Murphy, 'Librarians Abroad: Myths and Realities in Creating a Technological Infrastructure', LITA Newsletter v15n04
URL = ftp://dewey.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/lita/lita-v15n04-murphy-librarians

V15N4.ABROAD LITANEWS
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Librarians Abroad: Myths and Realities in Creating a Technological
Infrastructure
Evelyn Schelm Murphy

This program (presented by the LITA International Relations Committee)
held the interest of the audience. The format was good with an
overview of library and information technology in Latin and South
America, a perspective from one country within the region and the
viewpoint of a Library Fellow who had worked in the region.

Louella Wetherbee

Wetherbee (a Dallas-based consultant) set the stage for the following two
speakers by giving a general overview of library development in Latin
America. She also talked about some implications of Internet access
for librarians and library networks.
   New information technology, especially the Internet, provides great
opportunity. There is no such thing as a single Latin American library
environment. The profile of library development and networking varies
widely from country to country. University and research libraries
contain almost all of the Internet connections. Public, provincial and
school libraries are not well developed. National libraries are often
underdeveloped and underfinanced. An exception is the National Library
of Venezuela.
   The lack or existence of a committed core of knowledgeable and
interested librarians affects network development. A high percentage
of public libraries lack professional librarians as heads. There is a
lack of available materials to share, and many libraries function with
little money.
   A reliable source of union listing with resources available is
needed for cooperative development. There is a reluctance to entrust
materials to mail and courier services. There are many examples of
automation in libraries, but not shared networks. Cooperative
arrangements need to be firmed up before they can work on standards.
Some ventures were highlighted to show trends. Mexico is the most
sophisticated in terms of libraries and networking. Most of the United
States vendors are there. A national network of libraries exists. Half
of all research takes place at the national university in Mexico City.
Of the interlibrary loan requests, forty percent have to be filled
outside of Mexico. The problem is acute in rural areas. The Internet
could solve remoteness. In some places, library cooperation in
resource sharing is non-existent. There is the need to build trust and
confidence.
   There is a long-standing agreement among libraries in Nicaragua,
and they are doing much sharing. A database is mounted in Chile on the
NOTIS system. Chile is one of the most advanced in using the Internet.
Brazil has a network run using a coupon-based database with document
delivery.
   The Organization of American States is charged with building a
network in Latin America. There are few libraries connected to the
Internet. Some library catalogs are on the Internet, but Internet
access and use are very limited.
   The implications of Internet access in the short-run are the same
in Latin America as elsewhere: faster and more access to information
and improved communication for researchers. The downside is that
Internet access will emphasize the library "haves and have nots."
Latin American libraries will emphasize access to United States and
European resources and de-emphasize access and regional development in
Latin America. Wetherbee suggested that they mount their own resources
on the Internet.
   Often there is a lack of adequate phone lines, hardware and
software. Access will improve greatly for those with hardware and
software. Not much thought has been given to the benefits of Internet
access within Latin America. Library networks will seize upon the
Internet as an opportunity to build gateways and mount unique resources.

Saadia Sanchez-Vegas

Sanchez-Vegas (National Library of Venezuela) told about libraries and
information technology in Venezuela. Access to information is
important for strategic sociological and economic development. In the
early 1980s, Venezuela began getting information technology. In 1990
there were 50 active Internet users. In May 1993, there were 8,000
users. They were all scientists out of the 20 million Venezuelan
population. Most users were men. Over three-quarters of the users had
completed education past the baccalaureate and lived in Caracas.
   There are almost no information providers. Great strides in
electronic information have been made, but much still needs to be
done. There are political problems as well. Important cooperative
efforts are being advanced by private companies, such as business and
banking interests. In Venezuela the Internet is only viewed for
technology, but not for solving other problems.
   The National Library of Venezuela has made it a priority for the
next five years to become a national information resource center. The
emphasis is on access. They are trying to make the Internet available
not only to scientists, but to the whole population. Currently
information technology is not evenly dispersed and neither is its access.
   The Internet works mainly to the advantage of information-rich
countries. Universal access is needed. Information is concentrated in
developed countries. Affordable access is needed. Access to
information has a price. Ownership of information and cost are not
addressed. Only the elite will benefit from the Information
Superhighway.
   Usage becomes a social and political issue, and the gap between the
information-rich and the information-poor countries could widen as
information becomes an advantage. The obstacle is not technological,
but social and political. Latin American countries should work on
areas of cooperation. National and technological policies must be
decided and implemented.

David Martin

Martin (University of Iowa) spoke about his experiences during a
six-month period in 1991 as an ALA / USIA Library Fellow in Venezuela.
While in Venezuela, he taught courses for the Graduate Program in
Information Management at Simon Bolivar University and as a consultant
with the graduate business school in designing an automation plan for
their library. He also worked as a consultant with MegaPlus, a private
company, in planning and delivering a workshop on the use of online
databases for business and market intelligence.
   He had six months before arriving in Venezuela to prepare for his
assignment. He was assured that computers with databases would be
available and that the students would understand English. Six weeks
before his arrival, he was informed that they did not have computers
and that he should teach business information.
   When he arrived, he found that the students did not know much
English, so he taught in Spanish. However, he had underestimated his
ability to get his Spanish "up to speed."
   Most students had no experience with the Internet. Scientists and
technicians did not know the concept of an online catalog. A private
business school had a beautiful library, but with no automation--and
they wanted an online catalog. Because David was an expert on online
searching, it was assumed he knew all areas of automation. The
administration needed David as a catalyst to get the technology people
and the librarians to talk with each other.
   Things we take for granted, such as overhead projectors, facsimile
machines and photocopiers, were either nonexistent or did not work
well.
   This last speaker advised that with technology, one must deal first
with the people.

Evelyn Schelm Murphy is head of technical services at
the Public Library of Des Moines.