Food Economy Information System (SIGZ)

The Central Agricultural Library (CBR) has, in cooperation with 20 Polish scientific centers, continued to build the SIGZ database on Polish publications related to agriculture and food processing. It has compiled 123,000 records and has been increasing by about 7,500 records annually.

The descriptor language and subject classification have been continually developed and updated during the process of compilation of the database. The latest edition of the SIGZ Thesaurus with about 20,000 descriptors and non-descriptors was issued in 1998. A new and updated SIGZ subject classification system was also created and published in 1998.

Some new features were introduced during the compilation process of the database. The database was published on CD ROM. A part with information on the most recent acquisitions is accessible also at the CBR home page. The CD-ROM database has 47,500 records and covers Polish publications in the period of 1993-1998. It is being updated quarterly. An archival disc will cover the period of 1981-1992. The CD-ROM databases will soon be supplied with the SIGZ Thesaurus. (http:// www. warman.com.pl/~cebibrol)

Agricultural Research Information System (SIBROL)

During the 6th Round Table, the CBR reported on the creation of a pilot version of the SIBROL database which is a database on research projects in agriculture, food processing, environmental protection and agriculture related sciences. The aim of the SIBROL database is to verify efficiency of agricultural research and to assist in conducting of such research. The building of the database has continued. More scientific centers are now participating in SIBROL: there are now about 40 such centers. These centers create and compile data in their own databases. They are also responsible for the quality control of the data. A team of employees of the SIBROL central database at the CBR gives all the necessary assistance to the institutions that participate in the making of this database. SIBROL team at the CBR is preparing subject indexing of records and is editing SIBROL records. The SIBROL database is thus compiled in a distributed way but is centrally controlled what ensures uniform character of the database. Some 40,000 research reports have already been entered into the SIBROL database. Two descriptor languages (Agrovoc and modified SIGZ Thesaurus), for the Polish and English language versions of the database, are used in the SIBROL database. Besides, free terms (identifiers) and subject classification, created especially for the SIBROL database, are also used for this purpose. SIBROL database also contains data on researchers and scientific institutions. Owing to the building of the SIBROL database, the CBR holds information on Polish scientists and scientific institutes. An electronic version of the Library Catalogue of book collections has been built over the past two years at the CBR. The KATAL database has compiled 6,300 records.

Two descriptor languages (Agrovoc and modified SIGZ Thesaurus), for the Polish and English language versions of the database, are used in the SIBROL database. Besides, free terms (identifiers) and subject classification, created especially for the SIBROL database, are also used for this purpose. SIBROL database also contains data on researchers and scientific institutions. Owing to the building of the SIBROL database, the CBR holds information on Polish scientists and scientific institutes.

An electronic version of the Library Catalogue of book collections has been built over the past two years at the CBR.

The KATAL database has compiled 6,300 records. Two descriptor languages (the SIGZ Thesaurus in Polish and the Agrovoc Thesaurus) and subject headings are used for indexing of records. In connection with building of the KATAL database, the team of the CBR employees has been creating specific subject headings and developing a dictionary of topics and qualifiers in order to index the catalogue.

The latest period in the CBR activities has thus been marked by creating and maintaining the SIGZ, SIBROL and the AGRIS-PL databases. The KATAL database in an electronic form and the CBR home page were also created during this period. Recently, the AgroWeb Poland has opened new channels of the transfer of agricultural information between Poland and the world. It has been created thanks to the assistance of FAO SEUR's cooperation with the CBR.

Last months have seen rapid changes in CBR. Due to strong efforts CBR gained extra financial means what enabled CBR's transformation into a very modern library that befits the turn of the century. A comprehensive collection of agriculture-related information will become available by the end of the year 2000. WWW accessibility, via CBR home pages, will be provided for such information resources that are located in different places (different institutions). Each of the respective institutions will organize its own data and information. Library catalogues, bibliographic databases, databases on research, scientific centers, scientists, time-tables of exhibitions and conferences, as well as market, banking and insurance reports will also be available.

The comprehensive system of information on agriculture and for agriculture will consist of more than just a list of links. This will be a meta-database, and will also contain descriptions of agriculture-related information resources produced in Poland and published/offered on the Internet. It will also carry descriptions and contact data (address, etc.) with regard to such electronic agriculture information resources that are not as yet available on the Internet (e.g. resources on CD-ROMs). The metadata will be searchable by way of a keyword index. While searching this on-line meta-database, a user will get a list of the retrieved information sources along with description and a link or data that will enable the user to get in touch with the provider of the respective information source.

The German DAINet, developed by the ZADI (Zentralstelle fuer AgrarDocumentation und -Information) in Bonn, will serve as a model for this system. Automated library processing will be based on OPAC principles. Library also chose ALEPH 500 to be used in six major libraries in Warsaw.

The necessity to use new knowledge presents a challenge for information services. High qualification needs are accompanied by demand for better wages so it is difficult to get qualified staff. CBR tries to raise qualification of those employees who are willing to stay despite low wages. Women account for 76 percent of the CBR workforce. Average age of CBR staff is at more than 47 years. Employees under 30 years account for mere 10 percent of the staff, with half the staff having between 30 and 50 years. Three persons are now studying library management and scientific information. One person has been doing post-graduate studies in the field. Other employees participate at various courses and training. The CBR has entered a period of rapid changes where human factor plays an extremely important role and where mere software improvement and new equipment do not suffice.

The CBR tries its best in educating its staff along with implementing technological advances. CBR has been managed by new director dr. Krystyna Kocznorowska as of 1997 following retirement of former director dr. Jerzy Rasinski.