Egyptian National System for Scientific and Technical Information: Alternatives for Library Collection Development

摘要

The design and administration of the Collection Assessment Survey, undertaken to identify and evaluate existing major Egyptian library collections as potential resources in a national information network, are discussed. The Survey focused on scientific and technical books, journals, and abstracting and indexing services. Six methods which might be used in Egypt for the selection of scientific and technical information (STI) journal titles to be included in a national system are addressed, including use of the British Library Lending Division rankings, relevance rankings by Egyptian librarians, recommendations by experts, and measurement of actual demand. It is concluded that interlibrary cooperation is essential if Egypt's libraries are to maximize access to the information they have and the resources they will have in the future. It is suggested that a single facility be made responsible for coordination of network services.