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INTRODUCING AECL LIBRARY
SERVICES |
Mandate
AECL Library Services supports AECL's business by assuming three
key roles: v
To provide access to information resources by
maintaining over 40 database and 150 current journal subscriptions, in
addition to a large collection of books, technical reports, standards and
journals in print and micro format. v
To provide information services
including reference services, citation and bibliography verification,
compilation of selected bibliographies on key subject areas such as ACR,
access to special Electronic Technical Collections, information and key links
on nuclear knowledge management, maintaining the corporate-wide conference
database, as well as purchasing all types of materials for branches,
departments and all AECL libraries. v
To interpret copyright legislation which
includes providing information on how to understand the basic principles and
proper use of electronic resources, the rules for copyright governing
photocopying of publications owned by AECL, and providing advice on copyright
questions and issues. To protect AECL from any potential liabilities, it is
extremely important that employees are in compliance with the legislation
when using copyright-protected publications. Organization
AECL libraries are functioning as one system, with resources shared
between them. While some tasks performed by site staff are for a specific
site, many are provided to the entire company. This consolidated approach
facilitates more streamlined and boundary-less services to AECL employees. Summary of Services
The key services provided by Library Services to AECL employees
include:
The AECL Library collection covers a wide range of technical and
business subjects and is accessible to all AECL employees:
An integrated library management system, SydneyPlus, is used to index
and manage the library collection. A web-based user interface to the database
is provided through Library Service's home page. Other operational activities Many tasks are performed behind the scenes to make provision of
information resources to library users possible, e.g. acquisitions,
cataloguing, maintenance of licensing agreements with publishers for
electronic resources, administration of the integrated library system
SydneyPlus, management of Library Services' home page, collection management
etc.). Better prices for information resources are also diligently
negotiated, and ways to facilitate sharing of resources, both within the
company and with other organizations, are examined. Communication with users
Library staff communicate their services to users through company
bulletins, training sessions, open houses, guided tours, and new employee
orientation sessions. In addition, the Library Services' home page, an
on-line portal, provides links to information resources for the entire
company. There is also an external AECL Library Services web site residing
within AECL's external web page that allows external organizations to search
the AECL library catalogue. Management tools
Library Services has developed various management tools including
a:
International Co-Operation
AECL's Library Services does not function in isolation. It operates as
a part of a worldwide library community. The CRL Library is the Canadian Centre for the International Nuclear
Information System (INIS)/IAEA, a role designated by the Government of Canada
more than 30 years ago. The Library contributes to the INIS database by
indexing and submitting technical reports, books and journal articles related
to nuclear energy that are published in Canada. INIS-generated technical
papers, publications and current awareness profiles are supplied to
Canadians. This and other INIS liaison activities facilitate timely delivery
of information resources to AECL employees as well as providing free access
to the INIS, Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDE) database, and IAEA
publications. AECL Library Services co-founded the International Nuclear Library
Network (INLN) with the IAEA Library in 2005 April: http://inln.iaea.org. The purposes are to promote inter-library
co-operation, to facilitate resources sharing, and to support the global effort
in nuclear knowledge management. In addition to its INIS and INLN roles, AECL is a voting member
of the Canadian Council of Federal Libraries. The search for information
resources goes far beyond Canada's boundaries. Library Services interacts
with international colleagues on a daily basis - from North America to
Europe, to Asia. International standards are followed in cataloguing the
library collection. Other institutions often drive AECL Library Services to
continuously improve and modernize its service provision methods to keep up
with the industry trends. Vision and commitment
Library staff takes pride in being able to support AECL's business.
User input is strongly encouraged to improve services and collection
development; for example, technical journals are currently 100% selected by
customers. Better and more cost-effective ways of bringing information
resources to the library user's desktop are encouraged. During the past
couple of years, an increasing amount of electronic resources have been made
available through the AECL network. Library staff wants Library Services to be the first place AECL
employees turn to meet their information resources needs. For materials not
included in the AECL library collection, Library Services will explore worldwide
to fill requests. Library Services continues to work hard to preserve its role as the
central repository for Canadian nuclear science and technology literature,
and to play a key role in the nuclear knowledge management movement initiated
by many nuclear organizations worldwide. |
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