This article emphasises the importance placed on libraries since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China: their role as a link between government and people, their economic and political functions and importance in relation to modernisation. The Shanghai Public Library is an outstanding example of China’s commitment to libraries in the context of social construction.
Against the background of China’s long cultural history, this article provides a Western view of Chinese libraries in the 1990s, including efforts to practise more “open door librarianship”. It surveys the national library system, the National Library of China, public libraries, research libraries, ISTIC, universities and colleges, school libraries and professional associations and LIS education in China.
Based on a survey administered to 36 information professionals in Vietnamese libraries, this paper discusses progress in the implementation of IT in the library and information sector. It describes a number of emerging networks and services with potential for further development. In addition there is discussion of weaknesses in service provision, and a series of suggestions as to how the situation might be improved, particularly through more detailed IT training for librarians.
Computer technology in libraries has revolutionised the concept of rapid and accurate information services. In Pakistan, though, computer technology is new and is being successfully introduced in all types of libraries and information centres. This article reviews the literature on the use of computers in Pakistan’s libraries. The literature includes monographs, journal articles, reports, etc. published inside and outside Pakistan, discussing information technology, specific library applications, the activities of individual libraries and automation education. The need for library automation and the problems faced by Pakistani professionals in this respect are also discussed.
This paper investigates the current state of libraries in Vietnam through a descriptive study of selected sectors: public, academic and special library services. Attention is also devoted to the government’s development initiatives with regard to libraries.
Describes the objectives of the universal availability of publications programme and reviews recent work. Reports on current activities and projects in which the programme is active and reiterates the interest of the office in becoming involved in further types of work which help promote the ideals of the UAP programme.
The Internet is full of resources on China and Chinese studies. However, many new users are often overwhelmed by the vast amount of information on the Web. This paper is to offer a starting point for inexperienced users interested in finding information over the Internet on Chinese culture, art, language, literature, history, philosophy and current affairs, etc. It focuses on the World Wide Web resources only, and choices of entry are selective rather than exhaustive.
This article investigates the renaming of departments of library and information science (LIS) in China in the 1990s. It analyses the technological, economic, social and government factors which affect education for LIS in contemporary China. Problems facing education for LIS in China are considered and suggestions made.
US and Chinese institutions recently concluded a co‐operative project to microfilm more than 3,700 titles of Chinese‐language monographs published from 1932 to 1945 ‐ the years leading to and including the Sino‐Japanese War. The books were all from the collection of Fudan University in Shanghai, which also undertook the filming with support from American partners. The project had three explicit objectives: to enrich the US collection from this period, to preserve the fragile monographs, and to build capacity within Fudan University for future preservation microfilming work. While successful in meeting these objectives, the project also offers many lessons for future co‐operation.
This paper describes the development of the Delhi Library Network (DELNET) and its various services. DELNET is a growing resource sharing service in the Delhi region, offering a range of products and services to facilitate the exchange of information among libraries.
This study presents quantitative analysis of 251 items contributed by 64 Pakistani LIS professionals culled from LISA‐PLUS. Volume of contribution, sources where published, periodic distribution, type of publications and topical coverage are dealt with in the analysis. Journal literature which represents 90.4 per cent of the citations is published in 43 periodicals, most of which are from the United States. However, more than half of the journal literature comes from one national journal. A wide range of topics is covered, but critical areas such as information needs, user education and collection evaluation receive very little attention.
This study is based on a survey of library personnel working in different academic libraries in Orissa. It determines the type of status these library professionals prefer, the criteria for evaluating their performance for promotion and salary, whether they prefer to be evaluated like teachers, and the input of faculty members in library matters. The study shows that 80 per cent of the professionals interviewed preferred academic status rather than faculty status. This means they prefer to establish their own ranking system rather than be equated with teachers. All university librarians, however, prefer to be assessed for promotion through an expert selection committee, as is the case for teachers.
This article describes the National Library of Australia oral history project, Post‐War Chinese Australians, its coverage, procedures and some outputs to date. The importance of community involvement in the project is emphasised. Its broader importance in leading to a re‐examination of the mainstream historical record is also highlighted.
As a South‐East Asian country developing a market economy, Vietnam needs a solid information infrastructure. Library developments will play an important part in this regard. This paper discusses issues relating to library infrastructure development. First, standardisation is recommended in the organisation of information. Then courses are suggested for Vietnamese library schools to adopt in their curricula. Finally the role of a proposed Vietnamese Library Association is discussed.
The purpose of this study is to describe the causes, nature, extent and effect of the influence of the American Library Association (ALA) on the development of modern Chinese librarianship from 1924 to 1949. This study was based primarily on documents located in the ALA archives, which houses the documents of the International Relations Committee of ALA. It was found that library development changed in China during the period by borrowing from American librarianship as conveyed by the ALA, largely as a consequence of the following: American library advisors or educators, such as Arthur E. Bostwick, Charles H. Brown and Charles B. Shaw, conducting surveys of libraries in China; an American library and/or a library school in China; projects for the encouragement of public libraries; fellowships granted to Chinese librarians for study in the USA; the establishment and operation of the CLA; and the Book Program to strengthen library collections during the time of the China‐Japan War.
New technologies in reference and information work place increasing demands on reference staff to acquire skills with the technology itself, to develop and evaluate new services and sources, and to train users in their optimal use. These demands for new skills create training needs among staff offering the services. This paper reports on a survey carried out in libraries in Guangzhou and Wellington that investigated the use of technology to provide information services in these libraries, the training that had been provided and areas where libraries felt there were still unmet needs for training. Although Chinese libraries were using a similar range of technologies, training programmes and needs varied between Chinese and New Zealand libraries.
This paper reports on a British Library‐funded project, Public Libraries, Ethnic Diversity and Citizenship. The project examiend how public library services have responded to the implications of ethnic diversity in the way that services are constructed, managed and reviewed. The findings, based on feedback from both information professional and community members, raise a number of difficult issues to be addressed by the public library sector in Britain, and the authors highlight these areas in their discussion.
