SLA Global 2000 Conference, Brighton, UK, 16-19 October 2000

Cao Minh Kiem, M.Sc., National Center for Scientific and Technological Documentation and Information (NACESTID)
24 Ly Thuong Kiet St., Hanoi, VIETNAM. Tel: +84-4-8263491.
Fax: +84-4-8263127.
Email: kiemcm@vista.gov.vn

I. Introduction

The exponential growth of Internet as a result of the fast development of information and communication technology (ICT) has created new opportunities as well as challenges for the library and information service community. The application of ICT, especially the use of Internet, in the professional operations of a library or information center has changed tremendously the face of traditional library service. A number of digital library projects are being implemented in many countries and experts believe that digital libraries will certainly play an important role in the 21 Century. Although that digital library is becoming reality in many developed countries such as United States of America, United Kingdom, Japan, etc., it is still a new concept for many developing countries including Vietnam. Despite of the question of whether digital library will be an option of choice in near future, the portion of electronic resources in a library will grow contributing to improvement of the library's service quality. Many well-known publishers in the world are selling their products not only in printed form but also in digital forms - electronic publications. Some journals exist only in the electronic format. The question that we should buy printed journals for our collection or we should provide our client access to networked electronic journals and other electronic resources needs careful consideration.

The National Center for Scientific and Technological Information and Documentation (NACESTID), formed from the merge of two formerly independent organizations (the Central Institute of Scientific and Technical Information and the Central Library for Science and Technology) in 1990, holds the largest science and technology library of Vietnam. The Library is still called Central Library for Science and Technology. For recent years NACESTID has made efforts to build up an electronic resources and paid a lot attention to development of its electronic services. NACESTID is considering the purchase of electronic resources (electronic journals, CD-ROM, online databases...).

NACESTID is a not-for-profit Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Internet Content Provider (ICP) and provides access to Internet and its own electronic resources for its customers. VISTA, an abbreviation of Vietnam Information for Science and Technology Advance, is an information network hosted by NACESTID. It is the largest science and technology information system of Vietnam. NACESTID adopted strategy to develop its electronic resource and improve its electronic services thought VISTA to its customers. However, the present Internet infrastructure and high access cost as well as high communication fee could be constraints for users to use our system.

The article will outline the status of electronic resource development at NACESTID, issues relating to the use of electronic resources, especially electronic journals and considerations for future use of electronic journal at NACESTID.

II. Present status of electronic resources at NACESTID

The Central Library for Science and Technology (CLST) of NACESTID holds a large collection of about 250,000 volumes of books, 6,350 journal titles, 3,6000 volumes of research reports from the Government funded research projects of all levels. Every year, the Library receives approximately 40,000 visits of users. NACESTID started its library computerization program at the end of 1980's. At present, NACESTID holds a significant amount of electronic resources in form of in-house databases. Apart from that, NACESTID subscribes several foreign databases on CD-ROM. The electronic information resources of NACESTID can be grouped in five categories:

• Electronic publications produced by NACESTID and other organizations;
• In-house databases on the VISTA;
• Databases on CD-ROM;
• Full text resources on CD-ROM.
• Electronic resources accessible via Internet and online services.

1. Electronic publications

Electronic publications on the VISTA include electronic bulletins and electronic journals and newsletters.

NACESTID publishes 6 titles of bulletins in electronic format. There is no printed equivalent. These electronic bulletins are kept on the servers of VISTA and can be accessed by authorized users with valid password. The bulletins are provided in two formats: HTML and MS Word format. Bulletins in HTML format are published on the Web servers of VISTA and authorized users can access and read or download them. In order for remote users to spend less online connection time, bulletins are prepared in Rich Text Format files and stored on the FTP server. Users can access the FTP server, download files and then open and read them off-line later.

NACESTID produces 10 titles of printed newsletters and journal. The MS word files produced during the preparation of these publications are converted into HTML file, reprocessed and then published on the Web for users access.

In order to increase the number of electronic journals provided by VISTA, NACESTID has agreement with some Vietnams S&T journal publishers to provide NACESTID with the MS Word files created during the preparation of journals. Files are then converted into HTML file and published on the Web via VISTA.

These electronic resources can be accessed not only by NACESTID staff and users visiting the Library but also by remote users who have Internet access.

2. In-house Bibliographic Databases

NACESTID started its program on computerization at the end of 1980's. Most of bibliographic databases it maintains and updates are developed by using UNESCO's CDS/ISIS library software. Major databases are presented in Table 1

Table 1. Major bibliographic databases kept on VISTA

Database name	Subject coverage	No. of records	Producer
STD	Vietnamese S&T Documents	40,800	NACESTID
KQNC	Vietnamese S&T project reports	3,600	NACESTID
DETAI	Registered S&T ongoing and finished research projects	3,750	NACESTID
BOOK	Books in the Central S&T Library	92,000	NACESTID
TAPCHI	Periodicals subscribed by NACESTID	6,380	NACESTID
ENDOC	Environmental information	12,000	NACESTID, cancelled
SCITEC	Foreign S&T articles	130,000	NACESTID
SACH	Books in National Library	110,500	National Library
LA	Doctor degree dissertations and theses	2,620<	National Library

These databases can be searched using WINISIS (Window version of CDS/ISIS). NACESTID created Web interface for CDS/ISIS databases so that they can be searched via VISTA homepage (http://www.vista.gov.vn).

3. Bibliographic and Full-text Databases on CD-ROM

CD-ROM is a wonderful information carrier thanks to its high storage capacity. Many online databases are now available on CD-ROM with reasonable prices. With CD-ROM, the access to database does not depend on the telecommunication facilities. The first CD-ROM driver and demo database on CD-ROM was available at NACESTID in the beginning of 1990's. At present NACESTID subscribes several large S&T databases on CD-ROM. (Table. 2). Most of databases on CD-ROM are bibliographic ones. These databases are an important part of electronic resources of NACESTID.

Table 2. Some major bibliographic databases on CD-ROM at NACESTID

Database name	Subject coverage	Data type	Time coverage
PASCAL	Science & Technology	bibliographic	1987-now
Chemical Abstracts	Chemistry, biotechnology	bibliographic	1998-now
Derwent Biotechnology	Biotechnology	bibliographic	1982-now
Compendex	Engineering, technology	bibliographic	1982-now
Metadex Collection	Metals, ceramics, polymers	bibliographic	1972-now
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering	Chemistry	bibliographic	cancelled
Energy and Environment	Energy, Environment	bibliographic	cancelled
Electronics and Electrical Engineering	Electronics, Electrical engineering	bibliographic	cancelled
IEEE/IEE Electronic Library	Electrical engineering, electronics	full-text	1988-now
Vendor Catalogs	Industrial products, equipment, companies	full-text
EIU Forecast	Economy, forecasts	full-text

Two most important full text databases on CD- ROM are the IEEE/IEE Electronic Library (IEL) and VENDOR catalogs. The IEEE/IEE Electronic Library is the largest full text database at NACESTID. The IEL covers full text of more than 650,000 documents from more than 120 periodicals, 4000 publications including proceedings of conferences organized by IEEE/IEE, technical standards. It is estimated that about 25,000 items are added to the IEL collection every month. VENDOR Catalogs is another Full text databases on CD-ROM. Its contains the full text information on more than 600,000 industrial products and goods, producers and suppliers. VENDOR Catalog is an important electronic resources for technology information services of NACESTID.

4. Internet resources and online databases

NACESTID hosts VISTA, the largest S&T information network of Vietnam. VISTA provides Internet access for NACESTID's staff and users. Internet is an important source providing electronic information and through VISTA many databases and other electronic resources can be reached by our staff or by users

NACESTID has access to two online services: SYFFED and STN. The SIGHED is a node located at NACESTID providing access to an online information system supported by an association of French speaking countries. It provides discount access to many online databases in France and some other French speaking countries.

With a financial assistance from German Government, NACESTID is supported to have access to STN International which is an online services jointly provided by three big information centers: Chemical Abstracts Services of American Chemistry Society in Columbus, USA, FIZ Karhsruhe, Germany and JST, Japan. STN services provide access to more than 200 databases in science and technology.

5. VISTA Network

In order to provide an online service for NACESTID's staff and Vietnamese science and technology community, NACESTID establishes an information network called VISTA (stands for Vietnam Information for Science and Technology Advance.). It is an Wide Area Network (WAN) providing Internet connection to various the information on the domestic and foreign S&T achievements. The main VISTA's goal is promoting social economic development in Vietnam.

VISTA provides following services:

• Information retrieval in the VISTA's databases (Vietnam and Foreign Databases)

• Access to Vietnam and foreign S&T news, surveys, research reports, scientific publications
• Access to NACESTID's electronic library catalog
• FTP service
• Email service

By accessing VISTA users can download documents provided by NACESTID or from Internet.

Because NACESTID does not have CD-ROM network, most databases on CD-ROM are accessed and searched using stand-alone computers.

III. Issues of purchase and access to electronic journals

Although NACESTID has large electronic resources including electronic library on CD-ROM, it is considering the purchase of electronic journals to improve services and collections. Many publishers such as Elsevier Science Publishers (with ScienceDirect Web page) or Springer Verlag (with Link Information Service) offer a large number of full text electronic journals with diverse scheme of use and payment. Many people believe that purchase electronic journals will save budget or for the same budget they can purchase more journals. There are, however, various issues related to purchasing electronic journals and developing electronic journal service at NACESTID. These constrains include technical, financial, user-related and Internet-related issues.

1. Technical issues

With printed journals, it is easier to serve users. NACESTID's staff is used to traditional methods of services in serial reading sections. In order to serve the users with electronic resources, we need adequate technical bases: high speed network, enough amount of networked computers or workstations. Present network infrastructure is not enough to serve users effectively. Establishing special section to serve with electronic resources will be essential for effective use. NACESTID is considering the establishment of a such section. For larger library, this may require large amount of investment for terminals to be installed in electronic resource reading section.

The control of the user name and password may also be a problem. The user name and password for accessing electronic journals must not be disclosed. Only some staff is authorized to know the user name and password. This may cause some inconvenience for serving electronic journal readers in our library.

2. Financial issues

When buying a printed journal we receive hard copy of issues of the journal during the year. They are real and physical objects that we have in our hand and can be stored on shelves or taken care of. It short, the journal is located in the library. It is totally similar to buying a good and keeps it in the library. When we cancel subscription, the journal is still there in the library. Buying an electronic journal means buying the right to access journal kept somewhere in the Net in a digital form. When we stop subscription, we have no more right to access it, even old issues of this journal. This could be a big question for us. In Vietnam, journals and books bought for the library are considered as a special type of fix asset. The asset control procedures require regular check on the existence or presence of the fix asset. With traditional journals, the situation is simple. With digital journals, the circumstance is totally different. When subscription is cancelled, the journals "disappear" because we can not access them. There area no journal issues in the bookshelves to check. It seems that we lost all that we have invested. This explains why we subscribe the CD-ROM version of IEL instead of electronic version.

3. User-related issues

Electronic journals are still new concept not only for our readers but also for librarian staff. The common thought is that more convenient to have printed journals than electronic ones. They will have more clear control over the printed volumes. If electronic journals are on CD-ROM, the way of management does not change too much. With remote electronic journals, it is not clear yet.

For readers, looking for and reading an article in a printed journal is an easy job and they are used to it for a long time. But they feel more tired when reading electronic resources. Most users want to have printed journals or copy of article. That would increase the downloading expense and the cost of downloading articles is not small in Vietnam's circumstances.

Other problem is computer literacy. Some users feel uncomfortable with using computers to look for a journal. They prefer the printed journals to electronic ones.

4. Internet related issues

For effective use of electronic journals, we need perfect Internet connection with reasonable price. Low speed of Internet access or difficulty in access to the journal servers may create feelings of inconvenience in users. The Internet infrastructure of Vietnam is not well developed. This will affect the use of electronic journals in Vietnam by research community. At present, Vietnam has only one authorized Internet Access Provider with total capacity of 7 Mb/s transfer rate from two Internet gateways to world Internet. The Internet access in Vietnam is generally thought to be slower than in other countries. This will certainly discourage the use of electronic journals.

The cost for direct and indirect Internet connection in Vietnam is other problem that may be a constraint for electronic journal purchasing in Vietnam. The price of indirect or direct Internet use is quite high and does not encourage the use of Internet. The indirect connection price is about VND 290 per minute (about US$ 1.6 per hour, not including telecommunication fee) and month subscription fee is VND 45,000 (about US$ 3.20 per month). Although the price is lower that that of the Region's, but in Vietnam's context, the price is too high. The charge for renting a leased line for ISP is very high. It is VND 45,000,000 ( about US$ 3,000) per month per a 64-Kb line. There is a discount for noncommercial ISPs. The price, however, is still high (VND 35,000,000 per month line or US$ 2,330 per month line). The high leased line renting rate prevents research and education institution to rent a leased line for their networks.

IV. Future directions

Despite the above discussed issues, NACESTID is highly interested in developing its electronic resources in general, and in purchasing electronic journals in particular. The tendency of increase in electronic journal distribution requires us develop appropriate acquisition policy. Some directions in developing electronic resources at NACESTID include:

1. Developing electronic collection of national journals in digital forms at NACESTID:

With development of desktop publishing technology, all journal publishers prepare electronic layout of their publications using different word processing or desktop publishing software (MS Word, Page Maker, Ventura,....). If we can acquire or purchase files, we can build up our electronic resources of national journals by converting that files into HTML and publish on the Web.. So far NACESTID has already publish some local journals by that way. The question that needs an answer is copyright.

2. Continuing purchase of electronic resources on CD-ROM.

The use of CD-ROM has great advantage for Vietnam, which does not have yet good telecommunication infrastructure. The purchase of CD-ROM version of electronic journals seems to be more economical in comparison with buying printed journals. With same budget, we may have for more journal titles. The CD-ROM journals do not require heavy technical investment. We can use stand-alone PCs for reading electronic resources on CD-ROM. It is easier for management and services. In future we will continue purchasing the databases and journals on CD-ROM.

 3. Searching for free-of-charge electronic journals available on the Internet then create links to them so that our reader and staff can access online

On Internet, there are many free-of-charge electronic journals on the Internet. The concern about the free of charge electronic journals is their value. Although some free of charge electronic journals are of high quality, some people believe that free of charge journals are not of high value and can not replace the traditional journals. NACESTID will search for free of charge electronic journals on the Internet, evaluate and create links to those journals that are appropriate. The links will help our readers have access to electronic journals

4. Searching for journals that are distributed electronically and allow free access to article abstracts.

Many publisher sell their products electronically. But most of them provide free access to the abstracts of articles. We will search for that journal websites, create links to them so that our users are able to look at the abstracts. They then can ask for document delivery services if they find the article useful.

5. Considering the purchase of selected electronic journals.

The future tendency is that more publishers will supply their products in digital forms. The digital library will be reality in future not only for developed but also for developing countries. There is no exception for Vietnam. There will be more electronic journals in future. That why we must consider carefully the subscription of electronic journals. For this, we need new concept of asset auditing procedures. We must accept that purchasing electronic journals is not buying a good. It is buying a service - buying the right for access, not buying physical form of journals. With this, the auditing procedures can be changed.

V. Conclusion

NACESTID can be seen as the largest special library in Vietnam. It pays a lot of attention on developing its electronic resources in order to improve the service for its clients. The electronic resources of NACESTID include different types of in-house databases, foreign databases on CD-ROM , electronic bulletins and newsletters produced by NACESTID and acquired from other sources. VISTA network is also an important tool providing users opportunity to access international electronic resources.

Purchasing electronic journals is considered as a option for improvement of the electronic collection of NACESTID. There are, however, some issues that need considerations before any decisions can be taken. Technical, financial, user-related and Internet-related issues are major issues that need to be addressed in order to develop an effective electronic journal service at NACESTID.

NACESTID, recognizing the tendency of electronic journal development, takes the policy of improving its electronic resources to establish an electronic or digital library. In future, NACESTID will continue to search for electronic journals and other electronic resources available on the Net. NACESTID will certainly purchase electronic journals. What needed is effective way of electronic management, which is still poor at NACESTID.

Page last updated: October 13, 2000