Electronic communication in Africa — the promotion of animal health information dissemination
| Date | 01 April 1995 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb045379 |
| Pages | 299-308 |
| Published date | 01 April 1995 |
| Author | Erica E. van der Westhuizen,E. Stan Miller |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Article
Electronic communication in Africa
— the
promotion of animal health
information dissemination
Erica E. van der Westhuizen
Librarian,
Veterinary Science
Library,
Academic Information
Service,
University of
Pretoria,
P/BagX04,
Onderstepoort,
0110 South Africa
E-mail:
bib1@op1.up.ac.za
E. Stan Miller
Senior
Lecturer,
Department
of
Veterinary Tropical
Diseases,
Faculty of
Veterinary
Science,
University
of
Pretoria,
P/BagX04,
Onderstepoort,
0110 South Africa
E-mail:
infek1@op1.up.ac.za
Abstract:
There
are few veterinary libraries or information centres in
sub-Saharan Africa, on average one to two per
country.
This
scarcity makes
cooperation all the more
vital.
For successful cooperation, effective
communication structures are a prerequisite. These structures are not only
necessary for library staff but for the faculty members they serve as
well,
in their
communication with colleagues in related research fields or veterinary extension
projects.
(1)
The
steps taken by
the
Veterinary Science Library of the
University
of Pretoria
to promote electronic communication in particular, in order to render a more
effective information service to its clients and others beyond South Africa's
borders are described namely:
— the use of the Internet listserv VETLIB-L;
—the
use
of the non-university networks SANGONET and HealthLink mainly for
community outreach projects;
—making the University of Pretoria Academic Information Service's own
network,
ROMINFO, available to non-university persons via dial-in facilities;
—the creation of a unique electronic forum facility by the Faculty of Veterinary
Science and the Library in conjunction with the CSIR's
NIBS,
called
VETAFRICA,
mainly for practising veterinarians needing information.
(2)
Veterinary
lecturer involvement in teaching and research is increasingly
dependent on
Veterinary
Computer-Mediated Communications
(VC-MC),
in
Africa and globally. A sampling of some of the dynamically expanding
information sources globally available to online veterinary teams and animal
health
workers,
as well as a starter list of contact details of currently available
online veterinary faculties, libraries and institutions in Southern Africa, is
provided.
1.
Veterinary Science Library of
the University of Pretoria
There are few veterinary libraries in
sub-Saharan Africa. Each country has
approximately two, usually one at-
tached to a veterinary school and the
other to a state department — refer to
Table 2 later for details. This scarcity
makes cooperation all the more vital
for the effective functioning of these
information centres, enabling them to
fulfil their essential role in the animal
health communities that they serve.
For successful cooperation, effec-
tive communication structures are a
prerequisite. These structures are not
only necessary for library staff but also
for the faculty members they serve as
well, in their communication with col-
leagues in related research fields or in
veterinary extension projects.
Computer technology is of particu-
lar benefit to the developing countries
where the purchasing of books and
journals is limited due to lack of
funds,
but where technology can help cross
the information divide. 'The book
famine is a serious problem for educa-
tion and development in many coun-
tries and it would be impossible
to
cor-
rect this problem by establishing
conventional libraries. The electronic
library, however, could provide all the
requirements for science and exten-
sion at a fraction of the cost' (Speedy
1994).
The electronic library enables ac-
cess to electronic journals and books,
via computer networks through the In-
ternet and by telephone modem.
1. 1.
The
Internet
The most effective electronic commu-
nication network available to informa-
tion workers worldwide
is the
Internet.
The following applications of the In-
ternet are found to be particularly use-
ful by the Veterinary Science Library
of the University of Pretoria: listservs,
FTP,
Gopher, WWW and electronic
conference facilities.
The Electronic Library, Vol. 13, No. 4, August 1995 299
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