Electronic Information Services in Eastern Europe

by Maria-Anna Courage

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'Elektronische Informationsdienste in Osteuropa' (Electronic Information Services in Eastern Europe from 1994 to 1995) is the title of the three volume study by Maria-Anna Courage and Alexander Butrimenko published by GMD.

The study is a comprehensive and complete reference and directory to databases and related electronic information services in the fields of science, technology and economy in Eastern Europe. The first volume contains information on databases produced in the Russian Federation. The second volume contains similar information on databases produced in the other East European countries including the successor states of the former Soviet Union. The third volume analyzes the economic and political situation and describes in detail the present information scene and the emerging trends. The analysis covers all types of information services and sources ­p; governmental and public information centres and libraries. Particular attention is paid to the structural changes to the information market.

The publication is a generalised and updated version of the information and data collected within the joint project of GMD and the International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information, Moscow, carried out from 1991 to 1993. The results of the previous study were published by Hoppenstedt in two volumes under the title 'Der elektronische Fachinformationsmarkt in Osteuropa 1993' (The 1993 Market for Specialized Electronic Information in Eastern Europe). This project, too, was very ambitious and intended to reflect the ongoing rapid changes to the East European information market. The publication was to include only relevant databases to provide a realistic idea of the actual situation. After the first edition tremendous political and economic changes took place in this region. These changes as well as the emergence of private information services and database producers required an update and a new analysis.

On the basis of the contacts established with numerous national information centres it was possible to continue the project activities on an international basis. The period from 1993 to 1995 was of particular importance for the development of the information world in Eastern Europe which was characterised by fundamental changes. The information centres and libraries have to find new functions and new roles in the developing democratic society and market economy. They are confronted with new problems since they have to earn money for their own budget by selling information services. The description and analysis of this situation is the subject of the new publication.

The major cooperation partner of the project was the International Centre for Scientific and Technical Information in Moscow. Because of the disintegration of the Soviet Union it was important to establish close contacts with the national information centres in the new independent states. 32 national institutions from 21 country were involved in the project. The cooperation was only possible since the participating institutions were convinced that the activities were in their own interest and helped promote their services in the West European market.

The information about the databases and the information structure was primarily delivered by the information centres of the respective countries. A direct cooperation with the information centres and libraries and in many cases a support by the responsible ministries ensured the collection of reliable data. Data from all countries of the region were collected within the project. These data show that in many successor states of the former Soviet Union the development of comprehensive electronic information services is considered to be of paramount importance. Due to the political situation, information from the former Republic of Yugoslavia could not be obtained. It is planned to translate the study into English and to integrate the data into the 'Gale Directory of Databases' regularly issued by Gale Research, USA.

The publication provides information so far not available in Western Europe. It provides people from business, science and governments who are interested in establishing contacts with East European countries with valuable data.

Please contact:
Maria-Anna Courage - GMD
Tel: +49 2241 14 2191
E-mail: courage@gmd.de