end Forestry library has developed its internatinnal exchange of publication within the Joint Program of Cooperation and with libraries and information centers world-wide. We go on meeting our tasks resulted from a function of a depository library of FAO for the Czech Republic. The head of the Central Agricultural and Forestry Took active part in AGROINFOS 96 Workshop in Nitra giving a lecture on the library activities within the FAO Progam. Last year we managed to disseminnate more usage of CD-ROM, especially in the field of inforrmation sources acquisition. We prepare to use some full text and multimedia CD-ROM (e.g. Marine Mammals of the World from FAO) and provide them to our users. Expansion problem of this services a lack nf suitable technical equipment. 3. The main problems of tbe Central Agricultural and Forestry Library. The main problem of the Central Agricultural and Forestry Library continues to be (besides a lack of financral funds) absence of a complex automated library system. At the library the holdings are catalogued in the system CDS/ISIS. In last few years, in particular relating to the CASLIN project sponsoredred by Mellon Foundation many libiaries have agreed to adopt one of automated library systems. In the Czech Repulic the TINLIB sysrem is much widespread in the academic sphere, the basis of the CASLlN project forms the ALEPH system. Unfortunately a high price of the mentioned systerms prevents our library from applying therm. TINLB system is applicd in accademic sphere with discount and aduption of ALEPH system at social-scientific libraries of the Czech Republic was sponsored hy the Mellon Foundation. Unfortunately the Central Agricultural and Forestry Library is neither academic library nor a social scientific one, though these advantages are not applicable on it. We are trying to solve this problem by cooperation with libraries of agricuitural universities. Further problem of our library concerns bookstacks. In this respect situation looks hopefully, because the library seems to be assisted in this matter by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic. We have heen given an obligatory promise that we can begin to finish the new building of library bookstack. Owing to the fact that currently the library holdings are located on 5 places in the Czech Republic, their concentrntion would bring incrcease in quality and rationalization of our work. 4. Conclusion. Last year the Central Agicultural and Forestry Library went on meeting its basic miission - full complying with information nccds to users from agriculture despite limited factors continuing to be obstaclcs irr its work. This year is expected to be a year of a change, which shnuld signify new phase of library activity. The library is supposed to be further involved in international cooperation through the INTERNET, which should in particular benefit our users. We also believe that in the end we succeed in insallation of an automated library system. I hope that our conditions in other spheres will also be gradually met and the Central Agricultural and Furestry Library will contribute its share to international cooperation of agicultural libraries. |
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