Information is to an increasing degree based on the use of electronic tools.
This development opens new possibilities for users and creates new
responsibilities for libraries as information providers. In the past, Middle
Eastern and Islamic collections have not been supported by funding bodies in
building up tools for providing electronic information for their users in a
manner comparabale to other institutions, for example, in technology or life
sciences. In order to satisfy information needs of their users, libraries and
collections have to coordinate their limited capacities to create electronic
tools for making available information on their subjects. The creation of a
virtual library is an important step towards achieving this goal.
A virtual
library depends on the cooperation of a multitude of institutions but needs at
the same time a coordinating institution. In October 2000, the University and
State Library Saxony-Anhalt, Halle started a project that aims at coordinating
activities of electronic information regarding Middle Eastern and Islamic
Studies and at laying the foundation for a Virtual Library Middle East / North
Africa. The project is sponsored by the DFG.
The principal aim of the project is the extension of the following services or the construction of the following tools:
Further aims may be added in the future.
The Virtual Library Middle East North Africa supported by a number of
participating institutions is designed to function as a centre of information in
the field of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies. The tools will be constructed
in a way that enables external partners to feed their data into the databases.
The DFG provides financial means for four positions for 2 years.
The main responsibilities of the four positions are:
The following institutions have expressed their intention to cooperate in the framework of the Virtual Library / Middle East North Africa or have contributed to the project already:
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