Disponibilidad y apoyo de la formación en el campo de información para países en desarrollo

Reunión: Reunión Interamericana de Bibliotecarios y Documentalistas Agrícolas, 8a, 13-17 jul. 1987, Guatemala, GTFotocopiaResumen en inglé

Information service problems in the less developed countries with special reference to Libya.

The literature on in-formation availability and services in the Less Developed Countries (LDCs) shows that information services in most, if not all, of these countries suffer from many problems such as the shortage of resources ajnd the scarcity of skilled and trained personnel in information and computer disciplines. Libya as one of these nations is no exception; planners and decision makers in Libya not only suffer from the non_avai1abi1ity of data needed for planning and decisionmaking, but defects such as poor and unreliable data are commonly experienced. However, literature on information services in the LDCs is quite limited. Most of the available sources result from individual research initiative; coordinated efforts are rare and comparative reviews in different LDCs do not exist. The available literature covers only some of the LDCs; many information service problems in the LDCs may not have been identified. In addition, it is extremely likely that the countries not yet researched will have location specific information service problems. Due to the absence of comprehensive research in the information services sector, information problems in Libya have not been identified. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to explore the information service's problems in Libya, and to draw some solutions to these problems. Since the mid-seventies, a socio-economic system has dominated economic, life in Libya. Accordingly, during the last decade all domestic organizations and establishments are owned by the public sector. Therefore, the primary sources of the required data of this study are limited to the users of manpower data from the public sector in the country. The findings of this study revealed that the information services sector in Libya not only suffers from many similar problems which handicap the same services in many other less developed countries, but is also impaired by some other unique problems which, so far, have not been recognized as problems in any other LDCs. The low priority and the delay of information services sector development, and the lack of utilization of the available computer facilities are examples of these unique problems. Factors such as the shortages of resources and the lack of recognition of information importance to development by high authority personnel in many LDCs are considered as major obstacles to the information services in these countries. However, in Libya, as this study found, such factors do not cause any serious problems. With respect to the present conditions of the information services sector in Libya, and the problems that this sector faces, the establishment of a new national body for the reorganization and the development of the Country' s information services network is needed

Information literacy instruction for Kuwaiti students and the role of cultural relevance

This study identifies the components of an instructional programme for information literacy that is culturally relevant to Kuwaiti students. It discusses culturally relevant education, instruction for information literacy, the provision of library and information skills instruction in Kuwait, and its characteristics as an independent nation, and as a Gulf, Arab, Islamic, and developing country. The study further tests the effect of cultural relevance on instruction for information literacy for Kuwaiti students with an experiment of comparative instruction. The control group received Western-oriented instruction for information literacy and the experimental group received instruction that substituted Kuwaiti cultural referents for some of the Western-oriented referents. The aims of instruction for both groups were basic levels of proficiency as described in Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning, and the main vehicle of instruction was the Big SixTM information problem solving strategy. The only difference in instruction between groups were the images in the Big SixTM transparencies used for overhead projection, the examples used in class to discuss various information problems and the corresponding images that represented the examples. The study measured the information problem solving achievement of 126 fourth- and eighth grade students with a pre- post-test, the recall of the Big Six strategy with a post-test, and student attitudes with a questionnaire. The analyses revealed that, overall, there is a significant difference in the mean achievement scores in information problem solving and the recall of the Big Six strategy between students who received culturally relevant instruction and those who received instruction that was not culturally relevant. Examined separately, males' scores were significantly higher in the group that received culturally relevant instruction, while females responded equally well to both types of instruction. In addition, the study found a strong correlation between the attitudes of students in the control and experimental groups, and between males and females within groups

El profesional de la documentación: Perfil histórico y formación académica

A partir de los precedentes americanos (Dewey) y europeos (Otlet y La Fontaine) se repasa la historia del concepto y la práctica de la documentación y su influencia en la formación. Concluye en la década de los ochenta exponiendo las principales iniciativas a nivel internacional. Asimismo estudia la formación de documentalistas en el mundo. Expone la situación actual de la formación de documentalistas. De cada país se indica la organización académica, los niveles de estudios y las principales escuelas. Se centra a continuación en el desarrollo histórico de la formación de documentalistas en España hasta la actualidad, revisándose en último término el estado actual y perspectivas de futuro de la formación a la luz de las nuevas disposiciones legales. Se analizan los programas de formación con el objeto de averiguar los contenidos preponderantes impartidos y los objetivos docentes de las principales escuelas y la forma de lograr esta formación estableciéndose una tipología de niveles y contenidos con características propias

Foreign interventions and domestic initiatives in the development of education for librarianship and information management, with Iraq as a case study.

This study aimed to identify the influences on the development and sustainability of education for librarianship and information management. It analysed the factors that contribute to the development of education for librarianship and information management, drawing on theories of change management and the transfer of innovation, and the contextual factors suggested by theories of comparative librarianship. The investigation of these factors focused on a case study of developments in Iraq up to 2003. It examined education for librarianship and information management against the background of the creation of the countrys library and information services, and the broader context of its national, economic, and social development. It also considered trends in international perspectives on library development, and the advice and assistance offered to Iraq. To provide a benchmark for developments in Iraq, it contrasted developments there with brief summaries of parallel developments in other Arab countries and in the cognate field of education for archives and records management in Iraq. It drew evidence from the published literature, previously unexplored archival material, and discussions with some of the participants. From an evaluation of the evidence, the study developed models of the value chain in developing education in the field, illustrating the complex interactions that need to be considered. These represent the generic factors that appear critical to the sustainable development of education for librarianship and information management not only in developing countries but also in countries that are seeking to strengthen the foundations of education in this field. The conclusions also pointed to a number of specific issues that fostered or hindered development in Iraq, including trends in international assistance. The study calls for further work including investigating the impact of traditional and cultural attitudes on the development of education in the field, and understanding of how future generations of LIS professionals in Iraq could develop as change agents