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I FLA
IFLA
JOURNAL
Offi cial Journal of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
Volume 35 (2009) No. 4, pp. 297–378. ISSN 0340–0352 SAGE Publications
Visit http://ifl .sagepub.com
Free access to tables of contents and abstracts. Site-wide access to the full text for members of subscribing institutions.
CONTENTS
Editorial: After Milan
Stephen Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
The President’s Page
Ellen R. Tise, IFLA President 2009–2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Electronic Book Collection Development in Italy: a case study
Agnese Perrone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Internet Use in Israeli Universities: a case study
David Beno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Libraries in Palestine
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Green Gift Plan: building small libraries in public places of Mazandaran Province, Iran
Hossein Noorani and Heidar Mokhtari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007): a bibliometric study
Bhaskar Mukherjee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
REPORTS
World Library and Information Congress, Milan, 2009: Opening Address by the President of the
Italian Library Association
Mauro Guerrini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
World Library and Information Congress, Milan, 2009: Address to the General Assembly by the President of IFLA
Claudia Lux, IFLA President, 2007–2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
NEWS (with separate Table of Contents) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
SOMMAIRES 372 — ZUSAMMENFASSUNGEN 373 — RESÚMENES 374 — Pефераты статей 376 . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Notes for Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
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IFLA Journal
Offi cial Journal of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
ISSN 0340-0352 [print] 1745-2651 [online]
Published 4 times a year in March, June, October and December
Editor: Stephen Parker, Apt. 1C, Edifício Rosa dos Ventos, Rua Rosa Parracho 27,
Cascais 2750-778, Portugal. E-mail: zest@sapo.pt
Editorial Committee
David Miller (Chair),
Levin Library, Curry College, Milton, MA, USA. E-mail: dmiller@post03.curry.edu
Sanjay Kumar Bihani,
Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, India. E-mail: alio@mea.gov.in
Filiberto Felipe Martinez-Arellano,
University Center for Library Science Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico. E-mail: felipe@cuib.unam.mx
Ellen Ndeshi Namhila,
University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia. E-mail: enamhila@unam.na
Ann Okerson (Governing Board Liaison),
Yale University Library, Sterling Memorial Library, New Haven, CT, USA. E-mail: ann.okerson@yale.edu
Omnia M. Sadek,
Library & Information Science Dept, College of Arts & Social Science, Sultan Quaboos University, Muscat - Oman.
E-mail: Omnia@squ.edu.om
Réjean Savard,
École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
E-mail: Rejean.Savard@umontreal.ca
Ludmila Tikhonova,
Russian State Library, Moscow, Russian Federation. E-mail: ltikh@rsl.ru
Christobal Pasadas Ureña,
Universidad de Granada Biblioteca, Facultad de Psicología, Granada, Spain. E-mail: cpasadas@ugr.es
Christine Wellems,
Buergerschaftskanzlei, Parlamentarische Informationsdienste, Hamburg, Germany. E-mail: christine.wellems@bk.hamburg.de
Wu Jianzhong,
Shanghai Library, Shanghai, China. E-mail: jzwu@libnet.sh.cn
Stephen Parker (Portugal) (Editor, ex offi cio)
E-mail: zest@sapo.pt
Publisher
SAGE, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC.
Copyright © 2009 International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. UK: Apart from fair dealing for the purposes
of research or private study, or criticism or review, and only as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Acts 1988,
this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in
writing of the Publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the
Copyright Licensing Agency (www.cla.co.uk/). US: Authorization to photocopy journal material may be obtained directly from
SAGE Publications or through a licence from the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (www.copyright.com/). Inquiries concerning
reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the Publishers at the address below.
Annual subscription (4 issues, 2010) Free to IFLA members. Non-members: full rate (includes electronic version) £210/$389.
Prices include postage. Full rate subscriptions include the right for members of the subscribing institution to access the
electronic content of the journal at no extra charge from SAGE. The content can be accessed online through a number of
electronic journal intermediaries, who may charge for access. Free e-mail alerts of contents listings are also available. For
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Student discounts, single issue rates and advertising details are available from SAGE, 1 Oliver’s Yard, 55 City Road, London
EC1Y 1SP, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7324 8500; fax +44 (0) 20 7324 8600; e-mail: subscriptions@sagepub.co.uk; website: www.
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Printed in Great Britain on acid-free paper by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, UK
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299
Stephen Parker
As reported in the News section of this issue, the
latest World Library and Information Congress,
held in Milan from 23–27 August 2009, was
another success, with nearly 4,000 registrants and
several hundred other persons – volunteers, ex-
hibitors and others – participating and well over
200 papers being presented. A representative se-
lection of the conference papers, recommended
by IFLA Sections and reviewed by the Editorial
Committee, will appear in the fi rst issue of IFLA
Journal for 2010.
The first paper in the present issue was also
presented at the Milan Congress, and won the in-
augural IFLA Award for the best student Congress
paper for its author, Agnese Perrone, a member of
the digital library staff for Cilea, one of the three
Italian academic library consortia. The award was
established by the IFLA Section on Education and
Training, and won this year by Agnese’s paper
“Electronic Book Collection Development in
Italy: a case study’. The paper reports the results
of a research project that aimed to investigate how
academic librarians in Italy are managing the
integration of electronic book collections in their
library holdings and focuses on the selection criteria
and collection development issues in the context of
the Italian digital publishing industry’s approach
to the publication and distribution of e-books.
The second paper – another case study – is also
concerned with the academic environment, in
this case, in Israel. In ‘Internet Use in Israeli Uni-
versities: a case study’, David Beno, a researcher
and information manager in Israel, presents
the results of a 2005–2006 survey conducted
of the use of digital resources by students and re-
searchers in fi ve universities in Israel and the ratio
of use between authorized electronic informa-
tion resources provided by academic libraries,
and the Surface Web. The study found that a
high proportion of respondents reported a high
frequency of use of the Surface Web in seeking in-
formation for their study or research, while much
smaller proportions reported high use of acad-
emic e-journals, digital databases and e-books.
The author points out that these fi ndings are
worrying, since much of the information on the
Surface Web is neither reliable nor authoritative.
The reasons for such heavy dependence on the
Surface Web are probably the ease and con-
venience of using Internet search engines.
We remain in the same region, but in a very differ-
ent country, with the next paper, an account of
‘Libraries in Palestine’ by Françoise Lefebvre-
Danset, an English translation of a paper originally
published in Bibliothèques: Revue de l’Associ-
ation des Bibliothécaires de France in July 2009.
The paper reviews the present situation of libraries
in the Palestinian territories and the contributions
to library development made by foreign aid
organizations and cooperative agreements with
libraries and local authorities in France, and
shows that, despite the many problems faced by
Palestinian librarians, in the end, “Hopes and
diffi culties must, however, reinforce our commit-
ment to partnership.”
We have a complete change of focus, and country,
with the next paper. In ‘Green Gift Plan: building
small libraries in public places of Mazandaran
Province, Iran’, Hossein Noorani a domestic cul-
ture expert in the Mazandaran Province Depart-
ment of the Ministry of Islamic Culture and
Guidance, and Heidar Mokhtari, a PhD student
who also works as a librarian in the Golestan
Province University of Medical Science, Gorgan,
report on the setting up and operation of the
‘Green Gift Plan’, which focused on establishing
small libraries in public areas and work places
such as barbers’ shops, dentists’ or doctors’ offi ces
and beauty salons in Mazandaran Province, Iran.
The Plan is aimed at improving reading among the
people by bringing books into society, and also put
emphasis on the social responsibilities of librar-
ians. The paper describes the settings, objectives
and implementation of the Green Gift Plan and
makes proposals for the continuation of the plan
and the implementation of other similar plans.
The fi nal paper in this issue brings another change
of focus. In his paper, ‘Journal of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology
(2000–2007): A bibliometric study’, Bhaskar
Mukherjee, a Senior Lecturer in the Department
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 299–300.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352430
I FLA
EDITORIAL
After Milan
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Editorial
300
of Library and Information Science at Banaras
Hindu University in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India,
presents the results of a bibliometric study of
articles published in the Journal of the American
Society for Information Science and Technology
(JASIST) from 2000 to 2007. The paper examines
the distribution of papers under various head-
ings, including authorship pattern and nature
of collaboration, geographic distribution of
articles, nature of cited and citing references,
prolifi c authors and highly cited authors. The re-
sults indicate a trend towards collaboration in
authorship, with authors from 47 countries con-
tributing articles. The number of references cited
per article increased from 2000 to 2007, whereas
articles received citations in decreasing numbers
during the same period. The results suggest that
articles need to have been published for more than
2 years before they receive adequate numbers of
citations.
This issue also includes two key addresses from
the Milan Congress; the Opening Address by
the President of the Italian Library Association,
Mauro Guerrini, and the Address to the General
Assembly by the outgoing President of IFLA,
Claudia Lux. We are pleased also to include a fi rst
President’s Page from the new IFLA President,
Ellen R. Tise, which includes her Acceptance
Speech delivered at the Congress in Milan.
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301
Ellen R. Tise, IFLA President 2009–2011
Dear IFLA Members,
Warm greetings from South Africa! By now all
of you are aware that the new IFLA Governing
Board took offi ce at the end of the IFLA World
Library and Information Congress 2009 in
Milan. I’m therefore writing to you in my role
as IFLA President 2009–2011, following in the
footsteps of past president Claudia Lux who
initiated the President’s Page in the IFLA journal
as another tool to communicate with members.
I have decided to continue with this. It is indeed
a great honour and privilege to serve as IFLA
President and I look forward to working with as
many of you as possible over the next two years.
The theme for my presidential term is ‘Libraries
Driving Access to Knowledge’. I would like to take
this opportunity and thank everyone who has
participated and given input into bringing the
theme alive and all of you who have embraced it
so enthusiastically. My major focus will center on
the following six points:
1. advancing IFLA’s advocacy role at the inter-
national level
2. increasing advocacy training opportunities for
librarians
3. continuing to position libraries within the
Information Society as drivers of access to
information
4. strengthening IFLA’s partnerships
5. creating new paradigms/partnerships within
and related to our sector; and
6. leveraging the emerging global movement of
A2K (Access to Knowledge) to the benefi t of the
profession.
Below is my acceptance speech delivered at the
Milan Congress, which outlines the challenges
faced by librarians and libraries all over the world
and why it is so critical for libraries to be the key
drivers of access to knowledge. I hope the speech
will inspire all IFLA members and librarians to
become advocates for libraries and library users
all over the world so that we can ensure that li-
braries remain at the centre of communities and
that the world’s citizenry have access to the world’s
knowledge.
Best wishes
Ellen Remona Tise
Acceptance Speech Delivered at the
75th IFLA Congress in Milan 2009
Distinguished guests, past IFLA presidents,
President-elect Ingrid Parent, members of the
IFLA Governing Board, Presidents of Library
Associations, Directors of the World’s National
Libraries, IFLA members and delegates:
It is with considerable humility that I stand
here today to assume the position of President
of IFLA, your President. The shoulders of those
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 301–304.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352433
I FLA
Ellen R. Tise, IFLA President 2009–2011
The President’s Page
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Ellen R. Tise
302
who have gone before me serve as my support and
my guide. I thank them all for their leadership,
which has ensured that our beloved Federation
has gone from strength-to-strength. The list of
past presidents and offi cers is a veritable inter-
national who’s who in our esteemed profession.
They have faced a range of challenges – some have
toiled in periods of great prosperity; others dur-
ing times of economic hardship as we are facing
today; some have enjoyed times of peace; whereas
others have had to face hardships of various kinds.
And yet through all of these moments in history
IFLA has persevered. Through these all they have
endured and through their efforts our association
has remained focused and faithful to the ideals
set by those who preceded them.
I would particularly like to recognize Professor
Dr Claudia Lux, our immediate past President,
who has ably piloted our association through
the last two years with some unusual challenges.
Despite all of these, under her leadership IFLA
has weathered the vicissitudes of the times and
emerged a stronger and more vibrant Federation.
Claudia, IFLA owes you a great deal of gratitude and
thanks you unreservedly for your stewardship.
For those who will serve on the Governing Board,
committees and in other offi cial capacities over
the next two years, I look forward to working with
you as we collectively strive to ensure that the Fed-
eration grows, develops and endures as a strong
and vibrant association serving all the needs of
the library community and also the individuals
and societies we seek to serve. To our Secretary
General, Jennefer Nicholson and the other staff of
IFLA Headquarters, thank you for your continu-
ing service and I look forward to continuing with
you the good work that you have done and con-
tinue to do on behalf of our association. I would
also like to take the opportunity to thank the Li-
brary Association of South Africa, other library as-
sociations, institutions, individuals and especially
my home institution, Stellenbosch University, for
their support.
I have chosen as my Presidential theme, ‘Librar-
ies Driving Access to Knowledge’. I see this as
an all embracing concept that enables us to
ensure that libraries remain at the heart of every
thought, word and deed that occurs across within
and throughout our societies and communities.
Without knowledge all effort is nought. Without
sound, accurate and reliable knowledge, deci-
sions and actions that we or others take can have
disastrous consequential effects for a very long
time. Knowledge is the key to success.
As knowledge and information professionals
we are committed to the belief that we have an
obligation to ensure that we provide those who
use our services the knowledge and information
that enables them to make the right decision, every
time, all the time. Associated with this is the eth-
ical responsibility that we must, on every occasion,
provide equity in terms of access to information.
Equity of access to information is one of IFLA’s
core values.
Access to information for all on equal terms is an
unchallengeable human right. Equitable access
for all pivots on the fundamental belief that all
people are equal, all are free. An unalienable right
of access to information and knowledge is the only
way to ensure the development of all. Thus, there
must be no short cuts, no settling for less in the
provision of access to information.
I truly believe one of the most important ways
of achieving this human right is for libraries
and librarians to become fully engaged in their
communities and societies. The activities and
actions of the LIS sector are foundational to the
existence of sustainable communities, economic
growth and healthy societies. The results of our
deeds, actions and services are vital to personal
opportunities and wellbeing. LIS services add
value to both individuals and society at large by
providing citizens with access to knowledge and
information. Not only must we advocate these
both passionately and powerfully, we must also
seek opportunities which enable us to put li-
braries and library services at the forefront of all
community and societal efforts. By this level of
engagement we will be helping to make libraries
drive access to knowledge. The role of the LIS
sector in promoting democratic values and dem-
ocratizing the search for knowledge cannot be
underestimated. Our role as information activ-
ists can and must be positive, as this is the only
way that we as LIS professionals can optimize
the full potential of our profession and what it
stands for.
One of the things we have not all fully grasped
is the strength that is inherent in our profession
or the powerful impact that we can each have as
LIS professionals. Many of us underestimate our
potential and the value that we can make and
must contribute to our societies.
301-304_IFLA352433.indd 302 11/10/2009 10:09:43 AM
The President’s Page
303
One of the comments that was made at the
President-elect’s brainstorming session at this
conference, which cannot be repeated too often,
is that as a profession we have been and are very
good at talking to and among ourselves. We have
not been as successful in talking to and with
others, particularly those who have the power to
help us integrate and embed libraries into the
highest levels of decision-making. While there are
those who believe that libraries do not get votes
and hence do not require support, I believe that
if we can demonstrate that through libraries and
librarians there can be quantitative and qualitative
improvements in health issues, entrepreneurial
skills development, environmental protection, po-
verty alleviation, a reduction in illiteracy, the de-
velopment of a respect for diversity and all of the
other issues that politicians and others in decision
making roles hold dear – that not only will we be
providing access to knowledge, but we will also
be able to demonstrate that libraries and librar-
ians are key to the political process and national
development.
While the theme of my year refers to libraries,
implicit and inherent in the phrase is the pivotal
role that you, and I, as library and information
professionals must and can play in making
knowledge accessible to all. It is an imperative
that we unreservedly have a commitment to and
a concern for the public good, which must en-
compass a respect for diversity and espouses the
principle of equality and human rights for all.
The members of IFLA are but a microcosm of
the world’s reality – a diversity which is in itself
one of IFLA’s strengths. It would be remiss of me,
however, not to acknowledge that embedded is
this diversity are uneven opportunities to provide
access to knowledge. Not all of us practice in com-
munities and societies where the latest technology
is available at our fi nger tips, where libraries are
reasonably or abundantly resourced, or where re-
liable electrical and broadband services are givens.
Nevertheless, even within those situations, it is
still necessary to provide access to knowledge for
all. Librarians practicing in such environments
need support and assistance. We should therefore
work together and offer guidance and mentor-
ship to professionals whose working realities are
not privileged as others. It is through such acts
that we will help to make the world a better place
and help to realize one of the pillars of IFLA –
Information for all and underlying concept of the
theme Libraries Driving Access to Knowledge.
Further, the empowerment of our users is inex-
tricably intertwined in Libraries Driving Access
to Knowledge. The creation and use of know-
ledge does not occur in a vacuum – people use
knowledge for a variety of reasons – to learn,
to grow, to make decisions and for recreational
and entertainment purposes, in fact the list is
limitless. The crucial role that libraries play in the
empowerment of their users is that they are the
facilitating agencies to access the information
they need. One of the ways in which libraries
empower their users is that they, the users, are as-
sured that they are accessing information with
the knowledge that the information they receive
is as reliable as it can be. That provides the user
with a considerable level of comfort and places
the library in a strong position as a social service
of the highest value.
There is another aspect of my theme to which I
would like to turn our thoughts for a few moments –
that is the role of libraries and librarians as
creators of knowledge. While libraries have tra-
ditionally been spaces and places where one can
access knowledge that is already available, it is
only recently that we have become to recognize
our potential in the knowledge creation process.
When a young entrepreneur visits a library as
part of his or her investigation for the develop-
ment of a new product, process or service, seldom
is the critical role that the library and librarian
played in the resultant end product acknowledged.
However, without the information gleaned from
the library visit or visits and often the extensive
assistance of a librarian or two, the positive out-
come of the entrepreneur’s work could have been
otherwise. But the knowledge creation process is
not only with regard to the work of others. When
we package and bundle existing information in
such a way that an information-seeker is able to
have at their fi ngertips exactly what they need to
make a reasoned decision or further their research
enquiries, our efforts are not confi ned to only
providing access to knowledge and information,
by our actions we have become knowledge cre-
ators. In such an instance, not only are we driving
access to knowledge, we are creators of know-
ledge and thus become part of the knowledge
building process, one of the underpinnings of the
knowledge society of which we are an integral
dimension.
Over the next two years I, with your help, will
seek to ensure the potential of libraries as sources
301-304_IFLA352433.indd 303 11/10/2009 10:09:43 AM
Ellen R. Tise
304
of access to knowledge is better realized. It will
not be an easy task, but then few things that are
worthwhile are easy to accomplish. I see a bright
future for libraries and librarians as we strive to
ensure that our service communities are better
served, that the full potential of each and every
individual is realized and knowledge becomes
accessible to all. Libraries, with the help of each
of us, can and will drive access to knowledge. It
is up to us to make it happen and with your help
I know that I will be able to say, “yes, (not, “we
can”) – “we will” make Libraries Drive Access to
Knowledge.
I thank you!
301-304_IFLA352433.indd 304 11/10/2009 10:09:43 AM
305
Abstract
The paper reports the results of a research project that aimed to investigate
how academic librarians are managing the integration of electronic book
collections in their library holdings and focuses on the selection criteria
and collection development issues. The background is represented by
the Italian academic libraries that have been lately involved in electronic
book collection development projects, and by the Italian digital publishing
e-books offer.
Keywords: electronic books; collection development; academic libraries;
Italy
Purpose of this Paper
The research project aimed to investigate how librarians are man-
aging the integration of electronic book collections in their library
holdings, focusing on the selection criteria issues. The main intent
is to identify the gap between the plurality of access and business
models of electronic book collections offered by publishers and the
issues that academic librarians are tackling in terms of selection,
collection management, analysis of users’ needs and budget limi-
tations. The paper describes the case study carried out by the
researcher for the dissertation of the International Master in Infor-
mation Science, jointly delivered by Parma University, Parma, Italy
and Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Two interviews and a questionnaire were done between February
and July 2008 whereas the analysis of the results was carried out
between September 2008 and January 2009.
Background
Electronic Book Collections in Academic Libraries
The implementation of electronic book collections in the acad-
emic library holdings has been growing in the last few years and
many universities show electronic books in their library collections
(Ashcroft and Watts 2004, p. 285). Different studies have been
carried out so as to investigate how libraries have integrated elec-
tronic book collections in their holdings and how electronic book
collections have been proposed to users. Sutton (2003) reported
the success of the patron-driven access model at the Wayne State
University, while Armstrong and Lonsdale (2005) analyzed focus
groups’ opinions about the integration of e-books in higher educa-
tion libraries in the United Kingdom in 2005. Bennett and Landoni
(2005) as well as Qari (2005) analysed the use of electronic books
among students in UK universities and focused on the importance
of the organization of training courses and specifi c seminars.
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 305–312.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352422
I FLA
Agnese Perrone
Agnese Perrone attended the
course of librarianship at the
University of Parma and obtained
a librarianship degree in February
2005 with a dissertation about
e-book use in Italy, ‘Indagine
sull’uso dell’e-book in Italia’,
available from D-space (Parma
University Open Archive) at:
http://hdl.handle.net/1889/42.
After her degree she undertook
a placement at the Northumbria
University Library, Newcastle
Upon Tyne, UK, working with the
Subject and Liaison Team on the
management of the electronic
resources and following the e-
book collection development
project. From January 2006 to
November 2007 she worked
as sales assistant for Cenfor
International, an Italian provider of
electronic resources for academic
libraries, and from December
2007 she has been working as a
member of the digital library staff
for Cilea, one of the three Italian
academic library consortia. Since
September 2006 she has been
attending the MA/MSc course
in International Information
Studies (Parma University, Italy
and Northumbria University, UK)
Electronic Book Collection Development
in Italy: a case study
About the Author continued on
page 312
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Agnese Perrone
306
Electronic Books and Collection
Development Issues
Even though different issues have been analyzed
and discussed in the literature, such as access and
business models, quality of contents and users’
needs (i.e. Anuradha and Usha 2006; Su 2005;
Safl ey 2006; Rice 2006), and different projects
have been carried out (i.e. Langston 2003; Park
2007), electronic book collections are neither
included in liaison with academic department
programmes nor related to course reading lists,
and they seem not to be a part of a conscious
collection development strategy (Ashcroft and
Watts 2004, p. 285).
It is diffi cult to point out the data librarians
mostly take into consideration and how these
data infl uence their collection development deci-
sions. Usage statistics from vendors, feedback
from academic staff as well as from students
(Blake and Schleper 2004), cost, licensing and
digital rights management issues, the infl uence
of library consortia (Miller 2002, p. 98), can
all be considered infl uencing factors during the
evaluation. These issues lead to new collection de-
velopment approach and management. Librarians
no longer acquire and keep products physically
but subscribe to services characterized by licenses
limited to a given period of time. They no longer
keep the property rights of the products purchased
but subscribe to licenses that offer archival rights
which can change when publishers purchase, sell,
or transfer products (San Jose and Pacios 2005,
p. 193). In this regard, new professional and man-
agement skills are required for librarians (Ashcroft
and Watts 2004, p. 290). They have now to analyse
products taking into consideration the quality of
the contents proposed, not only in relation to the
users’ needs, but also in relation to their price and
to the level of control there is over the products
they are subscribing to (Guijarro 2000, in San Jose
and Pacios 2005).
E-book Collection Development in Italy:
which projects and which policies?
In Italy the issue related to the diffusion of elec-
tronic books in academic libraries and to the
electronic book collection development policies
is still in its early stages. Even though the manage-
ment and the negotiation of electronic journals
have commonly been accepted and consolidated,
some reservations still remain. The review of the
literature reveals that only a few universities have
lately carried out projects about the integration
of electronic book collections into their holdings.
These projects have been presented in two semi-
nars held in 2005 and 2006 on the occasion of
the Italian library meeting, Bibliostar, and they
have been published by the Italian librarianship
journal Biblioteche Oggi.
Politecnico di Milano
Politecnico di Milano is one of the major Polytech-
nic Universities in Italy with more than 15,000
full time equivalent students (FTE). In 2004, the
central library division of Politecnico di Milano
(SBA – Sistema Bibliotecario di Ateneo) undertook
a pilot project about the integration of electronic
book collections as a tool to support teaching and
research activities. A scientifi c committee was set
up to focus on the following:
• analysis of publishers’ proposals
• evaluation of contents
• evaluation of access and licensing models.
This phase of the project was supported by the
teaching staff, who gave suggestions about the eva-
luation of contents for the different subject areas.
Their help was useful during the acquisition phase
and pertinent to the users’ needs. The result was
the development of an electronic books collection
offering contents by different publishers. This
heterogeneity came up as a weakness during the
evaluation phase of the project, especially for the
library management workfl ow. It was common
to fi nd overlapping titles, especially among col-
lections that were subscribed in bundles, without
a title per title selection. Another issue was related
to the usage statistics. At the time of the imple-
mentation, formats and data of the usage stati-
stics provided by publishers were widely different
and hard to compare. As the evaluation of the
project was mostly based on these data, the lack
of standardization limited a pertinent analysis of
the usage of the resources. The project ended in
2006 and when the librarian in charge of the SBA
group delivered her presentation in 2007, she
reported some issues that still remained under
discussion, such as the defi nition of collection
development policies peculiar to electronic book
collections (Cirulli 2006).
Università degli Studi di Bologna
The University of Bologna is one of the most
ancient universities in Italy, with many faculties
dedicated to different subject areas: Humanities,
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 306 11/5/2009 10:56:10 AM
Electronic Book Collection Development in Italy
307
Social Sciences, Maths, Engineering, etc. The
electronic book collection development project
was carried out by the library of the Faculty of
Engineering as a new tool to support teaching
and research activities. The project started in 2002
and was carried out with the fi nancial support of
the central library. The fi rst step of the project
was the selection and then the subscription to an
engineering handbook database. In this phase no
scientifi c committee was set up and the choice of
contents, access and licensing models was totally
carried out by the librarians of the Faculty. The
selection focused on a Science, Technology and
Medicine (STM) handbook collection, identi-
fi ed as a good reference tool for students and
researchers. The second step of the project (called
‘communication strategy’) aimed to promote the
collection among the users of the library and
proceeded as follows:
• setting up specifi c reference plans for students
working on their dissertation
• information about the new collection through
the library website and through specifi c leafl ets
• e-mail messages sent to students, librarians and
lecturers.
This strategy reported some weaknesses, especial-
ly due to the high number of students, lecturers
and researchers of the Faculty of Engineering. To
get over this issue, librarians decided to undertake
a programme of semantic and descriptive cata-
loguing for each title to fully integrate the collec-
tion in the library OPAC. This way of proceeding
was successful as the usage statistics recorded a
high number of accesses to the database from the
OPAC during the project time (from 2002 to 2004).
The analysis of the usage statistics revealed also
that some titles were heavily consulted whereas
others were consulted less or never. This brought
attention to the selection criteria used to evaluate
the contents proposed by publishers, and focused
on the necessity for more fl exible licensing models
that allow librarians title per title selection in-
stead of the acquisition of predefi ned packages
or databases. (Zani 2006)
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – Piacenza
The project about the electronic book collection
development started in 2005 and was carried out
by the library staff of Piacenza University, one
of the fi ve branches of Università Cattolica del
Sacro Cuore. The project aimed to increase the
library services, providing a new tool to support
teaching and research activities. The evaluation
of the contents was only made by the library staff
and no scientifi c committee was set up. Librarians
considered the following criteria during the
selection:
• title per title selection for the subjects required
(economics and agriculture)
• agreement for an annual fee based on the
number of titles subscribed
• MARC record for each electronic book
• multiple concurrent access
• full text searching and title browsing
• making notes and highlighting text tools
• usage statistics reports.
Those selection criteria helped librarians to iden-
tify two electronic book collections that were
subscribed to, at the end of a 30 day trial period.
Different ‘strategies’ were undertaken by the
library to promote the new collections to the users.
A specifi c link on the library website was set up;
leafl ets describing the new contents were distrib-
uted among students; interviews and question-
naires were carried out in order to gather patrons’
impressions and feedback. The latter, along with
the analysis of the usage statistics, represented the
data on which the University decided to continue
or discontinue the subscription to those collections.
At the end of the project (2006), the data gathered
showed high numbers of accesses, especially to
the electronic books on agriculture. These re-
sults led librarians to a more accurate title per
title selection, focusing on the higher consulted
subject area titles and laid the basis for the current
Piacenza University electronic book collection
development (Fiorentini 2006).
The Case Study: Methods
The Methodological Approach and the
Unit of Analysis
A case study was set up and the methodological
approach was selected according to a combination
of multiple techniques, drawing on data obtained
from two interviews and a questionnaire (Pickard
and Dixon 2004). In order to focus on the Italian
scenario in depth a small-scale survey was cre-
ated to collect data from librarians that had
been involved in the acquisition of electronic
book collections and had decided to subscribe
to the Italian collection Editoria Italiana On-
line (EIO) by Casalini. The interviews with two
key informants, Paola Gargiulo, Information
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 307 11/5/2009 10:56:10 AM
Agnese Perrone
308
Specialist at Caspur Consortium (Rome) and
Tommaso Giordano, Library Deputy Director at
European Institute (Fiesole), and with the Italian
publisher Casalini, helped the researcher to better
delineate the context of the research and to focus
on the Italian academic library background.
The Research Questions
The research project aimed to answer the following
research questions:
• which criteria do librarians consider during the
evaluation and selection of electronic books in
Italy?
• what do the Italian academic librarians expect
from electronic books?
Methods of Data Gathering
Data were gathered through interviews and through
a structured questionnaire. The use of different re-
search techniques allowed the researcher a com-
plementary view of the phenomenon studied
(Lambert and Loiselle 2008, p. 230). Table 1 shows
the research techniques used in correlation with
the study objectives.
Interviews and Questionnaire Design
The interviews were set up according to the fol-
lowing steps: preliminary explanation of the re-
search project to the interviewee; and defi nition of
the key issues to be covered according the guide-
lines of the semi-structured interviews (Pickard
2007). Since descriptive information was collected
through the interviews, closed-ended questions
and questions with answers in the format of the
Likert scale were included in the questionnaire.
Participants could choose among a set of alter-
native answers or could rank the options proposed
(Pickard 2007). Particularly, librarians were asked
to indicate the infl uencing issues related to elec-
tronic book collection development as well as the
electronic book collection evaluation and selec-
tion criteria. The scale adopted was made of six
points (1 being the lowest, 6 being the highest).
The main variables considered were:
• the elements affecting the acquisition of elec-
tronic resources, particularly focusing on the
electronic book collection
• librarians’ expectations about electronic book
collections (in terms of contents, acquisition
models, usability, etc.)
• librarians’ considerations about the project
Editoria Italiana On-Line (EIO).
Data Analysis
The data were analyzed following guidelines
described in the literature. On the one hand, the per-
tinent statements refl ecting the answers to the
interview questions were transcribed (Pickard 2007,
p.245). According to the constant comparative
analysis (Boeije 2002) fi ndings were categorized
in order to identify the main themes and issues
that would describe and explain the phenomenon
under study (Melia 1997, p. 31 in Pickard 2007,
p.241). On the other hand, data gathered through
the questionnaire were reported using a variable
base method with a focus on the different types of
interval variable (Pickard 2007, p.252). As specifi c
software for quantitative analysis was not avail-
able, all responses to questions were entered in a
database and were included in specifi c categories.
Research objectives Research techniques Data sources
Identify the major issues concerning the diffusion
of electronic book collections among the Italian
Academic Libraries
Interviews Key Informants
Identify the Italian publishers’ electronic book
proposals and models
Interviews Casalini
Understand which criteria librarians take into
consideration during the evaluation and selection
of electronic book collections
Questionnaire Librarians
Identify librarians’ expectations concerning e-book
in terms of contents, usability as well as interface
Questionnaire Librarians
Table 1. Research objectives, research techniques, data sources.
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 308 11/5/2009 10:56:11 AM
Electronic Book Collection Development in Italy
309
Findings
Electronic Book Collections in Italian
Academic Libraries’ Collection Development
Policies
The results reported that although the manage-
ment and the negotiation of electronic journals
have been accepted and consolidated, some
reservations still remain about electronic book
collection development. This attitude emerged
from the analysis of the literature and it was
confi rmed both by the interviews with the two
key informants and by the librarians’ responses
gathered through the questionnaire. Even though
collection development guidelines for electronic
resources were set up by all the libraries involved
in the case study, the analysis of the results re-
vealed that the diffusion of the electronic book
collections does not keep pace with that of the
electronic journals. Considering the above issues,
how do librarians manage and plan subscrip-
tions to electronic book collections? The interviews
with the two key informants clarifi ed how, in Italy,
the issues related to electronic book collection
development policies are still under discussion.
Monographs purchased as e-books are often
considered as an addition of the same titles in
print format, already available in the library
holdings, or they are subscribed to by individual
university faculties. Focusing on the matter related
to the budget limitation, the key informants paid
attention to the business models proposed by
publishers to the academic libraries. Apart from
few examples, publishers offer libraries to pur-
chase or to subscribe to defi ned subject e-book
collections and do not allow any ‘pick and choose’
option. In this way, acquisition librarians cannot
freely choose which titles should or should not
be acquired or subscribed to and consequently
cannot fully develop good-quality e-book collec-
tions. In this regard, the key informants reaffi rmed
the importance of the consideration of a new col-
lection development approach that leads librarians
to deal with new issues, involving:
• the problem of fi nding a good balance be-
tween the collection available both in print and
in electronic format
• the evaluation of users’ needs in spite of the
increasing budget limitations
• the lack of customized electronic resources
management systems (ERMS) that support
librarians for the integration and management
of a new e-resource in the library workfl ow
(selection, orders, cataloguing, etc.)
The role of Italian library consortia was also dis-
cussed. According to the key informants, library
consortia should be more active in analyzing
the consortia members’ needs and work with them
on a set of negotiation guidelines. These should
consider: the consortia members’ needs, a clear
defi nition of electronic book collections licens-
ing policies, the analysis of contents offered also
by small-size publishers, and the development of a
consortial platform for the integration and access
of different electronic contents.
The Selection Criteria Used by Librarians
During the Evaluation of an E-Book
Collection
The analysis of the librarians’ responses revealed
that the selection process is mainly infl uenced
by two issues. On the one hand, a deep analysis
of the contents offered by publishers is still being
carried out in order to give the subject area rep-
resented by the library adequate coverage. On
the other hand, as the lack of competitive acqui-
sition models (packages vs. pick and choose) is
considered a limiting issue to the subscription to
electronic book collections, great attention is paid
to publishers’ proposals offering cost-effective
business models that do not tie up the budget
management of the library. The selection process
is turning out to be challenging, not only in terms
of budget, but also in terms of ‘choice of contents’.
Some studies confi rm that by receiving titles
that would not be chosen for the collections, but
which come as part of the package, librarians
have ceded some of their selection control to
publishers and vendors (Soules 2009, p. 17). Titles
that are part of a package are chosen by specifi c
committees on the basis of different criteria,
such as copyright, availability of a specifi c title,
publishers and vendor shifts and other changes
(Soules 2009, p.18) and they are not necessarily
selected on content-based criteria. The librarians’
responses confi rmed how all these issues represent
a threat to the development of customized elec-
tronic book collections and infl uence the guide-
lines that should be followed during the selection
and evaluation processes:
• the importance of the evaluation of users’
needs
• the real and potential use of the collection
• quality, in terms of contents and update.
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 309 11/5/2009 10:56:11 AM
Agnese Perrone
310
A Comparison between Editoria Italiana
On-line and Librarians’ Management
Issues and Expectations
The case study revealed that librarians have great
expectations from electronic book collections in
terms of updated contents, timely publication,
easier access and cost-effective acquisition models
as well as usability and effective platform research
functionalities. These expectations do not often
match publishers’ e-book proposals, that do not
always offer updated and high quality contents
in standardized formats, and establish too many
restrictive limits to the print, copy and down-
load functionalities. The information gathered
through the interview with the publisher Michele
Casalini revealed an interesting approach to the
development of the project Editoria Italiana On-
line (EIO), which aims to offer academic libraries
Italian high quality scholarly contents in original
language. The analysis of users’ needs carried out
by the Casalini Digital Division team led up to
consider the importance of offering a fair business
model that, on the one hand, allows libraries to
choose either among different subject collections
or among different types of publications (e-books,
e-journals, proceedings). On the other hand, it
allows libraries to customize the collection, chang-
ing up to 20 percent of the titles or moving to a
small collection in case of budget limitations.
This approach could be considered an important
key point of the project, especially in the light of
what Michele Casalini stated when talking about
EIO’s guidelines:
“Contents available in electronic format have
been initially proposed by big publishers
and mostly in English language. There was a
monopolization of the resources dedicated
to academic libraries and a threat to the vari-
ety of contents that should characterize the
collection of each library. The project started
from the analysis of this consideration and
led to the development of a single interface
so as to optimise the access to Italian high
quality scholarly contents in original lan-
guage” (M. Casalini, personal communication,
July 2008).
But does this approach fully meet librarians’ needs
and expectations? The questionnaire showed that
the features librarians mostly considered during
the evaluation of Editoria Italiana On-line were:
• permanent access to the contents purchased
• the opportunity to integrate the records into
the OPAC and link them to other resources
• multiple concurrent access
• high quality contents.
All the above issues are related to the contents
offered both in terms of quality and updatedness
as well as in terms of content management. Since
EIO is considered an “ongoing challenging pro-
ject” by Michele Casalini, all the publisher’s efforts
are now focused on the evaluation of new titles
to offer, on a new interface and content manage-
ment tools to be developed, in order to follow the
new market trends and keep EIO up-to-date in
terms of contents and technological infrastructure.
All these efforts aim to meet librarians’ requests,
but mean for the publisher a big technological
investment to move from the old formats to the
newest ones. Furthermore, it represents for librar-
ies (even with the purchase or subscription model)
a way to begin to pay an annual platform fee. As
the literature confi rms, this is particularly trouble-
some because most librarians are not in a position
to commit to ongoing costs (Soules 2009, p.18)
especially with the latest budget restrictions. The
questionnaire responses revealed that librarians’
primary consideration during the renewal eva-
luation of EIO will be related to the cost of the
new contents offered and not to the users’ requests
or to the usage statistics. This represents a threat
for the development of electronic book collections
that fully meet users’ needs. In this scenario, the
literature can be linked to what the key informants
advanced: acquisition librarians should under-
stand that traditional categories will no longer
entirely hold (Soules 2009, p. 18). They need to
develop a new collection development approach,
fully considering users’ needs and beginning to
participate in negotiating contracts dealing with
library consortia and developing with them new
tools for the evaluations of new contents focused
on libraries’ needs and mission.
Conclusion
The results of the research revealed some inter-
esting issues concerning the acquisition and
selection of electronic book collections. These
issues are presented in relation to the objectives
of the study.
Electronic Book Collections in Italian
Academic Libraries
Italian academic libraries’ interest in electronic
book collections has lately increased but some
reservations still remain. The study reported
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 310 11/5/2009 10:56:11 AM
Electronic Book Collection Development in Italy
311
that the unwillingness to subscribe to e-books
refers mostly to the lack of: competitive business
models, updated contents, standardized formats,
customized electronic resources management
systems (ERMS) as support to the library work-
fl ow (selection, orders, cataloguing, etc.) Findings
revealed that librarians deal with new issues
that require new professional and management
skills but they are not supported by collection
development policies peculiar to electronic book
collections. This represents a limit for the diffu-
sion of e-books in academic libraries and focuses
the attention on the development of a new collec-
tion approach.
Italian Publishers’ Electronic Book Collections
The study reported a lack of Italian scholarly con-
tents available as e-books in the international
publishing industry. Literature reported only
few examples of electronic book collections by
Italian publishers. Among these, Editoria Italiana
On-line(EIO) by Casalini gathers a collection
of Italian electronic publishing, allowing online
access to full-text works by different publishers
through a specifi c interface. The project aimed to
offer high quality scholarly contents in electronic
format and in original languages. Librarians can
select among works from small or medium sized
publishers which are not included in big pub-
lishers’ proposals. Particular attention is paid to
the quality of the contents offered in order to avoid
any threat to the variety of contents that should
characterize the collection of each library.
Librarians appreciate EIO because of the high
quality contents offered in the fi elds of humanities
and social sciences, but some reservations still
remain concerning the usability of the interface.
The Evaluation and Selection of Electronic
Book Collections
The analysis of electronic book collections in-
cludes the consideration of different factors such
as evaluation of contents, cost, licensing issues, rec-
ommendations from faculty members and often
the infl uence of consortia (Brody 2001 in Miller
2002, p. 98). These issues imply important changes
in the selection process of electronic contents if
compared with that of print materials. Librarians
focus on the evaluation of users’ needs, the ana-
lysis of contents (quality and update), business
models, archival rights, etc. but they are mostly
infl uenced by budget issues. Findings revealed
that, during the selection process, librarians are
more infl uenced by the cost of a collection than by
users’ requests. This threatens the development of
electronic book collections relevant to the users’
needs and leads librarians to ask publishers for
more fl exible business models.
Librarians’ Expectations Concerning
Electronic Book Collections
The study revealed that librarians have great ex-
pectations about contents in electronic format.
Focusing on e-books, they refer to updated con-
tents, timely publication, easier access as well as
competitive purchasing models and effective plat-
form research functionalities. These expectations
do not often match publishers’ e-book proposals,
that do not always offer updated and high quality
contents in standardized formats, and establish
too many restrictive DRM limits. These issues
represent a limit to a wider diffusion of electronic
book collections in academic libraries and focus
on the role of Italian library consortia which
should be more active in the development of a
set of negotiation guidelines that fully meet the
library consortia members’ needs.
Limitations
Being a small-scale research undertaken by a single
investigator, some limitations can be considered.
On the one hand the phase of evaluation and
selections is only one aspect of the library collec-
tion development of e-books, that involves other
important issues. On the other hand, the unit of
analysis was restricted to a small group of Italian
librarians and to only one Italian publisher’s
proposal. Moreover, the results of the research
are strictly related to the moment in which the
case study was carried out. As the situation of
electronic services and products is continuously
evolving, the same research undertaken in 2 years’
time may give different outcomes.
Recommendations for Further Research
The analysis of the results revealed interesting new
issues to be analysed. As a matter of fact, there are
many complex collection development issues sur-
rounding the selection, the acquisition and pro-
motion of electronic book collections (Armstrong
and Lonsdale 2005). Data gathered from the
interviews and questionnaire suggested that
some new aspects should be investigated. For
example, the analysis of the quality of contents
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 311 11/5/2009 10:56:11 AM
Agnese Perrone
312
offered by publishers, the role of academic library
consortia offering new guidelines for collection
development projects (Albanese 2009) and, due
to the recent budget restrictions, the analysis of
return on investment (ROI) issues (Kaufman and
Watstain 2008).
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San Jose, B. and Pacios, A.R. (2005) The impact of con-
sortia purchasing of periodical publications on the
document supply service. Interlending and Document
Supply, 33(4), 189–195.
Soules, A. (2009) The shifting landscape of e-books. New
Library World, 110(1/2), 7–21.
Su, S.F. (2005) Desirable search features of web-based
scholarly e-book systems. Electronic Library, 23(1),
64–71.
Sutton, L. (2003) Collaborating with our patrons: letting
the users select. Proceedings of ACRL 11th National
Conference (Charlotte, NC, April 2003) Retrieved
February 2008 from: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/
divs/acrl/events/pdf/lsutton.PDF.
Zani, M. (2006) Prime esperienze di e-book. L’utilizzazione
di Engnetbase presso la Facoltà di Ingegneria
dell’Università di Bologna. In E-book: risorse attuali
e prospettive future. Seminario con tavola rotonda
organizzato da Cenfor International (Bibliostar, 2005)
(pp. 63–73). Roma: AIDA
Paper presented at the IFLA World Library
and Information Congress, 7th IFLA General
Conference and Council, 23–27 August 2009,
Milan, Italy, in session 212 Acquisition and
Development. Version française: http://www.ifl a.
org/fi les/hq/papers/ifl a75/212-perrone-fr.pdf
About the Author continued
as a distance learner and she is now submitting her
dissertation about the electronic book and collection
development in Italian Academic Libraries. This
paper was the winner of the inaugural IFLA Award for
the best student paper accepted for presentation at
the World Library and Information Congress in Milan,
Italy, in August 2009. The award was established by
the IFLA Section on Education and Training. Agnese
may be contacted at: agneper@libero.it
305-312_IFLA352422.indd 312 11/5/2009 10:56:11 AM
313
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a survey conducted in 2005–2006 re-
garding the extent of use of digital resources by students and researchers
in fi ve universities in Israel and the ratio of use between authorized elec-
tronic information resources provided by academic libraries, and the
Surface Web. About 80 percent of respondents reported a high or very
high frequency of use of the Surface Web for seeking information for their
study or research. In contrast, only about 28 percent of the respondents
reported high or very high use of academic e-journals, 40 percent high
or very high use of digital databases, and only about 13 percent high or
very high use of e-books. A situation in which academics use the Surface
Web two or three times more frequently than more authoritative digital
information sources provided by their library indicates a severe problem
related to the quality of information used, which may severely harm the
quality and credibility of research based upon it. The survey fi ndings are
worrying since much Surface Web information is not reliable or author-
itative. The current research does not indicate what causes students and
researchers to depend so heavily on Surface Web information for their
research, but it is reasonable to assume that it derives mainly from the
ease and convenience of using Internet search engines.
Keywords: Internet; user studies; universities; Israel
Introduction
In the last few years, the extent of Internet usage in Israel and
the world has increased dramatically. The Web is used for various
purposes, from surfi ng for pleasure to fi nding information. The
availability of the Web, its ease of use, and the numerous needs
it can answer immediately, have turned it into a key player in the
cultural and social life of the 21st century.
There has also been a dramatic change In the use of Internet resources
for academic purposes: if, in the past, students and faculty members
fi rst approached academic libraries when they needed information,
nowadays they fi rst consult the Internet (Troll 2002).
This has caused widespread concern among librarians and infor-
mation professionals, who fear that the Internet will replace other
sources of information, both printed and digital, available in aca-
demic libraries. This concern derives foremost from the fact that
the information available on the Internet is still only partial, while
much information still exists only in printed format. Furthermore,
Web search engines index only a small amount of the information
residing on the Web and most users do not access the informa-
tion existing on the ‘Invisible Web’1 which is considered some 500
times larger than the ‘Surface Web’.2
Another concern deals with the quality of the information in Internet
resources when used for academic purposes. While the Invisible
Web contains high quality information, that on the Surface Web
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 313–321.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352427
I FLA
David Beno
Dr. David Beno is an information
professional who has been
working in the last 20 years as
a researcher and a competitive
information manager in the public
and private sector in Israel.
Dr. Beno holds a BA degree in
Modern History of Africa from Tel
Aviv University, and MA and PhD
in Information Science Studies
from the Information Science
Department in Bar-Ilan University,
Ramat Gan. His dissertation
focused on the pattern of use of
digital and printed information
sources in higher education
institutions in Israel. Contact:
Department of Information Sci-
ence, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-
Gan 52900, Israel. Tel. +972-8-
9716873. Fax. +972-8-9716875.
E-mail: benoda@biu.013.net.il
Internet Use in Israeli Universities: a case study
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 313 11/5/2009 10:56:35 AM
David Beno
314
is mostly not appropriate for educational or
academic purposes and some of it may even be
incorrect or biased. Thus, an excessive tendency to
rely on the Surface Web may generate superfi cial
research habits, imperil the value of academic
information, and adversely affect the quality of
research and academic publications.
Naturally, there is more concern regarding over-
reliance on Web information by students than by
professional researchers. It is reasonable to as-
sume that academic researchers are more aware
that sometimes the best resources for a specifi c
discipline may exist only in printed form, while
students may not be able to distinguish between
reliable and unreliable sources, and as a result
of the nature of their assignments have less time
and motivation to look up printed resources.
(Troll 2002).
A Problem Statement
University students and researchers at all levels
use the Surface Web as well as other electronic
resources for study and research. Yet no study
has probed the extent of Internet usage among
students and researchers in Israel. This paper
presents the results of a survey conducted in
2005–2006 regarding the use of digital resources
in fi ve universities in Israel. One of the main
purposes of the survey was to ascertain the ex-
tent of use of digital resources among students
and researchers, and the ratio of use between
authorized electronic information resources
provided by academic libraries, and the Surface
Web. Another purpose was to see whether there
are differences in the way students and faculty
members use library electronic information re-
sources and the Surface Web, as well as whether
differences exist between scholarly disciplines.
The importance and contribution of this research
lies in raising the issue and encouraging informa-
tion professionals to fi nd solutions to the changing
requirements of academic library users.
Literature Review
Studies carried out in the United States, Canada,
England and elsewhere indicate that the Internet
has become an important and central source of
information in the academic world. Students and
faculty perceive the Internet as the main source
of information and access to it is perceived as a
basic privilege of the scholar. According to Falk
(2003), the Internet has become the foremost
source of information for students and faculty in
colleges and universities in the United States. Falk
reports on a survey conducted by McGraw-Hill
Ryerson which revealed that 62 percent of faculty
members use Internet content in the courses
they teach, and most respondents indicated their
intention to incorporate more Internet-based
content and research tools into future classes.
Moreover, in a survey of 1,800 faculty members
in institutions of higher education in the United
States and Canada, it was found that 83 percent
of faculty members believe that Web-based tech-
nology has become a key factor for students’ suc-
cess in their studies (Falk 2003).
The strengthened role of the Internet as a central
information resource in the academic world is re-
fl ected in its increased use for academic research.
Studies show that Internet search engines are the
fi rst or main information source used by students
(Al Harbi 2002; Tenopir 2003; Urquhart et al.
2005). According to the Association of Research
Libraries (ARL), nearly three-quarters (73 percent)
of college students say they use the Internet more
than the library, while only 9 percent said they
use the library more than the Internet for retriev-
ing information (Jones 2002).
A partial explanation for the strong use of the
Internet among students for locating academic
information is age dependent. College students,
for example, learn to surf the Internet at an early
age and do so more widely than the rest of the
population. When they reach college, the use of
this technology has already been assimilated into
their daily communication habits and is taken for
granted as part of their daily routine. Research
indicates the extensive use of the Internet by col-
lege students for intra-academic needs and for
other routine needs (Jones 2002). The use of the
Internet specifi cally to locate academic informa-
tion is infl uenced by the fact that from an early
age they are familiar with a computerized and
networked environment. College students shape
their information search habits at an early age. A
report published in June 2001 by the Pew Internet
& American Life Project found that 94 percent of
teenagers who used the Internet also did so for
school assignments and that 71 percent used the
Internet as a main information source for school
projects (Jones 2002). Thus, for most college stu-
dents, the Internet is a functional tool that signifi -
cantly affects the way they access information.
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 314 11/5/2009 10:56:37 AM
Internet Use in Israeli Universities
315
Over and above early socialization, the Internet has
signifi cant advantages as a tool of high accessibility,
convenience of use and continuous availability,
causing it to be extensively used by students.
A comprehensive study conducted by NetLibrary3
on about 2,000 colleges in the United States found
that most of the research participants (82 percent)
had computers and reported that they use the
Internet, and 75 percent reported that they love
the convenience of Internet use. Another study
found that 80 percent of students in three uni-
versities in the United States responded that in
the future they would use the Internet even more
extensively (Perry, T.T., Perry, L.A. and Hosack-
Curlin 1998).
Internet Information and
the Academic Library
Research shows that while the use of the Inter-
net for finding academic information grows,
libraries are visited less frequently. A comprehen-
sive study conducted under the sponsorship of
the Digital Library Federation (DLF) and the
Council on Library and Information Resources
(CLIR) checked the usage habits of scholars
in a vast variety of academic institutions in the
United States. Of the respondents, 45.9 percent
indicated that they relied on Internet information
without any further verification (Friedlander
2002). In another survey, of graduates of the
Communication Department of the University of
Florida, 26 percent of the respondents indicated
that during the course of their studies they had
never used the university’s academic library to
fi nd academic information (Al Harbi 2002).
Indeed, the academic community perceives the
library as a less available, less accessible and less
convenient information source than the Internet. In
a comprehensive study conducted by NetLibrary,
75 percent of the students surveyed claimed to not
have enough time to go to the library, 71 percent
mentioned favorably the time they saved since they
can look for information on the Internet at any
time day or night, and 83 percent claimed that the
limited opening hours of the library often prevent
them from looking for the material they need when
they need it. These differences of attitude towards
the library and the Internet regarding availability,
accessibility, and convenience clearly indicate the
relationship between increased Internet usage and
decreased dependence on the academic library.
In the same study, sponsored by the CLIR and
DLF, 35 percent of the respondents indicated that
they used the library considerably less than they
had done 2 years previously because they now use
the Internet for some of their information needs.
Furthermore, 80 percent of the faculty and students
believed that the Internet had changed the way
they used the academic library (Friedlander 2002).
In a study of graduates of the Communication
Department at the University of Florida, 54 percent
of the respondents felt the same way. The same
study also presented a typical behavior profi le of
a student looking for information, showing that
students fi rst approach the Internet, and only then
the academic library (Al Harbi 2002).
Nonetheless, aside from the fi ndings indicating
that academic libraries are perceived as less avail-
able and less convenient, there are also fi ndings
attesting the advantages of the academic library.
A considerable portion of students in a focus group
and survey research conducted at Carnegie Mellon
university do express an interest in obtaining
authoritative information from the libraries, but
feel that it seems to be unattainable due to the
libraries’ limited availability (Troll 2002). Studies
of academic credibility, referring to the differences
between Internet information resources and au-
thoritative information resources, do indicate that
the authoritative information resources of the li-
braries are perceived as more credible and reliable.
Comprehensive research sponsored by CLIR and
DLF in 2002 showed that the library is still per-
ceived as the main source of credible and reliable
information. More than 98 percent of the survey
respondents agreed with the statement “The
library of my institution contains information
from known and reliable sources”(Friedlander
2002). In the same study, differences were also
found between the degree of credibility ascribed
to Internet information by undergraduates and by
faculty members and graduates. Thus, 54 percent
of the undergraduates trusted information from
the Internet as compared to 41 percent of the
faculty and graduates (Friedlander 2002).
The expansion of Internet use and the digital age
have infl uenced academic libraries in another way.
Academic libraries are changing in response to the
transformations of the educational and research
environment, and to the demands of library users
(Troll 2002). As options for transferring informa-
tion via the Web expand, libraries add new digital
information services and sources. Academic li-
braries make e-journals, digital databases, e-books
and other digital sources available for remote
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 315 11/5/2009 10:56:38 AM
David Beno
316
access. More and more libraries offer the academic
community online catalogs, advanced search and
retrieval functions, and accessibility independent
of location and time.
Despite the ever-growing tendency of libraries to
offer access to electronic information, students
still prefer to use Internet sources over the author-
itative digital sources of the library. Close obser-
vations of Internet use of college students in the
library and in computer labs of the campus of
27 colleges and universities in the United States
showed that students with an academic assign-
ment due used commercial search engines rather
than the university or library databases (Jones
2002). Some even explicitly stated that it is easier
to do research on the Internet. Scholars and li-
brarians are concerned about this statement since
it means that students lack the basic skills required
to fi nd reliable academic sources for research.
In this context it must be mentioned that only a
few universities in the United States make it man-
datory for students to attend Information Search
courses; most make do with a lecture on this issue
in the introductory meetings at the start of the fi rst
school year (Jones 2002).
At the same time, studies indicate that students
are interested in expanding the digital informa-
tion sources currently provided by the library
(Friedlander 2002; Liew and Foo, 2000) as well as
being granted access to the digital information
in the academic library any time of day or night
(Troll 2002). Differences still exist between young
undergraduates and faculty members and gradu-
ates in the extent to which they prefer the digital
format to the printed format. Research conducted
by CLIR and DLF regarding the extent of use of
printed and electronic information sources for
research, study and teaching, revealed that ap-
proximately half the undergraduates reported
using mainly or solely electronic information,
while over 70 percent of the graduate students
reported using printed information most or all of
the time (Friedlander 2002).
It is possible that this difference relates to digital
working patterns acquired at an early age. A com-
prehensive survey conducted for CLIR regarding
electronic sources of information in libraries con-
cluded that young users tend to use electronic
sources more than older users (Tenopir 2003).
Regarding the older age groups, a study carried
out for CLIR by Stanford University Library in
1996, to check how researchers use the Journal
of Biological Chemistry, which is available in both
electronic and printed versions, showed that half
of the researchers used both formats at the same
time, while the other half used the printed version
only. When the latter were asked why they did
not use the electronic version, they answered that
they prefer paper. The study revealed that those
scientists who did not grow up around computers
had diffi culty getting used to the journal’s elec-
tronic format (Gotsch and Reich 1996).
In conclusion, student and faculty participate in
the ever-growing use of the Internet and tend to
use it when searching for academic information.
This tendency is stronger among those who grew
up in a computerized environment and assimilated
Internet search habits. The easy availability and
high accessibility of the Internet, its convenience,
simplicity of use, and the ease of getting informa-
tion, infl uence usage. The library is perceived as
less accessible, less convenient, and involving
greater complexity in getting information. More-
over, researches indicate that while students do
show an interest in accessing the authoritative in-
formation sources of the library, they are limited
by the lack of the required skills. Instructors, re-
searchers, and graduate students are more crit-
ical than undergraduates of the credibility of the
Internet as compared to library electronic and
print sources.
Methodology
The study’s target population consisted of students
and researchers at fi ve research universities in
Israel. At fi rst, in order to do random sampling,
an attempt was made to random sample the entire
target population. An attempt to attain a list of
the entire target population was frustrated by
lack of cooperation by some university offi cials.
Therefore we decided upon a relatively wide but
nonrandom sampling. In the Spring of 2005,
1,000 questionnaires were distributed, to which
721 students and researchers (72.1 percent)
responded. The questionnaires were distributed
among students and teachers in the various uni-
versity divisions, in classrooms, and in the libraries.
In addition, the questionnaires were distributed
through departmental secretariats and in the fac-
ulty’s personal mailboxes. Nevertheless, the fact
that the sampling is nonrandom is limiting.
The research tool was a structured questionnaire.
The questionnaire included 30 questions and
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 316 11/5/2009 10:56:38 AM
Internet Use in Israeli Universities
317
consisted of two main parts: demographic data
and patterns of information usage.
Results
Demographic Data of the Sample Groups
Some 69 percent of the sample group were under-
graduate students, 23 percent master’s degree
students and 8 percent were research students
and researchers. More than half of the respond-
ents (52 percent) were in the 18–25 age group;
28 percent were in the second largest age group
(26–30), and the rest (20 percent) were 31 years
old or older. The largest number in the sample
(47 percent) were studying in the Social Sciences,
followed by Humanities (29 percent), Exact
Sciences (14 percent), Life Sciences (7 percent), and
others (3 percent). Women constituted 56.7 per-
cent of all respondents.
The overwhelming majority of respondents
(about 91 percent) reported having an Internet
connection at their home or offi ce. An even higher
proportion (95.1 percent) admitted that they
were aware that their institution’s library enables
remote access to its digital information sources.
Nonetheless, only about 58.6 percent of the re-
spondents were connected to these sources.
Distribution of Frequency of Internet Use
in General
In order to differentiate between respondents’
use of the Internet for academic purposes (study
and research) as opposed to its use for other pur-
poses, we checked the extent to which they use
the Internet for browsing, using electronic mail,
searching for information, shopping and other uses.
Table 1 shows that 70.9 percent of the respond-
ents use the Internet daily and 22.9 percent use it
several times a week. The rest (6.1 percent) use it
once a week or less, or not at all. Thus the over-
whelming majority (93.8 percent) use the Internet
at least several times a week.
Extent of Surface Web Use for
Academic Purposes
The overwhelming majority of respondents
(77.9 percent) frequently use the Surface Web for
academic purposes such as study and research;
small differences were found between the various
age groups, the different learning status groups
and the diverse disciplines.
Figure 1. Distribution of respondents by
academic status.
Figure 2. Distribution of respondents by
scientifi c discipline.
Figure 3. Distribution of respondents by age.
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 317 11/5/2009 10:56:38 AM
David Beno
318
These fi ndings are surprising, since the extent of
Surface Web use for study and research could
have been expected to be much higher among
undergraduate students than among graduate
students or researchers. One would assume that
students just starting their studies in an academic
institution would tend to rely more on the Surface
Web (whose quality is not very high but is readily
available and convenient), and make more use
of more qualitative sources as their learning pro-
gresses. Nevertheless, the survey indicates that
even graduate students rely heavily on Surface Web
information. A decreased dependency on the Sur-
face Web occurs at the highest level only – the post-
doctorate group.
Also, no signifi cant differences were found among
the respondents in different age groups, and the
majority (around 80 percent) of all the age groups
reported a high or very high frequency of use for
learning and research purposes. This fi gure is also
a bit surprising because it was expected (based on
previous surveys) to see more extensive use in the
younger age groups.
Further more, only small differences were found
among the various disciplines, and in all disciplines,
around 80 percent of the respondents reported
high or very high frequency of use.
The current statistical survey does not provide
explanations for the heavy use of surface Web
by all groups. Possibly the answer lies in the ease
and convenience of using Internet search engines,
especially compared to the digital databases pro-
vided by the academic library.
Extent of Use of Authoritative Digital Sources
Provided by the Academic Library
We checked to what extent students and researchers
use the electronic sources provided by the acad-
emic library, which are generally perceived as
more authoritative and credible than Surface
Web information: academic e-journals, digital
databases and e-books. Only 28.1 percent of the
respondents use e-journals in a high or very high
frequency, 29.9 percent do so fairly frequently,
and 42.1 percent use them occasionally or do
not use them at all. Overall only 40 percent of
all respondents reported a high or very high
frequency of use of digital databases, while
31.7 percent indicated a low frequency or no use
at all. Only 13.5 percent reported a high or very
high frequency of use of e-books.
Israeli scholars show a clear preference for using
the Surface Web as a source of information for
study and research over the electronic informa-
tion resources provided by academic libraries
for the same purposes. While the overwhelming
majority of survey respondents (about 80 percent)
reported a high or very high frequency of use
of the Surface Web for their study and research
needs, only about 28 percent of them reported a
similarly frequent use of e-journals, some 40 per-
cent reported a high to very high use frequency
of digital databases while only about 13 percent
indicated a high to very high use frequency of
e-books. It seems, therefore, that academic users
use the Surface Web two to three times more
frequently than they do the electronic sources
provided by the academic library (i.e. databases,
e-journals and e-books).
Frequency of use No. % Valid %
No use 15 2.1 2.1
Low 32 4.4 4.5
Medium 110 15.3 15.5
High 207 28.7 29.2
Very high 346 48.0 48.7
Total 710 98.5 100.0
Missing system 11 1.5
Total 721 100.0
Table 2. Frequency of Surface Web use for
academic purposes: general.
Frequency of use No. % Valid %
Every day 510 70.7 70.9
Several times a
week
165 22.9 22.9
Once a week 28 3.9 3.9
Once a month 13 1.8 1.8
None 3 0.4 0.4
Total 719 99.7 100.0
Missing system 2 0.3
Total 721 100.0
Table 1. Frequency of Internet use in general.
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 318 11/5/2009 10:56:38 AM
Internet Use in Israeli Universities
319
Frequency of use Digital databases E-journals E-books
No use 9.4 18.5 34.0
Low 22.3 23.6 28.7
Medium 28.2 29.9 23.8
High 27.2 19.2 8.9
Very high 12.8 8.9 4.6
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 6. Frequency of use of digital databases, e-journals and e-books.
Frequency of use BA MA PhD Post
%%%%
No use 1.7 2.5 7.4 3.4
Low 4.2 5.6 3.7 3.4
Medium 15.7 13.7 11.1 24.1
High 29.7 31.1 25.9 24.1
Very high 48.6 47.2 51.9 44.8
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 3. Frequency of Surface Web use for academic purposes by academic status.
Frequency of use Age (years)
18–25 26–30 31–35 36–40 41+
%%%%%
No use 1.9 2.5 6.9 1.5
Low 3.9 6.0 1.9 10.3 3.1
Medium 17.4 14.0 13.2 6.9 15.4
High 29.5 27.5 35.8 31.0 26.2
Very high 47.4 50.0 49.1 44.8 53.8
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 4. Frequency of Surface Web use for academic purposes by age group.
Frequency of use Humanities & Art Social Sciences Exact Sciences Life Sciences
%%%%
No use 1.5 3.2 2.2
Low 4.1 5.4 3.3 6.8
Medium 17.5 12.5 18.5 11.4
High 30.9 2 7.5 20.7 34.1
Very high 45.9 51.4 55.4 4 7.7
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Table 5. Frequency of Surface Web use for academic purposes by discipline.
313_321_IFLA352427.indd 319 11/5/2009 10:56:38 AM
David Beno
320
Conclusions
The data obtained by the current survey regard-
ing the extent of use of Internet in general and
of the Internet for study and research purposes by
the academic population in Israel, is somewhat
surprising. First, it was found that the overwhelm-
ing majority of the academic population (about
94 percent) uses the Internet at least several times
a week for browsing, electronic mail, informa-
tion retrieval, shopping, and other uses. About
80 percent of the respondents reported a high or
very high frequency of use of the Surface Web for
seeking information for their study or research.
The last fi nding should raise concern among the
academic community in Israel in general, and in-
formation professionals in particular, since the
Surface Web is not perceived as qualitative or
reliable. In contrast to the use of the Surface Web,
only about 28 percent of the survey respondents
reported a high or very high use frequency of
academic e-journals, 40 percent – a high or very
high use frequency of digital databases, and
only about 13 percent – a high or very high use
frequency of e-books. A situation in which acad-
emics use the Surface Web two or three times
more frequently than more authoritative elec-
tronic information sources provided by their
library indicates a severe problem related to the
quality of information these scholars opt to use,
which may severely harm the quality and credibil-
ity of research based upon it.
The survey fi ndings are worrying since it is well
known that much Surface Web information is not
reliable or authoritative. Similar data regarding
the academic world’s domination by the Internet
is starting to surface from other places in the
world. For example, in a study conducted by
the ARL in 2004 that included higher education
institutions in the United States (Lippincot and
Kyrillidou 2004), it was found that 67 percent
of undergraduate students reported they search
the Surface Web for information every day. This
is three times greater than the number of under-
graduates reporting that they use the digital
information sources of academic libraries on a
daily basis.
The results of the current study, and similar studies
elsewhere, refl ect a strong and worrying tend-
ency for the Internet to dominate the academic
world as a leading source of information for study
and research purposes. The academic world, with
all its diversity and variations, chooses to ignore
the common perception that Internet information
is inferior; it also ignores other problems related
to it, such as its abundance of irrelevant and in-
accurate information.
The current research does not indicate what causes
students and researchers to depend so heavily
on Surface Web for their research. But it is rea-
sonable to assume that it derives mainly from the
ease and convenience of using Internet search
engines. The user needs hardly any professional
knowledge when searching for information using
a search engine. The ease of use, simplicity of
search, and availability, enables the user to access
the required information easily and swiftly. The
information, although it may not be the best or
most authoritative, may be good enough con-
sidering the small amount of effort invested. In
contrast, digital databases require more effort.
Using them is more complicated – the user needs
to know which databases to use and how to use
them. It is likely that this issue causes a certain
repulsion as opposed to the user-friendly search
engines in the Internet. This assumption is worth
testing and researching further.
Notes
1. ‘Invisible Web’– there is no uniform defi nition for the
term which was fi rst coined in the mid 90’s and has
since undergone a few modifi cations. In practice, it
refers to the portion of the information existing in the
Web that search engines have not included into their
databases, whether due to technical limitations or for
cost-benefi t reasons (Sherman and Price, 2001).
2. ‘Surface Web’ – Information on the Web that is
available for free and can be found by regular search
engines. This content is available to the general public
with no need for special authorizations.
3. NetLibrary is a division of OCLC Online Computer
Library Center. OCLC Online Computer Library
Center is a nonprofi t, membership, computer library
service and research organization.
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Abstract
For several years, decentralized cooperation programs have proliferated
with Palestine – cities, councils, universities – to help deploy a network
of libraries in an area constantly threatened. Echoing these multiple
initiatives involving many French librarians, Françoise Danset provides
a provisional assessment of a signifi cant example of international profes-
sional solidarity.
Keywords: libraries; international cooperation; France; Palestine
The Background
It is impossible to speak of libraries in Palestine without attempting
to understand and imagine what Palestine is today: not a country or
a region, Palestine is a territory, or more exactly three territories –
the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem – isolated from each other
and encircled by high walls and impassable barriers (diffi cult to
imagine for us Europeans who have for many years forgotten the
materialization of land borders), militarily occupied and subjected
to a process of galloping colonization, governed by an Authority
whose headquarters is in Ramallah.
It should be recalled briefl y that, in 1920 after the First World War
and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Palestine was placed under
British mandate, fulfi lling the promise made by Lord Balfour in
1917 to create a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine,
promoted by steady Jewish immigration. In the 1930s, the rise of
anti-Semitism in Europe and the tragedy of the genocide perpetrated
by the Nazis during the Second World War provoked a continuous
stream of emigration. In November 1947, the United Nations
adopted a partition plan providing for the creation of a Jewish state
and an Arab state and allocating 42.9 percent of the territory to the
latter. The refusal of the Arabs to accept this and the armed struggles
that ensued negated the possibility of creating two states and
inaugurated the long history of confl ict and occupation that never
stops. Also, the date of the proclamation of independence of the
State of Israel – May 14, 1948 – is for the people of the Palestinian
that of a catastrophe, the Nakba, which marks the beginning of a
double exile, both outside and within their own country.
The last administrative division resulting from the Oslo accords
of September 28 1995 assigned to the Palestinian territories
22 percent of the land, divided into three zones of more or less
severe occupation, which resulted in a landscape of ‘leopard skin’
and the almost total administrative and economic paralysis that
Palestine knows today. In the absence of permanent settlement of
land and respect for the human rights of everyone in this region,
the reality has not stopped for all these years to bring its attendant
suffering and destruction.
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 322–334.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209355084
I FLA
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
As a chief librarian, Françoise
Lefebvre-Danset was responsible
for various public libraries in
France between 1975 and 2007.
She retired in 2007. She also
carried out different activities in
the fi elds of professional training,
including in developing coun-
tries; consulting for developing
public library networks; several
publications, including guide-
lines and articles in professional
journals; membership of pro-
fessional associations, including
the Public Libraries Section
Standing Committee of IFLA
and the Executive Committee
of EBLIDA. She was for 5 years
President of the Association des
Bibliothécaires de France and
then in charge of the association’s
international affairs, and is
currently President of COBIAC
(Collectif de Bibliothécaires et
Intervenants en Action Culturelle)
in Region Provence. Françoise
Danset may be contacted at
88 rue jean Mermoz, 13008
Marseille, France. Tel. +33(0)4
91 71 00 91. Mobile +33 (0)6
33 44 16 97. E-mail: francoise.
danset@club-internet.fr
Libraries in Palestine
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 322 11/9/2009 11:34:15 AM
Libraries in Palestine
323
Speaking of libraries in Palestine is not easy, as
organizations and initiatives are made and un-
made almost daily.
Information Sources
The sources of information are scarce1, and con-
cepts that seem most common to us need most
often to be explained. The most comprehensive
source is the study published in 1996 by the
Ministry of Culture of the Palestinian Authority
in Arabic, with support from the British Council.
This study identifi es the libraries, services offered,
the qualifi cations of the personnel and the diffi -
culties encountered. It offers recommendations for
the development of public reading and libraries.
It enumerates total of 295 non-academic librar-
ies, of which 119 are public libraries, with only
25 youth sections, 44 university libraries and 117
specialized or private libraries. Very few meet
international standards, most often suffering
from lack of dedicated buildings, equipment,
professional skills, and especially funding.
It should also be noted that many libraries
identifi ed as public libraries are in fact private
faith or family libraries: there is therefore a real
void in the area of public reading.
In August 2000, at the 66th IFLA Council and
General Conference held in Jerusalem, a Norwegian
librarian, Erling Bergan presented a paper on
‘Libraries in the West Bank and Gaza: Obstacles
and possibilities’(http://archive.ifl a.org/IV/ifl a66/
papers/170-172e.htm) which incorporates the
results of the study of 1996, enriched by visits he
had been able to make. It provides an updated
description of the main public libraries: Nablus
(70,000 volumes, 27 staff), Ramallah (40,000
volumes, 5 staff) and El Bireh (15,000 volumes,
6 staff). It also mentions the public libraries of
Tulkarm, Jenin, Hebron and Jericho in the West
Bank, of Gaza City and Rafah in the Gaza Strip,
and notes that there is no public library in
Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, he cites the library
of the Al Ansari family (40,000 volumes), open to
the public, and that of Orient House, which, with
its historical collections, was functioning virtu-
ally as a national library.
Erling Bergan also identified libraries of Bir
Zeit University in Ramallah (110,000 volumes,
26 staff), An-Najah University in Nablus
(130,000 volumes, 22 staff), Bethlehem University
(100,000 volumes, university founded in 1973 by
Pope Paul VI, open to all, both Christians and Mus-
lims) and those of various campuses of Al Quds
University around Jerusalem (75,000 volumes,
26 staff), the universities in Gaza and Hebron,
as well as Al Quds Open University centres, free
and unsupported by a religious institution or by
the state, including one in Bethlehem. He fi nally
states that school libraries, few in number in the
public sector, are more prevalent in the private
sector and in the 640 schools run by the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency United Nations
for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),
the UN agency responsible for the education of
children in refugee camps and refugee popula-
tion zones.
It is diffi cult to identify the special libraries, mostly
very small religious or thematic units – on the
condition of women, human rights, the environ-
ment, the problem of refugees, etc. – most often
associative, supported by foreign NGOs. It is
also diffi cult to enumerate all the libraries which
preserve heritage, mostly collections of manu-
scripts in varying quantities, among which we may
note the library of the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
that houses beautiful Arabic manuscripts.
In 1994, the Palestinian Library Association saw
the light of day, but, being subject to restrictions on
assembly and movement imposed by the occupy-
ing power, it is diffi cult for it to play a major role
in the development of libraries. Also, due to lack
of professional training locally, most Palestinian
librarians have had to train abroad, resulting in a
mismatch between training and practice.
The Present
Following the 1996 report, and because of the
diffi culties in establishing a proper network of
public libraries, the Ministry of Culture of the
Palestinian Authority decided to concentrate its
efforts on youth reading with a program that
focuses on the creation and development of
60 libraries for youth, assisted for 3 years by
Switzerland and Sweden. This plan included the
construction and equipping of libraries, an allo-
cation of 1,000 books and educational games, and
training of two teachers per site in collaboration
with the Ministry of Education.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 323 11/9/2009 11:34:18 AM
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
324
Begun in 1998, the program was funded until
2001. It was continued until 2003 with the cre-
ation of 12 new schools. But today, the libraries
are mostly closed for lack of paid staff and renewal
of funds, and there only remain the ‘animation
credits’ administered in each governorate by the
representative of the Minister.
A few years later, offi cial sources of information
on libraries are always very diffi cult to collect,
and through visits and meetings, we can see both
progress and spectacular setbacks.
A seminar organized by the Centre for the Study
of Human Rights in Ramallah and IFLA in March
2008 helped to update some information. This
three-day conference, which brought together
200 participants on the theme ‘Libraries and
Human Rights’ gave many Palestinian librarians
the chance to speak out. They largely described
the situation of Palestinian libraries under the
most recent confl icts and the pressures that the oc-
cupation of their territory continues to have on
their institutions: the destruction, despoliation,
difficulties in establishing and maintaining
services in an unstable public space and in cre-
ating regulations such as a law on libraries or on
copyright and intellectual property.
During the seminar we talked about prison libraries
(11,000 Palestinians are currently detained in
Israel), libraries for blind (blindness is the second
disability in Palestine), public libraries and the
special situation of libraries and Arab cultural in-
stitutions in Jerusalem, mostly closed because of
the many prohibitions on modifying or renovating
buildings, the partial or total confi scation of their
funds, censorship of publications and on imports
of materials – particularly journals – the lack of
resources and of professional staff. The Orient
House and its important library had been forced
to close in 2002.
Cooperation
It is most often through cooperation agreements
with foreign institutions or organizations that
libraries in Palestine can attain a certain level of
development.
Given the impossibility of making an exhaustive
list, and in order to stay within the framework of
French cooperation, we include, for public libraries,
the decentralized cooperation partnerships be-
tween the Councils of Seine Saint-Denis and Val-
de-Marne and the public libraries of Qhalqiliya,
Tulkarm and Jenin, and between the Urban
Community of Dunkirk and the municipal li-
brary of Gaza City; between Genevilliers and the
municipal library of Al Bireh; between the city
of Nantes and the municipal library of Jericho;
the cooperation project between the city of
Bouguenais and Anabia; the partnership between
the General Council of Bouches-du-Rhône with the
Governorate of Bethlehem, etc. There is also
the library of the Qattan Foundation for Youth in
Gaza City, a beautiful public library comparable
to the most recent establishments in the West,
which seems to have been spared by the recent
destruction. Opened in 2004, it offers more than
80,000 documents, multimedia spaces, spaces for
educational games, and a centre for information
and documentation on youth. It benefi ts from
competent staff and regular means of function-
ing, fully funded by the Qattan Foundation
headquartered in London.
Regarding the university libraries we may include,
among others, cooperation between Paris-VIII
and the Faculty of Law of Bir Zeit University;
between the University of Cergy-Pontoise and
that of the Rafah; and between the University of
Toulouse and Al Quds Open University.
We may also include the libraries, of varying im-
portance, of foreign cultural centres: those of the
British Council (Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah,
Hebron, Gaza City and Khan Yunis); of French
cultural centres (Jerusalem, Nablus, Gaza and
Ramallah – the Centre in Ramallah is a Franco-
German centre, jointly with the Goethe Institute),
which have between 4000 and 5000 documents
and are at the heart of a very rich offer of cultural
activities.
The Public Reading Project of
Bethlehem
On June 9 2005 a framework agreement was
signed for cooperation between the President
of the General Council of Bouches-du-Rhône
and the Governor of Bethlehem. It indicates
that in the fi eld of culture, priority will be given
to the book sector and public reading, specifi ed
in an addendum entitled ‘Cooperation in the
cultural sector: partnership in the fi eld of public
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 324 11/9/2009 11:34:18 AM
Libraries in Palestine
325
reading’. The General Council then supported
the proposal of COBIAC (Collective of Librarians
and Cultural Workers), who had made an in-
ventory of needs during a fi eld mission the same
year, and provided for much of the funding. The
project foresees:
• The development of a public library in the
Salah al-Din community centre of the town
of Dar Salah. It includes the development of
furniture, multimedia equipment, acquisition
of materials and professional training of staff.
A special effort is planned for the youth.
• Development under the same conditions of a
public library located in the city of Doha.
• The acquisition of documents for the benefi t of
the library of Al Quds Open University.
The premises and operating costs are borne by
the municipalities concerned; the governorate
provides logistical support and project monitoring.
The agreement also sets out the principles of
library operations, with reference to the UNESCO
Public Library Manifesto (1994), which must be
respected. The stated goals are the development
of public reading in the area of the Governorate
of Bethlehem, in a long-term perspective, as a
factor in the transmission of cultural heritage, of
increasing knowledge, developing citizenship,
of opening to the world, and addressed to all
without hindrance or discrimination. As well
as the establishment of local professional net-
works for sharing resources and the creation
of linkages with international professional and
intercultural networks.
The project was begun in 2006: work and im-
provements have been made in the two libraries of
Dar Salah and Doha, three sessions of professional
training have been held and 2000 documents in
Arabic acquired in each library, of which, initially,
70 percent are books for youth.
At the request of the governor of Bethlehem,
a fi rst extension of the project was completed
with the purchase of books and furniture for
the kindergarten in the village of Za'ttara. In
January 2007, the inauguration and opening to
Figure 1. COBIAC on the way to Jerusalem.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 325 11/9/2009 11:34:18 AM
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
326
Figure 3. Qattan Foundation Centre for the Child. Interior.
Figure 2. Qattan Foundation Centre for the Child. Exterior.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 326 11/9/2009 11:34:18 AM
Libraries in Palestine
327
the public of the libraries of Dar Salah and Doha
took place, and in October, the second extension
of the municipal library program in Beit Jala, at
the request of the mayor. The library, rich with
40,000 volumes, was created after the removal of
the papal library in East Jerusalem. The collection
is rich but partially obsolete. Without renewal
of collections or professional management for
several years, the library needs to be modernized.
A fourth professional training session focuses on
collections for youth.
In December, a fi rst progress report made it pos-
sible to measure the positive results as well as the
obstacles encountered:
• Organization of knowledge sharing and of ac-
cess to information for all is a concept that still
seems very new and that needs to be shared.
• Diffi culties of movement of persons are a serious
obstacle to exchanges and travel, especially to
bookstores.
• Institutional fragmentation and lack of know-
ledge of local resources are realities to be
overcome, just as appears diffi cult to establish
partnerships between the institutional world
and the associations, and between political and
civil society.
The establishment of a monitoring committee and
the expansion of relations between libraries for
future networking are thus envisaged. A directory
of libraries is being prepared.
The French consulate offers to organize French
courses for librarians at the Alliance Française of
Bethlehem: 200 hours of courses were scheduled
for 7 persons in 2008 – which will in fact continue
in 2009 because of the obstacles encountered –
with the objective of promoting professional ex-
changes and building partnerships with libraries
in the cities of the Bouches-du-Rhône –Gardanne,
Martigues, eventually Aubagne and Vitrolles and
the departmental library of Bouches-du-Rhône.
The program continued in 2008 with a fi fth session
of professional training on youth animation and
further acquisitions; the collections of libraries
Figure 4. Kindergarten, Za’ttara.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 327 11/9/2009 11:34:21 AM
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
328
of Doha and Dar Salah grew to over 3000
volumes and 7 multimedia posts were installed
in the library of Dar Salah. A new extension of
the program introduces the municipal library
of Battir – a village almost entirely enclosed by
Israeli territory – with the library in the town hall
and already equipped, thanks to donations from
volunteers.
A proposed extension to the village of Husan,
where a librarian is trying to follow the training,
is worth mentioning, the Mayor offering to make
space available. The fi rst books purchased are
placed in the kindergarten.
For 2009, it is expected to continue the program
of equipment of libraries, the development of
collections and skills, and the extension of the
project to the most remote villages such as Wadi
Nees, a village in the South.
But back to the census of existing libraries, from
visits that we were able to make: three university
libraries, including Bethlehem University, Al Quds
Open – being installed in its new premises – and
the new private university Falastin El Ahleyyah;
fi ve public libraries – Dar Salah, Doha, Beit Jala,
Battir, and the Pontifi cal Mission in Bethlehem;
the association libraries of the Ghirass Centre for
Youth, of Alrowwad, of the Phoenix Foundation,
and a number of school libraries and children’s
centres, such as the kindergarten of Za’ttara, the
library of the Alliance Française at the Peace
Centre, etc.
In future the establishment of a more ambitious
project for the establishment of a joint library
service in the Governorate of Bethlehem and the
networking of all existing libraries seems the in-
evitable step to sustaining a true system of reading
and information which should serve as a model
to extend to other governorates.
Indeed, if the attempted census conducted at our
request by the governorate in December 2007 did
not correspond to our expectations because, like
Figure 5. Training session.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 328 11/9/2009 11:34:22 AM
Libraries in Palestine
329
the 1996 study, it noted many private libraries
but did not mention active libraries most often
managed by NGOs that we visited ourselves, it
became clear that progress towards a genuine offer
of public reading will pass from now on through a
pooling of existing provision and the establishment
of a cooperative structure. Obtaining partnerships
with the Ministry of Culture of the Palestinian
Authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Mission to support the international NGOs,
IFLA, the Palestinian Library Association, and
eventually with other NGOs, will be crucial.
The Program on Storytelling
In 2007, the COBIAC answered a call for proposals
from the Delegation of the European Commission
in Jerusalem, which accepted the project ‘The role
of libraries in the transmission of oral heritage’.
This was to be conducted between January and
October 2008 in partnership with the Alrowwad
Cultural and Theatre Training Centre, located in
Aida camp in Bethlehem.
Figure 6. Librarians at work, Beit Jala.
Figure 7. Festival, preparation of the session.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 329 11/9/2009 11:34:23 AM
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
330
Figure 8. Storytelling festival, kindergarten.
On completion of this project and despite the great
diffi culties encountered in its implementation, we
note with some satisfaction that we could com-
bine energies at the local and international levels,
that we could create or reinforce the vocations of
storytellers, the results of the training workshops,
and provide librarians as well as facilitators and
teachers with both the practices of, and partners
in, animation.
A Review
We must now attempt, after a clear observation
of the diffi culties – which risk, because of the
current context, to enter in the short-term into
a phase of aggravation – to express the hopes
and expectations raised by these three years of
partnership with the Governorate of Bethlehem
for the development of reading and libraries.
The diffi culties are primarily related to depriv-
ation of liberty of movement and activity of
the peoples involved – a total and absolute
deprivation in the case of the inhabitants of the
It had four components:
1. A seminar on the theme ‘The story, a legacy
for tomorrow – the role of libraries', held at
Bethlehem University on April 5 with the par-
ticipation of three French animators (Praline
Gay-Para, Muriel Bloch and Liliane Rebillard),
while a representative of ‘The Small Reader’
association in Oran, a project partner, could
not make the journey.
2. Two workshops devoted to the collection of
stories (animated by Praline Gay-Para) and
storytelling (animated by Muriel Bloch).
3. A collection campaign held from May to August,
with five teams of two persons under the
responsibility of a young academic, Moayyed
Al Adj, assistant to Professor Sharif Kanaana,
University of Bir Zeit; a collection which will be
included in a compendium to be published by
the Tamer Institute for Ramallah in May 2009.
4. A festival of storytelling held between August 13
and October 16 with 17 storytelling sessions in
14 different locations; the closing session, held
in the camp of Aida at the foot of the wall of
separation, brought together about 600 people.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 330 11/9/2009 11:34:26 AM
Libraries in Palestine
331
Gaza Strip. Unemployment, business closures
due to the closure of outlets or the confi scation
of land, production tools or natural resources
like water, delays in paying salaries, shortages
and privations of all sorts, fear of incessant in-
cursions and everywhere the Israeli army can
make a library development project totally
derisory. But the thirst for knowledge, thirst for
communication and openness, the excellent level
of primary and secondary education, the number
of students in universities, excellent command of
ICT development make this a necessary and
indispensable tool for the attainment of inde-
pendence and development.
Other more sensitive diffi culties to be understood
are inherent in the chaotic history of Palestinian
society, a history which strengthens the weight
of traditional structures, political divisions, and
does not promote either the habits and devel-
opment of exchange structures or partnership.
To which may be added to the multitude of ex-
ternal infl uences exerted by NGOs and bilateral
cooperation agreements with foreign states
or regional organizations from whom, rightly,
each benefi ciary seeks to maintain the benefi ts,
and which are a priori bearers of cohesion and
coordination. These agreements or programs are
not always assured of monitoring and only rarely
present proposals for long term projects. Not to
mention the particular phenomenon of the refugee
camps where 32 percent of the population live,
and their management by the UN agencies, which
must be taken into account in any effort at sharing
and centralization of services.
Hopes and diffi culties must, however, reinforce
our commitment to partnership. And because li-
brarians are professionals in the exchange and
dissemination of knowledge, is it not in the most
diffi cult and painful contexts that the solidarity
of the international library community must be
exercised?
Acknowledgment
This paper was originally published as ‘Les
Bibliothèques en Palestine’ in Bibliothèque(s) –
Revue de l’Association des Bibliothécaires de
France, no. 45, juillet 2009, 67–74 and is here
translated with kind permission of the Editor,
Philippe Levreaud and the author, Françoise
Lebvre-Danset. English translation by Stephen
Parker with support from Google Translate.
References
1. Sources: Etude du British Council, Communication
IFLA 2000, Programme ministère de la Culture,
Le programme de développement de la LP dans
le Gouvernorat de Bethlehem, Mission Cobiac,
Convention CG 13, Programme et réalisation,
Programme UE.
Figure 10. Ghassan Ziadeh at the ABF Congress.
Figure 9. Fifty years of the Ramallah Public
Library.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 331 11/9/2009 11:34:27 AM
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
332
The Palestinian Territories
Term (pending the creation of a Palestinian state): Palestinian Territories.
Area: West Bank: 5842 sq km, Gaza Strip: 365 sq km.
Palestinian population: 3.8 million (West Bank and East Jerusalem: 2.4 million, Gaza Strip:
1.4 million).
Jewish settler population: 470,000 inhabitants, of which 190,000 in Jerusalem.
Population growth: 3 percent.
Capital: East Jerusalem (claimed for the future Palestinian state).
Major cities: East Jerusalem (180,000 inhabitants), Jericho (64,000 inhabitants), Gaza City (57,000
inhabitants), Nablus (52,000 inhabitants), Tulkarm (47,000 inhabitants), Ramallah (40,000 inhabitants),
Jenin (35,000 inhabitants), Hebron (17,000 inhabitants).
Offi cial language: Arabic.
Head of State (President of the Palestinian Authority): Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen.
Currency: Shekel.
GDP: US$ 6 million. GDP per capita US$ 1552
Bethlehem Governorate
Area: 608 sq km (zone A: 7,8 percent; Zone B: 5.5 percent, or 47.64 sq km; zone C: 69.7 percent).
Large municipalities: Bethlehem, Beit Jalla, Beit Sahour (about 15,000 inhabitants).
Medium-sized municipalities: 66 villages, 3 refugee camps (Deheisheh, Aida and Beit Jibrin, about
20,000 inhabitants), 20 Israeli settlements.
The Administrative Division
The Oslo Interim Agreements (December 1995) divided the territories of the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip into three administrative areas:
Zone A: full sovereignty of the Palestinian Authority.
3 percent of the West Bank, 8 major cities: Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, Jericho, Tulkarm, Qualqilya,
Bethlehem and Hebron – except the part occupied by the old city – and 60 percent of the Gaza Strip.
Zone B: civil administration of the Palestinian Authority but control of the territory reserved for the
Israeli army.
27 percent of the West Bank rural areas.
Zone C: has become areas of settlement and expansion of roads reserved for Israelis.
70 percent of the West Bank and 40 percent of Gaza settlements of low density suburbs of cities and
towns, industrial areas.
NB: the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, which had not been the object of any agreement, passed
under Israeli municipal management in 1980. Since then, the multiplication of various prohibitions,
deprivations of utilities, construction of reserved routes, and pre-emptive acts of expropriation have
made the Palestinian population largely a minority.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 332 11/9/2009 11:34:29 AM
Libraries in Palestine
333
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
This United Nations programme, created after the fi rst Arab-Israeli war of 1948 and renewed since
then, has been designed to aid Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and
Syria. Its purpose is to meet the basic needs of Palestinian refugees in health, education, humanitarian
assistance and social services: Palestinian refugees are the only refugees in the world who do not
depend upon the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
UNRWA provides services in 59 camps. It is by far the largest UN agency with a staff of over 25,000
people, of whom 99 percent are Palestinian refugees recruited locally, working as teachers, doctors
or social workers.
According to the UNRWA defi nition, a ‘Palestinian refugee’ is a person whose usual place of residence
was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost both his home and his means of
livelihood because of the Israeli-Arab confl ict of 1948. The defi nition of UNRWA refugee also covers
the descendants of Palestinians who became refugees in 1948. Consequently, the number of registered
Palestinian refugees has grown from 914,000 in 1950 to over 4.4 million in 2005 and continues to
grow because of natural increase of the population. This extremely broad defi nition of refugee, which
can include the descendants, is used only in relation to the Palestinians.
The Qattan Foundation
Founded in 1994 in London by Abdel Mohsen Qattan and his wife, from Jaffa, the foundation aims
to support cultural, educational and scientifi c development as well as the cultural heritage of the Arab
people in general and the Palestinian people in particular. It assists individuals as well as associations
and institutions.
With an annual budget of US$ 2.2 million, it is the reference institution in the Arab world for culture
and education.
The Qattan Centre for the Child in Gaza was opened in 2004.
www.qattanfondation.org
A small budget for acquiring books for youth is available from the library of the Ghirass Centre, a
particularly active NGO situated in the heart of Bethlehem which pursues sociocultural and socio-
educational activities for youth with international assistance. A local correspondent has been appointed
to monitor libraries and in particular to ensure a monthly visit by librarians to a bookshop in Ramallah
to choose books and educational games. Sessions in cataloguing and equipment held in common in
the library of Beit Jalla help to set the rules of the book circuit.
The acquisition process remains diffi cult: there is no bookshop in Bethlehem. After an attempt to place
orders with two bookstores in East Jerusalem, where librarians cannot travel, then with a bookshop
in Hebron, acquisitions are now moving, with a monthly visit by librarians, accompanied by our local
correspondent, to the bookstore Al-Shorouk in Ramallah, which, despite the diffi culties of supply via
Jordan, offers a good selection of documents.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 333 11/9/2009 11:34:29 AM
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset
334
The Tamer Institute
Created in 1989 after the fi rst intifada, to promote the right to education and access to knowledge,
the right of free expression, the promotion of reading and writing among the young, developing
children's literature and supporting creativity and local initiatives, it is located in Ramallah with a
branch in Gaza.
The Tamer Institute – a dozen people and about 40 fi eld staff – has developed an important resource
centre (with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) used by
the entire educational and cultural community, as well as a children's library, which are central to
many activities related to youth reading. Its publishing house, founded in 1993, works with a reading
committee and has published over 130 works.
It has received several international awards, most recently at the Bologna Fair.
www.tamerinst.org
A Librarian in Ramallah
Ghassan Ziadeh, (see photo, p. [331]) invited to the 55th Congress of the Association des Bibliothécaires
de France, kindly enlightened us on the main challenges he is facing in directing the Library of
Ramallah.
If there are no real maintenance problems, we now have a problem of space for new books.
We’re very cramped. The building was designed for the library, that is important: it is not a reused
building. The municipality has acquired the space next door for an extension, but did not have the
means to build. It also tried to construct a totally new building for a library and national archives.
Contracts with European countries were awarded for this; the space is there, but it cannot fi nance
the construction.
One diffi culty is that the 6000 users – students or undergraduate students for the most part – do not
come from Ramallah itself but nearby, and when they come to borrow or return books, they must
pass checkpoints. But they still try to return them, even if they are very often late. Agreements have
been concluded between the library and the university: when leaving the university, a student cannot
obtain his diploma or his papers until he has returned all books borrowed.
Furthermore, we must replace old computers and we do not have the means. There is only one
workstation for users, but I hope I can get a computer room so that users can do Internet searches
and search the library catalogue that is now available in electronic form.
Regarding acquisitions, normally I buy mainly on the local market, but sometimes I also go to book
fairs, for example in Cairo, but it is very expensive, and for US$ 7000 to buy books in Cairo I had
to pay US$ 13,000 more to import them to Palestine. It is absolutely necessary to free books from
these customs charges.
The other problem is that we have few librarians: there are only 5 of the 9 we had previously. This
workforce reduction resulted in a reduction in the opening hours: 7.00 am to 20.00 pm before and now
only from 9.00 am to 16.00 pm. We try to resolve this situation through cooperation with foundations
– the Arab Bank, the Qattan or the Schuman Foundation in Amman, for example – so that each of
them fi nances a librarian to reopen until 20.00 pm. We also have some volunteers because, normally,
each student who fi nishes the university must provide 120 hours, and some come to give 50 hours
to the library.
Interview by Philippe Levreaud.
Thank you to Manar Badr, his interpreter.
322-334_IFLA355084.indd 334 11/9/2009 11:34:29 AM
335
Abstract
Considering the low rate of reading of books in Iran and the disregard for
reading skills in daily life, innovative plans and programs aimed at bringing
books to the public introduce citizens to books as major information
carriers and establish the reading habit as a necessity for today’s life.
The Green Gift Plan (GGP), focusing on building small libraries in some
public areas and work places (i.e. barbers’ shops, dentists’ or doctors’
offi ces, women’s beauty salons) in Mazandaran Province, Iran, aimed
at improving reading among the people by bringing books into society.
It also put emphasis on librarians’ social responsibilities. The paper
describes the settings, objectives and implementation of this plan and
makes proposals for the continuation of the plan and the implementation
of other similar plans.
Keywords: Green Gift Plan; public libraries; books; reading; Mazandaran
Province; Iran
Introduction
More than ever, the book, as a cultural product and familiar infor-
mation carrier, needs programs and plans that lead it to present and
play its important role in today’s knowledge society and heighten
public awareness of its values and benefi ts in their individual and
social lives. Librarians, as social workers and in order to perform
the duties of social librarianship, have the main responsibilities in
designing and implementing such plans and programs. These are
manifestations and presentations of the role of librarians in our
modern and complex society, where information and knowledge
increasingly play a main and basic role in peoples’ relationships.
Such social work in our fi eld can also defend the librarianship
profession against other threatening surrogates and put emphasis
on librarians’ vital role in modern society.
Book reading is considered as one of the most important indi-
cators of cultural development, especially in developing countries.
There are contradictory statistics on the reading rate of Iranians
(Poor-Skandary 2007). But in spite of cultural administrators’ efforts
to establish the reading habit in society and their different plans for
encouraging reading skills, the book reading rate is still considerably
low, on the whole, because of various economic, social, political and
cultural conditions and limitations. The domination of oral culture
over the written one, the unimportance of knowledge in social life
and relations, disregard for book reading in families and schools,
inaccessibility of library services, lack of books and published media
in public areas and so on are other factors that negatively affect
book reading and the reading habit in Iran. Besides, access to public
libraries is hard because of the lack of libraries, even in big cities, the
remoteness of public libraries and other centers related to book and
book reading, the high cost of referring to libraries, the low incomes
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 335–340.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352428
I FLA
Hossein Noorani
Heidar Mokhtari
Green Gift Plan: building small libraries in
public places of Mazandaran Province, Iran
About the Authors: page 340
335-340_IFLA352428.indd 335 11/5/2009 10:58:35 AM
Hossein Noorani and Heidar Mokhtari
336
of people and other factors that negatively affect
the reading rate and decrease the use of libraries
for reading and satisfying information needs. All
these factors can be seen as barriers to Zipf’s “least
effort principle and must be reduced by accessible
means and possible innovative plans.
For example, in Mazandaran Province where the
Green Gift Plan was set, only 58 public libraries
are located, whereas there are 34 cities, eighteen
towns and many villages in this province. It is
obvious that some towns and most villages have
no public library or similar centre for reading or
acquiring needed information.
Several effective step-by-step plans and programs
are necessary to challenge these various factors,
bring books and reading into personal life and
develop the reading habit as a familiar and tang-
ible feature of everyone’s personal and social
life, spread written culture among the citizens,
encourage reading skills in public areas, and
emphasize the power of knowledge and the role
of information in successful life. It is the duty of
librarians to perform these social tasks.
Considering these points, the Green Gift Plan
was developed to build small libraries in some
public areas with certain capacities and conditions
and develop it into other public areas in the
future. The program was called ‘Green Gift Plan’
because ‘Green Gift’ is the symbol of enjoyment
and new life in Persian culture. Mazandaran
Province was considered as the place for the
implementation of the Green Gift Plan because
the authors live in its central city and have some
experience of and views on its multi-dimensional
conditions. The authors’ expertise in library
and information science and their cultural and
domestic information background helped them
in the operationalization of the plan. The Green
Gift Plan results were supposed to be directive
in broadening the plan and developing other simi-
lar plans in various public places of this province
and other provinces in the future.1
The Green Gift Plan:
Settings and Objectives
The Islamic Culture and Guidance Ministry of Iran
is located in Tehran (the capital) and has a major
department in the central city of every province
and branch offi ces in some other cities. The main
goals of this ministry include: setting strategies for
publishing printed and electronic material in the
country; supervising and monitoring publication
trends and the quality of publications; and the free
dissemination of published material, especially
printed books, among cultural offi ces, institutions,
educational centers and offi cial public areas.
Considering this last goal, published books and
other information material on various subjects
are selected subjectively and usually bought col-
lectively from Tehran, by the Cultural Deputy of
the Ministry using a specially assigned budget at
regular intervals. These books are stored in a big
central depository and then divided according
to the literate population of each province and
sent to the major departments of all provinces.
These departments store their books and mater-
ials in their own small depositories and distribute
them among applicant centers according to their
stated needs, users and missions. The book dis-
tribution process is usually done irregularly and
without any strategic plan, rational information
needs assessment or accurate investigation and
evaluation. Such an inaccurate and subjective pro-
cess decreases the use of these books and results
in the removal of assigned resources.
Taking into account the potential of the free
distribution of books by the Ministry and its
provincial departments, the Green Gift Plan was
implemented in Mazandaran Province during 6
months from August 2008 to February 2009. If
possible, the Green Gift Plan is going to continue
and expand in the future. It was expected that
the Green Gift Plan would be oriented towards a
relatively rational and study-based book donat-
ing process and result in the optimal use of this
method of bringing books to the public. Using the
facilities of Mazandaran Province Department
of the Islamic Culture and Guidance Ministry
(‘the Department’ in brief) especially for the
optimization of book donating as one of its organ-
izational goals to encourage the reading habit and
the establishment of reading skills, the Green Gift
Plan was implemented in all nineteen main cities
of the province.
The plan was carried out in doctors’ and dentists’
offi ces, barbers’ shops and women’s beauty salons
as samples of the public places where small
libraries could be established. The clientele of
these locations need to visit them (and similar
places) more or less regularly. We can improve the
reading habit and arrange book reading in these
places by making available small libraries with
books and other information material on various
335-340_IFLA352428.indd 336 11/5/2009 10:58:38 AM
Green Gift Plan
337
interesting subjects. It was decided continue the
Green Gift Plan in other public places, such as
terminals, hotel lobbies, governmental health
care centers, etc. in the future, if it is successful
and well protected by the Department.
The main objectives of the Green Gift Plan were:
a) to bring the book as a cultural product into
social areas and among the public, and intro-
duce it to them
b) to fi ll the leisure and waiting times of clientele
who visit some public places and wait for their
services
c) to establish the book reading habit as a ne-
cessity for today’s life and a skill for our know-
ledge age among citizens
d) to encourage citizens in building small librar-
ies in society, especially in their work places,
and to publicize them
e) to optimize the book donating process per-
formed regularly by the Department
f) to socialize libraries and introduce librarian-
ship as a social work and librarians as social
workers.
The public places selected for the implementation
of the Green Gift Plan (barbers’ shops, beauty
salons and doctors’ and dentists’ offi ces/) had
to have the following conditions for appropriate
book reading:
a) a roofed waiting room
b) waiting time of their clientele for using the
services provided.
The Implications of Green Gift Plan
There have been some other innovative plans
aimed at entering books into society and estab-
lishing the book reading habit in everyday life.
These plans were implemented in various places
autonomously by individuals or government or
non-government offi ces. These include, among
others: using motorcycle couriers for lending
books to busy library members (‘Motorcycle Book
Couriers in Shoosh City’ 2008); bringing books
for the physically handicapped (‘Book Carrying
for the Disabled in Mashhad City’ 2008); for-
giving overdue fi nes of certain library members
to encourage them to continue using the public
library; and building a small library in a bakery
(‘Qoum City Bakery Library’ 2007). However, as
far as the selected places and the conditions they
had to have were concerned, the Green Gift Plan
was established for the fi rst time in Iran and had
some differences from the above-mentioned and
similar plans, namely: the necessity for having a
roofed space, waiting room and appropriate chairs,
together with other conditions such as enough light,
relative silence and suitable temperature, all pro-
viding the clientele with a desirable environment
for book reading and enjoying their waiting times.
The Green Gift Plan was also supported by an
offi cial government department with relatively
suffi cient means for the implementation of such
plans and rational reasons for supporting and the
future expansion of the Green Gift Plan.
The Implementation of
Green Gift Plan
The Green Gift Plan was innovated by the re-
spondent author, Hossein Noorani, who works
as a librarian and domestic culture expert in the
Department. Consulting with several experts
in related fi elds about this innovation, and in
justifi cation of its benefi ts and effectiveness, the
plan came into operation under the protection
of the Department and the supervision of the
respondent author. The Green Gift Plan Team
was established with the participation of several
experts and practitioners and related admin-
istrators of the Department and some specialists
in library and information science, psychology,
public culture and other related fi elds. Green Gift
Plan Team meetings were being held regularly in
order to operationalize the plan, select appro-
priate information resources for donating, moni-
toring the plan’s progress and development, and
making decisions on its evaluation and possible
generalization.
Considering the available facilities, human re-
sources, assigned budget, main easily accessible
public places, the variety of their clientele and so
on, the Green Gift Plan Team decided to select
doctors’ and dentists’ offi ces, barbers’ shops and
women’s beauty salons for the fi rst stage of imple-
mentation of the Green Gift Plan and announce
it to the owners of these target workplaces. The
announcement introduced the plan, enumerated
the target places and their conditions, described the
plan’s benefi ts and merits and so on. It contained
the Department’s full address and phone numbers
to be referred to or contacted for responding to
possible questions of applicants, and stated that
the books would be given to selected applicants
335-340_IFLA352428.indd 337 11/5/2009 10:58:38 AM
Hossein Noorani and Heidar Mokhtari
338
and that they had to prepare at least a bookshelf
themselves. Each applicant had to complete an
application form included in the announcement
and send it back to the Department for recording
required information such as the owners’ names
and educational levels, their work place address,
their phone numbers, surface area of waiting
rooms (in square meters), etc. The announcement
was published in local publications and media.
One staff member of the Department was assigned
to respond to the questions of applicants and, if
necessary, explain the details of the plan to them.
Several days after the announcement was made,
some applicants began to refer to the Department
to acquire information on the Green Gift Plan.
They were given information on the details of the
plan, its benefi ts, importance, etc. and their agree-
ment about participating in the plan.
A total of 345 applicants completed the appli-
cation forms and sent them back. Using the
information provided in the completed forms,
a database was designed according to type of
work place, their locations (in the 19 main cities
of the province) and other needed information.
Through coordination with branch offi ces of the
Department, direct observations of applicants’
work places were made and some observation
and evaluation forms were completed simulta-
neously. Eventually, 121 (35 percent) applications
were accepted for implementation of the Green
Gift Plan. Excluded applicants did not meet
some of the conditions and requirements needed
for the Green Gift Plan, such as offi cial license,
appropriate waiting room, suitable bookshelf
preparation, etc. Figure 1 shows the distribution
of the selected work places by occupation type.
Doctors’ and dentists’ offi ces together had the
highest rank in the implementation of the Green
Gift Plan, with 57 locations (47.2 percent).
Fifty-six of the selected work places (46.3 per-
cent) were located in Sary (the central city of
Mazandaran Province) and the remainder in the
other eighteen main cities of the province.
After the selection of suitable work places, the
Green Gift Plan Team started to select appro-
priate books to be given to the applicants. These
books were on various subjects according to the
work places’ situations and the circumstances
and interests of their clientele and ranged from
general subjects to public culture, psychology,
medicine, health care, sports, religion, etc. The
selected resources were then divided and given
to the applicants in inauguration ceremonies
(Figures 2 and 3). These ceremonies were well
reported in local publications and the mass
media, especially in the morning and evening
Mazandaran province news.
Each applicant received 100 selected book titles
for starting his or her small library operation. A
special monthly survey form was designed and
given to the applicants for monitoring their
small libraries and also communicating with the
Department. Up to 12,150 titles were given to
the selected applicants in the early stages. Some
applicants themselves provided other books
for their libraries and promised to expand their
collections with other appropriate titles. Some
applicants, especially doctors and dentists, stated
that book reading helped them indirectly by
informing their clientele and providing them with
good information, especially on their health care
and treatment.
The continuation of donating other books and
publications to these applicants and expanding
these small collections in the future requires
them to send back the completed evaluation
forms to the Department every month and to
preserve their libraries’ resources. If necessary,
other observations will be carried out on these
small libraries for monitoring their performance
and progress and evaluating their users’ views on
their benefi ts and usage.
Figure 1. Frequency distribution of the selected
public work places for the Green Gift Plan, by
their occupation type.
335-340_IFLA352428.indd 338 11/5/2009 10:58:38 AM
Green Gift Plan
339
The Green Gift Plan was refl ected well in local
publications and public media. Some applicants
were interviewed by a local TV news reporter and
the report broadcasted. The Green Gift Plan will
be continued and developed into other public
areas, such as terminals, governmental health
care centers and so on throughout the province
and the country, if the current Green Gift Plan
is successful and the facilities and budget needed
for the continuation of the plan are available.
It is too soon to pronounce any certain opinion
on the progress of the Green Gift Plan and its
acceptance among the public. It is notable that
our facilities were inappropriate for announcing
the Green Gift Plan widely and the plan was
completely new for applicants and making them
accept it was really hard. However, its import-
ance is increasingly known to the public and the
number of applicants for the establishment of such
small and interesting libraries increases. We see
this good and tangible reality several months after
the implementation of the Green Gift Plan. It is
obvious that the support and encouragement of
centers such as the Department is a major factor
in the creation and continuation of such plans.
Final Remarks
In developing societies, such as Iran, dealing with
cultural and developmental affairs and changing
false or incorrect views of the people are very
hard and complex tasks. In our society, the lack
of attention to books and other information re-
sources, and disregard for book reading as a
necessary habit for today’s social life, stem from
various economical, cultural, social and educa-
tional factors. Introducing the public to the im-
portance of books and reading in their personal
and social relations needs innovative and rational
plans and programs. Innovative plans such as the
Green Gift Plan, operating the under protection of
related organizations responsible for the cultural
domain, can establish the reading habit among
the public, bring books into society and encourage
people to build small libraries in public places and
areas. Such plans can help those responsible for
encouraging reading skills and direct the related
organizations to fi nd the right way to make effect-
ive use of the resources and budgets assigned to
books and reading. Besides, such plans can refl ect
the librarians’ social responsibilities and their
increasing role in the current knowledge society
and represent manifestations of social librarian-
ship anywhere. These are the main barriers against
the variety of replacements that threaten our
profession.
Note
1. During implementation, the Green Gift Plan was of-
fi cially registered as an innovative plan, in the name
of Hossein Noorani in the Works Registration Unit
of Islamic Republic of Iran National Library under
No. V11110, on 31 May 2008.
References
[All references are in Persian.]
Book carrying for the disabled in Mashhad city. (2008)
Resalat Newspaper, No. 6404. 15 April 2008. p.16.
Motorcycle book couriers in Shoosh city. (2008).
Interhouse Publication of Iran Public Libraries
Institute. 1(30, February 2008. p.5.
Figure 2. Inauguration of a small library in a
barber’s shop.
Figure 3. Inauguration of a small library in a
doctor’s offi ce.
335-340_IFLA352428.indd 339 11/5/2009 10:58:38 AM
Hossein Noorani and Heidar Mokhtari
340
Poor-Skandar, Leily. (2007) There is not any precise
statistics on reading rate per capita in Iran. Retrieved
19 January 2009 from Iran Book News Agency (IBNA):
http://www.ibna.ir/vdcezn8z.jh8xni9bbj.html.
Qhoum city bakery library. (2007) Iran Newspaper,
No.3592, 11 March 2007. p.20.
About the Authors
Hossein Noorani has a MD in library and infor-
mation science and works as a domestic culture
expert in Mazandaran Province Islamic Culture
and Guidance Ministry Department, Sary, Iran.
He is teaching library and information science in
some universities of Mazandaran Province. E-mail:
nooraniho@yahoo.com Phone: +98911226462o.
Heidar Mokhtari (corresponding author) is a PhD
student of library and information science in
the Education and Psychology School, Ferdowsi
University, Mashhad, Iran and has published some
articles and translations in this fi eld. He also works
as a librarian in Golestan Province University of
Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran. He may be contacted
at: Library and Information Group-Education and
Psychology College- Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
-Azadi Square- Mashhad- Iran. Postal Code:
9177948991. Phone: +989112730616. E-mail:
mokhtariazad@gmail.com.
335-340_IFLA352428.indd 340 11/5/2009 10:58:39 AM
341
Abstract
The Journal of the American Society for Information Science and
Technology (JASIST) has been playing a vital role in the dissemination
of scholarly articles in library and information science since 1950. This
paper presents the results of a bibliometric study of articles published
in the JASIST from 2000 to 2007. It examines the distribution of papers
under various headings, including authorship pattern and nature of col-
laboration, geographic distribution of articles, nature of cited and citing
references, prolifi c authors and highly cited authors. Data were collected
using the Web of Science and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Results
indicate that during the sample period the rate of publication was uneven
and the most prominent form of publication was articles. The trend of
authorship pattern of articles is towards collaboration and authors from
47 countries contributed articles. The country-wise distribution reveals
that the highest number of contributions was made by US authors fol-
lowed by the UK. The number of references cited per article increased
from 2000–2007 whereas articles received citations in decreasing num-
bers during the same period. The results suggest that articles need to
have been published for more than 2 years before they receive adequate
numbers of citations.
Keywords: bibliometrics; Journal of the American Society for Information
Science and Technology; JASIST
Introduction
Bibliometric analysis is a method to describe patterns of publication
and national and international strengths and biases in areas of
research within a given fi eld or body of literature. Bibliometric
studies have been applied mainly to scientifi c fi elds and are based
principally on various metadata elements like author, title, subject,
citations, etc. related to scholarly publication within a discipline.
This type of analysis provides useful indicators of scientifi c pro-
ductivity, trends, the emphasis of research in various facets and
researchers’ preferences for publication (Jacobs 2001). According
to Huang et al. (2006), bibliometric data has been used to describe
and evaluate countries, universities, research institutes, journals,
specifi c research topics and specifi c disciplines.
Crane (1972) identifi ed 5 aspects of bibliometric studies:
1. the relationship of characteristics of scholarly products to ‘impact’
in the fi eld
2. the ‘contribution’ of individual authors or scientists
3. the seminal infl uence network of particular articles or ideas
4. the relative prestige or utility of various journals in a fi eld
5. the productivity of particular institutions, academic departments
or ‘invisible colleges’.
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 341–358.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352429
I FLA
Bhaskar Mukherjee
Dr. Bhaskar Mukherjee is currently
employed as an Assistant Profes-
sor in the Department of Library
and Information Science, Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar
Pradesh, India. A young science
graduate and doctorate in the fi eld
of library and information science,
Dr. Mukherjee has been serving
this profession since 1996 in
various capacities. He has had ex-
posure to various theoretical and
technical aspects of library and
information science teaching as
well as working experience in
various types of libraries. He has
published a number of research
articles in various reputable
journals in the fi eld. He is recipi-
ent of the Raja Rammohun Roy
Foundation award for contributing
best article, the Prabhakar Rao
Gold Medal Award for positioning
First Class First in BSc, and the
UTD Gold Medal Award for First
Class First in BLibISc and MLibISc.
His research interests are in
webometrics, open access, infor-
mation storage and retrieval, know-
ledge organization, etc. E-mail:
mukherjee.bhaskar@gmail.com
Journal of the American Society for Information
Science and Technology (2000–2007):
a bibliometric study
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 341 11/5/2009 10:59:44 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
342
Since journals are one of the most signifi cant
vehicles of scholarly communication in any dis-
cipline, bibliometric analysis of the contents of
any scholarly journal portrays the scientifi c pro-
ductivity, trends and emphases of research in a
discipline and in the journal itself. Articles pub-
lished in scholarly journals, including those in
library and information science (LIS), refl ect
changes in the interests and concerns of their
author constituencies and of the discipline in
general (Koehler et al. 2000). There are many
journals in the LIS disciplines. Among them, the
Journal of the American Society for Information
Science and Technology (JASIST) is one of the
most important journals of LIS.
About JASIS(T)
JASIST (ISSN: 1532-2882) is one of the most
prestigious, fully refereed scholarly and tech-
nical journals in the fi eld of LIS and Computer
Science published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
and is part of their Wiley InterScience series of
peer-reviewed journals. JASIST fi rst appeared as
the Journal of Documentary Reproduction, an
American Library Association publication, from
1938 until 1942 (Walker 1997), which had to
cease publication during World War 2. American
Documentation (AD) succeeded the Journal of
Documentary Reproduction and was published
from January 1950 to the end of 1969. From
1970 through 2000 it was published as Journal
of the American Society for Information Science
(JASIS) (ISSN:0002-8231). The name changed to
the current name again at the end of 2000. From
1970 to 1996 it was a bi-monthly publication, from
1997–1998 it was monthly, and later a 14-month
subscription publication in 1998. The editorial
board consists of nearly 3 dozen members, pri-
marily from the United States (http://www3.
interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jabout/76501873/
EditorialBoard.html). Presently the Journal is
edited by Donald H. Kraft. The journal is concerned
with the generation, recording, distribution, storage,
representation, retrieval, and dissemination of
information, as well as its social impact and man-
agement of information agencies. There is a strong
emphasis on new information technologies and
methodologies in text analysis, computer based re-
trieval systems, measures of effectiveness, and the
search for patterns and regularities in measures of
existing communication systems. The orientation
is toward quantitative experimental work, but
signifi cant qualitative and historical research is
also addressed.
Related Research
During the last few decades, many articles have
addressed the bibliometric aspects of journals
across many fi elds (Worthen 1978; Salton and
Bergmark 1979; Tiew 1998, etc.) including LIS in
general (Stephenson 1993; Smiraglia, and Leazer
1995; Walker 1997, Heydon et al. 2000, etc.),
and JASIS in particular (Cronin, 1991; Harter, and
Hooten 1992; Al-Ghamdi et al. 1998; Lipetz 1999;
Smith 1999, etc.) JASIS(T) has a long history of
continuous publication since 1950 through the pre-
sent and is consistently recognized as among the
most important and infl uential of information
science journals (Kohl and Davis 1985; Stefaniak
1985; Rice 1990; Siddiqui 1997; Wormell 1998;
Nisonger 1999). It is a highly regarded journal in
the fi eld of LIS, publishes mainly new research,
and is known to receive a high number of cita-
tions (Bauer and Balkkalbasi 2005). JASIS also
published a considerable amount of research in
the 11th issue of its 50th volume.
Koehler et al. (2000) examined frequency of
publication, publication size, number of authors,
gender and corporate authors by region, and the
funding status of articles of 3 e-journals and one
paper journal, namely JASIS. They found that
JASIS was a more general purpose publication
that attracted a signifi cant pool of authors from the
science-technology community. Articles published
in JASIS and Information Research reported the
results of funded research at a rate far greater than
the other journals in their sample. In another study,
Koehler (2001) explained the status of informa-
tion science as science through an exploration
of JASIS from its initial publication as American
Documentation in 1950 through the closing issue
of its Silver Anniversary year in December 1999.
He and Spink (2002) analysed the distribution
of foreign authors by geographic location from
a 50-year publication period (1950–1999) to
assess the overall trends in JASIS and Journal of
Documentation. Uzun (2004) conducted a study
of the patterns of foreign authorship of articles and
the international composition of journal editorial
boards in 5 leading journals in the fi eld of infor-
mation science and scientometrics. The study
covers one American journal, namely JASIST, and
4 European journals. Sin (2006) also conducted
a longitudinal study using 20 LIS journals, includ-
ing JASIST, to assess the level of international-
ization in their authorship patterns. Tsay (2008)
explored the relationship between JASIST and
other disciplines by citation analysis using citation
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 342 11/5/2009 10:59:46 AM
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
343
data drawn from references of each article in
JASIS(T) in 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004.
The results of this study revealed that the pro-
duction rate of JASIST literature doubled and the
average number of references cited per paper in-
creased 2 to 3 times in a period of about 25 years.
JASIST itself is the most highly cited, and is fol-
lowed by 4 library and information science (LIS)
journals, namely Information Processing and
Management, Journal of Documentation, Annual
Review of Information Science and Technology
and Journal of Information Science.
To the best of my knowledge no bibliometric
study has yet been conducted to analyze the
several quantifi able characteristics of the content
of JASI ST during 2000–2007. In this bibliometric
analysis, we examined 3 elements: articles, authors
and citations. This journal was chosen as the
single source journal for the bibliometric study
because of its uniqueness.
Objectives
The major objectives of the present study, covering
the contents of JASIST from 2000 to 2007, are:
• to measure the publication culture
• to examine the authorship patterns and the
nature of collaborative research
• to study the research output in terms of insti-
tutions type and the country of belonging of
contributing authors
• to identify the prolifi c contributors, their author-
ship patterns and quantity of contributions
• to examine the research output in terms of
length of papers, the number of citations given
and received
• to identify highly cited authors and to calculate
the quantity of citations received by authors
under various authorships.
Methodology
The data presented in this paper have been
accessed from Web of Science published by
Thomson Scientifi c. The basic data, relating to the
bibliometric characteristics of JASI ST from 2000
to 2007, were collected using the general search
option of Web of Science. The searching was con-
ducted during the fi rst week of August 2009.
In the general search option, 2 pre-defi ned fi elds,
viz. ‘publication name’ and ‘year published’ added
by logical operator “AND” have been chosen for
gathering data. In the ‘publication name’ fi eld,
the full name of the journal, i.e. Journal of the
American Society for Information Science (for
year 2000) and Technology (for years 2001–2007),
has been used. In the ‘year published’ fi eld, every
single year has been employed instead of years
in groups. For example, we typed ‘2000’ in the
fi eld ‘year published’ to get data relevant to year
2000. Although ISI search permits, we did not
employ ‘2000–2007’ for getting all published items
related to 2000–2007. We follow this process to
get more accurate results.
In order to study the bibliometric characteristics
of publications, all the searched results were
fi rst saved in text fi les and then imported into
Microsoft Excel for analysis. An author was treated
as having one contribution if that author’s name
appears once in the author section of the article,
regardless of whether or not that author is the fi rst
author or co-author. If for any reason an author
used different name forms for different articles,
those articles were treated as written by one au-
thor under different names. Geographic locations
of the authors were determined by the authors’
addresses on JASIST articles at the time their works
were published. For the purpose of present study,
we have measured prolifi c authors who published
more than 5 papers, to exclude from considera-
tion researchers who published few papers. The
total of citations received by an author at a given
moment has been calculated by counting citations
received by authors for their articles published
under both solo and joint authorship. Each author
of a joint paper was credited with having received
an equal share of the total number of citations to
that paper. For example, if a joint paper by 4 au-
thors received a total of 20 citations, each of the
4 authors was credited with 20 citations, because
it was diffi cult to ascertain the extent of each
individual’s contribution to the whole. Data were
also compared with the related fi ndings in the
previous studies.
Results and Discussion
Publication Culture in JASIS(T)
Table 1 shows the publication culture of 1345
items published in the journal for each year from
2000 to 2007.
As shown in Table 1, journal articles were found
to be the most prominent form of communi-
cating research results. Journal articles were
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 343 11/5/2009 10:59:46 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
344
the most numerous type of contribution (975 or
72.49 percent) followed by book reviews (206
or 15.32 percent). The biggest number of items
(233) was published in 2007, followed by 2006
(204) and 2000 (162). It is interesting to observe
that although the quantity of the issues remains
unchanged during the sample period, there is an
average increase of 9.57 items during the same
period. Of these items, a marked increase in the
number of articles has been observed, from 105 in
2000 to 179 in 2007, with some variations in the
intervening years. The average annual rate of in-
crease in articles published during this period was
10.14. The increase of the number of articles may
be explained as an increase of interest among in-
formation scientists towards publishing articles in
this reputed journal.
Authorship Pattern
Next, the authorship pattern was analyzed to
determine the percentage of single and multiple
authorship. It is clear from Table 1 that articles
are the major constituent of JASIST items. Due to
that we decided to continue our study on articles
only, and ignore other kinds of contribution,
which have little if any relevance to trends in LIS
research.
As Harsanyi (1993) has shown, different disci-
plines interpret the order of authorship differently.
According to Terry (1996), there are no estab-
lished norms for citation order in librarianship
and information science. As indicated in Table 2,
our author sample consists of 2153 authors for
975 articles. These numbers differ because 628
(64.41 percent) of the articles were by 2 or more
authors. The number of authors per article in this
study ranges from one to 9.
Table 2 reveals that, during 2000–2007, the highest
proportion of articles were by single authors
(35.59 percent), followed by articles with 2 authors
(33.64 percent), 3 authors (16.10 percent), and
4 or more authors (14.68 percent). This result is
in consistent with the results of Koehler (2001)
where he found that over the 50-year period, the
single authored paper was most common (about
62 percent), followed by papers with 2 authors
(about 26 percent), 3 authors (about 8 percent),
and 4 or more (about 4 percent) in JASIST. On the
other hand, it is interesting to observe that over
the last 8-year period, there is a change of author-
ship pattern from single to multiple. The per-
centage of articles published in the Journal with
a single author declined from 44.76 percent in
2000 to 34.08 percent in 2007. Koehler (2001)
in his study mentioned that the percent of articles
published in the Journal with a single author
has declined from more than 80 percent in the
1950s to almost half in the 1990s. Lipetz (1999)
also found that single-author papers were the
most common type when JASIS was new, and
remained so in 1995; however, the percentage
of papers with one author declined from more
than 71.4 percent in 1955 to 47.1 percent in 1995.
This percentage in our study is even lower than
that found in 1995.
A tabulation of the number of joint-author art-
icles revealed an increase from 58 in 2000 to
118 in 2007, with some variation in 2006–2007.
Number of items published
Type of item 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total %
Articles 105 99 105 103 100 121 163 179 975 72.49
Book review 31 28 23 26 24 15 25 34 206 15.32
Correction 1010011260.45
Editorial material 12 16 11 10 9 13 12 9 92 6.84
Letter 11 4 5 11 12022473.49
Review 12103307171.26
Biographical item 1000001020.15
Total 162 149 146 150 148 153 204 233 1345 100
Table 1. JASIST, 2000–2007: numbers of items published (all types), by year.
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Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
345
Authorship pattern Number of articles published (n = 975) % of
articles
Total
authors
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total
Single 47 40 45 32 29 36 57 61 347 35.59 347
2 authors 30 34 27 43 34 49 51 60 328 33.64 656
3 authors 15 14 18 20 16 18 28 28 157 16.10 471
4 authors 7 7 6 6 13 7 16 15 77 7.90 308
5 authors 2 4 5 2 5 8 7 8 41 4.21 205
6 authors 2020 3115 141.4484
7 authors 2020 0121 8 0.82 56
8 authors 0000 0100 1 0.10 8
9 authors 0000 0011 2 0.21 18
Total articles 105 99 105 103 100 121 163 179 975 100.00
Total authors 216 198 228 212 240 277 371 411 2153
Average authors per article 2.06 2.00 2.17 2.06 2.40 2.29 2.28 2.30
Single % 44.76 40.40 42.86 31.07 29.00 29.75 34.97 34.08
Joint % 55.24 59.60 57.14 68.93 71.00 70.25 65.03 65.92
Table 2. JASIST, 2000–2007: authorship pattern in published articles, by year.
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 345 11/5/2009 10:59:47 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
346
This increase has also been represented in scien-
tifi c publication trends, an area where Price (1968)
and Beaver and Rosen (1977) reported a signifi cant
increase in joint authorship. In addition, an ana-
lysis of articles with multiple authors reveals that
shared authorship between 2 authors is more
likely than among 3 or more authors. Articles in
JASIST 2000–2007 with 2 authors account for
33.64 percent, which is higher than the 32.40 per-
cent found in 1995 in Lipetz’s (1999) study. Simi-
larly, the percentage of articles with 3 or more
authors is 30.78, which is an increase compared
with the 20.6 percent recorded for 1995. Overall,
the proportion of joint-authored articles increased
by 10.68 percent during 2000 to 2007. Comparing
the present study with the earlier study of Lipetz
(1999), the average number of authors per article
for JASIS(T) has increased from 1.91 in 1995 to
2.29 in 2007. Koehler et al. (2000) in their study
mentioned that “multiple authorship is a sign of
a mature discipline, publishing complex articles
addressing complex issues”. So, as refl ected in
JASIST, it can be said that LIS researchers are
increasingly handling complex issues. The num-
ber of papers with multiple authors has increased
rapidly, demonstrating the continuing trend to-
wards group research and development becoming
the mainstream. In fact, collaborative research,
as measured by number of authors, is generally
associated with high quality output and high
manuscript acceptance rates by prestigious
journals (Oromaner 1975; Presser 1980).
Nature of Collaborative Research
With the advent of ICTs, one might expect a high
degree of international collaboration in scholarly
research. In order to determine whether this was
the case, we examined the level of international-
ization of co-authorship. For this purpose we
analyzed the geographical affi liations of all con-
tributing authors. As displayed in Table 3, of the
total of 628 joint-author articles, the highest
number, 267 (42.52 percent) are contributed by
authors from the same institution, whereas 247
(39.33 percent) articles are contributed by authors
from 2 or more different institutions in the same
country. The number of articles by authors from
more than one country is 114 (18.15 percent). One
might expect that, because of the e-mail facility,
it has become easier for authors to communi-
cate with one another, no matter where they are
located, and journals in particular have bene-
fi ted from this development. In addition, inter-
institutional and international joint authorship is
growing rapidly, indicating the advancing trend
towards the networkization and international-
ization of research and development. He and
Spink (2002) suggested that the growth of col-
laborative research and fl ow of information over
the web has contributed to the increasing trans-
national nature of scholarly publishing. As
refl ected in JASI ST though, this transnational
scholarship in LIS is now in its infancy, and there
is still room for research in the LIS fi eld to be more
internationalized.
Year Number of articles (n = 628)
Collaboration with
authors from same
institute, same
country
Collaboration with
authors from different
institutions, same
country
Collaboration
with authors from
different country
Total
2000 21 36.21 34 58.62 3 5.17 58
2001 29 49.15 22 37.29 8 13.56 59
2002 28 46.67 20 33.33 12 20.00 60
2003 27 38.03 37 52.11 7 9.86 71
2004 35 49.30 20 28.17 16 22.54 71
2005 39 45.88 35 41.18 11 12.94 85
2006 40 37.74 35 33.02 31 29.25 106
2007 48 40.68 44 37.29 26 22.03 118
Total 267 42.96 247 40.13 114 16.92 628
Table 3. JASIST, 2000–2007: articles published under joint authorship, by type of collaboration.
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 346 11/5/2009 10:59:47 AM
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
347
Attempts were made to verify the kinds of institu-
tion from which these authors contributed articles.
The names of the institutions were obtained by
studying the addresses available in the authors’
affi liations. An approximation of the incidence of
academia was obtained by verifying institutions
with either ‘University’, ‘College’, or ‘School’ in their
names. Non-academic institutions were identifi ed
as organizations, while commercial institutions
were identifi ed by verifying the top level domain
of their web addresses. As indicated in Table 4,
academic authors dominated with 81.13 percent
of the total articles, followed by authors from
various organizations (7.69 percent). Academic
authors also jointly contribute articles with organ-
izational and commercial authors. However, the
proportion of such articles is only 6.05 percent
and 1.54 percent respectively. Commercial au-
thors without any collaboration with other types
of institutions contributed only 2.87 percent of
articles during 2000–2007. The prominent involve-
ment of authors from academic institutions in
publication may be due to the fact that acceptance
by a recognized journal is seen in the academic
world as evidence of scientifi c quality. University
committees weigh the importance of such pub-
lications in evaluating the achievements of candi-
dates for promotion or tenure.
Geographic Distribution of Articles
Examining the geographic distribution of contri-
buting authors to JASIST led to some interesting
fi ndings. Table 5 fi rst grouped the countries into
6 continents and then arranged countries accord-
ing to the frequency (further alphabetical) with
which they were named in the address fi eld for
authors of JASIST articles. This table also ranks the
47 contributing countries according to the total
research output during 2000–2007. The number
of occurrences of country names (1096) was
greater than the total number of articles (975) in
the journal because of multiple-authored articles
(as mentioned in Table 3) where authors from 2 or
more countries jointly contributed one article.
As indicated in Table 5, although North-American
authors contributed more articles (536) than
European (310 articles) or Asian (174 articles)
authors, the journal has wide global authorship.
Authors from 23 European and 16 Asian coun-
tries contributed articles to JASIST. English-
speaking countries, such as the United States
(503 articles), the United Kingdom (98 articles),
Canada (61 articles) and Australia (31 articles),
are particularly dominant in JASIST publications
for the past 8 years (2000–2007), although the
People’s Republic of China also contributed 51 art-
icles and Spain 31.
Although the journal is originating from the
USA, the quantity of articles by non-USA au-
thor is quite high. Overall, there are 506 articles
(58.59 percent) by authors affi liated with insti-
tutions located in the United States (US) and 472
articles (48.41 percent) by authors affi liated with
Year Number of articles
A O C A+O A+C C+O A+O+C U
2000 79 6 4 12 1 2
2001 70 12 5 11
2002 81 16 2 7 1
2003 84 11 2 5 11
20 04835344
2005 138 10 9 4 4
20 061019181 1
20 071556285 1
Total 791 75 28 59 15 2 1 4
Percent 81.13 7.69 2.87 6.05 1.54 0.21 0.10 0.41
Table 4. JASIST, 2000–2007: articles published by authors’ type of institution.
Key: A = Academic; O = Organization (non-academic); C = Commercial; U = Unknown.
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 347 11/5/2009 10:59:47 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
348
Country Number of articles Total Overall
rank
Individual
contribution
Collaboration
with same
department of
same country
Collaboration
with different
department of
same country
Collaboration
with authors
from different
countries
Total % Total % Total % Total %
North America (3/24)*
USA 198 39.36 106 21.07 135 26.84 64 12.72 503 1
Canada 12 19.67 14 22.95 14 22.95 21 34.43 61 3
Mexico 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 100.00 1 40
Europe (23/42)*
UK 27 27.55 27 27.55 13 13.27 31 31.63 98 2
Spain 2 6.45 8 25.81 15 48.39 6 19.35 31 5
Belgium 11 40.74 0 0.00 7 25.93 9 33.33 27 6
Netherlands 13 48.15 2 7.41 7 25.93 5 18.52 27 6
Finland 6 30.00 7 35.00 4 20.00 3 15.00 20 10
Italy 3 17.65 7 41.18 3 17.65 4 23.53 17 11
Germany 3 21.43 3 21.43 1 7.14 7 50.00 14 12
Denmark 4 36.36 5 45.45 0 0.00 2 18.18 11 14
Switzerland 2 18.18 1 9.09 2 18.18 6 54.55 11 14
Hungary 5 55.56 3 33.33 1 11.11 0 0.00 9 16
France 1 12.50 2 25.00 3 37.50 2 25.00 8 17
Sweden 3 42.86 0 0.00 1 14.29 3 42.86 7 18
Iceland 1 16.67 5 83.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 6 19
Ireland 4 66.67 0 0.00 1 16.67 1 16.67 6 19
Norway 2 33.33 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 66.67 6 19
Austria 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 3 100.00 3 22
Croatia 1 50.00 1 50.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 23
Greece 2 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 23
Bulgaria 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Poland 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Romania 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Slovakia 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Slovenia 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Asia (16/49)*
People R China 4 7.84 15 29.41 11 21.57 21 41.18 51 4
Israel 9 34.62 12 46.15 2 7.69 3 11.54 26 7
(Table 5 Continued)
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Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
349
Country Number of articles Total Overall
rank
Individual
contribution
Collaboration
with same
department of
same country
Collaboration
with different
department of
same country
Collaboration
with authors
from different
countries
Total % Total % Total % Total %
Singapore 4 16.00 11 44.00 2 8.00 8 32.00 25 8
Taiwan 5 20.83 11 45.83 5 20.83 3 12.50 24 9
Japan 4 30.77 3 23.08 3 23.08 3 23.08 13 13
South Korea 3 30.00 2 20.00 1 10.00 4 40.00 10 15
Turkey 3 33.33 1 11.11 2 22.22 3 33.33 9 16
Iran 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 50.00 2 50.00 4 21
Jordan 2 50.00 2 50.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 4 21
Thailand 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 100.00 0 0.00 2 23
India 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 100.00 1 24
Kuwait 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Macao 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 100.00 1 24
Malaysia 0 0.00 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Russia 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Saudi Arabia 0 0.00 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Oceania (2/12)*
Australia 4 12.90 13 41.94 7 22.58 7 22.58 31 5
New Zealand 1 20.00 2 40.00 0 0.00 2 40.00 5 20
South America (2/12)*
Brazil 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 40.00 3 60.00 5 20
Chile 0 0.00 2 40.00 1 20.00 2 40.00 5 20
Africa (1/48)*
Nigeria 1 100.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 1 24
Total 347 267 247 235 1096**
Table 5. JASIST, 2000–2007: authorship pattern in published articles, by region and country.
Note: *(Contributing country to JASIST/Total countries in region); ** the number differs because of
multi-authored articles contributed by authors from more than 2 nations.
(Table 5 Continued)
institutions located outside of the United States.
The overall percentage of non-US authorship
is higher than the small 9 percent determined
by Buttlar (1991). The increasing international
participation in JASIST agreed with the fi ndings
of Herubel (1991), who analyzed 23 years of
authorship in library history.
On the other hand, it is clear in Table 5 that US au-
thors tended to accomplish their studies either
individually (39.36 percent) or collaborated with
other colleagues of their own country (47.91 per-
cent). Overall, 439 articles (87.28 percent) were
authored exclusively by US authors (not neces-
sarily fi rst author) and 64 articles (12.72 percent)
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 349 11/5/2009 10:59:47 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
350
by US authors in collaboration with authors
from other countries. Whereas for countries like
the United Kingdom, Canada and China the
percentage of international collaboration is
31.63 percent, 34.43 percent and 41.18 percent
respectively. The result agrees with the fi ndings
of Frame and Carpenter (1979), where they con-
cluded that the larger a country’s research effort
(the greater the number of its publications) the
smaller is the proportion of international co-
authorship associated with the country.
Further analysis of the authorship pattern by
country indicated that there are 8 countries from
which authors contribute articles only under solo
authorship and 10 countries from which authors
contribute articles only under joint authorship.
Authors from these 10 countries are the co-authors
of the remaining 37 countries. On the other hand,
there are 3 countries from which authors contrib-
ute articles only with authors from other countries
and 16 countries from which authors do not col-
laborate with any other country. Sin (2006) pointed
out that researchers could be infl uenced by factors
other than the substantive content of the work
itself. Authors working in reputed organizations
were more likely to be perceived favorably. It may
be that authors in low-income countries might
be placed in a less advantageous position. Never-
theless, it was gratifying to see publication from
most parts of the globe. Kofi Annan called on the
world’s scientists to close the research and devel-
opment gap between developed and developing
countries (Annan 2003).
Prolifi c Authors and their Productivity
Authors’ productivity is defi ned as the number
of papers an author has published within a given
duration. In fact, assessing the importance of
multiple authorship is problematic. Giving every
author of a paper one credit in measuring author
productivity, a total of 2153 authors, including
fi rst author and coauthors, were identifi ed from
the articles in JASIST. Table 6 lists 19 prolifi c au-
thors and the number of articles they published
in JASIST during 2000–2007. Each name appears
on 5 or more articles (irrespective of whether
the author is the fi rst named or not). This table
also indicates the number of articles they have
published under single and joint authorships.
It is clear from the table that most of the prolifi c
authors contributed their articles in joint au-
thorship. Among the fi rst 10 prolifi c authors, out
of their 185 publications, 151 articles appeared
in joint authorship and 32 articles in single
authorship. Mike Thelwall occupies the first
position with a contribution of 17 articles; 13 of
these appeared under joint authorship. He is
followed by L. Egghe (16 articles), Amanda Spink
and Ronald Rousseau (both published 14 art-
icles). Each article of JASI ST prints the dates of
submission, fi nal acceptance and date of elec-
tronic publication. In most of the cases, the lapse
of time between submission or acceptance and
publication varies between 8–12 months. So con-
tributions of more than one article per year in this
8-year period signify that some authors in LIS
have been producing their research papers at a fast
rate. It may also indicate that some authors are
more likely than the others to have their papers
accepted by this journal.
Citations Given versus Citations Received
As indicated in Table 7A, the 975 articles pub-
lished in JASIST contained 35,045 references
and received 9379 citations up to August 2009.
The number of references per articles has in-
creased from 33.43 in 2000 to 41.26 in 2007.
The maximum average number of references per
article was noted in 2007 (about 42 references
per article), and the minimum in 2001 (about 31
references per article).
On the other hand, articles published in 2000
received the highest number of citations (1762
citations) whereas the lowest was recorded in
respect of articles published in 2007 (525 cita-
tions), followed by articles published in 2005
(792 citations). Overall, the average number of
citations per article is 10.59. There are 103 articles
(10.56 percent) that have not received any cita-
tions up to August 2009. These articles were
mostly published in 2007 (47 articles) followed
by 2006 (22 articles) and 2005 (12 articles). The
average number of references per article increased
by 7.83 from 2000 to 2007 whereas the average
number of citations per article decreased by 13.85
during same period. This implies that the number
of references does not infl uence whether or not
an article attracts citations.
Although the vast changes in publication tech-
nology and electronic mail now make it possible to
access articles immediately after publication,
these did not result yet in getting citations faster.
The low number of citations for 2007 may thus
be ignored at this stage, however the numbers
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 350 11/5/2009 10:59:47 AM
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
351
Rank Name Total
articles
Authorship Year
Single Joint 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1 Thelwall, M. 17 413 01 14 05 24
2 Egghe, L. 16 9 7 41 22 03 13
3 Spink, A. 14 014 02 70 02 12
3 Rousseau, R. 14 212 41 02 22 12
4 Yang, C.C. 12 012 10 12 12 23
5 Ford, N. 11 2 9 10 51 10 21
5 Chen, H.C. 11 011 21 01 32 11
5 Leydesdorff, L. 11 6 5 0 1 1 0 1 2 3 3
6 Cole, C. 10 2 8 30 11 02 21
7 Cronin, B. 9 2 7 02 11 22 01
8 Beheshti, J. 8 0 8 10 20 11 21
8 Large, A. 8 0 8 10 20 11 21
9 Jansen, B.J. 7 0 7 01 00 02 22
9 Chau, M. 7 0 7 01 01 01 13
10 Chen, C.M. 6 2 4 11 11 02 00
10 Foster, A. 6 1 5 00 50 10 00
10 Jorgensen, C. 6 2 4 02 10 10 11
10 Meho, L.I. 6 1 5 10 01 01 12
10 Vaughan, L. 6 1 5 00 02 02 20
Total 185 34 151 19 14 30 19 14 32 26 31
Table 6. JASIST, 2000–2007: articles published by most prolifi c authors (more than 5 articles), by authorship pattern and year.
Note: Contributions other than articles are not considered for determining most prolifi c authors.
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 351 11/5/2009 10:59:47 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
352
of citations for articles published during 2005
and 2006 may suggest that an article needs more
than 2 years to receive an adequate number
of citations. One must allow more than 2 years
for articles to be read, to infl uence a researcher
or scholar in some way, and thus become part of
a study and eventually be cited in the published
results of that study.
In the next step we have analysed the numbers
of articles by the numbers of citations received.
According to Table 7B, the highest percentage of
articles (44.21 percent) in this journal received
1–5 citations, followed by 17.33 percent which
received 6–10 citations. The number of articles
receiving 11–20 and 21–30 citations is 15.49 per-
cent and 6.26 percent respectively. Six articles
Year Total
articles
Citations given Citations received
Articles
without
references
Total
references
% of total
Average
number of
references/
article
Articles not
receiving
citations
Total
citations
% of total
Average
number of
citations/
article
2000 105 0 3510 10.02 33.43 5 1762 18.79 16.78
2001 99 0 3035 8.66 30.66 3 1511 16.11 15.26
2002 105 0 3393 9.68 32.31 4 1688 18.00 16.08
2003 103 0 3538 10.10 34.35 5 1294 13.80 12.56
2004 100 0 3462 9.88 34.62 5 899 9.59 8.99
2005 121 0 6143 17.53 50.77 12 792 8.44 6.55
2006 163 0 4578 13.06 28.09 22 908 9.68 5.57
2007 179 0 7386 21.08 41.26 47 525 5.60 2.93
Total 975 0 35045 100.00 35.94 103 9379 100.00 10.59
Table 7A. JASIST, 2000–2007: articles published, by citation pattern (citations given and citations
received).
Note: Citations received up to August 2009 have been included.
Year Articles
receiving
citations
Numbers of citations received
1–5 6–10 11–20 21–30 30–50 51–99 > = 100
2000 100 29 16 27 11 13 2 2
2001 96 40 20 18 8 6 2 2
2002 101 32 14 21 19 10 5 0
2003 98 40 16 24 8 6 2 2
2004 95 39 22 24 8 2 0 0
2005 109 56 30 18 4 1 0 0
2006 141 87 35 14 2 2 1 0
2007 132 108 16 5 1 2 0 0
Total 872 431 169 151 61 42 12 6
% 89.44 44.21 17.33 15.49 6.26 4.31 1.23 0.62
Table 7B. JASIST, 2000–2007: articles receiving citations, by numbers of citations received.
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 352 11/5/2009 10:59:48 AM
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
353
were cited over 100 times, while 12 articles re-
ceived more than 50 citations. Seglen in his study
concludes that a relatively small number of highly
cited articles can disproportionately skew the
impact factor for a journal (Seglen 1997). From
the fi nding of the present study it seems that this
may be one of the possible reasons for the ISI
Impact Factor of this journal to have dropped
from 6 in 2005 to 13 in 2007 or 11 in 2008.
Page Length of Articles
Tables 8A and 8B reveal the length and range
of page length of articles published in JASIST
during 2000–2007. Out of 975 articles, 480
(49.23 percent) had between 10 and 14 pages,
250 articles (25.64 percent) had between 5 and 9
pages and 164 articles (16.82 percent) had
between 15 and 20 pages. There were only 46
articles (4.71 percent) with fewer than 5 pages,
and 6 (0.61 percent) with between 25 and 30
pages. The arithmetic mean of page length of all
articles ranges from 10.58 to 12.12. Throughout
the years the median values varied between 11–12,
which means that the page length of 50 percent
or more of the articles was 11/12 pages. It is worth
considering whether or not it is appropriate to set
a minimum page length for a publication in order
to know the quality of contributions. One could
even take into account differences in the num-
ber of printed characters (or words) per page in
any journal.
Highly Cited Authors
There are no strict rules regarding thresholds
for citation-based author selection in author co-
citation analysis studies (McCain 1990). The old
method of listing contributors in alphabetical
order is waning, and the matter of who comes
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
No. of articles 105 99 105 103 100 121 163 179
Total pages for
articles
1218 1047 1160 1205 1166 1450 1870 2170
Mean page
length of articles
11.60 10.58 11.05 11.70 11.66 11.98 11.47 12.12
Median page
length of articles
12 11 11 12 11 11 12 12
Table 8A. JASIST, 2000–2007: mean and median page lengths of articles published, by year.
Year Number of pages Total
1–4 5–9 10–14 15–19 20–24 25–30
2000 5 31 41 25 3 0 2105
2001 5 35 47 10 2 0 2100
2002 6 31 53 13 1 1 2107
2003 6 29 47 16 3 2 2106
2004 4 29 44 19 3 1 2104
2005 4 25 68 15 8 1 2126
2006 8 34 91 28 2 0 2169
2007 8 36 89 38 7 1 2186
Total 46 250 480 164 29 6 975
% 4.71 25.64 49.23 16.82 2.97 0.61
Table 8B. JASIST, 2000–2007: articles published, by number of pages.
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 353 11/5/2009 10:59:48 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
354
fi rst has assumed almost heroic proportions in
some situations.
Table 9 ranks the top 30 authors according to
the total citations they received. In this table, the
number of citations for joint author articles is
further expanded. We have also calculated the cit-
ations under authors’ various positions in the
article. The names of authors mentioned in this
list may not necessarily appear in the ‘list of most
prolifi c authors’ in Table 6, if articles by the latter
have not received an adequate number of citations.
However, most of the most prolifi c authors also
appear in Table 9. As shown in Table 9, articles
under joint authorship received more than 4
times as many citations (4674) as articles written
by single authors (1036). However the numbers
of citations per article for single and joint author-
ship are nearly the same, at 23.02 for single au-
thorship and 24.22 for joint authorship.
In the citation ranking of authors, Amanda Spink
is in fi rst position, having received a total of 514
citations, with an average of 36.71 citations per
article. She wrote 14 articles, for which most of the
citations were for articles where she was second
author (368 citations). Mike Thelwall holds
second position with 334 citations. His 4 articles
under single authorship received a total of 163
citations (40.75 per article) whereas his 13 art-
icles under joint authorship received 171 citations
(13.15 per article). D. Wolfram holds third posi-
tion with 274 citations. He wrote 5 articles, all in
joint authorship, of which most citations were
for articles where he was second author (271 cit-
ations) rather than fi rst author (3 citations). The
citation details of other authors are presented in
Table 9.
Most of the top 30 highly cited authors were
from the USA (19), followed by the UK (5) and
Canada (3).
Conclusion
This study endeavoured to analyse the present
status of LIS research with the help of a study
of the contents of JASIST over a recent period of
8 years. It is essentially not a comprehensive ana-
lysis of LIS journals published during the time
scale of the study. No attempt is made to meas-
ure the impact or innovative quality of articles. We
also ignore the problem of publishing favoritism
(e.g. where faculty and graduates of the same
university as the editor of a journal have a higher
probability of having their articles accepted).
Naturally, the question that may arise in our mind
is, can analysis of a single journal tell us much
about our discipline? The bibliographic charac-
teristics of this journal may help to improve the
understanding of information behaviors in the
fi eld of library and information science, if the full
length research articles considered in the current
study are representative of this journal, and
the journal is representative of the information
science discipline. Undoubtedly, JASIST is one
of the oldest journals in our fi eld, and represents
the changing scenario of our discipline accur-
ately. It is the hope of the author that analysis of
the content of JASIST will provide more insight
into the current state of library and information
science research, and provide some basis for future
projections.
From the perspective of the present study, we
may conclude that there is a substantial increase
of research in the LIS discipline, with authors
from all over the globe trying to disseminate
their research output through a reputable peer-
reviewed journal.
By completing the bibliometric analysis of author-
ship information, this study, together with the
previous studies, indicates that the number of
authors has risen from an average of 2.06 per
article in 2000 to 2.30 in 2007, higher than the
average of 1.2 authors per article in 1950, which
increased to 1.8 per article in 1999. The percent-
age of single-author articles decreased, although
they continue to be the most frequent among all
the articles. This may be a result of many factors:
a tendency for more authors to participate in
producing one paper to make the work less bur-
densome; much research is complex, requiring
joint researchers and therefore joint authors; in-
creased cooperation and communication among
researchers in the fi eld; or signifi cant publication
pressure. Consistent with previous studies, this
study also found a much greater proportion of
academic affi liations among authors than those
of other sectors.
In terms of geographic distribution, there is a
very evident majority of articles from the United
States, which might constitute a challenge for
other nations to expand their research activity.
Even though authors from the USA are dominant,
authors from other continents like Europe and
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 354 11/5/2009 10:59:48 AM
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
355
Name (Country) TA AWC CR TCR CPA Citations by authors’ position in joint-author articles
SJSJSJ 1 2 345678
Spink, A. (USA) 0 14 0 0 0 514 514 36.71 368 76 51 19
Thelwall, M. (UK) 4 13 0 0 163 171 334 19.65 80 87 4
Wolfram, D. (USA) 0 5 0 0 0 274 274 54.80 3 271
Jansen, M.B.J. (S. Korea) 0 1 0 0 0 231 231 231 231
Saracevic, T. (USA) 0 1 0 0 0 231 231 231 231
Jansen, B.J. (USA) 0 7 0 0 0 221 221 31.57 209 12
Bilal, D. (USA) 3 1 0 0 208 6 214 53.50 6
Rousseau, R. (Belgium) 2 12 0 1 5 202 207 14.79 14 103 85
Ford, N. (Belgium) 2 9 0 0 28 171 199 18.09 67 30 74
Chen, H.C. (USA) 0 11 0 0 0 187 187 17 56 61 52 3 15
Vaughan, L. (Canada) 1 5 0 0 16 163 179 29.83 124 39
White, H.D. (USA) 3 1 0 0 148 28 176 44 28
Cronin, B. (USA) 2 7 0 0 37 135 172 19.11 130 5
Leydesdorff, L. (Netherlands) 6 5 0 0 83 74 157 14.27 65 9
Kling, R. (USA) 0 4 0 0 0 150 150 37.50 136 14
Foster, A. (UK) 1 5 0 0 25 122 147 24.50 21 101
Pooch, U. (USA) 0 1 0 0 0 139 139 139 139
Chen, C.M. (UK) 2 4 0 0 68 66 134 22.33 59 7
Egghe, L. (Belgium) 9 7 1 0 53 78 131 8.19 78
McKim, G. (USA) 0 2 0 0 0 128 128 64 128
Shaw, D. (USA) 0 4 0 0 0 128 128 32 128
(Table 9 Continued)
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 355 11/5/2009 10:59:48 AM
Bhaskar Mukherjee
356
Name (Country) TA AWC CR TCR CPA Citations by authors’ position in joint-author articles
SJSJSJ 1 2 345678
Ellis, D. (UK) 0 5 0 0 0 122 122 24.40 19 30 21 52
Wilson, T.D. (UK) 0 5 0 0 0 122 122 24.40 30 92
Beheshti, J. (Canada) 0 8 0 0 0 110 110 13.75 101 3 6
Large, A. (Canada) 0 8 0 1 0 110 110 13.75 95 6 3 6
Meho, L.I. (USA) 1 5 0 0 8 91 99 16.5 86 5
Hjorland, B. (Sweden) 3 1 0 0 80 18 98 24.50 18
Kim, K.S. (USA) 0 2 0 0 0 96 96 48 37 59
Chau, M. (USA) 0 7 0 0 0 85 85 12.14 24 37 24
Rieh, S.Y. (USA) 2 0 0 0 84 0 84 42
Ahlgren, P. (Sweden) 0 1 0 0 0 78 78 78
Jarneving, B. (Belgium) 0 1 0 0 0 78 78 78 78
Yang, C.C. (P.R. China) 0 12 0 1 0 78 78 6.50 52 20 6
Boyack, K.W. (USA) 0 3 0 0 0 77 77 25.67 51 26
Jarvelin, K. (Finland) 1 5 0 0 2 72 74 12.33 2 62 6 4
Cole, C. (USA) 2 8 1 0 13 60 73 7.30 21 25 14
Davis, P.M. (USA) 1 3 0 0 15 58 73 18.25 58
Totals 45 193 2 3 1036 4674 5710
Table 9. Highly cited authors (Top 30 authors).
Key: TA = Total Articles. AWC = Articles Without Citations. CR = Citations Received. TCR = Total Citations Received (up to August 2009).
CPA=Citations per article.
(Table 9 Continued)
341-358_IFLA352429.indd 356 11/5/2009 10:59:48 AM
Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (2000–2007)
357
Asia have started to increase their infl uence.
Moreover, although the trend is slight, there is
also an increasing trend of research from intra-
country to inter-country, with the increased use
of communication technology.
The pattern of citations given or received indi-
cates that authors are citing increasing numbers
of references in their articles; however, there is no
relationship between the number of references
cited in a paper and the number of citations to the
paper in other sources. This was an exploratory
study using articles published in a single journal
and is inherently not generalizable. However, a
comparison of the numbers of citations received
with year of publication, indicates that a period
of 2 years is not enough for an article to begin to
receive citations.
Ranking or rating of high-profi le institutions,
programs, and individuals are complex tasks
and various factors and methods need to be con-
sidered. Such an analysis for the fi eld of LIS can
provide an additional perspective on the nature
and extent of all LIS faculty members’ contribu-
tions to the literature. These analyses, however,
generally do not paint a complete picture of the
whole population of authors from which the elite
stand out. However, this study has identifi ed
some of the most productive authors published in
JASIST, whose articles are widely read and cited
by the LIS research community. Overall, the study
has revealed some changes in our discipline –
more scholarly articles, more contributors from
around the globe, and more collaboration between
researchers.
A suggestion for further research is to compare
the fi ndings of this study with a review of other
related journals in the fi eld of LIS. The variables
examined in this study could be replicated in an
examination of these journals. Studies like this one
could also be conducted every few years to measure
the longitudinal changes in our discipline.
Acknowledgement
The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the
Editor and reviewers for very useful comments
and guidance on an earlier draft of this paper.
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World Library and Information Congress, Milan, 2009
359
World Library and Information Congress,
Milan, 2009: Opening Address by the President
of the Italian Library Association
association was proposed: the ‘International
Federation of Library Associations’. The second
IFLA meeting in Italy was held in 1951, and the
third one in 1964, again in Rome.
The establishment of IFLA has been a milestone
in making our profession truly international. The
history of the IFLA General Conferences can
indeed be considered a success story, which is
clearly confi rmed by the fact that about 3,500
librarians and information professionals from
180 countries have come together here in Milan.
As you know, Italy has different typologies of li-
braries for different kinds of users. Italian libraries
have a long history. In recent years, Italy has been
extremely active in funding restorations of his-
toric buildings, in investing in new libraries and
in information technology, and in establishing a
national library network (SBN).
At the same time, Italian librarians have experi-
enced considerable professional improvement,
thanks to the spread of library science in university
courses, the professional training by the Italian
Library Association (AIB) and by public and pri-
vate agencies, the growth of LIS periodicals, and
the participation of an increasing number of li-
brarians in the international scientifi c debate.
The title of this IFLA Conference is ‘Libraries create
Futures: Building on Cultural Heritage’. Libraries
must keep a balance between past and present.
The advent of digital information, especially of the
Internet, as a common denominator in modern
society have led to a radically different quality of
information and communication.
How must we react to this development, as librar-
ians? Major issues – apart from the well-known
systematic collecting, cataloguing, archiving of
our heritage, and reading promotion – include
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 359–360.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352437
I FLA
Mauro Guerrini
Minister of Culture, Mayor of Milan, President of
Province of Milan, President of Lombardy Region,
Madam President, dear Claudia Lux, Delegates
and friends:
Italy’s librarians are very proud to welcome you
all to the 75th IFLA General Conference and
Assembly in Milan. For the fourth time Italy has
the honour of hosting the IFLA Conference. We
can say that IFLA was born in Italy 80 years ago:
in fact, on the occasion of the fi rst World Congress
of Librarianship and Bibliography, opened in
Rome in June 1929, with about 1300 delegates
from 40 countries, the new name of a newborn
REPORTS
Mauro Guerrini
359-360_IFLA352437.indd 359 11/5/2009 11:00:08 AM
Mauro Guerrini
360
three points, especially in this time of global eco-
nomic crisis:
• fi rst, in the interest of their users, libraries must
improve cooperation amongst themselves,
ideally world-wide
• second, the object of libraries’ work has tra-
ditionally had an international focus, and it is
now pushed to convergence with archives and
museums
• third, libraries have always had and still have
an important social function. They are ‘public
places’ that are open to anyone regardless of
what one does or who one is.
How can libraries use their specifi c skills and
experiences to make themselves fundamental
in the digital age? Libraries must add an educa-
tional aspect to their traditional role of supply-
ing information. The Knowledge Society, our
society, needs responsible and emancipated
citizens who have acquired the skill of informa-
tion competence.
With new types of information production and
dissemination, libraries must redefi ne their func-
tion in the information chain. In the print world,
the library was assigned the role of an inter-
mediary between author, publisher, vendor and
reader. In the new digital world those functions
are changing. The Internet allows everyone to be
author and reader alike. Libraries should support
the principle of Open Access, in the spirit of the
Berlin Declaration, and cope with copyright issues
in order to cooperate for a new balance between
production and use of knowledge.
It is the libraries in particular that should take care
of collecting and preserving the digital material.
Digital long-term preservation is an urgent issue,
because otherwise we will be confronted with
a global loss of memory of a hitherto unknown
dimension.
‘Libraries create futures: building on cultural
heritage’. The term ‘futures’ is plural because the
world is plural. And plurality means diversity:
plurality and diversity, or multiculturalism, has
always been ensured by libraries in the name of
tolerance and respect for ideas, religious beliefs,
and cultural systems. The physical contiguity of
the books on a shelf is the best example of coex-
istence that can possibly be imagined: the utopia
of the possible. In the plurality we build together
the tradition of the future.
Finally, I wish to remind us all that last April a
heavy earthquake hit the town of L’Aquila in the
Abruzzi. This tragic event also affected the local
libraries. I certainly speak on behalf of us all
when I assure our colleagues in that area of our
solidarity and support.
The City of Milan, the Province of Milan, the
Lombardy Region, the Ministry of Culture,
the Italian Library Association, all of which con-
tributed to the organization of this Conference,
would like to welcome you cordially to this
event. We also invite you to enjoy the particular
qualities of our country: art, music, fashion and
design, the landscape, and not to be forgotten,
the Italian food.
May this be a truly memorable meeting and an
unforgettable experience for all.
Welcome!
359-360_IFLA352437.indd 360 11/5/2009 11:00:10 AM
World Library and Information Congress, Milan, 2009
361
World Library and Information Congress,
Milan, 2009: Address to the General Assembly
by the President of IFLA
During the last month we had to work on the
relocating of the 2010 Congress. We did this suc-
cessfully and I thank again the Australian and the
Swedish colleagues for their support in this matter.
The Governing Board has also supported the re-
port of the Congress Review Working Group about
future World Library and Information Congresses;
this will be taken up by the incoming Governing
Board to make further evaluations and decisions.
During the last year we have worked on strength-
ening our relationship with a number of strategic
partners. Following initial discussions between
IFLA and representatives of international partner
NGOs at the 2008 Congress in Québec, we invited
representatives from the International Council
of Archives (ICA), the International Council of
Museums (ICOM), the International Council
of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the
Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archive
Associations (CCAAA) with the Conference of
Directors of National Libraries (CDNL) and the
International Council for Scientifi c and Tech-
nical Information (ICSTI) as observers, to the
first partner meeting in November 2008 and
held a second one in April this year. The meet-
ings resulted in a good outline of initial activities
and a new acronym, LAMMS (Libraries, Archives,
Museums, Monuments and Sites). The initial
priorities are the World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO), Blue Shield, UNESCO
and other common issues.
We strengthened our advocacy policy not only at
different occasions, but also in an ongoing pro-
cess with activities such as the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) and the Internet
Governance Forum (IGF). At the December
2008 meeting, the Governing Board endorsed
the IFLA’s advocacy framework for the period
2009–2011. This framework links our represen-
tational advocacy with training and awareness
raising actions. Professional development, pol-
itical advocacy and community advocacy are the
areas where training and awareness raising will
take place. Supported by special advocacy tools,
there will be strong development in realizing
Copyright © 2009 Author. IFLA Journal 35(4): 361–363.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352440
I FLA
Claudia Lux, IFLA President, 2007–2009
Dear colleagues,
This report covers some of the achievements of
IFLA during the last year of my presidency and
I am happy to tell you that thanks to the great
activity of the Governing Board, the Sections and
Core Activities and the Headquarters, it was a
year of signifi cant results, some based on the work
done and prepared in the year before, others were
new activities and challenges to carry out.
First and most important for IFLA, the new pro-
fessional structure came into place. This was the
result of a thorough discussion process during
the last years – some of you will remember the
open discussions we had in Durban. I especially
want to acknowledge the Professional Committee
which, under the leadership of Nancy Gwinn,
completed this task. Building on this, the new
statutes were accepted by the last meeting of
the IFLA Council in Québec and the Secretary
General together with Headquarters staff was
asked to have it registered in The Hague.
Claudia Lux, IFLA President, 2007–2009
361-363_IFLA352440.indd 361 11/5/2009 11:00:33 AM
Claudia Lux
362
advocacy training for our members with a focus on
national library associations, who become drivers
of these activities.
After Québec and with the new Secretary General
Jennefer Nicholson in place, there were quite a
few changes at IFLA Headquarters, which has led
to new energy and some great results. Many of
these you might not see, but one signifi cant and
very visible change was the launch of the new
website in April 2009. In addition, after much
hard work from HQ staff, we have again a growing
membership base. Because of the support of the
IFLA HQ and staff, there is now a Presidential
Newsletter every month. Because of the support
of IFLA HQ and staff, it has never been easier to
join IFLA. Due to the support of IFLA HQ and
staff it was a joy to be IFLA President with such
an energetic Secretariat, coming up with new
ideas and new practices. This is why I want to
acknowledge how much I appreciate the work
of the colleagues at the HQ, and as it is hard to
mention all of them here, I just say thank you to
them – not only for the last year but for the years
they have supported me in my work in the gov-
erning board and as President-elect and as
President. And I want to thank Jennefer Nicholson
for her excellent and motivating leadership of the
team in The Hague.
The Secretary General will also report on some
great results from our Core Activities and there
are special reports on the web about them. I just
want to express my thanks to all those who have
contributed and supported the work of the Core
Activities, the work of the Regional Offi ces and
Language Centers – you have done a tremendous
work during the last year and everybody can see
the good results. As a result of IFLA’s language
policy, we have the continuation of simultaneous
interpretation during the Congress as well as the
translation of IFLA Express into all the seven
offi cial languages, emphasizing the multilingual
and multicultural strategy of IFLA. Thank you all
for your work well done.
When I started my Presidency I not only stressed
the factor of advocacy, but I also told you how
much I appreciate having more IFLA guidelines,
as they are of direct use to our members. Again,
some Sections have produced guidelines, in-
cluding: UNIMARC Guidelines on Manuscripts,
Guidelines on Parliamentary Websites, Guide-
lines for Multilingual Thesauri, National Biblio-
graphies in the Digital Age: Guidance and new
directions, Guidelines for Legislative Libraries,
Guidelines for Intellectual Property Administra-
tions and a Russian translation of the Guidelines for
Multilingual Thesauri, and a German translation
of Guidelines for OPAC Displays. There are more
guidelines in the pipeline and I want to take the
opportunity to thank all the Sections for their
wonderful work done during the last year.
During my Presidency, urged by the current IFLA
Journal editor Stephen Parker, I introduced the
President’s Page in IFLA Journal–which focuses
on current issues–and since January I have been
writing the Presidential Newsletter, with the
assistance and support of IFLA headquarters.
Like the two years before, the third IFLA Presi-
dential Meeting was held in Berlin to bring to-
gether librarians and their political counterparts
from the ministry or municipality to discuss the
‘Libraries on the Agenda’ topics. The Presidential
Meetings were supported by the Foreign Ministry
of Germany, the Goethe Institute, the German
Library Association and some foundations; I want
to express my sincere thanks to all of them.
Before I come to the end, let me say thank you.
Thank you to the Governing Board. It was such
a supportive and friendly atmosphere to work
with you and we achieved much more than I im-
agined when I began my Presidency; I especially
want to thank all outgoing members of the GB.
I also thank the offi cers here and the members of
the Sections that you took on not only the hard
work in your specialized fi eld but also ideas of
my presidential theme ‘Libraries on the Agenda’.
I want to thank all members of IFLA that I could
work with you during the last two years as a
President, I want to thank you for your support
of libraries and information issues and I want to
acknowledge how much I enjoyed to talk with you
all, wherever in the world I was able to meet you.
As said before, I want to thank again IFLA staff
in the HQ and in the Regional Offi ces and those
supporting us in the Language Centers.
I want to thank all my colleagues from all German
library and librarian associations and from
German libraries who supported me so much
during my time as President and President-elect
and to my staff at home and my deputy directors –
without the work they took on from me, I would
not have been able to take on the presidency of
IFLA. I want to express a special thank you to
361-363_IFLA352440.indd 362 11/5/2009 11:00:36 AM
World Library and Information Congress, Milan, 2009
363
my wonderful colleagues all around the world
from the Goethe Institute, who supported my
presidency and took on ‘Libraries on the Agenda’
in many activities. There are so many colleagues
I have to name, who have supported me in dif-
ferent ways. It is not possible to name you all – so
just take it as a thank you from my heart to you.
Nevertheless, I want to give a special acknow-
ledgement to a few people for their continuous
support:
Claus Michaletz, former CEO of Springer, a
sponsor of my library and of IFLA activities.
Diann Pelz-Rusch, some of you will know better
as Diann Rusch-Feja, who helped me to fi nd the
correct English expression – sometimes late in
the night, when I was writing a presentation in the
last minute – and polished my English wherever
needed.
Hella Klauser, from the Center of Library Excel-
lence at the German Library Association, Secretary
of German IFLA National Committee and Chair of
Library and Information International in Germany
who worked for me day and night to support my
presidency, to organize the presidential meetings
and who was able to put into practice many of my
ideas in such a wonderful way, I would not have
been able to do it.
And last but not least the IFLA President Elect,
Ellen Tise, who supported me during these
wonderful two years and turned our professional
work to a great friendship with a lot of fun to-
gether. Ellen, it was great to work with you and
I wish–from tomorrow evening on–that you will
have as much fun and joy as I had during my time
as President of IFLA.
Thank you all!
(This address was also distributed via IFLA-L
as IFLA Presidential Newsletter No. 7 August
2009)
361-363_IFLA352440.indd 363 11/5/2009 11:00:36 AM
News
364
Barbara Schleihagen –
IFLA Treasurer
Barbara Schleihagen is Executive
Director of the German
Library Association. Deutscher
Biblitoheksverband e.V. (DBV),
Berlin, Germany. Barbara is IFLA
Treasurer for the 2009–2011
period.
Helena Asamoah-Hassan
Helena Asamoah-Hassan is Uni-
versity Librarian at the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science
and Technology, KNUST Library,
Kumasi, Ghana. Helena is a member
of the GB in the IFLA Professional
Committee.
Jesús Lau
Jesús Lau is Academic Librarian
at the University of Veracruz in
Mexico. Jesús is also member of the
IFLA Executive Committee.
Buhle Mbambo-Thata – Chair
of Division V Regions
Buhle is Executive Director of
Library Services of the University
of South Africa (UNISA) in
Pretoria. Buhle is a member of the
IFLA Professional Committee and
representing the GB in the FAIFE
Advisory Board.
Danielle Mincio
Danielle Mincio is Head of Manu-
script Collections at the Bibliothèque
Cantonale et Universitaire,
Lausanne, Switzerland. Danielle
is representing the IFLA GB in the
PAC Advisory Board. She is also
Secretary of the IFLA Preservation
and Conservation Section.
Tone Moseid
Tone Eli Moseid is Director at the
Norwegian Archives, Libraries
and Museums Authority (ABM-
Utvikling), Oslo, Norway. Tone is
representing the IFLA GB at the
IFLA Professional Committee. She
is also Secretary of the IFLA Library
Services to People with Special
Needs Section.
Pascal Sanz
Pascal Sanz is Director of the
Département Droit, économie,
politique of the Bibliothèque
nationale de France, Paris, France.
Pascal is also member of the Exe-
cutive Committee.
Donna Scheeder
Donna Scheeder is Director, Law
Library Services at the Library
of Congress, Washington, USA.
Donna is also member of the IFLA
GB Finance Committee.
Sinikka Sipilä
Sinikka Sipilä is Secretary General
of the Finnish Library Association,
Helsinki, Finland. Sinikka is also
member of the IFLA GB Finance
Committee.
Paul Whitney
Paul Whitney is City Librarian of
the Vancouver Public Library in
Vancouver, Canada. He is also rep-
resenting the IFLA GB in the CLM
Advisory Board.
Qiang Zhu
Qiang Zhu is Director of the Peking
University Library in Beijing, China.
NEWS
Copyright © 2009 International Federation of Library Associations &
Institutions (www.ifl a.org). IFLA Journal 35(4): 364–370.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352431
I FLA
NEWS
NEWS CONTENTS
From the Secretariat . . . . . . 364
Membership Matters . . . . . 365
News from Milan . . . . . . . . 365
Future IFLA Conferences
and Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Grants and Awards . . . . . . . 367
IFLA Publications . . . . . . . . 368
Other Publications . . . . . . . 369
Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
From the Secretariat
The IFLA Governing
Board 2009–2011 – a
brief introduction
2009 again was an election year
for IFLA. During the General
Assembly in Milan the new IFLA
Governing Board for 2009–2011
was installed. Below you fi nd an
overview of the IFLA Governing
Board members, their jobs in daily
life and their special roles in the
various IFLA committees.
Ellen Tise – IFLA President
Ellen Tise is Senior Director Li-
brary and Information Services,
J.S. Gericke Library, University of
Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch. South
Africa. Ellen is IFLA President for
the 2009–2011 period.
Ingrid Parent – IFLA
President Elect
Ingrid Parent is University Librar-
ian of the University of British
Columbia, Irving K. Barber Learn-
ing Centre, Canada. As President
Elect 2009–2011, Ingrid is Ex Offi cio
member of the IFLA Professional
Committee. She is also represent-
ing the IFLA GB in the IFLA/IPA
Steering Group.
News
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 364 11/9/2009 11:36:50 AM
365
Patrice Landry – Chair
of the IFLA Professional
Committee.
Patrice Landry is Chief of Clas-
sification and Indexing at the
Swiss National Library in Bern,
Switzerland. Patrice is also repre-
senting the IFLA GB in the
ICADS Board. As Chair of the IFLA
Professional Committee he is
also member of the Executive
Committee.
Steve Witt – Chair of
Division I – Library Types
Steve Witt is Associate Director
of the Center for Global Studies,
University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign, USA. Steve is also
member of the IFLA Professional
Committee and the IFLA GB
Finance Committee.
Ann Okerson – Chair of
Division II – Library Services
Ann Okerson is Associate Uni-
versity Librarian for Collections &
International Programs, Yale Uni-
versity Library, Sterling Memorial
Library, New Haven, USA. Ann is
member of the IFLA Professional
Committee and she is representing
the IFLA GB in the IFLA Journal
Editorial Committee.
Judith Field – Chair of
Division III – Library
Services
Judith is Senior Lecturer, Library
and Information Science at the
Wayne State University, Detroit,
USA. Judith is member of the IFLA
Professional Committee and she is
representing the IFLA GB in the
UNIMARC Committee.
Michael Heaney – Chair of
Division IV – Support of
the Profession
Michael Heaney is Executive
Secretary of the Oxford University
Library Services (Bodleian Library),
Oxford, United Kingdom. Michael
is member of the IFLA Professional
Committee and representing the
IFLA GB in the IFLA/IPA Steer-
ing Group.
Janice Lachance – Chair of
the IFLA Management and
Library Associations Section
Janice Lachance is Chief Executive
Officer of the Special Libraries
Association (SLA).
Jennefer Nicholson, IFLA Secretary
General is member of the IFLA
Governing Board Ex Offi cio.
News from Milan
Membership Matters
New Members
We bid a warm welcome to the
29 members who have joined the
Federation between 28 July and 25
September 2009.
Institutions
Presidential Library, Azerbaijan
Botswana Examinations Council,
Botswana
Petrobras Transporte S/A –
TRANSPETRO, Brazil
Organisation Ouest Africaine de la
Sante, Burkina Faso
Politecnico Grancolombiano Insti-
tuicion Universitaria, Colombia
Iraqi Council of Representatives,
Research Directorate, Iraq
NHTV Breda University of Applied
Sciences / Internationaal Hoger
Onderwijs Breda, Netherlands
Fundação Portuguesa das
Comunicações, Portugal
Sistema bibliotecario ticinese (Sbt),
Switzerland
The City University of New York,
United States
Family History Library, United
States
Russian School Libraries Association,
Russian Federation
Frederikshavn City Archives,
Denmark
Personal Affi liates
Guy Firmin Marie De Witte,
Belgium
Elisabeth Dudziak, Brazil
Elaine Ménard, Canada
Tanja Harrison, Canada
Dagmar Schultz, Germany
Yashiho Kikkawa, Japan
Abdulahi Ibrahim A., Nigeria
Jane W.F. Smith, Suriname
Britta Biedermann, Switzerland
Milena Dobreva, United Kingdom
Tricia Adams, United Kingdom
Patricia Glowinski, United States
Marilyn Russell, United States
Deborah D. Cobb, United States
Student Affi liates
Keren Dali, Canada
Chiku Mchombu, Namibia
News from Milan
Congress Attendance
Some 4,500 persons participated in
the World Library and Information
Congress in Milan, including
volunteers, exhibitors, IFLA staff
and others, and no less than 3931
registrants – more than 1,000
of whom were first-timers. Not
surprisingly, Italy ranked fi rst in
terms of the number of delegates,
with the United States, Finland,
China and the United Kingdom
also in the top five among the
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 365 11/9/2009 11:37:04 AM
News
366
127 countries represented. A total
of 230 papers were presented in
219 meetings; in addition, there
were 103 poster sessions and 98
exhibitors.
Latest Football Results
This is probably the fi rst time this
heading has appeared in the News
Section of IFLA Journal; it appears
now thanks to the organizers and
participants in the 1st International
IFLA Football Tournament, held
during the World Library and Infor-
mation Congress in Milan on 26
August 2009. We are indebted to
Stephan Schwarz for the following
report:
Within the framework of this year’s
IFLA World Congress in Milan, a
remarkable event took place: the
1st International IFLA Football
Tournament. Some 50 delegates
and other library employees had
gathered at the Centro Sportivo
Fenaroli, the football pitch of the
Catholic University of Milan at the
northernmost end of the city, on
Wednesday 26 August to prove
that librarians have not only an
outstanding command of dealing
with books or bibliographic data
but also an outstanding command
of handling a ball. There were four
teams: one from Italy, one from
the Catholic University of Milan,
one from the Bavarian State Library,
Germany, and one team made up
of IFLA delegates from different
countries. The IFLA team that, by
the way, had never got together
before, included not only librarians
from all over the world, but also
the only “lady kicker”. The football
tournament, the fi rst in the 75-year
history of the IFLA, had been or-
ganized by Klaus Kempf, head of
the Department of Acquisitions,
Collection Development and Cat-
aloguing of the Bavarian State
Library, and the Catholic University
of Milan who had contributed to
the success of the tournament not
only by providing the football pitch
and the catering but also by arrang-
ing the logistics.
At the beginning of the tournament,
the four teams were solemnly
welcomed by playing their corres-
ponding national anthems–for the
IFLA team there was the European
anthem Ode to Joy– and shortly
introduced. Then the matches be-
gan. It was played on a small fi eld,
each match took 20 minutes (two
halves, each of only 10 minutes). The
audience that had been brought
from the congress centre to the
pitch by an extra shuttle-bus had
the opportunity to watch the pul-
sating matches and many brilliant
goals.
About noon, the tournament had
some esteemed visitors: Claudia
Lux, IFLA President 2007–2009,
and Mauro Guerrini, President of
the Italian Library Association AIB
and head of the IFLA National
Organizing Committee of Italy.
Several pictures of the football
teams and the IFLA offi cials were
immediately taken in order to con-
serve the memory of this 1st Inter-
national IFLA Football Tournament
for the ensuing ages.
The winner of the tournament was
the team from Germany (Bavarian
State Library), with the Italian team
in second place, Università Cattolica
(Milan) in third, and the IFLA team
fourth and last. A disappointment
for the IFLA team, but everyone
enjoyed themselves!
Gothenburg 2010
Open access to knowledge –
promoting sustainable
progress
The chosen motto for the next World
Library and Information Congress
in Gothenburg 2010 energizes and
supports the presidential motto
of the new IFLA President, Ellen
Tise: Libraries driving access to
knowledge.
On the bookmarks promoting
the 2010 Congress, there are some
associations around this theme
and the development of libraries,
which might inspire the work to be
done to bring it into activities.
Free access to knowledge, as im-
portant as freedom of speech
Accessible for all, even for the visu-
ally impaired or others with reading
diffi culties
Open and inclusive, no matter who
you are or where you come from
Public domain, a place on the net
or in a physical space, where people
contribute and socially share con-
tent produced and owned as a
public service
Open for ideas with user driven
innovation, where the user might
as well be the producer
Open access publishing for further
knowledge building and a better
balance between copyright laws and
freedom of information
Why is this so essential?
Access to knowledge opens the
world of imagination and creativity,
thus progress for one individual is
progress for the society. That is the
base for true sustainable progress.
Inga Lundén, President, Swedish
Library Association
Future IFLA Conferences and Meetings
Future IFLA Conferences and Meetings
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 366 11/9/2009 11:37:05 AM
367
Honorary Fellowship
for Klaus G. Saur
At the General Assembly meeting
on 26 August, Klaus G. Saur re-
ceived an IFLA Honorary Fellow-
ship in recognition of his service
as IFLA’s Publisher for more than
30 years.
IFLA Awards
During the Closing Session on
27 August, Claudia Lux, President
of IFLA, handed out the following
awards:
Best Poster Session
‘New vs. Old Photos: Keep Cultural
Heritage in Guangzhou Alive.’
Presenters: Ni Junming and Huang
Qunqing, China.
Newsletter of the Year
Award
This award went to the Literacy and
Reading Section Newsletter.
IFLA Scroll
IFLA Scrolls were awarded to the
following:
Bruce Royan
In grateful recognition for his
invaluable contributions to IFLA,
especially to IFLA’s Information
and Technology and Audiovisual
and Multimedia Sections.
Barbara B. Tillett
In grateful recognition for her
leadership in international biblio-
graphic control, in particular her
establishment of the IFLA Cata-
loguing Principles, 2003–2009.
Gunilla Natvig
In grateful recognition for her
service as Administrative Offi cer
1993–2009 of the IFLA/ALP Pro-
gramme, Uppsala and for her
services to IFLA around the globe.
Brigitta Sandell
In grateful recognition for her service
as Programme Offi cer 1993–2000
and Director 2000–2009 of the
IFLA/ALP Programme, Uppsala
and for all her services to IFLA
around the globe.
Italian National Committee
As a token of IFLA’s appreciation
for the dedication and enthusiasm
displayed by the National Committee
in the organization of this very suc-
cessful conference.
IFLA Medal
Ulf Göranson and the
Uppsala University Library
On the occasion of the 25th
anniversary of the IFLA/ALP Pro-
gramme, in grateful recognition of
their support for IFLA in hosting
this programme for 20 years.
Winnie Vitzansky
For her distinguished service to
IFLA and the international library
community through her leader-
ship in international advocacy for
professional library services and
free and equal access for all.
Shawky Salem
For his distinguished service to
IFLA and the international library
community through his leadership
in representation, contribution
to the professional literature, and
support for development of the
profession.
Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation Access to
Learning Award 2009
On 25 August the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation presented its
2009 Access to Learning Award of
USD 1 million to the Fundación Em-
presas Públicas de Medellín (EPM
Foundation) for its innovative use
of technology in public libraries to
promote community development.
The Colombian organization is
being honored for helping provide
the people of Medellín and the
metropolitan area with the skills
and tools they need to improve
their communities and their lives.
Microsoft, a partner of the Gates
Foundation in its efforts to help
public libraries connect people to
the Internet, will provide the EPM
Foundation’s network of libraries
with software and technology train-
ing curriculum.
The EPM Foundation’s Network
of Public Libraries (NPL) provides
citizens with access to informa-
tion and technology through its 34
libraries. NPL is part of a regional
initiative designed to use technol-
ogy to increase the transparency of
government, create a competitive
business environment, and improve
education.
Included in the network are fi ve
library parks, known as “hearts of
knowledge.” Located throughout
the city in some of Medellin’s most
marginalized communities, the li-
brary parks have become cultural
centers, providing broad, commu-
nity access to information and edu-
cational resources. The network’s
libraries offer a range of training
programs, including how to use the
computer and access information
online, and English for the Internet.
The majority of NPL’s patrons are
from low-income communities. Most
do not have a computer at home,
Grants and Awards
Grants and Awards
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 367 11/9/2009 11:37:05 AM
News
368
and the libraries serve as their only
access to the digital world.
Through NPL’s expanded services,
the number of library visitors has
jumped from 90,000 to more than
500,000 per month. NPL has also
helped narrow the digital divide in
Medellín and the metropolitan area,
rapidly reducing the individual-
to-computer ratio by more than
66 percent, from 140 to 1 in 2005,
to 47 to 1 in 2008.
The Gates Foundation’s Access to
Learning Award, now in its 10th
year, recognizes the innovative
efforts of libraries and similar or-
ganizations outside the United
States in providing free access to
computers and the Internet. It is
awarded by the Global Libraries
initiative, which works to open the
world of knowledge, information,
and opportunity to help improve the
lives of millions of people.
The EPM Foundation will use the
Access to Learning Award funds
to expand the services on its web
portal, and develop information
and communication technology
training programs. These additional
services will help contribute to the
development of Medellín and the
surrounding area.
Source: http://www.gatesfoundation.
org/press-releases/Pages/2009-
atla-award-epm-foundation-
090825.aspx
IFLA International
Marketing Award
The winners of the 7th IFLA Inter-
national Marketing Award, awarded
by the IFLA Section on Manage-
ment and Marketing and sponsored
by Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.,
were announced during the IFLA
Press Conference on 24 August.
First place was awarded to National
Library Board (NLB), Singapore,
represented by Sharon Koh,
(Sharon_KOH@nlb.gov.sg). The
slogan for the winning campaign
is “Go Library.” The GLP is a
multi-platform project which aims
to entice customers to the library.
Significant inroads were made
in outreach efforts, e.g. to schools,
institutes and organizations,
where there is increasing need to
make the library relevant to those
technologically-inclined who may
receive information from online
search engines or other non-
conventional mediums. Through
specially targeted programmes
the needs of various demographic
groups were addressed. To achieve
maximum impact, these pro-
grammes are marketed under the
“Go Library” project.
The fi rst-place winner receives air-
fare, lodging, and registration for
the 2009 IFLA General Conference
and Council to be held this year in
Milan, Italy, and a cash award of
$1,000 (U.S.) to further the market-
ing efforts of the library.
IFLA Publications
UNIMARC Manual – Authorities
Format. Edited by Mirna Willer.
Munich: K.G. Saur, 2009. ISBN
978-3-598-24286-1. (IFLA Series
on Bibliographic Control; Nr 38).
EUR 89.95 / for USA, Canada,
Mexico USD 126.00. Special price
for IFLA members EUR 69.95 / for
USA, Canada, Mexico USD 98.00.
Also available as an eBook.
The UNIMARC Authorities Format
was designed in the early 1990s
to allow the creation of authority
and reference records for the man-
agement of controlled access
points in a bibliographic data-
base. Incorporated in this work is
relevant information from other
IFLA working groups and from
UNIMARC users. It is published
under the auspices of the IFLA Cat-
aloguing Section. This is the 3rd,
completely updated and enlarged
edition.
Strategies for Regenerating
the Library and Information
Profession. Edited by Jana Varlejs
and Graham Walton. Munich:
K.G. Saur, 2009. ISBN 978-3-
598-22044-9. (IFLA Publications;
Nr 139). EUR 99.95 / for USA,
Canada, Mexico USD 140.00.
Special price for IFLA members
EUR 79.95 / for USA, Canada,
Mexico USD 112.00.
This volume comprises papers
prepared for the 8th World Con-
ference on Continuing Professional
Development (Bologna, Italy, 18–20
August 2009). Within the broad
theme of creating a positive work en-
vironment for a multi-generational
workforce in library and informa-
tion organizations, the conference
addresses managing between and
across generations, mentoring and
coaching, attracting people to the
profession and developing a new
generation of leaders, re-skilling
and transferability of skills, suc-
cession planning and passing on
knowledge.
Both the above are available from:
K. G. Saur Verlag: www.saur.de
or
Rhenus Medien Logistik GmbH &
Co. KG, Justus-von-Liebig-Straße 1,
86899 Landsberg, Germany. Tel.
+49 (0)8191 9 70 00-214. Fax:
+49 (0)8191 9 70 00-560. E-mail:
degruyter@rhenus.de
For the USA – Canada – Mexico:
Walter de Gruyter, Inc., P.O. Box
960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960,
USA. Phone: + 1 (703) 661-1589.
Toll free: +1 (800) 208-8144. Fax:
+1 (703) 661-1501. E-mail: degruy
termail@presswarehouse.com
IFLA Publications
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 368 11/9/2009 11:37:05 AM
369
From Research and
Markets Ltd.
Evaluation of Digital Libraries:
An insight to useful applications
and methods. Price: hard copy:
EUR 87.00.
This book summarizes informa-
tion on the research and practice
on both sides of the Atlantic and
aims to answer the potential ques-
tions that both the theoretical and
practical areas of digital library
evaluation have posed during re-
cent years. Invited experts from
library and computer science fi elds
provide a solid grounding on the
essential issues that holistically
cover the evaluation of these com-
plex information systems. The book
presents, systematically, aspects of
participating communities, reasons
and aims of evaluation, method-
ologies and metrics, and application
paradigms.
For more information: http://
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product/8c9f01/evaluation_of_
digital_libraries_an_insight_t
Library and Information Science
Research in the 21st Century:
A guide for practicing librarians
and students. Price: hard copy:
EUR 83.00.
This book provides not only a the-
oretically informed research guide,
but also draws attention to areas of
potential research in Library and
Information Science. It explores the
nexus of theory and practice and
offers suggestions for collaborative
projects. The clear text, simple style
and rich content make the book an
invaluable resource for students,
scholars and practicing librarians,
as well as the general reader who
may be interested in library and
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Further information: http://www.
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Further information: Rachel
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Research and Markets Ltd. E-mail:
rachel.thompson@researchandma
rkets.com
Electronic Library
Collections
The Kovacs Guide to Electronic
Library Collection Development.
Essential core subject collections,
selection criteria, and guidelines.
Diane K. Kovacs. Neal-Schuman
Publishers Inc. ISBN:
9781555706647 Price: GBP 127.50.
This new edition covers over 15
subject areas, including jobs and
employment, business, medicine,
law, social sciences, engineering,
computer science, physical sciences,
earth sciences, arts and humanities,
and more. The author updates her
coverage of web collection develop-
ment resources, licensing web-
accessible resources and real-life
e-library success stories. New and
expanded chapters are dedicated to
e-library management and main-
tenance including guidance on
negotiating e-resource licenses and
collection analysis. For each subject
area, core collection development
tools have been expanded to in-
clude Web 2.0 related services and
government documents. A bonus
companion website – available
only to purchasers of the book –
features ready-made, annotated
links to all the sites in the book’s
recommended core reference col-
lections in each subject area that
readers can import into their li-
brary’s website or OPAC.
Available from: Eurospan Limited,
3 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden,
London WC2E 8LU, UK. Direct tel:
+44 (0)20 7845 0819.
Further information: Rachael
Muirhead, Marketing
Manager . E-mail: rachael.
muirhead@eurospangroup.com
Obituaries
Other Publications
Obituaries
Remembering
Harry Campbell
April 22 1919 to July 31 2009
Colleagues in many parts of the
world were saddened to learn of
the passing of Henry C. (Harry)
Campbell on July 31 2009.
All who knew him recognize his
significance to the international
community, whether their con-
nections were through his work
with IFLA – he was awarded an
IFLA Honorary Fellowship in 1981
in recognition of his continuing
contribution – through UNESCO
or through his work as a consultant
in Asia.
I met Harry regularly, over the
past 20 years, usually at an IFLA
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 369 11/9/2009 11:37:05 AM
370
event. One of the last times was at
the IFLA Congress in Québec City
in 2008.
Harry was active in IFLA for more
than half a century. Always a
staunch supporter of IFLA’s work,
particularly in the area of library
development in emerging coun-
tries, his contribution extended far
beyond philosophy into the realm
of practical help. For example, after
China’s Cultural Revolution ended
in 1976, Harry and his wife, Sylvia,
visited the country several times
to lecture on information science
and to support the modernization
of Chinese libraries. Recently, a
grant in his name covered the costs
for a delegate from a developing
country to attend the annual IFLA
conference.
In preparing to write this brief
ap-preciation of Harry, I was fasci-
nated to read various summaries
of his life and interests, which
clearly must have greatly enriched
his formal working career. After
graduate studies at the University
of Toronto and Teachers’ College
at Columbia University in New
York City, he began working at the
National Film Board in Ottawa
(1941 to 1946), just two years after
it was founded. In part, it was cre-
ated to produce fi lms in support
of the Second World War. Harry’s
assignment was to work on the
foreign-language production of the
war fi lms.
His next career step was with the
United Nations Secretariat Archives
in New York (1946), while he was
still a student. This resulted in
an assignment in Paris, followed
by seven years with the Libraries
Division of UNESCO. Clearly,
this is where his deep interest in
international work was nurtured.
During his years in France, he was
in charge of the UNESCO Library
of Congress survey of World Biblio-
graphical Services and the UNES CO
Clearing House for Libraries.
It was not until 1956 that he joined
the Toronto Public Library as Chief
Librarian, a post he held until 1977.
This was the period of great library
development in many countries
including Canada and Harry was in
the centre of public library creativity
at the Toronto Public Library.
Harry’s biographical details are
full of conferences, international
meetings and travel, but he was
no mere sightseer. He was always
a active participant. At the very
least, he could be counted on to add
pertinent information to any debate
or ask an unexpected (but always
valuable) question. He was also pre-
pared to share the responsibility of
association management, notably as
a members of the IFLA Governing
Board (1973 to 1979).
His services to library development
continued long after his offi cial re-
tirement from the Toronto Public
Library, primarily as a consultant
and writer/editor. His publica-
tions include many title related to
libraries, information science and
Canadian art.
These are only the bare bones of
Harry Campbell’s story. He was
a man who cared about people,
believed in access to information
and the importance of libraries and
books, particularly to children. As
an involved individual, his goal
was to turn philosophy into action.
Suffi ce to say, he met his goal.
Marianne Scott
September 2009
Upali Yapa
Neil Upali Yapa, one of the leaders
of the library profession in Sri
Lanka, died on 28 September 2009
at the age of 65 after a brief illness.
In a career which included the posi-
tions of Director/Information at the
Sri Lanka Scientifi c and Technical
Information Centre (SLSTIC) and
Chief Librarian at the International
Irrigation Management Institute,
Upali Yapa made major contribu-
tions to the automation of library
services, interlibrary cooperation,
professional education and training
and the development of a national
information policy and science
policy for Sri Lanka. He developed
a library automation software
package, Purna, which is widely
used in Sri Lanka, and a modifi ed
version for school libraries,
Thaksila, which is distributed free
to schools. He obtained his masters
degree in information science from
the University of West Ontario,
Canada and was the longest serving
lecturer of the Sri Lanka Library
Association, lecturing also at the
University of Kelaniya and Colombo
University. He is survived by his
wife, Asoka, three children and
three grandchildren.
Source: ‘Upali Yapa’s Death Mourned
by Many’, by Nan. Sunday Island
Online: http://www.island.lk/2009/
10/04/features2.html (information
provided by Premila Gamage)
Obituaries
364-370_IFLA352431.indd 370 11/9/2009 11:37:05 AM
International Calendar
371
INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR
2010
25–27 January 2010. Parma, Italy.
BOBCATSSS 2010. Theme:
Bridging the digital divide: li-
braries providing access for all?
Further information at: http://
bobcatsss2010.unipr.it/
4–6 February 2010. New Delhi,
India.
International Conference on
Children’s Libraries – Building
a Book Culture.
Details and registration form:
http://www.awic.in
23–26 February 2010. New Delhi,
India.
International Conference
on Digital Libraries (ICDL).
Theme: Shaping the Information
Paradigm.
For more details: DEBAL C KAR,
Organizing Secretary, ICDL
Secretariat, TERI, Darbari Seth
Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi
Road, New Delhi – 110 003, India.
Telephone [India +91 • Delhi
(0)11] 24682138, 24682100,
41504900. Fax: 24682144,
24682145. E-mail: icdl@teri.res.in
Web: www.teriin.org/events/icdl
23–26 February 2010. Rome, Italy.
11th International ISKO Con-
ference. Theme: Paradigms and
conceptual systems in knowledge
organization.
Contacts: Dr. Fulvio Mazzocchi,
National Research Council.
Institute for Complex Systems,
Montelibretti Section, via Salaria
Km 29,300, CP 10, 00015
Monterotondo Stazione (RM),
Italy OR Dr. Claudio Gnoli, Uni-
versity of Pavia. Science and
Technology Library, via Ferrata 1,
27100 Pavia, Italy. E-mail:
rome2010@mate.unipv.it
Web: http://www.iskoi.org/
rome2010/
15–16 March 2010. Gold Coast,
Australia.
Somerset International Confer-
ence for Librarians and Teachers.
15–16 March 2010. Gold Coast,
Australia. Theme: Re ading Locally,
Learning Globally – creating a
universal experience.
Further information: Andrew
J Stark, Conference Director,
Somerset College, Mudgeeraba,
QLD, Australia. Tel/Fax:
+61 (0) 7 5530 5458. Email:
astark@somerset.qld.edu.au
2–4 May 2010. Oslo, Norway.
Joint Technical Symposium
2010. Theme: Digital challenges
and digital opportunities in
audiovisual archiving.
Further information: George
L. Abbott, Librarian Emeritus,
Syracuse University Library,
311 Stonecrest Drive, Syracuse,
NY 13214-2432, USA. E-mail:
glabbott@syr.edu JTS 2010
website: jts2010.org
26–28 May 2010. Amsterdam,
Netherlands.
17th World Congress on Infor-
mation Technology 2010. Theme:
Challenges of Change.
Further information: www.
wcit2010.com/ Contact:
info@wcit2010.org
10–15 August 2010. Göteborg,
Sweden.
IFLA World Library and
Information Congress: 76th
IFLA General Conference and
Council. Theme: Open access to
knowledge – promoting sustain-
able progress. [NOTE CHANGE
OF DATES, VENUE AND
THEME]
Further information from: IFLA
Headquarters, PO Box 95312,
2509 CH The Hague, The
Netherlands. Phone: +31 70
314 0884. Fax: +31 70 383 4827.
E-mail: ifla@ifla.org. Website:
www.ifl a.org
22–24 September 2010. Ankara,
Turkey.
2nd International Symposium
on Information Management
in a Changing World. Theme:
The impact of technological con-
vergence and social networks on
information management.
Further information: http://
by2010.bilgiyonetimi.net/english.
html
2011
13–18 August 2011. San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
IFLA World Library and Infor-
mation Congress: 77th IFLA
General Conference and Council.
Theme: Libraries beyond li-
braries: integration, innovation
and information for all.
Further details: IFLA Head-
quarters, PO Box 95312, 2509
CH The Hague, The Netherlands.
Phone: +31 70 314 0884. Fax: +31
70 383 4827. E-mail: ifla@ifla.
org. OR Puerto Rico National
Committee, IFLA 2011, San Juan,
Puerto Rico. E-mail ifla2011.
puertorico@upr.edu OR executi
vesecretariat@acuril.org
2011 Ireland, Dublin, 24–29 July;
2012 Canada ; 2013 Denmark,
Århus; 2014 Austria, Vienna;
2015 USA, New York
International Association of
Music Libraries, Archives and
Documentation Centres (IAML).
Forthcoming conferences.
Further information: http://
www.iaml.info/en/activities/
conferences or e-mail Roger
Flury, AML Secretary General at:
roger.fl ury@natlib.govt.nz
Copyright © 2009 International Federation of Library Associations &
Institutions (www.ifl a.org). IFLA Journal 35(4): 371.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209352432
I FLA
INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR
371_IFLA352432.indd 371 11/5/2009 11:01:30 AM
Sommaires
372
SOMMAIRES
Agnese Perrone. Electronic Book
Collection Development in Italy: a
case study. [Le développement des
collections de livres électroniques
en Italie : une étude de cas.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 305–312
Cet article rend compte des résultats
d’un projet de recherche sur la façon
dont les bibliothécaires des univer-
sités gèrent l’intégration des col-
lections de livres électroniques
dans le fonds de leurs bibliothèques.
Il s’intéresse également aux critères
de sélection et aux problèmes de
développement des collections. En
toile de fond à cette étude, les biblio-
thèques universitaires italiennes, qui
se consacrent depuis peu à des projets
de développement de collections de
livres électroniques, ainsi que l’offre
de livres électroniques italiens.
David Beno. Internet Use in
Israeli Universities: a case study.
[L’utilisation d’Internet dans les
universités israéliennes : une
étude de cas.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 313–321
Cet article présente les résultats
d’une enquête menée en 2005–2006
sur l’importance de l’utilisation
des ressources numériques par les
étudiants et les chercheurs dans
cinq universités israéliennes, ainsi
que le rapport entre l’utilisation
des ressources d’information élec-
troniques mises à disposition par
les bibliothèques universitaires
d’une part et celle du réseau Web de
surface d’autre part. Près de 80 pour
cent des personnes interrogées ont
une fréquence d’utilisation élevée à
très élevée du Web de surface pour
chercher des informations pour
leurs études ou recherches. Par con-
traste, 28 pour cent seulement des
personnes interrogées indiquent
une utilisation élevée à très élevée
des revues universitaires électron-
iques, 40 pour cent une utilisation
élevée à très élevée des bases de
données numériques, et 13 pour cent
seulement une utilisation élevée à
très élevée des livres électroniques.
Une situation dans laquelle les
universitaires utilisent deux à trois
fois plus fréquemment le Web de
surface que les sources d’information
numériques plus sérieuses mises à
disposition par leurs bibliothèques
signale un grave problème en ce qui
concerne la qualité des informa-
tions utilisées, problème qui peut
fortement nuire à la qualité et à la
crédibilité des recherches basées
sur ces sources. Les conclusions de
l’enquête sont inquiétantes dans
la mesure où les informations du
Web de surface ne sont pas fi ables
et ne font pas autorité. L’état actuel
des recherches n’indique pas ce
qui incite les étudiants et les cher-
cheurs à dépendre si fortement des
informations du Web de surface
pour effectuer leurs recherches,
mais on peut raisonnablement
penser que ceci est principalement
dû à la facilité d’utilisation et à
la convivialité des moteurs de
recherche Internet.
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset.
Libraries in Palestine. [Les biblio-
thèques en Palestine.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 322–334
Pendant plusieurs années, des
programmes décentralisés de
coopération avec des villes, des
universités et des comités palestiniens
ont proliféré dans le but d’aider à
déployer un réseau de bibliothèques
dans une région constamment
menacée. En se faisant l’écho de ces
initiatives multiples qui impliquent
de nombreux bibliothécaires
français, Françoise Danset donne
une évaluation provisoire d’un
exemple signifi catif de solidarité
professionnelle internationale.
Hossein Noorani and Heidar
Mokhtari. Green Gift Plan:
building small libraries in public
places of Mazandaran Province,
Iran. [Le projet Green Gift Plan :
la construction de petites biblio-
thèques dans des lieux publics
dans la province iranienne de
Mazandaran.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 335–340
Étant donné le faible taux de lecture
de livres en Iran et le dédain pour
les aptitudes de lecture dans la vie
quotidienne, des projets et des pro-
grammes novateurs ont été mis
en place en vue de mettre les livres
à la portée du public, de présenter
les livres aux citoyens comme des
véhicules primordiaux d’infor-
mation et de défi nir les habitudes
de lecture comme une nécessité
dans la vie contemporaine. Le
projet Green Gift Plan (GGP),
axé sur la construction de petites
bibliothèques dans certains lieux
publics et lieux de travail (par ex.
coiffeurs pour homme, cabinets
dentaires ou médicaux, instituts
de beauté pour femmes) dans la
province iranienne de Mazandaran,
a pour but d’améliorer la lecture
parmi la population en amenant les
livres dans leur communauté. Il met
aussi l’accent sur les responsabil-
ités sociales des bibliothécaires.
L’article décrit les dispositions et
les objectifs de ce projet ainsi que sa
mise en oeuvre, et fait des suggestions
pour la poursuite du projet et la mise
en place de projets similaires.
Bhaskar Mukherjee. Journal of the
American Society for Informa-
tion Science and Technology
(2000–2007): A bibliometric study.
[Revue de la Société américaine
des sciences et technologies de
l’information (2000–2007) : une
étude bibliométrique.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 341–358
Depuis 1950, la Revue de la
Société américaine des sciences
Copyright © 2009 International Federation of Library Associations &
Institutions (www.ifl a.org). IFLA Journal 35(4): 372–377.
ISSN: 0340-0352. DOI: 10.1177/0340035209353835
I FLA
372-377_IFLA353835.indd 372 11/5/2009 11:02:26 AM
373
Agnese Perrone. Electronic Book
Collection Development in Italy:
a case study. [Die Entwicklung der
elektronischen Bücherbestände in
Italien: eine Fallstudie.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 305–312
Dieser Artikel berichtet über die
Ergebnisse eines Forschungs-
projekts, wobei festgestellt
werden sollte, in welcher Weise
Hochschulbibliothekare mit der
Integration der elektronischen
Büchersammlungen in ihren Biblio-
theksbeständen umgehen; dabei
geht die Autorin schwerpunktmäßig
auf die Auswahlkriterien und die
Schwierigkeiten im Zusammenhang
mit der Entwicklung der fraglichen
Bestände ein. Den Hintergrund
hierzu liefern die Hochschul-
bibliotheken in Italien, die sich in
den letzten Jahren im Rahmen ents-
prechender Projekte stark um die
Entwicklung der elektronischen
Bücherbestände bemüht haben,
und auch die digitalen E-Book-
Veröffentlichungen elektronischer
Bücher in Italien.
David Beno. Internet Use in
Israeli Universities: a case study.
[Die Nutzung des Internets an
den Universitäten in Israel: eine
Fallstudie.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 313–321
et technologies de l’information
(JASIST) a joué un rôle vital dans
la diffusion d’articles d’érudition
sur les sciences bibliothécaires
et de l’information. Cet article
présente les résultats d’une étude
bibliométrique d’articles publiés
dans la revue JASIST de 2000 à
2007. Il examine la répartition des
articles sous diverses rubriques, y
compris le type d’auteur et la nature
de la collaboration, la répartition
géographique des articles, la nature
des références citées et des citations,
les auteurs prolifi ques et les auteurs
très fréquemment cités. Les données
ont été rassemblées en utilisant
le Web of Science et analysées à
l’aide de Microsoft Excel. Les ré-
sultats pour la période examinée
indiquent des taux de publication
inégaux et montrent que les articles
ont constitué la principale forme
de publication. Le type d’auteurs
des articles montre une tendance
à la collaboration, des auteurs de
47 pays ayant contribué à des
articles. La répartition par pays
révèle que le plus grand nombre de
contributions ont été faites par des
auteurs américains, suivis par des
auteurs britanniques. De 2000 à
2007, le nombre de références citées
par article a augmenté, alors que
les articles cités ont diminué au
cours de cette même période. Les
résultats suggèrent qu’il faut que
des articles aient été publiés depuis
plus de deux ans avant de faire
l’objet d’un nombre approprié de
citations.
ZUSAMMENFASSUNGEN
Dieser Beitrag präsentiert die
Ergebnisse einer in den Jahren
2005 bis 2006 durchgeführten
Umfrage bezüglich der
Nutzungshäufigkeit digitaler
Ressourcen seitens der Studenten
und Forscher an fünf Universitäten
in Israel; zudem geht der Autor auf
die relative Nutzungsintensität der
von den Hochschulbibliotheken
bereitgestellten autorisierten elek-
tronischen Informationsquellen
einerseits im Vergleich zum Surface
Web andererseits ein. Etwa 80 Prozent
der Befragten verzeichneten bei der
Informationssuche für ihr Studium
oder ihre Forschung nach eigener
Angabe eine hohe beziehungsweise
sehr hohe Nutzungshäufi gkeit des
Surface Web. Im Gegensatz dazu
gaben nur etwa 28 Prozent der
Befragten eine starke oder sehr
starke Nutzung der akademischen
elektronischen Zeitschriften an,
40 Prozent beriefen sich stark oder
sehr stark auf die Nutzung digi-
taler Datenbanken und nur etwa
13 Prozent meldeten eine starke oder
sehr starke Nutzung elektronischer
Bücher (E-Books). Wenn allerdings
Akademiker das Surface Web zwei-
oder dreimal häufi ger verwenden
als die maßgeblicheren digitalen
Informationsquellen, die ihnen
ihre Bibliothek zur Verfügung stellt,
ergibt sich hier ein erhebliches
Problem in Bezug auf die Qualität
der verwendeten Informationen, die
die Qualität und Glaubwürdigkeit
der darauf basierenden Forschung
stark beeinträchtigen kann. Die
Ergebnisse dieser Umfrage sind
insofern bedenklich, als viele der
Informationen des Surface Web
weder verlässlich noch maßgeblich
sind. Die aktuelle Forschung ergibt
keinen Hinweis darauf, was die
Studenten und Forscher dazu
veranlasst, sich im Rahmen ihrer
Forschung in einem so erheblichen
Umfang auf die Informationen
aus dem Surface Web zu verlassen;
man kann jedoch vermutlich
davon ausgehen, dass dies im
Wesentlichen auf die Leichtigkeit
und den Komfort des Umgangs
mit den Internet-Suchmaschinen
zurückzuführen ist.
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset.
Libraries in Palestine. [Büchereien
in Palästina.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 322–334
Mehrere Jahre lang sind in Palästina
von den Städten, Kommunen
und Universitäten dezentralisierte
Kooperationsprogramme ins
Leben gerufen worden, um dazu
beizutragen, ein Netzwerk von
Bibliotheken in einem ständig
bedrohten Gebiet zu errichten.
Als Nachklang dieser mehrfachen
Initiativen, an denen auch viele
französische Bibliothekare beteiligt
Zusammenfassungen
372-377_IFLA353835.indd 373 11/5/2009 11:02:49 AM
374
Mazandaran im Iran geht, war es,
die Lesebereitschaft der Menschen
durch die Einbindung der Bücher
in die Gesellschaft zu verbessern.
Zudem betont dieser Plan die
soziale Verantwortung der Biblio-
thekare. Der Beitrag beschreibt
das Umfeld, die Zielsetzungen und
die Implementierung dieses Plans
und enthält auch einige Vorschläge
zur weiteren Fortsetzung des gen-
annten Plans sowie zur Implement-
ierung weiterer ähnlicher Pläne.
Bhaskar Mukherjee. Journal of
the American Society for Inform-
ation Science and Technology
(2000–2007): a bibliometric study.
[Journal of the American Society
for Information Science and
Technology (2000–2007): eine
bibliometrische Studie.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 341–358
Das Journal of the American So-
ciety for Information Science and
Technology (JASIST) hat seit 1950
eine wichtige Rolle bei der Veröf-
fentlichung wissenschaftlicher
Artikel in der Bibliotheks- und
Informationswissenschaft gespielt.
Der vorliegende Artikel präsentiert
die Ergebnisse einer bibliometris-
chen Studie, die sich auf Artikel
stützt, die zwischen 2000 und 2007
im JASIST publiziert worden sind.
Dabei schlüsselt er die Beiträge
nach diversen Aspekten auf,
wobei beispielsweise auch das
Urheberschaftsmuster und die Art
der Zusammenarbeit, die geog-
raphische Verteilung der Artikel,
die Art der zitierten und zitierenden
Literaturhinweise sowie produkt-
ive beziehungsweise oft zitierte
Autoren berücksichtigt werden.
Die Datenerfassung erfolgt über
das Web of Science und die Analyse
mit Microsoft Excel. Die Ergebnisse
zeigen, dass die Publikationsrate in-
nerhalb des Erfassungszeitraums
nicht gleichmäßig war und dass
die Artikelform die häufigste
Publikationsform darstellte. Bei
der Urheberschaft in Bezug auf die
Artikel ist eine gewisse Tendenz zur
Zusammenarbeit zu verzeichnen;
insgesamt haben Autoren aus
47 Ländern Artikel beigetragen. Die
Aufschlüsselung nach Ländern
zeigt, dass die meisten Beiträge von
Autoren aus den USA stammten,
gefolgt vom Vereinigten Königreich
von Großbritannien und Nordirland.
Die Zahl der in den einzelnen
Artikeln zitierten Quellenangaben
hat in den Jahren 2000 bis 2007
zugenommen; wohingegen die
Artikel selbst innerhalb des gleichen
Zeitraums weniger oft zitiert
wurden. Dies ist als Hinweis darauf
zu verstehen, dass die Publikation
der Artikel mehr als zwei Jahre
zurückliegen muss, bevor sie von
anderen Autoren in angemessenem
Umfang als Textbelege herange-
zogen werden.
waren, bietet Françoise Danset
eine vorläufi ge Einschätzung eines
bedeutsamen Beispiels für die
internationale Solidarität unter
Professionals.
Hossein Noorani und Heidar
Mokhtari. Green Gift Plan:
building small libraries in public
places of Mazandaran Province,
Iran. [Green Gift Plan: Die Er-
richtung kleiner Bibliotheken an
öffentlichen Orten in der Provinz
Mazandaran im Iran.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 335–340
Angesichts der geringen Leseber-
eitschaft für Bücher im Iran und der
Gleichgültigkeit in Bezug auf die
Lesefähigkeit im täglichen Leben
sind eine Reihe innovativer Pläne
und Programme ins Leben gerufen
worden, um der Öffentlichkeit die
Bücher nahezubringen, die Bürger
mit den Büchern als wichtigen
Informationsträgern bekannt zu
machen und die Lesegewohnheit
als eine Notwendigkeit für das
tägliche Leben in der heutigen
Zeit zu etablieren. Ziel des so gen-
annten Green Gift Plan (GGP), bei
dem es schwerpunktmäßig um die
Errichtung kleiner Bibliotheken
an einigen öffentlichen Orten
und Arbeitsstellen (beispielsweise
beim Friseur, beim Zahnarzt oder in
der Arztpraxis sowie in Kosmetik-
salons für Frauen) in der Provinz
Resúmenes
RESÚMENES
Agnese Perrone. Electronic Book
Collection Development in Italy:
a case study. [El desarrollo de
colecciones de libros electrónicos
en Italia: un caso práctico.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 305–312
En este documento se exponen
los resultados de un proyecto de
investigación que tiene por objeto
analizar el método que siguen los
bibliotecarios académicos para
gestionar la integración de las
colecciones de libros electrónicos
en sus bibliotecas. Dicho estudio se
centra en los criterios de selección y
en las cuestiones relacionadas con
el desarrollo de las colecciones. El
trabajo de fondo está representado
por las bibliotecas académicas
italianas que han participado
recientemente en proyectos de de-
sarrollo de colecciones de libros
electrónicos, así como por la oferta
editorial de libros electrónicos en
Italia.
David Beno. Internet Use in Israeli
Universities: a case study. [Uso
de Internet en las universidades
israelíes: un caso práctico.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 313–321
En este documento se presentan los
resultados de una encuesta llevada
a cabo en 2005 y 2006 sobre el uso
de los recursos digitales por parte
de estudiantes e investigadores de
cinco universidades de Israel, así
como la tasa de utilización de los
recursos autorizados de informa-
ción electrónica que facilitan las
bibliotecas académicas y la Web
372-377_IFLA353835.indd 374 11/5/2009 11:02:49 AM
375
superfi cial. Cerca del 80% de los
encuestados afirma recurrir a la
Web superfi cial con una frecuencia
elevada o muy elevada para buscar
información que utilizan en sus
estudios o investigaciones. Por el
contrario, sólo cerca del 28% de
los encuestados reconoce utilizar
con una frecuencia elevada o muy
elevada las publicaciones elec-
trónicas académicas, un 40% utiliza
bases de datos digitales con una
frecuencia elevada o muy elevada y
sólo cerca del 13% utiliza libros
electrónicos con dicha frecuencia.
El hecho de que los académicos
utilicen la Web superficial con
una frecuencia dos o tres veces su-
perior a las fuentes de información
digital más acreditadas que sumi-
nistran sus bibliotecas señala un
grave problema en lo referente a
la calidad de la información que
utilizan, pudiendo afectar grave-
mente a la calidad y la credibilidad
de la investigación que se basa en
ella. Las conclusiones del estudio
son preocupantes, ya que gran parte
de la información que se publica
en la Web superfi cial no es fi able
o no está debidamente acreditada.
El estudio actual no señala los
motivos por los que estudiantes
e investigadores recurren con
tanta frecuencia a la información
publicada en la Web superficial
para sus trabajos, pero cabe su-
poner que se debe principalmente
a la facilidad y comodidad que
proporcionan los motores de
búsqueda.
Françoise Lefebvre-Danset.
Libraries in Palestine. [Las
bibliotecas en Palestina.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 322–334
Durante varios años han proliferado
los programas de cooperación
descentralizados en las ciudades,
municipios y universidades de
Palestina cuyo propósito es
contribuir a la puesta en marcha
de una red de bibliotecas en esta
zona sometida a una amenaza
constante. Françoise Danset ofrece
una perspectiva de las numerosas
iniciativas que se están llevando
a cabo, en las que intervienen
muchos bibliotecarios franceses,
y aporta una valoración provi-
sional de lo que viene a ser un
ejemplo significativo de soli-
daridad internacional a escala
profesional.
Hossein Noorani y Heidar Mokhtari.
Green Gift Plan: building small
libraries in public places of
Mazandaran Province, Iran. [El
Plan Green Gift: creación de
pequeñas bibliotecas en lugares
públicos de la provincia iraní de
Mazandaran.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 335–340
Dado el reducido índice de lectura
de libros en Irán y la indiferencia
ante las habilidades de lectura en
la vida cotidiana, los innovadores
planes y programas destinados a
acercar los libros al público pre-
sentan la lectura como la principal
forma de acceder a la información,
y proclaman el hábito de lectura
como una necesidad para la vida
cotidiana. El Plan Green Gift (GGP)
tiene por objeto crear pequeñas
bibliotecas en ciertos lugares púb-
licos y entornos de trabajo (por
ejemplo, barberías, consultas de
dentistas o médicos y salones
de belleza) en la provincia iraní de
Mazandaran, con el propósito de
mejorar las habilidades de lectura
acercando los libros a la sociedad.
También hace especial hincapié en
las responsabilidades sociales de
los bibliotecarios. En este docu-
mento se describe el escenario, los
objetivos y la aplicación de este plan,
y realiza propuestas para darle
continuidad y poner en marcha otros
planes similares.
Bhaskar Mukherjee. Journal of the
American Society for Informa-
tion Science and Technology
(2000–2007): A bibliometric
study. [Journal of the American
Society for Information Science
and Technology (2000-2007): une
estudio bibliométrico.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 341-358
El Journal of the American Society
for Information Science and Tech-
nology (JASIST) ha desempeñado
una función primordial en la difu-
sión de artículos académicos sobre
biblioteconomía desde 1950. En
este documento se presentan los
resultados de un estudio biblio-
métrico de los artículos publicados
en el JASIST desde 2000 hasta
2007. También se examina la
distribución de documentos en
distintos apartados, incluidos el
modelo de autoría y la clase de
colaboración, la distribución geo-
gráfi ca de los artículos, el carácter
de las referencias que se citan en
los documentos y que citan a otros
documentos, autores prolífi cos y
autores mencionados con mucha
frecuencia. Los datos se recopilaron
utilizando Web of Science y se
analizaron con Microsoft Excel.
Los resultados indican que, durante
el período de prueba, la tasa de
publicación fue desigual y que los
artículos eran los elementos de
publicación más habituales. El
modelo de autoría tiende a ser la
colaboración, y autores de 47 países
aportaron artículos. La distribución
por países revela que los autores
estadounidenses, seguidos de los
británicos, eran los que más artí-
culos habían aportado. El número
de referencias citadas por artículo
aumentó entre 2000 y 2007, mientras
que, durante el mismo período, se
redujo el número de veces en que
se citaban artículos. Los resultados
ponen de manifiesto que, para
que los artículos sean citados un
número de veces adecuado, es ne-
cesario que se hayan publicado al
menos dos años antes.
Resúmenes
372-377_IFLA353835.indd 375 11/5/2009 11:02:50 AM
376
Агнезе Перроне. Electronic Book
Collection Development in Italy: a
case study. [Развитие электронных
библиотек в Италии: исследование
проблемы.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 305–312
В докладе сообщается о результатах
научно-исследовательского проекта,
целью которого было изучение того,
как библиотекари в академических
библиотеках справляются с проце ссом
интеграции коллекций электронных
книг в общее библиотечное
собрание, при этом основное
внимание уделялось критериям
отбора и вопросам расширения
коллекции. Справочная информация
предоставляется академическими
библиотеками Италии, которые в
последнее время принимали участие
в проектах в области развития
коллекций электронных книг, а
также итальянскими издательствами,
предлагающими к продаже книги в
электронном виде.
Давид Бено. Internet Use
in Israeli Universities: a case
study. [Использование интернета
в университетах Израиля:
исследование проблемы.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 313–321
В докладе представлены результаты
исследования, которое проводилось
в 2005- 2006 гг. в пяти университетах
Израиля. В данном случае речь идет о
вопросах расширения использования
электронных источников информации
студентами и научными сотрудниками
и соотношения использования
официальных источников электронной
информации, предоставляемой
академическими библиотеками, и
сети интернета. Около 80 процентов
респондентов сообщили о высокой
или очень высокой частоте
использования сети интернета для
поиска информации, необходимой
для их учебы или исследовательской
деятельности. И напротив, только
около 28 процентов респондентов
сообщили о высокой или очень
высокой частоте использования
академических электронных
журналов, 40 процентов о высокой или
очень высокой частоте использования
электронных баз данных, и всего
лишь 13 процентов о высокой или
очень высокой частоте использования
электронных книг. Ситуация, при
которой научные сотрудники
используют сеть интернета в два
или в три раза чаще, чем более
достоверные электронные
источники информации, которые
предоставляются их библиотеками,
свидетельствует о серьезной
проблеме, связанной с качеством
используемой информации, и
подобная ситуация может нанести
значительный ущерб качеству и
достоверности такого исследования.
Результаты исследования
вызывают беспокойство, поскольку
значительная часть получаемой в сети
интернета информации ненадежной
и недостоверной. Настоящее
исследование не указывает на то, что
является причиной такой серьезной
зависимости студентов и научных
сотрудников от сети интернета в поиске
информации для их исследований,
но естественно предположить, что
это является следствием удобства
и легкости пользования поисковых
машин интернета.
Франсуазе Лефебвр-Дансе. Libraries
in Palestine. [Библиотеки в
Палестине.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 322–334
Вот уже несколько лет появляются
децентрализованные программы
сотрудничества с Палестиной –
в городах, учебных центрах,
университетах – с целью помочь
развертыванию сети библиотек
в регионе, находящемся под
постоянной угрозой. Вторя этим
многочисленным инициативам,
в которые вовлечены многие
французские библиотекари, Франсуазе
Дансе представляет предварительную
оценку показательного примера
международной профессиональной
солидарности.
Хосейн Ноорани и Хейдар
Мокхтари. Green Gift Plan:
building small libraries in public
places of Mazandaran Province,
Iran. [План Зеленый Подарок:
создание небольших библиотек в
общественных местах провинции
Мазандаран, Иран.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 335–340
Принимая во внимание низкий уровень
чтения книг в Иране и пренебрегая
навыками чтения в повседневной
жизни, инновационные планы и
программы, целью которых является
ознакомление населения с книгами,
знакомят граждан с книгами как с
важнейшим источником информации
и создают привычку читать как
необходимую составляющую
современной жизни. План Зеленый
Подарок (GGP), концентрирующий
внимание на создании небольших
библиотек в некоторых общественных
и рабочих местах (таких как
парикмахерская, магазин, приемная
стоматолога или врача, косметические
салоны) в провинции Мазандаран,
Иран, имеют целью улучшение
навыков чтения среди населения путем
ознакомление общества с книгами.
Это также подчеркивает социальную
ответственность библиотекарей.
Доклад описывает составляющие,
цели и внедрение этого плана и делает
предложение о продлении плана и
внедрении других подобных планов.
Бхаскар Мукхерйее. Journal of the
American Society for Information
Science and Technology
(2000–2007): A bibliometric
study. Журнал Американского
Общества Информационной
Науки и Технологии (2000-2007):
библиометрическое исследование.]
IFLA Journal 35 (2009) No. 4.
pp. 341–358
Журнал Американского Общества
Информационной Науки и Технологии
(JASIST) играет важнейшую роль
в распространении научных статей
в библиотеках и информационной
сети с 1950 года. Настоящий
Pефераты статей
Pефераты статей
372-377_IFLA353835.indd 376 11/5/2009 11:02:50 AM
377
доклад представляет результаты
библиометрического исследования
статей, опубликованных в JASIST с
2000 по 2007 год. В нем рассматривается
распространение работ в различных
направлениях, включая авторские
образцы и природу сотрудничества,
географическое распространение
статей, природу цитат и справочных
ссылок, плодовитых и часто
цитируемых авторов. Мы собрали
данные, пользуясь информационной
научной сетью, и обработали их с
помощью Microsoft Excel. Результаты
исследования показывают, что в
течение исследовательского
периода уровень публикаций был
скачкообразным и что наиболее частой
формой публикаций были статьи.
Общая тенденция авторства статей
склоняется в сторону соавторства,
при этом статьи были написаны
авторами из 47 стран. Что касается
распространения по странам, то
самое большое количество статей
было написано авторами из США,
за которыми следуют авторы из
Объединенного Королевства.
Количество ссылок, процитированных
в каждой из статей, увеличилось за
период, начиная с 2000 по 2007 год, в то
время как количество использования
цитат из исследуемых статей за этот
же период сократилось. Результаты
показывают, что для того, чтобы
выдержки из статей использовались
в адекватном количестве, со времени
их опубликования должно пройти
более двух лет.
Pефераты статей
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