IAALD NEWS 
 Central and Eastern Europe
Sixth US/Central and Eastern European Agricultural Library Roundtable Held in Tucson, Arizona
Janet Wright, D. C. Reference Center, National Agricultural Library, Washington
 
    Twenty participants representing agricultural libraries in the United States and the European countries met during the first two days in April to discuss issues of mutual cancern , and to explore possible new areas of co-operation. It was the Sixth U.S./Central and Eastern European Agricultural Library Roundtable, a series of discussions and  exchanges which began in 1991 as the former Soviet Union countries became accessible to NAL personnel. Arranged by NAL, and Co-hosted by the University of Arizona, the theme was "The Information Frontier: Linking People and Resources in Changing World."
    The Roundtable was held in Tucson, Arizona so that participants could also attend the first joint meeting of the U.S. Agricultural Information Network (USAIN) and the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialist (IAALD) which was held there April 3-6, immediately following the Roundtable.
    Participants reported on progress in their own institutions and, at the end of the Roundtable signed a Joint Program of Co-operation agreement. Two Library Directors who has participated in previous Roundtables but were unable to attend this one, sent written reports of their libraries' progress. After the Roundtable, two participants from Czech Republic and Slovenia presented papers as part of the USAIN/IAALD conference. Representatives from Croatia and the Slovak Republic participated in the poster sessions.
    The Sixth Roundtable was made possible by grants from the USDA's Office of International Co-operation and Development, FAS, the Soros Foundation, USAIN, IAALD, and VTLS.

Country reports

Bulgaria - Ivanka Demireva, Director of the Tracian University Library, had represented Bulgaria at previous Roundtables was unable to attend this meeting that since beginning to automate library services in 1989 with one computer, the Library has now automated many of its systems, and is now preparing to connect to the Internet.

Croatia - Nikola Kezic from the Agriculture University of Zagreb, reported on the relatively new Croatia Natural Sciences Information System. He also participated in the USAIN/IAALD poster session.

Czech Republik attended Ivo Hoch, Director of the Central Agricultural and Forestry Library in Prague reported that his library connected to the Internet at the end of 1996. Dr. Ctibor Perlin, Director of the Institute of Agricultural and Food Information, told how both parts of former Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic are taking part in the creation of a union catalogue. Jana Skladalova, Director of Central Food Library also spoke.

Estonia - Aino Kuik sent her report because she was unable to attend this year. The Estonia Agricultural University installed ARIEL and initiated use of a new integrated system, INNOPAC. Though they have experienced great difficulties during the last year because of power outages and unreliable Internet connection, they hope their situation will improve in 1997 with a move to a new building at the university.

Latvia -  Ilona Dobelniece, Director of the Latvian University of Agriculture, reported that a NOVELL network was installed in that library and they are developing an integrated library system which includes the installation of ARIEL for document transmission.

Lithuania - Renata Niauriene, Director, Lithuanian Agricultural Library, reported the implementation of the Lithuanain Libraries Integrated System.

Poland - The Central Agricultural Library experienced a change of leadership as its former Director Jerzy Rasinski retired and was replaced by Krystyna Kocznorowska. The library completed work on its new National Information System for the Agriculture and Food Economy Researches (NISAEFR) program, which will link to the Internet in the future. Another achievement was the publication of their Food Technology and Food Industry Thesaurus, several years in the making, and containing almost 19,000 entries.

Romania - The Director of the Library of the University of Agricultural Science, Ms. Letitia Goia, gave an oral presentation; the library is still searching for funding to permit e-mail access for the library.

Russia - Nina Abbakumova from the Central Scientific Library in Moscow reported strides in implementing an integrated system, and establishing agreements with other libraries.

Slovak Republic - The Institute for Scientific and Agriculture (ISTIA) was well represented by Michal Demes, Jan Simko, and Marcela Chrenekova. In 1996, ISTIA installed a LAN and connected to the Internet. It hosted two international workshops, completed work on a CD-ROM of information about Slovakia, and launched the AgroWebClub, which connect through the Internet users and contributors to the fact that the AGRIS/CARIS Centre moved from Bratislava to Nitra!

Slovenia - Tomaz Bartol, from the University of Ljublana and Head of the Slovenian National AGRIS Centre, reported on the extensive networking activities now linking the country's two universities to the Internet. They have intensified their exchange program with NAL and other institutions, and have continued full international participation in AGRIS and AGLINET.

United States - Several representatives from the United States attended and spoke; Eleanor Mathews, Head of Reference and Instructional Services at Iowa State University; Barbara Hutchinson, Director of the Arid Lands Information Center, University of Arizona; Antoinette Powell, University of Kentucky Agriculture Library and President of USAIN; and Pamela Q. J. Andre, Director of NAL. In addition to the representatives from the U.S., Jan van der Burg, President of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists (IAALD) spoke to the group on behalf of that organization.