EBIB - Electronic Bulletin for Librarians - a journal and informative service

EBIB is a non-profit organisation/service that has existed since 1999 and is being created by a group of volunteers. The Polish Librarians' Association is the official publisher of EBIB.

I. Background

The idea of EBIB was introduced to the information specialists' discussion list INFOBIB-l (INFOBIB-l@man.torun.pl) of the of Polish librarians. The original meeting took place in Warsaw at the National Library on the 29th of January of 1999. Ten librarians of diverse professional backgrounds attended the meeting; the group consists of: National Library specialists with experience in generating electronic information sources, members of academic libraries, members of Institutes for Library Sciences, as well as library staff of Polish franchise of a foreign company. At the moment, EBIB is published on-line by a group of librarians associated with the Commission for Electronic Publishing of the Polish Librarians' Association. The committee consists of: the editor-in-chief, the art director, the group of editors, the translators and proof-readers (23 people in total). Additional information can be available at the address: ebib.oss.wroc.pl/english/editors.

The main tasks of the project were defined in Warsaw:

• integration of library environment,
• creation of the discussion forum,
• quick and accurate delivery of professional information,
• creation of Internet sources for librarians.

II. The Bulletin's contents

1.A monthly on-line journal, that includes:

• editor-in-chief's intro/leader,
• essays,
• reports,
• announcements,
• letters,
• discussions/polemics,
• agenda (upcoming conferences, other events).

Each issue has its separate theme. However, regardless of the particulars of the main subject, some important and current information can be published.

2.The information service (permanent chapters):

• Conferences (information on Polish and foreign conferences for librarians),
• Legal matters (legislative issues regarding library business in Poland),
• Education (education centres for librarians of various levels),
• Journals (a list of Polish journals for librarians, tables of contents, foreign e-journals),
• Links (Polish libraries, OPAC catalogues via Internet, international library services, foreign OPAC catalogues, national and virtual libraries, journals, books, publishers, bookshops, library systems and various library organisations),
• Grants (supporting organisations that librarians can address)
• Standards (norms and specifications – the Dublin Core translation is placed there).

All the services are updated regularly.

3.Additions

• Board of editors and EBIB's mandate,
• News,
• EBIB on the Internet (addresses of free Internet services),
• Archives of earlier issues,
• Next year's agenda,
• Subscription (users are given the possibility of following current events, getting communications regarding various issues and updates of changes in the service),
• Advertisements.

The editorial board is communicating via Internet. EBIB's ISSN number is 1507-7187 and EBIB is recognised as a professional journal by State Committee for Scientific Research.

III. Principles of work

The group worked out methods which allow for smooth operation of this virtual board of editors -- all 23, proficient and well organised in their respective fields of expertise and residing in different parts of the country (Warsaw, Cracow, Torun, Lodz, Bialystok-big academic centres), communicate via the Net.

One editor is responsible for preparing one particular issue. They are responsible for the theme, researching all materials and the posting their work on a discussion list INFOBIB-L. Contributing translators and proof-readers participate as well.

A promotional version of EBIB on a CD-ROM was prepared for the purpose of introduction/distribution at the International Library Fair in Frankfurt in 2000, as well as during the INTERNET LIBRARIAN INTERNATIONAL, London 2001 both of which some members of EBIB attended. The CD presented a promotional material of Polish libraries. In the future, such CDs will also hold sponsors' promotional material.

In summary: EBIB's teamwork, organisation and day-to-day operations are completely voluntary and non-profit search for new possibilities, sheer enthusiasm and satisfaction from creating a useful tool is what drives EBIB's team. Bearing in mind that such fine idea has to be supported by some substantial means, the team considers a EBIB's prospective transformation into a professional electronic newspaper run according to the same principles as traditional publications.

IV. Future

How does EBIB see its future?

Polish library environment, for the moment, is without a professional service in English, therefore devoid of necessary exposure to the world. It is EBIB's purpose to establish such a service. The members of EBIB would like fellow librarians from other countries to know their issues/problems and discuss them. The journal is to inform the librarians at large about Polish information resources (central catalogues, on-line library, databases and others). In the future, EBIB will have a discussion list and e-mail accounts (free of charge) for those Polish librarians interested in the service. EBIB's team wants to gradually introduce chargeable services as well, e.g: designing web pages for the libraries and printing conference materials (this service has already started) in both language versions.

EBIB, naturally, would like to seek out sponsors and gain financial support for the project. An electronic journal does not need huge amounts of money to reach the readers all over the world. Polish e-journal also requires more activity on the part of librarians themselves in order to create a greater discussion forum. An enthusiastic spontaneous year-long experiment should now begin evolving into something more professional.

So far, the EBIB team has performed successfully, all editors are full of bright new ideas and enthusiasm ready to share their experiences with their colleagues in other countries.

Editors