Integration of Russian Electronic Information Resources of Social Value on the Basis of DL Concept

T.V. Ershova
Institute of the Information Society – Russia
E-mail: ershova@iis.ru

Y.E. Hohlov
Institute of the Information Society – Russia
IFLA Section on Information Technology
E-mail: hohlov@iis.ru

The paper analyses the contexts in which Digital Library becomes an efficient tool to ensure access to knowledge that is becoming a major development factor in the forthcoming Information Society. There is briefly presented background of a distributed Global Knowledge Warehouse concept where DL is one of most important elements. The authors look into modern approaches to creation and use of digital libraries, refer to new opportunities enabling their users to better extract and to generate knowledge. There is described experience in the integration of Russia’s information resources of social value within a number of programmes and projects supported by state agencies. There is presented the pre-history of the interdepartmental programme “Russian Digital Libraries” as well as a framework for its development.

Tatiana Ershova graduated from the Maurice Thorez Moscow State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages in 1980. 1985 through 1998 she worked in the Russian state Library - Russia's largest and world's second largest national library. Her career had consequently gone up from an exchange and acquisition librarian to a Deputy Director and the Acting Director. Now she is Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Institute of the Information Society - an NGO promoting Information Society development in the Russian Federation. She has a vast experience in management, in elaborating concepts and development strategies for a nation-significant institution and a region, in organising and conducting conferences and workshops (both national and international). She has published over 30 articles in professional journals and mass media.

Yuri Hohlov graduated from the Kazan State University in 1976; PhD in Mathematics, 1980. Worked at the Kazan (Tatarstan) and Donetsk (Ukraine) Universities as a lecturer, associated professor and professor (1980-88), lectured at 17 universities and institutes of Europe and North America. Made research at two leading mathematical institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1988-93, 95-98), was Director of the Department of Informatics & Telecommunications of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (1993-95), Deputy Director of the Russian State Library (Library Automation Services & IT, 1996-98), developer and manager of a number of large-scale information systems for industry and science. Now Yuri Hohlov is Chairman of the Board of the Institute of the Information Society - Russia, Chairman of the High-Level Expert Group on Information Society Development at the Moscow City Council, member of a number of international bodies evaluating ICT implementation projects, Chairman of IFLA Section on Information Technology, editor-in-chief of the Information Society Journal and of the electronic journal “Russian Digital Libraries”. He has published a monograph and over 70 articles in major Russian and overseas scientific journals.

Institute of the Information Society – Russia is an independent non-governmental organisation established in September 1998 on initiative of a number of professionals from different IS related areas united by the idea of an Information Society development in Russia. Its goals are up-building and development of an Information Society in Russia, Russia's integration in the global Information Society. Scope of its activities includes research in the Information Society development; dissemination of knowledge in legislation, informatics, telematics, communications, librarianship etc.; elaboration and examination of bills and other legislative and normative acts as well as of special programmes, innovation and investment projects aimed at the development of the Information Society; political, social, economic, scientific and technical forecasting in IS area, support of effective projects aimed at the Information Society development, providing information services related to the Information Society issues; delivering data transmission and telematics services; organising and conducting IS related conferences, exhibitions, workshops, press conferences etc.; production and dissemination of printed, electronic, audio and video information related to the Information Society issues.