Fundamental Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences Progress Report 2001

Institution

Fundamental Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences
24 d Baghramian ave. , POB 375019
Yerevan,  375019  Armenia

ELAG Contact Person:
Mr. Mikayel Sukiasyan (Chief of Automation and Electronic Services Dept.) , michael@sci.am , phone:(3741) 56-92-69 , fax:(3741) 52-47-50

Institution Type: Research Library, Main and Largest Scientific and Humanities Library in Armenia.

Mission Statement

To get the experience of European Libraries and Institutions in the fields of library automation, electronic libraries and document delivery services.

Computer networks and Internet connectivity

In general HW, SW

Our library has a LAN including administrative departments, cataloguing department and one of reading halls. We have about 15 Pentuims installed in LAN, with one Library Automation System server, one FileServer and UNIX mail/Internet server.

New HW, SW; connectivity upgrades

There are plans for upgrading the LAN and extending it to other departments also and we are in the process of obtaining funding for these purposes. Also, the library automation system should be changed to a more up-to-date technology, including external Web-access to library#s multilingual bibliographic databases.

Library automation

In general HW/SW

In our library we have an HP NetServer LC3 installed as a library system server and we run EOSi TINLIB (T-Series) multilingual library system. Currently, we use only Cataloguing module of T-Series

New HW, SW, other

Thanks to OSI Assistance Foundation (Soros Foundation) now our library is involved into a new project of creation an Automated Library Network of Armenian libraries, including National Bibliography and Union Catalog. At the moment, an international tender is announced, which is aimed to purchase the most appropriate multilingual library system for this purpose. At this stage it is planned to install a radiomodem/DSL star topology network connecting the largest libraries in Armenia (including our library) with a central server in the National Library of Armenia. The server will run National Bibliography and Union Catalog at the same time.

Union Catalogue

Software used

Some of Armenian Libraries have their separate bibliographic databases in diverse formats, At the moment, we have no Union Catalog in Armenia. The new project funded by OSI Assistance Foundation is aimed to begin the process of creation of a Armenian Union Catalog.

Digital Library

Based on your own production of digital documents

This technology is something new to Armenian libraries and we need to get more information concerning the technology, software and hardware used to form a digital library. Yet, this area is of great interest for Armenian libaries and a subject for discussions and future plans. For, example the Fundamental Scientific Libary of the National Academy of Sciences is acting as a primary and hugest source of literature in the field of science and humanities in Armenia. The Academy of Sciences has its publishing house that prints main scientific and humanities journals in Armenia and our aim is to place the electronic versions of those in the Web site of the library and make a relevant information system.

Important commercial web services accessible to your users

There are no commercial web services in Armenian libraries at all, but this area is of serious interest for us.

Special web services

Within the library we have Web search services for the bibliographic information on with the help of Eurasia Foundation and OSI Assistance Foundation as well other newest editions. All those books are stored in a special reading hall and readers have possibility to search and order needed literature.

Electronic document delivery services

In our library we have Document Delivery Department which is acting already for 2 years. Now we only get scanned journal articles from European Libraries doing this thanks to INTAS document delivery project as well as getting articles in the field of humanities using eIFL Direct project access to EBSCO databases. In the future we plan to create own document delivery service using Ariel system in order to send articles and book pages of the publications available in our library.

Research and technology development projects

Plans for technology development include running full-featured Document Delivery Service and becoming a center for supplying electronic scientific and humanities information for scientists and researchers of Armenia. Our projects include also the renovation of the library itself as well as full automation of library processes.