Table 2. Proposed Action Plans for High-Priority Needs
| Definition of Problem |
Goals/Objectives |
Action(s) Required |
Responsibility, Time or Need or Frame, Costs |
| Integrated and focused information policy and strategy |
(i) To demonstrate the value of information in contributing to a
country's development (ii) To enhance co-operation of organisations and individuals and
their capabilities of information
(iii) To enhance the flow of information within and among institutions |
Gather case studies where information has contributed to positive
economic outcomes Gather information on existing strategies
Conduct seminars demonstrating the value
Create regional working group of policy makers and information providers/specialists to
draft information- related legislation and bills
Utilise/develop computerised or electronic information systems
Disseminate, through various media, the value of information and information technology |
International agencies (e.g., FORSPA, APAFRI, CIFOR) to assume
co-ordinating responsibility 2-year time frame
Cost: to be determined by implementing agencies |
| Need to train Information Services Unit (ISU) staff to
improve management, editorial, technical and language skills
Users in literature search techniques
Editors in information technology and language skills |
To create efficient ISU operations in national forestry research and
development organisations and establish a core of well-trained ISU staff and users capable
of efficient service operations, through an integrated programme of training, by : (i)
Improving English language capability amongst ISU and editorial staff |
(i) Identify suitable local language training institutions and training
staff to provide English language training focused on ISU and natural resources
terminology Allocate personnel time and local funds to bring about a sustained effort
Follow-up to determine next actions
(optional: Choose suitable distance learning programmes from international or
regional sources) |
(i) ISU staff to assume responsibility Time frame: ongoing
Costs: to be determined |
|
(ii) Improving IT skills of ISU and editorial staff |
(ii) Determine IT development needs of ISU staff andusers Identify
in-country training resources for specific skills (e.g., database management)
Allocate time and funding |
(ii) ISU staff to assume responsibility Time frame: ongoing
Costs: to be determined |
|
(iii) Improving management skills of appropriate ISU staff Improving
technical skills of ISU staff |
(iii) Identify managerial and other training requirements of ISU staff at
national institutional level Offer 10-day training events for 10-15 participants
Offer management training at regional level through resource persons from national and
international institutions |
(iii) Co-ordinated by a regional (network) agency (local staff to be
involved with implementation) Training course costs approx. US$25-30,000 per 10-day
training event |
|
|
(iv) Determine training development needs of ISU staff in abstracting,
indexing and cataloguing Identify in-country training resources
Allocate time and funding |
(iv) Co-ordinated by ISU staff Time frame: ongoing
Costs: to be determined |
| Need to develop library and information units aligned with
institutional priorities in order to increase the effectiveness of their services and
resources |
To create efficient and effective ISU operations in national forestry
research development organisations and improve the ability of ISU units and staff to meet
user demands pro-actively, by: (i) Co-operating with users to determine needs
(ii) Identifying internal senior management support
(iii) Establishing a mechanism for regular communication between users and ISU units
(iv) Identifying areas for co-operation between national and regional institutions
(v) Facilitating user access to ISU units |
(i) Conduct survey of users' current and future information needs Use
survey output to prepare concept framework for ISU development
(ii) Select key senior officer to champion concept and be involved with related
institutional decision-making
(iii) Arrange regular meetings of selected representative users and senior managers to
discuss and agree on development of ISU activities
(iv) Arrange access to other information sources from outside the institution using
existing regional networks
(v) Analyse in-house processes and remove obstacles to effective information delivery
and, at the same time, reduce costs |
Responsibility and co-ordinating role to be assumed by senior ISU
individual ISU Funding from internal sources
Time frame: ongoing |
| Need for a formalised regional network of forestry and
forestry- related libraries |
To improve sustainable forest management and conservation in the Asia-
Pacific region by improving the effectiveness of forestry information services, by: Developing
a co-operative community
Providing fast, cheap, reliable and safe information delivery
Providing access by electronic means
Ensuring timely delivery
Sharing expertise
Communicating with supporting other networks/institutions
Improving marketing
Providing e-mail and internet access; developing list server
Filling gaps in serial holdings
Improving awareness of availability of material
Improving ability to exchange information
Establishing linkages/ agreements
Identifying major players |
(i) Identify people/institutions and resources/services available in
network
(ii) Identify network co-ordinating institutionavailability of material
(iii) Develop electronic catalogue/database for institutions/network
(iv) Establish formal agreement between libraries in network
(v) Hold workshop to review network activities
(vi) Identify co-operating institutions outside network
(vii) Develop home page
(viii) Secure funding
(ix) Establish e-mail connections |
(i) DF Core Group to take action before end Jan '97 Funding through
in-kind contributions
(ii) FORSPA to assume responsibility of co-ordinating institution immediately
Costs approx. 1 day/week in time
(iii) DF Core Group to take action for serials by end July '97; Books by end Dec '97;
Grey literature by Dec '98
Funding (approx. US$20,000) through national country institutions
(iv) FORSPA to assume co-ordinating role with draft agreement by Mar '97, final by Dec
'97
Costs approx. 1 day /week in time
(v) FORSPA and Working Group to assume responsibility for developing and participating
in follow-up Workshop in Oct/Nov '97
Costs approx. US$30,000
(vi) Co-operators to come from DF Core Group before end Apr '97
Funding through in-kind contributions
(vii) IUFRO NetTask Force to co-ordinate and provide home page before Oct/Nov '97
Funding through in-kind contributions
(viii) Funding through donor agencies (short term) and national country institutions
(long term)
Funding through in-kind contributions
(ix) FORSPA/CIFOR/ AIFM to establish e-mail connections for DF Core Group before June
'97
Costs approx. US$20,000 |
| Need for improved access, distribution, utilisation and
exchange of available forestry-related information, with appropriate feedback mechanisms |
To improve the ability of institutions to produce and circulate forestry
material |
(i) Provide training and expertise in production of full-text CD-ROMs
(ii) Provide mechanism and framework for wide distribution of published materials to
libraries and institutions in the network |
(i) CIFOR to assume training responsibility with training to take place
by Dec '97 Costs: approx. US$30,000
(ii) DF Core Group to develop on-going mechanism; review processes at proposed Nov/Dec
Workshop
Funding through in-kind contributions |
| Need for suitable and adequate facilities and resources for an
effective library operation |
To improve library services/ operation by providing suitable
and adequate resources and facilities, by: (i) Identifying optimal resource requirements
for an efficient library operation
(ii) Acquiring appropriate resources (inclusive of facilities)
(iii) Managing resourcesefficiently and effectively
(iv) Tapping resources |
Study/examine model library and relate to personal
requirements Benchmark optimal and functional library
Develop proposal and identify potential funders or donors
Explore alternative sources of supply (exchange agreements, free sources)
Identify income-generating services
Identify resources for possible sharing
Increase use of electronic media and information technology
Train staff on various skills related to management and operation of resources
Create mechanism/ network for effective sharing of resources (e.g., info directory,
union list of eriodicals)
Promote library services
Convince management and funders of value of information (as developed in initial action
plan) |
FORSPA, APAFRI CIFOR to assume co-ordination role Time frame
within 3-4 years
Costs to be developed by implementing agency/agencies |