Section of Government Libraries

Annual Report 1996-1997

Scope

Membership

Membership of the Standing Committee 1997-1999

Ms. R. Aars-Nicolaysen
Librarian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 8114 Dep.
N-0032 Oslo, Norway

Ms. Judith R. Bernstein
Director, Parish Business and Economics Library
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-1496
USA

Serge Bouffange
Librarian
Bibliotheque du Conseil D'etat
Palace du Palais-Royal
France

Suzanne Burge
16 Alexandra Road
LONDON W4 1AX
United Kingdom

John E. Butsch
Coordinator
U.S. Agency for International Development
PPC/CDIE/DI; SA-18, Room 105
Washington, DC 20523-1801

W. Fink
Bibliotheksleiter, Politisch-historisch
Fachbibliothek der Hanns Seidel Stiftung
Lazarettstrasse 33
D-80636 Munich
Germany

Ms. Sarah Kagoda-Batuwa
Librarian
Secretariat of the Commission for East African Cooperation
P.O. Box
Arusha, Tanzania

Irja Peltonen
Information Specialist
Ministry of Finance Library
Box 286
Fin-0017 Helsinki
Finland
Fax: 358-0-1604759

Ms. Lena Olsson
Director of Library and Information Services
Swedish Government Library
Government Central Services Office
S-103 33 Stockholm
Sweden

Mrs. Zoya P. Sorokina
Manager
Library of President's Administration of the President of the Russian Federation
Staraya pl., 8/5
103 132 Moscow
Russia

Edward J. Valauskas
Internet Mechanics
5050 South Lake Shore Drive, Suite 3214
Chicago, IL 60615
USA

Meetings

The Medium Term Program was finalized and approved by the IFLA Division of Special Libraries and the IFLA Professional Board. The MTP follows below:

Scope
The Section is aimed at the community of libraries which are part of and work for a body with a governing task and which have, in any way, a political responsibility or connection. The Section encourages the growth and development of government libraries and assists in their cooperation.

Goals, 1998-2001

1. Promote government libraries and government information services.
2. Assist government libraries in working together.
3. Provide advice to librarians working in government libraries to better assist their patrons in utilizing government information.

Future Programs

Bangkok Program
Plans for programs at the IFLA Conference in Bangkok in 1999 were finalized. A more specific approach to privatisation will be tackled, with a workshop and an open session analyzing the ways libraries can take advantage of privatization and reduce their risks.

Projects

Publications

Open Session, Copenhagen, August 1997
Nearly 100 participants attended the Open Session of the Section of Government libraries on September 3, which had as its theme "The availability of government information as a means of strengthening democracy". The following papers were presented:

1. "Public administration - public knowledge" Tuula h. Laaksovirta (Library of Parliament, Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract: A strong emphasis on publicity in all decision making in the Nordic countries is a deep cultural and historical fact. The basis for this was created in 1763, and it is now more valid than ever. The citizens can and are supposed to control power elites through publicity. Various types of organization favour different means of communication. Communication in bureaucratic organisations is different from that in a net or in a matrix organization. To disseminate enlightenment knowledge differs from the dissemination of instrumental knowledge; both are necessary for decision making. Without understanding about the use of knowledge the communication organisation is watering the Sahara. In spite of huge amounts of knowledge, the soil remains dry. The professional practice of information specialists and librarians reflects their understanding of publicity and knowledge. Examples from Finland will be presented in the paper.

2. "The challenge of openness as European Union information goes electronic"
Neville Keery (Library Services, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract: Paralleling the development of the information society, European Union institutions are making more and more information available electronically. The progress of this process is reviewed. It is a process that contributes to the openness of the EU institutions. How effective are electronic media in providing access to information? It is concluded that the journalistic and library professions will continue to play essential roles in enhancing openness for EU citizens.

3. "The Odin: The central web server for official documentation and information from Norway" Elisabeth Sundholm (Head of Section, Government Administration Services, the Documentation Centre, Norway)

Abstract: ODIN is the abbreviation for 'Official Documentation and Information in Norway'. The paper presents the Norwegian web site ODIN, an electronic publication for information from the Government and the ministries of Norway. The purpose of the project was to make information from the ministries easier available by means of modern technology. The objective being successfully accomplished, the ODIN is established as a permanent central web-server after being run as a pilot project until the end of 1996.

4. "Local and global networks in practice: case study information and library services of the Ministry of Finance, Ljubljana" Violeta Botaco (Information and Library Service Department, Ministry of Finance, Ljubljana, Republic of Slovenia)

Abstract: The author presents a description of the establishment and installation of the Information and Library Service computer network of the ministry of Finance and places it in a context of library standards, the existing information system, the information infrastructure and connections with other databases and networks in Slovenia. She also speaks about the use of the local network that enables access to information and library services provided by the global network.

The full text of the papers can be seen on IFLANET at : http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla63/63cp.htm#6

Submitted by:
Judith R. Bernstein, Secretary-Treasurer, June 1998