3. OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES RAISED BY THE CASE STUDIES

3.1 Introduction to case studies

Providing the information needed in support of fisheries management presents libraries with a variety of opportunities and challenges. Close examination of libraries and information centres^[15] in developing countries focuses the general discussion on more specific issues and local solutions. A comprehensive survey of libraries was not feasible and instead four case studies were selected to illustrate the variety of issues as well as to discover common issues and strategies.

The four case studies represent the diversity of fisheries institutions and organizations in terms of their size, focus, geographic location, governance and audience. Two African national institutions were selected as representative of major organizations producing and disseminating information in the region. The Institut mauritanien de recherches océanographiques et des pêches is a governmental oceanographic and fisheries research institute in a francophone country with a regular publications output. The Bunda College of Agriculture is an academic institution with one focus on inland fisheries and aquaculture; it plays a regional educational role and produces a limited number of publications.

The other two organizations studied, one intergovernmental and one non-governmental, are based in Asia and have well-developed online information systems. The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers is an international non-governmental organization with an international audience, a focus on artisanal fisheries and fishworkers and extensive digital publications. The Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific is an inter-governmental, regional organization building a digital information system on aquaculture with and on behalf of partners and collaborators.

While our information collecting methodology varied, library or documentation centre staff completed a standard questionnaire focusing on publishing activity and digitization efforts and plans. Their current publishing output was reviewed. The methodologies used to create databases were compared with Basic Dublin Core. In interviews, the participants discussed issues, constraints and opportunities concerning access to fisheries information. If available, the institution’s website was examined.

Each case study is described briefly, highlighting its institutional context, facilities, collections, Internet connectivity and partnerships. The reasons for inclusion as a case study are noted in Table 11 and the specifics on methodology discussed in Annex 5. This sets the background for the ensuing discussion of opportunities and constraints on accessing information in developing countries. Rather than outline these under each case study, there is more value to examining them as a whole. The strategies developed must address as many constraints and opportunities as possible to be successful.

The reasons for selecting the four case studies are briefly summarized in Table 11.

Table 11: Reason for selecting case studies

3.1.1 Bunda College of Agriculture Library, University of Malawi

Case study methodology

A site visit to Bunda College was conducted from 6 May through 11 May 2004. During this time, the following tasks were addressed:

• the digitization questionnaire was completed.

• the professional staff members were interviewed.

• the local Malawi Fisheries and Aquaculture Database was examined.

• the publication output was documented.

• selected users were interviewed.

Additional checking of both the local database and the publications produced in Malawi was completed at FAO Headquarters. Other resources provided valuable insight (South African Development Community, 1995; Coche and Collins, 1997; Ngwira, 2003; Kadzamira, Ngwira and Salanje, 2004; Ngwira, 2004).

Background

Bunda College of Agriculture, as part of the University of Malawi, focuses on natural resources and agriculture including aquaculture and fisheries (Coche and Collins, 1997). The Library has ample space for the print collection and readers as well as satisfactory wiring for Internet connectivity. The Internet connection recently improved from a dial-up connection to a radio link. Library staff is responsive to the needs of the students and faculty even though funding is limited. The collection is funded with grants that are periodic and often subject specific

The collection has approximately 40,000 books, 10,000 bound periodicals as well as several CD-ROM databases, including ABAFR and CABI. In the past two years, electronic access to full text resources through AGORA and INASP PERI has expanded the collection immensely. There is a large gap in the journal collection when project funding ceased and before electronic access commenced. Recent funding from ICEIDA through the Aquaculture and Fisheries Department has enhanced the monograph collection in that subject area. Additionally, the faculty of that department has worked with the library to increase the coverage of the locally developed Malawi Fisheries and Aquaculture Database to include all reprints requested by the department. Copies of the documents indexed in the database are added to the main collection or if an article or not easily catalogued, added to the special collection.

The Library is a founding member of MALICO which was established in May 2003 to bring libraries together to share expertise, issues and facilitate access to information resources (Ngwira, 2003). MALICO provides the vehicle for country-wide negotiations with PERI, Bio-One and other providers of free or reduced cost electronic resources. The Library also belongs to IAMSLIC and the Malawi Library Association. Both of these provide training opportunities and means of sharing expertise.

Digitization has not commenced at the Bunda College Library although staff is well aware of possibilities and the technology. Scanners and adequate computer storage exist within the Library. Staff members have solid knowledge of database management through use of CDS-ISIS. They have begun to evaluate the Greenstone Digital Library software as one tool for developing digital collections. They are reviewing their current thesauri for consistency and coverage. The Library supports the Open Access movement and is learning more about the Open Archives Initiative.

3.1.2 Institut mauritanien de recherches océanographiques et des pêches

Case study methodology

Mr Amady Sow, IMROP’s Librarian, spent three days at FAO Headquarters in spring of 2004. During this period, the following tasks were addressed:

• the digitization questionnaire was completed.

• digitization and information access issues were discussed.

• a list of IMROP serials was created.

As follow-up to Mr Sow’s visit, the data input formats used were gathered and background information on the IMROP compiled. Studies or reports on Mauritanian fisheries are largely institutional planning documents, statistical reports on fisheries and scientific articles. Various ODINAFRICA documents were read to gain an understanding of information networking in the country as well as IMROP planning documents (UNESCO, 2000; UNESCO, 2001; UNESCO, 2002: Holland and Wheater, 2003).

Background

Originally created in 1952, the Institute focuses on building knowledge about the fishing and ocean resources of Mauritania. Programmes include stock assessment, evaluating constraints on artisanal fisheries, marine mammal studies, variability and durability of Mauritanian upwelling, and seafood inspection. IMROP is a member of ODINAFRICA and participates as a national oceanographic data Centre, collecting data via research vessels and coastal stations.

The library staff is aware of developments in information management, delivery and access. A strong collection of 8500 volumes and 92 serial subscriptions is enhanced by the addition of electronic access to full text resources through AGORA. Horizon et Pleins_Textes, an Internet-based access tool developed by the Institut de recherche pour le développement, provides access to French language scientific and development information. CDS ISIS has been used for more than 12 years for collection management. As part of the ODINAFRICA network, the library system is being migrated to INMAGIC although CDS ISIS may still be used for certain operations. IMROP became an ASFA Input Centre in April 2004 and will use the WWW-ISIS-ASFA software for input

The library is also responsible for editing and distributing the IMROP Bulletin and other institutional publications. Additionally, the Library collects papers and theses produced by Mauritanian scientists. Digitization of all of these is a long-term project that is currently in the planning stage. While not aware of the Open Archive Initiative per se, the Library has great interest in making the institution’s reports more accessible to a broader audience which their inclusion in the ASFA database will assist. As a member of the ODINAFRICA network, the IMROP Library may be a pilot partner in a digital repository for that network. Equipment for creating and storing digital documents is housed in the library.

3.1.3 International Collective in Support of Fishworkers

Case study methodology

A site visit to the ICSF Headquarters in Chennai was conducted 5-7 May 2004. During this time, the following tasks were addressed:

• the digitization questionnaire was presented.

• discussions held with ICSF staff

• a publications list was drafted.

Following the site visit, the ICSF Documentation Centre completed and returned the questionnaire with copies of the database entry forms and the keyword list used for indexing ICSF publications. The publications list was completed and reviewed by ICSF staff for accuracy. The ICSF web site was examined with particular attention paid to the organization of its digital publications. Other resources including various ICSF publications and more general articles on information issues in India provided background (ICSF, 2004; Kurien, 1988, 2000; Malhan and Gulati, 2003; Rama and Takalkar, 2000).

Background

The ICSF is an international non-governmental organization. It "works towards the establishment of equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector" (ICSF 2004). The ICSF monitors issues that relate to the lives of fish workers around the world, prepares guidelines for policy-makers that emphasize participation and sustainability, and encourages the development of alternatives in the small scale fisheries sector. This sector focus gives ICSF a unique role in responsible fisheries management and dissemination of information.

The ICSF Documentation Centre (DC) was established in 1999 as a depository and clearing house for fisheries information with a focus on artisanal and small-scale fisheries. Subject areas of particular interest include working conditions, fishworkers unions, social security, women in fisheries and fishing technology. The DC’s primary audiences are fishworkers, their organizations, national authorities and the international community working on these issues.

The DC collection includes 5400 books and documents, 100 journals, news clippings from 1994 on issues related to fisheries, 6800 photographs, 55 videos and 70 CD ROMs. The DC staff manages its collection using WINISIS with a locally developed thesaurus for subject descriptors. Beyond managing the collection, the DC also produces publications addressing small-scale fishery issues. Products range from CD-ROMS to ICSF’s report, Samudra, which is published in three languages, three times a year in both print and digital format. The organization is committed to disseminating its publications widely and finds that digital access is appropriate for much of it audience. Consequently, much effort has been expended to make publications available as easily downloadable files on ICSF’s well designed web site. The DC has experience in digitization and web design and also harnesses external expertise for digital publication, web services and storage.

3.1.4 Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific

Case study methodology

Mr Simon Wilkinson, NACA’s Communications Manager, was interviewed during his visit to FAO Headquarters 25-26 May, 2004. During this period, the following tasks were addressed:

• the digitization questionnaire was completed.

• digitization and information access issues were discussed.

• a list of NACA serials was created.

As follow-up to Mr Wilkinson’s visit, the serials list was refined and background information on NACA compiled. The NACA web site was examined with particular attention to the organization of its digital publications and their searchability. Other resources, including various NACA publications, provided additional background (Barnes and FAO, 1981; Bueno, 2003; Cho, 2001; Cuerden, 1976; Felsing and Ngyuen, 2003; Friend, 2001; Mee et al., 2003; Network of Aquaculture Centers in Asia-Pacific, 2001, 2004; Wilkinson, Sim and Suansook. In press).

Background

NACA, an intergovernmental organization created in the early 1980s originally as an FAO project, promotes rural development in 16 Asia-Pacific countries through sustainable aquaculture. The current member governments include Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Korea (DPR), Iran, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Other participating (non-member) governments include Indonesia, Rep. of Korea, Lao PDR and Singapore. The members form a Governing Council that directs policy and activities. FAO is a non-voting member of the council. NACA conducts development assistance projects throughout the region in various partnerships. NACA supports institutional strengthening, technical exchange and the development of policies for sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resource management

One of NACA’s core activities is the development of communication and information networks amongst the member countries. Its Information Centre, staffed by one manager, and one computer engineer, is charged with producing the publications, developing a web-based platform for storing and distributing digital documents, and providing technical assistance in communications to the members. While a small print collection is maintained, the Information and Communication Program focuses on information in digital format as the best means of sharing it widely, quickly and affordably. Consequently, NACA produces all publications in digital form, delivered primarily by download from the website. CD-ROMs are also created for distribution to offline centres. Most publications are also produced in printed form as part of an ongoing commitment to accessibility. NACA reformats members’ information, collects other appropriate digital content and supports communities of users through its web site. XOOPS, an Open Source web content management/community portal software, is used for the NACA web site, PageMaker for the serial publications and PDF formats for other digital content.

3.2 Issues of enhancing access to fisheries information

Five common issues emerge from the case studies:

a) Identifying publications
b) Collecting publications
c) Sustaining access to resources through existing networks
d) Maintaining library staff capacity and expertise
e) Assisting users with information

There is obvious overlap with the issues concerning creation and publication of fisheries management information and its dissemination and accessibility discussed in Part 2. Elements also reflect the COFI identified constraints to implementation of the Code. In this part, each issue is framed, and examples given from the case studies.

Identifying publications

Identifying what fisheries scientists and managers are publishing is central to providing better access. Of particular concern are local publications or those unique to the organization’s mission. The means of identifying publications may vary by location and type of institution; however, it is a shared task and often not simple.

Bunda College

Fisheries scientists and managers in Malawi are active producers of information. The flow is not overwhelming so should be relatively easy to identify and collect. But it is not. Announcements of publications or institutional publication lists are not currently generated. The various fisheries institutions are geographically dispersed so there is no easy regular communication or sharing of publications.

IMROP

The IMROP Library oversees the production of the institution’s publications so there is no difficulty in collecting those which are published officially. Identifying relevant publications that are outside the regular publication stream is more problematic. One example is tracking down student theses; these are publications of the university rather than the Institute though much of the work is funded and executed at the Institute. Publications done in cooperation with international partners are often published outside Mauritania, and are difficult to identify consistently.

NACA

Monitoring the publications from the 16 member countries of NACA is demanding. Many are governmental reports with limited distribution. Not all are relevant to aquaculture or NACA’s audience, which includes both aquaculturists and policy-makers. Complicating identification is the multiplicity of languages published.

ICSF

Identifying publications is simplest when there are geographic or subject area boundaries that set limits to where to search for relevant information. The ICSF Documentation Centre is challenged to define its collection as the geographic scope is international and the subject multidisciplinary.

Collecting publications

Once publications are identified, it is often problematic to collect them due to limited print runs and lack of distribution networks. Information becomes more accessible and possibly more valuable when shared.

Bunda College

There is no coherent distribution system for academic, government or NGO publications in Malawi. For example, the Bunda College Aquaculture and Fisheries Department’s technical report, Aqua-Fish, is distributed on demand rather than systematically. Another example is the uneven distribution of the proceedings of the 2001 Lake Malawi Fisheries Management Symposium (Weyl et al., 2001). The Bunda Library had several reprints from the conference but not the complete proceedings. A search of the FAO Fisheries Library collection revealed a copy as the sponsor, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, had sent the publication to FAO, but the appropriate library in Malawi had not received a copy.

IMROP

Institutional publications published by partners and donors can often be identified, but print or digital copies are not always forthcoming. L’Institut de recherche pour le développement provides a searchable database which includes francophone African research references with links to electronic full text when available (2004). Downloading large files can be problematic, and printing expensive.

NACA

Collecting information at NACA takes on a different dimension as the collection is digital. Once relevant information is identified, the issue revolves around ownership. Open access is integral to NACA’s information philosophy. Yet, members may want to retain control of access to a given publication. NACA then must decide when to link to an existing relevant document versus storing a copy on NACA’s server.

ICSF

ICSF also maintains a digital collection of documents produced by the organization or its partners. Maintaining a coherent organization and structure that accommodates users without straining staff resources demands constant attention. Development of local digital resources such as databases presents a technical challenge to enable partners in other parts of the world to share in the development and use of these resources.

Sustaining access to resources through networks

The term "networks" describes the wide variety of mechanisms fisheries libraries and information centres use to provide access to information. Often, electronic networks are seen as a panacea for information delivery and large financial investments have been made in them. More traditional networks such as regional collaboration, university systems, and professional societies also provide access to resources. All need time and effort to sustain them and the relative costs and benefits are not well analysed.

Bunda College

Access to scientific journals diminished during the 1990s as subscriptions declined from 200 in the 1980s to 31 in 2004 (Kadzamira, Ngwira and Salanje, 2004). Recently, this trend is reversing with electronic access to full-text journals via the FAO AGORA project and the INASP PERI project. Electronic resources are useless without adequate Internet bandwidth and speed. The Internet connection at Bunda College has recently improved to a 64 baud radio link. There are currently efforts to establish a VSAT connection to further stabilize connections throughout the country. These services require professionals to coordinate the services, monitor use and explore new options. Sustaining them requires financial and professional resources.

IMROP

As part of the ODINAFRICA project, the IMROP Library has access to technical expertise, equipment, and resources not available to all institutions in Mauritania. Being part of the network means being party to group decisions on software and hardware. Consequently, the Library is faced with maintaining multiple systems to satisfy internal needs and external requirements. It is migrating systems from CDS-ISIS to INMAGIC to meet ODINAFRICA requirements while implementing WWW-ASFA-ISIS as a new ASFA partner. The technical demands on staff increase. Participation in various professional networks also takes time and effort so the benefits must outweigh the input. Active involvement in the AFRIAMSLIC Regional Group of IAMSLIC means an ability to commit to projects such as the first regional conference of the group and production of the proceedings (IAMSLIC, 2003). Language differences pose an additional challenge.

NACA

NACA primarily relies on electronic networks to communicate with its 16 member countries and to deliver information to its broader audience. It is very aware of the variability in Internet capability of its partners. Different strategies for providing access emerge such as access through local radio and television as well as delivery of information in print and on CD. Professional linkages among librarians and information specialists pose more of a challenge as library networks are rare in the region and usually confined to agencies or universities. The lack of professional networking opportunities locally or regionally forces NACA staff to look further afield for expertise and advice.

ICSF

To maintain fast and reliable electronic access, ICSF uses an off-shore server (located in California) to store and serve its extensive collection of digital publications. This is a cost-effective solution for the time being. If costs increase or delivery time slows, then alternatives will be explored. The staff faces challenges common to all who are working with electronic information including how to ensure the long-term stability of formats and how to establish relevant electronic links with other organizations and dissemination services.

Maintaining staff capacity and expertise

Libraries and information centres require staff with both traditional information management expertise as well as technical skills. Managing digital collections, negotiating license agreements, and developing workable consortia demand expertise in technology, business and communication. At the same time, traditional expertise in cataloguing, indexing, instruction and reference remain critical to a successful library.

Bunda College

Bunda College Library supports a broad curriculum and research programme and does not have subject specialists on staff. Consequently, there is no person who consistently seeks out fisheries information as well as related socio-economic and cultural information. Given the expense of information resources such as journal subscriptions and current scientific monographs, funds need to be carefully allocated with knowledge of the subject and the users.

Rapid changes in library technology have challenged even experienced library staff to cope with constantly learning and applying of new techniques and methodologies. For example, the technical aspects of local network installation and maintenance of CD databases adds a burden to the already over-committed librarians. Projects such as digitizing local information or unique collections are more difficult in libraries which lack adequately trained staff.

HIV/AIDS has reduced the numbers of professionals in all sectors especially those in mid career. Consequently, the remaining staff often assumes leadership roles without adequate mentoring and takes on multiple assignments due to lack of appropriate staff. Younger staff members who may have the ability to become qualified librarians do not have access to the training opportunities available in the 1980s and early 1990s

IMROP

Once trained, retaining staff with technical expertise can be problematic. Often, the library invests in staff training only to have the staff member leave for a better paying position or one with more prestige. Expertise in multiple languages is also helpful, but often difficult to find. Currently, staff at IMROP is well qualified and new projects on digital publishing and institutional repositories may help to keep the excellent technical staff.

NACA

The NACA Information Centre operates with a small staff many of whom come with no background in information or web experience. Consequently, technical expertise of the local staff has to be developed locally. The implementation of a content management system allows the programme staff to handle more of the production (Wilkinson, Sim and Suansook. In press). Increasing the expertise of local staff and external partners appears to be a successful strategy in this digital information environment.

ICSF

Staff expertise is not a major problem at ICSF. In large part, this is due to commitment of a dynamic team. Also, the talent pool is very good if technical expertise is needed. Outsourcing of technical tasks to regular collaborators is routine. Lack of time to work on user interface feedback and multi-lingual issues are beginning to emerge. Again, the small staff must make decisions about where to prioritize time and effort.

Assisting target audiences with information

The complexity of fisheries information tests the searching and evaluation skills of users. Librarians have a responsibility to alert users about relevant resources and to assist them with searching effectively. The wealth of new resources available electronically heightens the importance of these skills. Libraries can help bring science and management together by providing access to the breadth of information and by training users to find information outside their often narrow disciplines. Enhancing the expertise of users with fisheries information is a matter of constant training and communication.

Bunda College

The faculty members and students at Bunda College are familiar with limited access to fisheries information. Consequently, they circumvent the library by requesting articles from authors and using personal collections.

The new electronic resources can be daunting to users as the interfaces vary, there is overlap between sources, and getting information is often a multi-step process. The library staff members are challenged to change the information habits of their users by encouraging them to learn new tools and methods for finding information.

IMROP

Administrators in many organizations use information differently than scientists and students. Convincing them of the need for resources to create and access electronic information is critical. Some unease has been expressed about digitizing local publications and making administrative and technical reports more accessible. Explaining the value of open access information to the institution and individuals is ongoing.

The scientists embrace the ease of access to electronic material, yet still need to be taught effective ways to search and retrieve material. The issue of language rears up again; major resources and finding tools are not available in French. For instance, ASFA does not have a French search interface, and the French thesaurus is still in beta testing. Consequently, the library staff must work with users to overcome the language barrier.

NACA

NACA does not have onsite users and must build its web site so that people can find relevant information easily. The challenge is in designing and refreshing the web site so it is usable, maintainable, and promotes return visits.

ICSF

The ICSF audience is worldwide and remote. So, helping users to find the necessary information revolves around populating the web site with relevant material, and presenting it in a logical and usable manner. Those users without internet access and with varying levels of literacy need more specialized assistance to obtain and use ICSF information. There is no information training programme for end users especially fishworkers; however, exchange and training programmes are a major activity of ICSF.

3.3 Opportunities for enhancing access to fisheries information

The case studies share the common goals of better access to local information, sustained access to information resources, and improved use of fisheries information. Opportunities and approaches vary given differences in the organizations and settings. The following examples illustrate the range of possibilities fisheries libraries are exploring and implementing

Better access to local information

Local information is the foundation for responsible fisheries management as management begins locally. The challenge of identifying and collecting local fisheries information becomes an opportunity to increase access to it, both locally and internationally. Increasing access to existing local information is as important as adding the new.

Bunda College

The Library is taking the lead to establish regular communication among the libraries involved with fisheries in Malawi, including an email list and periodic meetings. An IAMSLIC funded two day workshop in June 2004 brought together those responsible for fisheries libraries to discuss issues and joint projects. Such discussion can lead to the creation of relevant distribution lists as well as development of an understanding of the need to share information and expertise. Sustaining the discussion through email lists, annual collecting trips combined with training workshops and joint projects is important. One such project is the possible review of the SADC Inland Fisheries collection currently housed at the Malawi Department of Fisheries. This would involve analysing the contents of the SADC collection to ascertain its unique items and its value for adding to an existing fisheries collection or selectively digitizing.

IMROP

As a new ASFA partner, IMROP is improving access to local publications by adding them to the ASFA database. Mining the Horizon database produced by IRD may be useful to identify local publications that were never distributed or collected locally. Full text linkages to ASFA may be appropriate to explore.

NACA

Decentralizing digital publishing at NACA would have a lasting benefit at a small cost. Staff in the NACA centres would expand their expertise while making more publications accessible, including those in local languages. This effort requires adopting and implementing metadata standards, a requirement for sharing records with other organizations as well as maintaining searchabilty of NACA’s digital publications.

NACA is also negotiating with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre of Thailand to provide the metadata as well as digital copies of NACA publications for its data warehouse. The project involves a significant back-indexing project for NACA to add standard metadata.

ICSF

Publicizing ICSF documents promotes their use. Consequently, ICSF is looking at various mechanisms to link publications to appropriate web sites and add them to e-journal lists. One product they are exploring is FullFreeText (2004) for better promotion of the Samudra Report. Such linkages can expand accessibility without high cost or significant staff time.

Improved use of fisheries information

Increasing training opportunities for both library staff and users is a shared strategy. Given differences in their users, each case study has different approaches to working with end-users. Better trained library staff increases institutional capacity as these people have stronger information management and teaching skills. Long-term strategies, such as ongoing funding for graduate library school students, are needed in addition to current opportunities (i.e. local training programmes).

Bunda College

The college setting provides an excellent opportunity to work directly with users to increase their familiarity with information resources. Targeting audiences such as the Aquaculture and Fisheries Department staff for training allows the library to focus on certain tools and resources. Increasing library staff expertise is an ongoing challenge given staff turnover and changes in the required skills. The Malawi Library Association provides a training programme that is useful and accessible, but needs revising to better address current conditions in Malawian libraries. Sharing training materials on electronic resources among MALICO members and others would spread the responsibility for developing such materials. Making the case for long-term investment in library staff is necessary.

IMROP

Focus on enhancing the skills of library staff members is evident at IMROP. The librarian is open to new ideas and different ways of improving use of information. Funding for involvement at the international level is actively pursued with good results. Such involvement increases the awareness of the institution’s administration of the value of libraries and information while expanding the librarian’s skills and knowledge.

NACA

Ease and speed of access are essential to improving the use of electronic documents. NACA relies on its web page to do this. A simple, yet effective, search tool is available and resources are grouped by subject. Subject-based discussion lists are also available so interested people can ask questions and exchange information. The use of log-files helps shape the web site as more heavily used materials suggest where to focus effort and development. This recognition of user input is commendable.

ICSF

As with NACA, ICSF improves use by maintaining a user-friendly web site available in English, French and Spanish. The electronic publications, many available in multiple languages, are organized by topic as well as title. Thought has been put into the organization of the site, so a user can manoeuvre through it without having to immediately resort to using the simple search interface. Paying attention to the principles of web site design has produced good results at ICSF.

Sustained access to information resources

Securing reliable funding for print resources and Internet access is one obvious strategy. The other primary one involves networking. From the sharing of expertise through training sessions to the sharing of information resources, networking is a major opportunity for sustained access. Sustaining implies a long-term commitment, and such longevity builds institutional capacity and staff expertise. It also creates a richer information resource for all. The following highlights some of the strategies for sustaining access:

Developing standard methodologies

The adoption and use of standard methodologies are critical to better access. Standardizing database record formats allows them to be more easily shared. Adhering to accepted standards promotes cross-catalogue searching. Migrating records from one system to another is simpler if records are well-structured according to standard methodologies rather than proprietary or institutionally based methods.

The standard methodologies make possible the creation of local digital collections. Awareness of possible formats and approaches to digitization and the subsequent organization of materials are critical to building usable digital collections. Experimentation with the Greenstone Digital Library software by librarians in Malawi could lead to country-wide collaboration as Greenstone is a standard (IFLA, 2002). The adoption of the Dublin Core metadata schema by NACA would enhance access to all NACA electronic publications.

Even traditional library tools improve when standard methodologies are considered. The ASFA indexing tools can be improved with the addition and refinement of local geographic, taxonomic and vernacular terms. For example, Malawi librarians could refine the geographic terms so relationships are drawn between Lake Malawi and Lake Nyassa. IMROP may have suggestions for vernacular names of indigenous species. Such enhancements enrich the tool for all users.

Improving access with technology

Internet access in fisheries libraries has improved immensely over the past decade. Yet, there are still inequities. Funding is an ongoing concern. Awareness of changing technology and new options can be as important as securing funding for access and improvement.

In some areas, reliable Internet access is not an option. Alternative technologies can improve access. Radio and television are not widely used by libraries, but are very effective in various countries and among diverse populations. New approaches present options for those without large bandwidth or with time constraints. The eJDS programme hosted at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theroretical Physics is one example of innovation that could be widely adopted by those producing electronic fisheries journals as well as those using them in developing countries (International Center for Theoretical Physics, 2004). This service distributes electronic journal articles via email using a timely and simple approach. ICSF is exploring linking its journals into this system.

Building collaborations

Collaboration takes place at all levels, yet mostly starts locally. Some can be spontaneous while others need more structure. Promoting the exchange of locally produced bibliographic databases on fisheries via CD or PDF is a simple means of collaborating while expanding knowledge of local information. NACA does this regularly with its member countries and other interested parties. Contributing catalogue records to a central resource can save libraries time by sharing expertise while improving access for users. For instance, all four case studies could contribute their unique serial titles to the IAMSLIC Union List of Marine and Aquatic Serials.

Regional collaboration can improve local conditions. For example, Malawi fisheries libraries advocating as a group may lead to mechanisms for improved dissemination and distribution of documents among fisheries institutions. AFRIAMSLIC is proving to be a useful sounding board for sharing ideas and discovering new resources (IAMSLIC, 2003). It cuts across language barriers uniting professionals with common issues and challenges.

All four case studies see international collaboration as a mechanism for improving access to local fisheries information. ICSF uses such collaboration to increase its audience through partnerships with like organizations in Chile, the Philippines, Taiwan, Senegal, Canada and France. IMROP and Bunda College benefit from participation in IAMSLIC, from the Distributed Library for resource sharing to small grants for workshops. NACA sees potential in collaborating with other colleagues as both a means of identifying expertise with digital publishing and of enhancing access to relevant material.