IFLA

As of 22 April 2009 this website is 'frozen' in time — see the current IFLA websites

This old website and all of its content will stay on as archive – http://archive.ifla.org

IFLANET home - International Federation of Library Associations and InstitutionsAnnual ConferenceSearchContacts

62nd IFLA General Conference - Conference Proceedings - August 25-31, 1996

Achievements, Experiences, and Prospects in Services Providing Literature Information for Biotechnology

Chen Ziyi and Zhang Shuyong
The Library of Chinese Academy of Sciences

ABSTRACT

This paper introduces author’s achievements and experiences in operating information services of biotechnology documentation. Originated by founding a journal <GENETIC ENGINEERING>, gradually formed a method of information services from primary and second document to tertiary publication, and a biotechnological information system which serving government’s policy-making, R & D, media and education; at the same time, carrying on random consultative services according to customer’s requirements.

A series of information products that include investigation report, summaries about disciplines and documents, selective dissemination of information, proceedings, reference books, monographs, etc. For the modernization of information service, we are developing all kinds of retrieval services of machine- readable CD-ROM; gradually establishing and perfecting various computer data banks that will realize the sharing of documentary and information sources and establish the basis for international connection.

PAPER

Science and technology are the first production force, and various information media of science and technology are records of development in productive forces, if that is not being studied and taken as example, any science and technology can not be further developed. The development of the 20th century science and technology is now making our world as a world of information. What is the most important literature information source in this ever changing world? The answer should be explicit, that is the library, it is the information source and the main social channel to obtain information. We feel that to explore continuously the method and model of how to utilize the rich information source in the library for serving scientific research and society should be our responsibility. Therefore, according to personal experience in biological science information service, we would like to present our opinion to The 62nd IFLA General Conference.

1. Seize the opportunity, to explore actively the new model of biotechnology information service

The former president of IFLA Hans Peter pointed out at the opening address of the 56th IFLA General Conference:”Library is not only the storage place of large amount of information, but is also the disseminator of information.” How to exert such a social function relate to development of science and technology, and the progress of society. Thus, in the work of serving the readers, we feel that only by combining the knowledge of information science with scientific knowledge, can we provide quality service to readers. John S. Smith recognized:”Under the information over-loading conditions at present, Librarians must notice cultural and social tendency, and guarantee that information will be easy to use, especially in this rapidly changing era.” According to Literature survey, we choose genetic engineering, as our main area of information service, which is closely related to national economy and people’s living, and possesses great potential of development.

1970s witnessed great change in biological study, genetic engineening-- an area which will completely change the living of human being, had advanced more rapidly. In order to keep abreast with the world tide, China followed up with great effort. Facing this situation, we began to consider further enlarging the Library’s information service scope. First of all, in 1978 we established the Journal “Genetic Engineering”, providing a new service model for biology information service.

Later on, we edited a series of special issues reporting hot research areas of genetic engineering home and abroad, including , , , etc for the enhancement of research work and advances of biotechnological industry in China. Among these, , and had not only enhanced study and development of this high technology, but also deepened the understanding of biotechnology in public. Therfore, through recommendation by experts, and appraisal by evaluation committee, this information service project obtained “Science and Technology Progress” award from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1986.

2. With journal as “locomotive”, continuously open the new areas of information service

The success of the Journal “Genetic Engineering” greatly raised our fame in science information service. Therefore, we were invited to national symposiums, and we utilized these opportunities to continuously enlarge the scope of our information service. In order to direct service target, we screened relevant literature from the rich resources of our library, compiled into bibliographic type information ,and brought to the meeting, thus providing active service that was appreciated by all participants. They call this service as sending charcoal in the snow. On the other hand, since such service is bilateral exchange, so we had obtained papers of higher quality, which further enriched the contents of our journal. Since the high academic nature and exact target of such service, we were invited to hold the “exhibition of new technical revolutionary books and information document”. in 1984. More than 100,000 readers from various places of the country went to the exhibition. Facts proved that systematically compiling and exhibitiing scientific information literature is of great significance in popularization of high technology, in revealing and utilization of the rich library resources.

We were also invited by the “Planning Meeting of Genetic Engineering”, by “Discussion Meeting of New Technology Policy” which are sponsored by Chinese Academy of Sciences and State Council respectively. In these meetings, we presented our opinions according to the information we had at hand, thus making certain contribution to biotechnology plans in China.

Based on above services, our director Mr. Shi instructed us to serve the research fellows with selected literature, by tracing the research cource from the beginning of programs to its end.

Since 1986, we begun selective dissemination of information, to provide systematic service to research projects with great development values. For example, We offered papers about gene gun to a research group. After they successfully made this powerful tool, which find wide use in breeding new plant and animal varieties, they said”Our gene gun reached world advanced level is based on the key information provided by you” In order to improve this pvoduct continuously,they keep close contact with us, and become long term customer.

2.1. Put emphasis on investigation, enlarging and research on information resources.

Literature is the main carrier of information; to understand the work of our forerunner and present literature flow, its trend and pattern, is the prereqisite and basic condition for the development of information service. Biotechnology is a comprehensive science subject, with its enormous amount of literature, widely distributed, and multiform media. In order to master the distribution of biotech information resources, its pattern and trend, for the purpose of development and utilization, we widely surveyed biological literature and reference tools and edited a tool book over 300,000 words “The Resources of Biotech Information”, and written several papers on the methods of finding biotech literature. This work had laid a good foundation for studying and establishing “Biotech Information System”.

2.2. Continuously explore new model of service

2.2.1 Serving for leadership in policy decision

According to the requirements of authorities for information, we completed dozens of reviews, the representatives are:“Biotechnology and Health of Human Being” a chapter in the book edicted by Economic Development Research Centre of State Council; “Review of Biotechnology in 1989” for Chinese Science and Technology Development Promoting Centre, “Conventional and Biotech Plant Breeding” , “Biotechnology and Intellectual Property”, and “Prediction on 21th Century Biotechnology”.for Planning Bureau of Chinese Academy of Sciences; These papers all abtaind good appraisals.

2.2.2. Undertaking SDI service for scientific research and national economic construction

Responsible for national biotech key project’s information tracing service, among them, some representative projects are:“Hormone Biotechnology”,”Promoting Plant Resistance by Genetic Engineering”

”Raise Biotechnological New Varieties in Animal and Plant” and editing relevant Newsletter. Since 1986, we had reported more than 10000 relevant literature, and provided some 7000 literature copies.

Edited and published the academic journal “PROGRESS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY” and the information journal “NEWSLETTER IN BIOTECHNOLOGY” The journal broaden the reporting scope of original journal , and the journal accelerate the reporting speed. We fully utilized our journals and information service to form information network comprised by different kinds of persons for serving customer. For example, we assisted a professor responcible for a national research project to found a cooperator for developing genetic engineering of Bacillus subtilis, thus the reference service advanced to referral service, and the information function of our library is strenthening.

2.2.3. Propaganda of modern scientific and technical knowledge

Propaganda of new scientific and technical knowledge is a policy made by governments. In recent years, we were invited to write articles as “Biotechnology today”, “Biotechnology Tomorrow”, “Ten Years of Genetic Engineering Research” by People’s Daily, Guangming Daily, Xinhua News Agency etc. These activities had great influence to the sociaty, many readers wrote to us asking for information, We feel that librarians with their information dominance, can serve the society in various forms, and participate all important activities of economic development.

2.3. Other important products of biotech information

We take part in editing three big tool books, one is . This is a great promotion to the exchange of information in academic world.

2.4. Continuously inovate the basic construction of information work

Information work require rapidness and exactness. Therefore the basic construction should emphasize efficiency.In order to make the library provide better service for economic development, the director of our library equiped us with information retrieval CD-ROM system. We set up several computer data banks concerning organizations, staff and research programs and performing application experiments using the newly built information retrieval system.

3. To extend information service areas according to requirements from society:

Owing to the rapid development of research and exploitation of biotechnology in China, academic circles and industrial departments urgently need a national academic body to strengthen their contacts and cooperation. We played an important role in the establishment of the Chinese Society of Biotechology, the society also designated our journal as its transactions. The establishment of Chinese Society of Biotechnology is of great significance in promoting and comercialization of Chinese biotechnology.

In 1993, we were presented at a national meeting--”Discussion on the prospect of genetic engineering products” sponsored by the Chinese Biotechnology Development Center and National General Medicine Bureau, participated by organizations, institutes, many big companies, enterprices. we edited and published the symposium of the meeting. The director of The Chinese Biotechnology Development Center considered that:the holding of this meeting and the publication of this symposium will further push the research results of many laboratories toward pilot experimentation and commercialization. With the help of the meeting the Chinese Society of Biotechnology collected fund from many big factories,thus laid a good foundation for the work of the society. With our active participation, the Chinese Society of Biotechnology aiming the weak links of biotech research, held”Discussion meeting on Biotech Markets of Both Sides of the Strait”, and invited Taiwan expert Mr. Ma Tenchao speaking on “market survey”; and the expert from Chinese General Medicine Bureau Speaking on “biotech intellectual property”; representatives reflected that the meeting profited them greatly.

In order to push biotech research result toward markets we also participated in the establishment of Beijing Double Helix Biotech Company. Besides selling of biotech products and techniques transfer. One of the company’s important work is information consulting work. The chief items completed at present are: a.the feasible report on establishment of biotech “city” at Hangzhow. b.Providing the feasible report on the establishment of gene therapy experimental hospital and health recovery center for Chinese International Biological Science and Technological City.

4. Conclusion

Through many years of exploration, we have established a multi-level biotech information system,which include investigation report, reviews, reference tools, journals, proceedings, computer data banks, machine-readable CD-ROM, selective dissemination of information, to serve government’s policy making, education, research and development. Famous scholars and professors in Chinese biotech circles all had high evaluation for our information service works, in 1991 we received “Science and Technology Progress Award from Chinese Academy of Sciences”.

We believe following the development of Science and Technology and the construction of information high way, library will become more and more important to the advances of world economy and will have a brilliant future.