    UAP Workshops - an overviewArchive - Historical MaterialIntroductionOne of the major ways in which the concept of Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) is promoted is through a series of UAP workshop, facilitated by the staff of the IFLA Office for UAP, and organised by the Office together with a local organiser The workshops usually focus on a single geographical area, where the libraries of that region might share common problems and seek common solutions. Workshops normally last three or four days, and allow participants to look at the challenges to effective access to published material. Government representatives are invited to join the workshops, since many developments are reliant on the national infrastructure and cannot be initiated by libraries alone. Interlibrary loan is one element in providing effective access, and this is usually one feature of the workshops. Local publishing systems, union catalogues and resource discovery, and technological developments are also discussed. A series of recommendations for action to improve availability in that region may be drawn up, and practical benefits should emerge over the medium to long term. Past workshops include:
UAP in the Pacific Region, 18-20 September 2001A workshop on Universal Availability of Publications in the Pacific Region was held at the Secretariat for the Pacific Community in Nouméa. The meeting, organised by the Secretariat for the Pacific Community and the IFLA UAP Programme, was made possible by generous funding from the Government of France and the National Library of Australia with assistance from Emerald Press. Some 36 people participated in the workshop, either actually or virtually. Countries and states represented were Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. This was the first conference that brought together Francophone and Anglophone librarians AND librarians from both North and South Pacific nations. The workshop discussed the library situation in each country and then debated how to improve regional co-operation in the Pacific. Resolutions included one to build a proper directory of significant libraries and another to start an online union catalogue. One or two countries that do not have library associations are now considering how to form one. Work on these has already begun. Other issues for action include implementing legal deposit laws, translating into regional languages, training programmes, co-operative preservation and developing a portal for Pacific libraries. The papers from this workshop are available at: http://www.spc.int/artunivavailpub.htm Access to Information in Latin America (Acceso a la Información en América Latina), Buenos Aires, 21-24 September 1999In September 1999 the Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) Programme of IFLA organised a seminar for Latin American countries on the issue of access to published information. This was held in Buenos Aires with the considerable assistance of Asociacion de Bibliotecarios Graduados de la Republica Argentina (ABGRA). Papers were presented by representatives of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Participants were asked to structure their presentations to reflect several aspects of access to information. These included publication output; acquisition, retention and conservation policies; interlibrary loan and national planning. It was significant that a number of country reports contained almost no reference to interlibrary loan at all. It was clear from the various presentations that the state of ILL in the different Latin American countries represented varied enormously. Countries seem to fall into other categories: those with systems, demand and collections; those with systems but very limited collections and therefore little demand; and those with none of these elements in place. The workshop also gathered useful information on the current state of publishing in Latin America including attitudes to copyright, education and collection management. The three countries with the best ILL systems also had the most extensive publishing industry and book-selling networks. In the past there has been a vision of a Pan-Latin American ILL system. Clearly that is neither practical nor, perhaps even desirable. The region is very diverse in both its needs and capabilities and it is more likely that countries will develop their own national networks, overlaid by regional networks for specialist areas such as agriculture and medicine. The workshop did provide a useful opportunity for representatives from a number of countries to discuss issues, which have not previously been the focus of such meetings. Participants went away with a feeling that libraries needed to have a higher profile in their country and should try harder to demonstrate what they could contribute to the overall development of the national economy, education and social welfare. The following papers were presented in English and Spanish:
Second UAP Seminar in Southeast Asia, August 1999This workshop was run by the IFLA Core Programme for UAP during the IFLA Conference in 1999 and was organised as a follow-up to the earlier workshop held in 1995, also in Bangkok. Where possible, the same speakers returned in order to report on progress since 1995, and once again, presentations were included from seven countries, together with an overview of the UAP Programme and some information about the IFLA Regional Section for Asia and Oceania. The workshop provided a unique opportunity to measure progress since the earlier workshop took place. Although there are some obvious benchmarks that can be used, such as the introduction of systems and procedures that were not there in 1995, progress (or lack of it) is most often detected in changes of attitude at both the professional and political level. The papers from this meeting do provide a real opportunity to see how things have changed in this dynamic region and it is hoped that they will provide more than a mere historical record of what was a very lively and interesting workshop. The published papers are included in Parabaik And Megabyte: Measuring Progress in Library Development in South East Asia, which is available from the IFLA UAP Office. This publication also includes papers from a seminar sponsored by the Section on Document Delivery and Interlending. The theme of this seminar was "The Role of Document Delivery and Interlending in South East Asia", and it was also held during the 1999 IFLA Conference. From Palm Leaves to PCs, Bangkok, January 1995The workshop, organised jointly by the Thai Library Association and the IFLA UAP Programme, was made possible by generous funding from Unesco under the PGI Programme with some support from the British Library and technical support from the British Council. The main objective of the workshop was to improve the understanding and importance of availability of publications in Central and Southeast Asia and provide practical experience of the technology available to assist in achieving such improvements. Sixteen representatives took part from Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam. The Programme consisted of a mixture of presentations on the state of document supply in different countries, linked by specific presentations of aspects of UAP. There were also presentations on the current problems facing publishers in the region; a demonstration of online searching and retrieval; desktop publishing capabilities and the services of the British Library as an example of a centralised document supply service. Participants concluded that there was still a lot to be done to improve availability and access, both nationally and regionally. Although some countries in the region have introduced new technology into libraries, many still have a long way to go and some of the presentations were considered futuristic. It was appreciated, however, that it is important to know what is happening elsewhere and what is possible when funds become available for development. Finally, participants felt that there was scope for further co-operative initiatives, some of which should be achieved through existing organisations in the region. The published proceedings, From Palm Leaves to PCs, are available from the IFLA UAP Office. UAP for Francophone West Africa, Abidjan, 11-13 July 1994The Workshop was jointly organised by the IFLA UAP Programme Office, Bibliothèque nationale in Abidjan and the IFLA Regional Office in Dakar, with generous funding from Unesco under the PGI Programme. The main objective of the Workshop was to improve availability of publications in Francophone West Africa. A main priority was to increase awareness of the universal importance of making publications available, the issues involved and a suggestion of possible remedies. The meeting provided a forum in which to investigate the extent of interaction between countries in the region and particularly of co-operation between those working in the same and related fields. Guidance was offered on the development of appropriate models for library co-operation and document supply, with the recognition that governmental support is necessary for any major changes. With varied contrasts in provision of materials and equipment it was useful to discuss the potential offered by electronic transmission of information and to provide hands-on experience of new technology and information on CD-ROM Sixty librarians attended the Workshop from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, along with two speakers from outside the region. A basis for the Workshop was given with a presentation of IFLA's activities in Africa and an introduction to the UAP Programme. Each invited participant contributed a description of access to publications in their own country, an exercise which provoked much comparative discussion and questions. Recognition was given to the fact that in an ideal world availability is aided by an organised system of interlibrary loan, a service which is reasonably widespread throughout the region albeit in embryonic form in some cases. This was an opportunity to discuss a variety of topics related to availability of publications and impediments to access. These included the voucher scheme currently proposed by the UAP Programme to aid international interlibrary transactions, interlibrary loan models and the problem of standardisation. A taste of things to come was provided with an insight into the potential of electronic information and the role of networks and new technology, with the Institut International de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développment en Afrique (IIRSDA) providing the means to demonstrate the scientific document deliver system ADONIS. CD-ROMs produced by the British Library had also been loaded onto IIRDSA's equipment, so there was an opportunity for some hands-on experience of search and retrieval techniques. While new technology provides the means to get information to those who need it more quickly than ever before and wherever they happen to be, countries of both North and South are frequently unable to take advantage of new systems while complex copyright issues still wait to be resolved. The situation regarding access to publications, legal deposit and interlending and document supply varies considerably throughout the region. For historical reasons most countries benefit from aid programmes in France which provide books, equipment and services. All countries have suffered as a result of the devaluation of the Central African Franc in January 1994. To varying degrees, all countries in the region face similar obstacles in providing an efficient system of maximum access to publications. Library budgets are often low or non-existent, equipment such as photocopiers unfeasibly expensive, transportation is costly with a high incidence of loss in transit, and the absence of legal deposit in some countries means libraries have a poor basis for a collection. Francophone West Africa does however have the benefits of a shared language and currency, the maintenance of close links with France and the co-operation made possible from close proximity of countries. Where it exists, there are often inadequate means of enforcing legal deposit. While there is no information available on the position in Burkina Faso, there is a legal deposit requirement well established in other countries of the region. Interlibrary loan is carried on within all countries of the region. The extent of this varies considerably. The National Library of Benin provides an interlibrary loan service which is impeded by poor provision of photocopiers, union catalogues and suitable budgets. The system is decentralised with the University Library dealing with its own loan arrangements. Most international business is with France. Cameroon manages to operate an interlibrary loan system despite the absence of a national bibliography and union catalogues: again requests made overseas are almost entirely to France. Senegal has been the only country in the region to be contacted for loans. Senegal operates an extensive interlibrary loan service, with around 1900 requests dealt with annually. Mali operates a limited document delivery system, mostly of theses within the region and France with IFLA loan forms. Within Cameroon, Mali and Togo most document supply is between other African countries; in Cameroon requests from overseas are in any case insignificant. Niger and Togo are able to supply publications from library to library, with checks as to holdings made locally; within the Lomé region enquiries about holdings are generally made by telephone. Charges are made in Togo to the loan requester and there does not appear to be a problem with this. Generally there is a great scope for the extension of interlibrary loan services. With improved access to union catalogues and bibliographies, libraries would be in a better position to provide more than the ad hoc service currently provided. Provision of catalogues and other bibliographic material has undoubtedly been improved through donations from France. Where the French Union Catalogue of Periodicals, Bibliographies of France and French literature retrospective bibliographies have been given as in Cameroon, it is perhaps inevitable that the bulk of interlibrary loan activity outside the region will be with the Bibliothèque nationale in Paris. The Banque Internationale d'Information sur les Etats Francophones (BIEF) is providing CD-ROM readers and other online search equipment in Benin which will facilitate use of CD-ROMs such as Sesame, Electre, French National Bibliography, Popline and Springer in Print which are already in use in Togo. BIEF has also funded s revival of the national bibliography in Côte d'Ivoire after a lapse in publication in 1975. Senegal's main University Library can provide catalogues from the world's largest libraries for the location of documents and has also had use of CD-ROM for the last three years. Databases include CDS/ISIS. A union catalogue of all national publications is available in Togo and access to other union catalogues means that libraries within Africa and Europe can be targeted for loans. Networks of both the traditional and the electronic kind are a useful means of gaining access to information about publications and ensure the resource sharing essential for libraries with very limited means. Burkina Faso is the base for the Centre inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse au Sahel (CILSS), responsible for the Réseau sahélien d'information et de documentation scientifique et technique (Resadoc). Mali currently has an extensive reading network in place involving public libraries, teaching establishment libraries, mobile and children's libraries. Networks in Niger include close links with agricultural and forestry links libraries by the Centre d'Information pour le Développement Rural. The two main documentary networks in Côte d'Ivoire are concerned with promoting use of audio-visual aids among rural populations and publicising a national collection on development. Librarians in the region are well aware of any shortcomings in the services they offer. The close link of the Central African franc to the French franc leads to high prices which include postal costs and a high level of taxation. Most libraries in the region have a small budget allocation or none at all. Provision is understandably patchy with variable access to publications through all means, including interlibrary loan. In addition to other advantages smaller countries within the region benefit from a good infrastructure which favours sharing resources to a greater degree than at present. Close professional contacts are maintained, again through linguistic ties and also as a result of the relatively few number of professional trained librarians in the region. Several recommendations were proposed during the course of the workshop although barriers may exist to the implementation of such recommendations. The explosion in international publishing and difficulties in regulating legal deposit policies, coupled with the weakness or complete lack of acquisition budgets, make providing adequate collections extremely difficult. With acknowledged short comings in printed collections, new technology used in regional and national networks can facilitate access to publications and priority given therefore to providing documentation centres with information technology and relevant training. Co-operation at all levels and between librarians and publishers can be intensified. Interlibrary loans can be facilitated by using the payment coupon proposed by IFLA and available shortly. The workshop provided an opportunity for librarians within the region to discuss developments within their own institutions of which colleagues may not have been aware and to reinforce co-operative links. A proposal was made to hold a follow-up workshop to discuss progress and while funding may prove a problem, a co-ordinated response may be possible to assess any improvements in access to publications in a year's time. There are no papers available from this workshop. Document Supply in Eastern Europe, Budapest, 30-31 March 1993The workshop, held with the financial support of Unesco, attracted delegates from Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine, as well as Hungary. The Workshop was held in parallel with the Third Interlending & Document Supply Conference and by doing so it was possible to achieve a much greater exchange of information between colleagues from Eastern Europe, Western Europe and elsewhere than would otherwise have been possible. A Unesco representative presented a paper outlining the help that the organisation could offer in East-West co-operation and there was an opportunity for a participant from every Eastern European country to make a presentation on the current state of document supply, and libraries in general, in their country. During the Workshop it became clear that there was still a huge gap between West and East but, as the UAP Programme Officer said in his closing remarks, "poverty is a subjective thing. Each part of Europe has something unique to offer and there is more to library and information work than just technology and journal subscriptions." The papers provide an insight into the current state of library co-operation and development, as well as document supply, in the independent nations in Central and Eastern Europe. The published proceedings, Document Supply in Eastern Europe, are available from the IFLA UAP Office.
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