Specialized Information Services Research Articles

The Present and Future of the Hungarian Agricultural Special Library and Information Services

The historical evolution of the Hungarian special library systems and the development of scientific and technical information services related to agriculuture is described. Also discussed are the relationships between economic circumstances and library service, international and national influences on progress in information technology, and the role of international relations in the Hungarian agricultural library system.

Value‐added information services for small and medium sized enterprises

The need for external information is steadily increasing in all kinds of organisations. Large companies have established special information service departments to handle the information searches. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have to turn to commercial information services. However, they are only using information services occasionally because it is often difficult for them to realise the value of the information offered. The raw data available from online databases, for example, needs further processing to become valuable for small industrial companies. Keeping this in mind, the Information Service of the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) has been developing value‐added services tailored especially for industrial SMEs. The main principle in the new service is solving industrial problems by further processing the comprehensive information gathered from various sources. The services are presented as information packages, e.g. Competitor Survey or Product Evaluation. The new services have been directly marketed to segmented clientele and the experiences so far have been promising.

A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Life on the Internet

Summary This paper provides a survey-level introduction to the Internet, the high-speed communications network that provides access to remote supercomputers, libraries, and other specialized information services. In addition to describing the physical and logical topology of the network, it describes the supercomputing and network-oriented visualization capabilities offered by one node on the Internet, the Natl. Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). Engineering studies are used as vehicles throughout the paper.

Measurement Research and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Research Information Center

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) develops and refines measurements in the physical sciences and engineering to support a wide variety of standardization activities. NIST's Research Information Center (RIC) supports the Institute's research by matching its information collections to the needs of NIST scientists and engineers and by providing specialized information services.

Linking university and industry: An organizational experience in Mexico

This paper describes the experience gained in the Center for Technological Innovation since its creation three years ago within the National Autonomous University of Mexico. By offering the services of locating clients, drafting and negotiating contracts, providing specialized information services, and project follow-up, the Center pursues the establishment of effective ties between University projects and industrial production. In so doing, its staff informally assumes the critical “dgate-keeper” and “entrepreneur” roles, not easily accepted in other areas of the University. The main difficulties encountered so far have been in developing interdisciplinary projects, providing due academic recognition for technological activities and extending knowledge about innovation throughout the University. On the other hand, a great advantage is the interest shown by the academic community; likewise is UNAM's stability and autonomy, structural characteristics which have stimulated the development of technically sound teams over several decades. To date, the Center has provided support services for 125 projects and has participated in establishing 44 contracts between the University and industry.

Matrix Management as a Framework for Partnerships

The Specialized Information Services Division at the National Library of Medicine adopted a matrix management system in 1981. The multidisciplinary nature of its operation required teamwork from a variety of specialized personnel from different parts of the organization. People representing the specialties of chemistry, biology, and education were needed to successfully create, maintain, and instruct in the use of the toxicology databases for which the Division is responsible. Using the TOXLINE database team for an example, this article describes matrix management in practice, including its strengths, weaknesses, and possible applications.

The Whitefield Centre: Special Needs Library and Information Service

The Whitefield Centre: Special Needs Library and Information Service

Reviews : Brockman, John R. Academic library management research: an evaluative review. Report No. 33. Centre for Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Studies, Loughborough Uni versity, 1984. v, 65 pp. £7.50. ISBN 0 904924 57 2. Gilder, Leslie (ed.). IT: resource strategies for academic libraries. Proceedings of a conference held by the Centre for Library and

Reviews : Brockman, John R. Academic library management research: an evaluative review. Report No. 33. Centre for Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Studies, Loughborough Uni versity, 1984. v, 65 pp. £7.50. ISBN 0 904924 57 2. Gilder, Leslie (ed.). IT: resource strategies for academic libraries. Proceedings of a conference held by the Centre for Library and

Applications of local area networks in special libraries and information services: research in progress

This paper describes the progress of a British Library Research and Development Department (BLRDD) research project taking place in Aslib Research and Consultancy to investigate applications of local area networks (LANs) in special libraries and information services. The project started in October 1983 and is scheduled to last for two years.

Special libraries and information services and the development of the UK information industry

It would not be particularly useful to dwell overlong on defining the information industry. That term, as currently used, can be understood to cover some aspect of most activities in industrialised society. However, it seems to me to be more useful to narrow the focus to those factors that most concern the sort of people who attend Aslib conferences, and the type of special libraries and information units they work in.

CHANGES IN THE STAFFING OF UK SPECIAL LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION SERVICES IN THE DECADE 1972–81: A REVIEW OF THE DES CENSUS DATA

The information presented in this paper is derived from a census conducted in March 1981, and published in 1983. Subjective observation of special libraries in the interim would suggest an overall retrenchment, particularly severe in smaller units. During the decade 1972–81, there appears to have been a net decrease in the number of special library and information service units, though probably a small growth overall in the number of staff in the special library sector, particularly those in qualified posts. Special librarians, as a group, tend to have less professional LIS qualifications than their counterparts in public and academic libraries, but are more likely to have a degree in another field. There has been a considerable growth in the number of staff with qualifications of all types in special libraries during the decade. Women constitute a majority of the staff in posts of all types in special libraries though less so than in academic and public libraries. Nevertheless, there has been a significant growth in the number and percentage of females occupying professional posts in special libraries during the decade, a trend which seems likely to continue, despite a much higher ‘wastage’ of females in the profession. Whereas female special librarians are more likely than males to have a formal LIS qualification, they are less likely to hold non‐LIS degrees. The bulk of ‘information science’ posts are in special libraries and the majority of these are in industry and commerce. Nearly 70% of all special library posts are in the south east of England—a situation that has not changed during the decade.

News and Views

The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the United Kingdom and the Rheinisch‐Westfälischer Technischer Uberwachungs‐Verein e.V. (RWTUV) (Technical Inspectorate and Information Service) joined forces to make a further contribution towards the promotion of British‐German trade, and have accordingly set up a special information service. In the safety engineering and environmental protection fields, the agreement between these two bodies envisages the provision of information, for both German and British companies, on the applicability of both British and German rules and regulations. To this end, an RWTUV Information Bureau has been set up in partnership with the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in London. It is at the disposal of all interested companies, and its address is:

Should we educate our users?

This article came about because of an attempt to plan a seminar on user education in special libraries. While there are any number of user‐education studies in educational institutions, there is a singular lack of them in special libraries and industrial information services. Aslib very properly wanted to do something to fill the gap on the practical side, to complement the survey it was sponsoring.

Trends in Cable TV

Cable TV has developed in 26 years from a TV relaying service to areas without broadcast service into a broad-band telecommunication distribution service with two-way interactive potential. The expanded operations include variety program originations, special information services as well as special functions not necessarily intended for general public distribution. Two-way operations have established themselves technically and are now engaged in experiments of application and marketing. Regional networks of interconnected cable systems have appeared. Viewing habits are changing.

Special Libraries and Information Services in India and in the U.S.A. (Book Review)

Special Libraries and Information Services in India and in the U.S.A. (Book Review)

The BIODETERIORATION INFORMATION CENTRE AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SPECIALIZED INFORMATION CENTRE

The purpose of a Specialized Information Centre is to provide a comprehensive information service within a relatively restricted subject field. In this country Specialized Information Centres have been established both independently and with the assistance of the Office for Scientific and Technical Information mainly on an experimental basis with a view to gaining knowledge of the operation of, and the need for, specialized information services. The Office for Scientific and Technical Information has drawn up a series of criteria for consideration in supporting Specialized Information Centres so that they can obtain useful knowledge both in regard to their operation and also in regard to their place in the national communication network. Of the existing Specialized Information Centres OSTI has supported six, of which the Biodeterioration Information Centre was the first. The areas to which particular attention has been paid and in which Specialized Information Centres can perhaps be most useful are the newly developing sciences and technologies where existing knowledge and experience is scattered and not well defined, and where literature is spread over a wide variety of sources. Thus the Specialized Information Centre can help not only in terms of its primary role in supplying information but as a catalyst for the overall development of each subject.

Chemical-Biological Activities: A Specialized Information Service in Biochemistry

Chemical-Biological Activities: A Specialized Information Service in Biochemistry

Special Library and Information Services in the United Kingdom. J. Burkett

<i>Special Library and Information Services in the United Kingdom</i>. J. Burkett

Library Services in Britain

Special Library and Information Services in the United Kingdom Edited by J. Burkett. Pp. 200. (London: The Library Association, 1961.) 38s.

Consultation Service

This special consultation information service is offered as a regular monthly feature of Postgraduate Medicine. Subscribers are invited to call on this Service for answers to difficult medical problems from members of our Editorial Board and our Editorial Consultants best qualified to help. Each question will be answered by mail and those of general interest will be published each month. Address all communications to Consultation Service, Postgraduate Medicine, 516 Essex Building, Minneapolis 3, Minnesota.