Science and Technology Information Services and Systems in Africa: Report of a Workshop Held in Nairobi on April 19-22, 1989 (Revised Edition)

摘要

The status of scientific and technical information (STI) systems and services in selected African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria) is summarized in the report, along with trends in information services and management. A framework for developing an STI system is also provided. The adoption of STI systems has proceeded much more slowly in Africa than in Asia and Latin America. Constraints include shortages of funds and of trained personnel, the absence of an enabling environment, and lack of native language software and of peripherals for acquired hardware. However, several trends provide African information professionals unprecedented opportunities to develop innovative and effective systems. Individual country reports and a list of CD-ROM products on the world market as of 1990 are included among the appendices.