EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA

       Objectives and scope of the workshop

The workshop will provide an opportunity to exchange the practical and scientific experience and opinions on the state and trends of institutions relating to FAO (National AGRIS/CARIS Centres and Depository Libraries). The following agricultural information specialists were invited:
- representatives of Ministry of Agriculture of the Slovak Republic
- representatives of FAO
- representative of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD)
- professionals from national agricultural libraries and information institutes from Central and Eastern Europe
- representative of European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, EFITA - professionals from Slovak research institutes, forestry and food libraries

FAO delegate the director of Library and Documentation Systems Division and representative of Subregional Office for Central and Eastern Europe.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

        Documentation

Basic papers relating particularly to the subject of the workshop are expected to be prepared by nominated FAO experts and representative of IAALD The basic reports will be presented at the session on the first day of the workshop - Tuesday, November 26, 1996. They will concern the basic areas of cooperation with FAO (AGLINET, FAO Depository libraries, FAO Publications and ways of obtaining FAO literature, etc.). Authors of basic reports will be invited to present their papers at the session on Tuesday, November 26. They will be asked not to take more than 10 minutes to present their papers. In case they would like to hand over their papers to the workshop participants they should bring 50 copies (with them) for distribution. To make their presentation as lively as possible, authors are encouraged to use the audio-visual facilities available.

        Country reports

In addition to presentation of FAO experts the representatives of National AGRIS FAO Centres, Depository Libraries and other invited guests will speak about their experiences. The papers will be presented in session in the afternoon of Tuesday, November 26. Since the main content of the workshop should be the discussion and exchange of experience, and opinions on the main topics, authors of papers will be invited to highlight the contents of their papers taking no more than 6 (max. 8) minutes to do so. Authors of basic country reports and voluntary papers should follow the guidelines provided in Appendix II basic reports will be published in the proceedings of the workshop. All country reports allowing a clear reproduction will be included as well. Reports should be issued in one of the two offcial workshop languages (English and Slovak) with a summary in English. They will be distributed to the participants of the workshop. It is requested to send them on diskette written in WinWord 7.0 (6.0) or Word Perfect, together with one printed copy not later than September, 30 to the following address:

   Michal Demeš
                          Institute of Scientific and Technical Information for
                          Agriculture
                          Samova 9 95010
                          NITRA
                          SLOVAKIA

       Videos, slides and transparencies

The following audio-visual aids will be available: video system (VHS, PAL/SECAM System), 35 mm slide projector and overhead projector. Participants wishing to show videos, slides or transparencies are requested to give the necessary information on their registration form (title, length of projection time and format, etc). A place for a possible poster session will be available at the workshop.

         Languages

Simultaneous interpretation into and from the workshop languages (English and Slovak) will be provided during the workshop. Language assistance will be provided during study visits.

         Place of the workshop

The workshop will be held in Nitra. Sessions will take place at the Agroinstitute of Nitra, Akademicka 2. Study visits will be organized in Budapest and Vienna.

            Arrival of participants

The participants were asked to indicate mode of transport and time of arrival in the registration form.

Arrival in Nitra is expected at about 7 p.m. After arrival, supper will be provided and registration for participants will be organized. For participants who will travel to the workshop by car, the organizers will send an orientation map. In the case of different means of arrival, or if you have any further wishes or needs, do not hesitate to contact the organizers:

Michal Demeš                                               Tatiana Kobidová
tel.: +42 87 522 185                                       tel: +42 87 522 185
fax: +42 87 525 275                                       fax:+42 87 525 275

E-mail: uvtip@nr.sanet.sk                    E-mail: uvtip@nr.sanet.sk

Departure

Departure of participants, with the exception of those who will take part only in the first day, is on Friday, November 29. It will be arranged separately according to their plane and train departures.

       Costs for accommodation, board and participation

The registration fee for the workshop is 140 USD per foreign participant.
The registration fee includes:
                                             - accommodation (four nights)
                                             - full board (including dinner on Monday, November 25,1996 and
                                               breakfast on Friday November 29)
                                             - refreshments (coffee breaks)
                                             - study visits (Budapest, Vienna)

Total expenses will be $ 12,000 and include:

                                              · accomodation and meals - $ 6500
                                              · excursions and meals in Vienna and Budapest - $ 1100
                                              · organizational expenses - $ 4400

FAO provides financiall support by the amount of 3.000 USD for covering of organizational expenses and travel expenses of eight participants from Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Poland and Romania .

Payment arrangement

Participants from the Central and East European countries will pay a registration fee of 140 USD. The participants are requested to remit the fee by bank transfer not later than September 30, to the following address:

In order to simplify formalities, participants are requested to send a copy of the transfer order. In special cases it will be possible to pay the registration fee in cash at the registration desk. It is necessary to indicate clearly such an intention in the registration form sent in time to the organizers.