INFORMATION NETWORK AND LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT  
DURING AND AFTER ECONOMIC CRISIS IN  INDONESIA ": 
with  Special Reference to   SEAMEO  BIOTROP In Meeting the Challenges of the Future *)  

By:  Widharto
Librarian SEAMEO BIOTROP
Jl. Raya Tajur KM6, P.O. Box 116
Bogor, Indonesia 16001 
Ph. (62-251) - 323 848; fax (62-251) - 326 851
e-mail: widharto_50kdr@mailcity.com
w_widharto@bogor.wasantara.net.id

ABSTRACT

As Indonesia  has just  embarked into the third millennium,  Indonesia’s responses to the emerging knowledge economy, the  massive  information  explosion  and rapid knowledge obsolescence are to be that of a  learning  nation. It means that the entire population of Indonesia,  regardless  of  their  socio-economic  backgrounds,  are  encouraged  to  learn  and  make  productive  use  of  knowledge all the time, particularly the tertiary institutions. 

The potential role and use of the Internet in the provision of information services for both research and  study in Indonesia' tertiary institutions is no longer a highly debatable issue. Although a big part of the academic community may not be fully aware of the full potential and limitation of the Internet in academic work, nevertheless they are increasingly becoming aware of it through the publicity it continues to receive in the mass media, tertiary institutions themselves and government pronouncements.

BIOTROP, with its innovations achieved in  librarianship, must share and  provide good library services. The  Information  Resource  Unit,  to which  the library  is  attached, has  played an important role in providing information on its subject interests both to BIOTROP staff and its other end users from  Indonesia and Southeast Asian countries. The programs and services  being offered by BIOTROP library  are  discussed   in  this  article.

*)	Paper to be presented at the International Seminar on Digital Library  and Knowledge Management, and Launching of the First Operation of Indonesian Digital Library Network (IndonesiaDLN), Bandung, Indonesia, June 6-7, 2001.

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I.	INTRODUCTION

	Science and technology for development, as well as successful technology transfer, hinges on adequate scientific and technological infrastructures in the developing countries. Research and development efforts in developing countries without a sufficient infrastructure and without linkage to the productive sector only tie up the little research and development resources often available without sufficient benefit for the developing countries. Technology transfer not supported by an appropriate economic and technological infrastructure in the developing countries increases the technological dependence. Some of these crucial infrastructure include information support, promotion of linkage of research and development with overall education and training system and the productive economy, industrial promotion and local technology centers.

	The developing countries need scientific and technological information about the optimal utilization of their natural resources to raise the quality of life of their people. They need information about new food, feed, and wood crops, about processing, storage, and preservation  of food, about microbial processes in the production of foods, beverages, condiments, animal feeds, and medicines, and about harnessing non-conventional and renewable energy  sources, about water supply and water purification, about conversion and utilization of organic wastes, about new building materials. The scientific and technological information acquired through transfer or through own research should be relevant, up-to-date, productive, and appropriate.

The potential role and use of the Internet in the provision of information services for both research and  study in Indonesia' tertiary institutions is no longer a highly debatable issue. Although a big part of the academic community may not be fully aware of the full potential and limitation of the Internet in academic work, nevertheless they are increasingly becoming aware of it through the publicity it continues to receive in the mass media, tertiary institutions themselves and government pronouncements.

Academic libraries in Indonesia, particularly those under the ADB Project, INO-1253 are and will increasingly come under  pressure to provide Internet-based information services. Until recently, some tertiary institutions were better endowed than others in terms of financial resources, library personnel, material resources and indeed with respect to the Internet facilities and services.

II.	BIOTROP,  ITS  OBJECTIVES AND ITS ACTIVITIES
	BIOTROP,  the  SEAMEO Regional Center for Tropical Biology was established  on  February 6, 1968, in Bogor, Indonesia.  BIOTROP  has  been developed to provide the SEAMEO  member  countries  with increased capability in biological science relevant to regional economic  needs. Its enabling instrument mandates that the objectives of this organization are  to identify and help solve critical biological problems, the solution of which will enhance  economic development in the respective member countries and to  that  end, undertake  research,  publication  and training  programs  and  other  related activities  within  and  outside of  Indonesia. 

	Bogor was considered appropriate for the location of BIOTROP, as  this city is noted for its Tropical Biological Institutes,  namely the Botanical Gardens, the Herbarium Bogorienses, the Treub Laboratories, and  the Muzeum Zoologicum Bogorienses.    Furthermore,  Bogor is the center of scientific activities in  agriculture of  Indonesia,  where the Forest Research Institute, the  Central  Research Institute  for  Agriculture,  the Central Institute of  Estate  Crops,  the Central  Research  Institute for Industrial Crops,  the  Animal   Husbandry  Research  Institute, CIFOR, Asia Pacific Agroforestry Networks  (APAN),  and the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) are located.
 
     	The  goals  and  objectives  of  BIOTROP,  as  mandated by  SEAMES (SEAMEO Secretariat at Bangkok)  are:

1.	To  develop  into  a  regional  center  of  excellence  of  international  stature   in  Tropical  Biology
2.	To  strengthen BIOTROP’s  management  capability  and leadership  needed  in  the  pursuance of its  vision  and  mission
3.	To  develop the  organizational  capability  to  initiate  and  manage  change   in            development
4.	To  provide  leadership  in  networks,  partnership,  and  linkages through  enhanced  cooperation/collaboration  among  SEAMEO-member  countries  as  well  as  other  countries  and  relevant  organizations
5.	To  ensure  financial  viability  by  exploring  alternative  sources  of funding

	After   32 years  of  dedicated  service  to  the  region  through  cooperation, BIOTROP has proven its viability and has gained  international recognition  for  the impact of its professional and  technical  program activities and services in tropical biology.  On  the  threshold  of  the next  millennium,  BIOTROP  has  just  completed  its  process  of  restructuring  with  the  end-in-view  of  revitalization  in  response  to  the   changing  needs  and  developmental conditions. BIOTROP’ s Governing  Board, which  is  the  policy-making  body,  has  identified  for  the  next  five  years  the  following  program  thrusts,  namely:

1.	Tropical Ecosystems and Environmental Impacts.
	Priority Areas:
•	Tropical ecosystem  structure and function
•	Tropical production systems
•	Environmental impacts assessment and modeling

2.	Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development
	Priority  Areas:
•	Biological resource utilization and conservation
•	Biodiversity exploration for conservation and sustainable development

3.	Biotechnology and Pest Control
	Priority Areas:
•	Biological control of pests and diseases
•	Biological  control of pollution (bioremediation technology)
•	Agricultural and forest  biotechnology

II.1	BIOTROP Objectives

	BIOTROP’s  objective is to contribute to the economic development of the Southeast Asian region by identifying and solving critical biological problems, the solution of which will enhance regional development and help solve these problems through appropriately designed research and training programs (Seventh Governing Board Meeting, 1972).

	In particular, BIOTROP concentrates on research programs, developing the tools and principles of research in its defined program areas, and on training professionals in the region in their efforts to stimulate further biological research in member  countries, thus producing the maximum multiplier effect from BIOTROP programs. The dissemination of findings and results of experimentation is fundamentally important in helping BIOTROP attain its objectives.

	To implement this, BIOTROP is supported by its Information Resources Unit (IRU). The library,  under the supervision of the Head of the Information Resources Unit, and has the following functions: to lend out library materials; provision of interlibrary loan services, photocopying services, general reference services, and circulation of  journals among BIOTROP staff; display of new library materials and the conduct of  training courses.

	BIOTROP research  projects,  handled by  its scientists,  are  problem  oriented  and  geared  toward  developing  model  solutions. Through  research  in tropical biology and  agriculture,  BIOTROP  has developed  technologies   for  accelerating agricultural  development, concern  about  the Southeast Asia's rich forests, aquatic  and  agricultural resources, and its sustainable  development.

II.2	DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM OF  BIOTROP 

Among the functional goals of BIOTROP are for its library to disseminate information on its programs and research findings to users of such information in Southeast Asia; to act as a clearinghouse  for processing, storage, and exchange of tropical biological information within the region; and foster international cooperation communication and exchange of scientific information among scientists interested in tropical biology. The IRU, has a regional responsibility and has the  objective of creating and maintaining  bibliographic databases in selected areas of tropical biology.
 
	To allow easy  access  to  information resources available  at the SEAMEO BIOTROP, the IRU, produced different  kinds of  databases for different purposes. Until recently, five databases have been  established. After  the WEEDOC (Weed documents),  RESABS (abstracts of research), and HERBAR (herbarium data bank) were developed,   the  choice  was  made  for developing  a  user-friendly  software,  INMAGIC.  The five databases are:

•	WEEDOC, database which contains bibliographical  information on weeds of  Southeast Asia.  IRU is proud to have a  database on Southeast Asian weeds that is  larger than what a user can get at any one place;

•	LIA, a database which contains an  index of scientific articles from the journals available at the IRU library;

•	DOC, a database which contains bibliographical data of published and unpublished  and reports, and/or other  articles/papers written by BIOTROP staff; 

•	BIOTRO, a database which contains bibliographical  data  on books acquired by the BIOTROP  library; and

•	SERIAL, a database which contains bibliographical  data of the  serials by  title acquired  regularly by  the BIOTROP  library.

Those databases were initially established with  financial  assistance from  the International  Development  Research  Center (IDRC), Canada. Under the Project, BIOTROP established the Southeast Asian Weed  Information  Center  (SEAWIC)  in   1985. It is a   specialized  information   Center  about undesirable  plants that grow in the region. SEAWIC has been created to  select, screen,  analyze,   process,  store, and disseminate  information  that  can  be gathered in Southeast Asia. In addition, SEAWIC  was established to collect  and disseminate information on weeds. With the databases it has  created  and  the publications  it distributes all over the world, the project has shown its merits  in terms of providing information to weed scientists all  over  the world.

II.3	BIOTROP ROLES IN THE  HIGHER  EDUCATION PROJECT (HEP) 

	There are a number of important roles for regional universities to fulfill in regional development which constitute the overall developmental mission of these universities. The regional universities have not always been able to fulfill the mission because of the limitation caused by their  isolation, lack of adequate qualified staff, inadequate facilities such as  information services, and lack of communication with regional authorities and communities.

Through the HEP, the Ministry of Education and Culture designated BIOTROP as a resource center for Indonesian universities to promote scholarly research via networking. Through this project also, BIOTROP has performed its function to share its experiences by providing training courses for junior staff members at the target universities, supervise research projects proposed by them, and facilitate any activities related to those at BIOTROP. 

	In the last few years, under said project, the library of BIOTROP has been a partner of the  University of Indonesia in organizing training courses on library  management and  library  staffing for junior librarians  of  target university libraries funded by the HEP.   Library  management covering strategic  planning,  total quality  management, information technology, human resource management, and  marketing of  information  were selected topics given in the courses. More than two hundred librarians and information specialists from the target universities participated in the courses organized jointly between BIOTROP and the School of Library Science - University of Indonesia.

III.	LIBRARY  SERVICE  IN  INDONESIA

	The world’s economic crisis shook Asia, first, in July of 1996 and has crossed borders and continents, and Indonesia is the most country suffered by the crisis. The crisis has forced our government to reexamine economic policy and priorities and has had  an impact upon individual institutional budgets. Due to the economic crisis most of libraries in Indonesia have suffered in terms of shortage of qualified personnel, small budgets, lack of space. The single factor contributing to this slow of development has been, in opinion, government’s inaction,  non-participation and low interest in the development of libraries.

	So far, there is always the problem of manpower. How and where do we find the suitable trained and experienced information workers. Workers who may have to converse intelligently and knowledgeable one day with an advanced research worker  with an understand of what is happening worldwide in his field and the next day perhaps have to deal with an almost illiterate factory owner who needs information to be given simply in a form he can easily understand.

	Another major problem facing all of us Librarian in Indonesia is cost. How do we handle budget which are static or decreasing. We know manpower costs are forever increasing and the prices of books, journals or other library  materials are escalating enormously. 

	To enable most of the libraries in Indonesia in the effort to remain current with the explosion of print-on-paper resources and their accelerating costs, while introducing new technologies and training staff to more speedily access the vast array of information sources while coping with the cost of both. It is unfortunate that just as libraries began to explore the use of new technologies to make breakaway, they also began to experience a period of accelerated inflation in the regular cost of scientific and technical resources and the deflation of local currencies. 

IV.	INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THE USE OF SCIENCE AND  TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA

	Information systems have major strategic impact on the use of  science and technology for development. In the era of globalization, information systems can no longer treated as purely technical and/or operational matters. Information systems have moved beyond providing support to the development and dissemination of science and technology. In fact, they have become increasingly its core. Their effect on research, on innovation, on the activities of industrial centers, research and development institutions, in the agricultural and industrial extension, and other strategic endeavors in science and technology is indeed great.

	The development computer and of  communication technologies have made a significant impact on libraries and scholarly communication in  Indonesia.  Now it is possible to communicate  from a networked workstation with anyone across the globe as well as have real time access to digital document. 

	The booming of global  information high way is a huge progress of science and technology also to human society.  Different from industrial products, messages imported to information high way naturally come with political and cultural influence. In the future, those who holds information, will hold rights and wealth, and even hold the world.

V.	INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND THE AGRICCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 

	Information systems have major strategic impact on the use of  science and technology for development. In the era of globalization, information systems can no longer treated as purely technical and/or operational matters. Information systems have moved beyond providing support to the development and dissemination of science and technology. In fact, they have become increasingly its core. Their effect on research, on innovation, on the activities of industrial centers, research and development institutions, in the agricultural and industrial extension, and other strategic endeavors in science and technology is indeed great.

Agricultural research has provided a significant contribution to achieving the goals of agricultural development and has received substantial attention the needs of the country as a whole in accordance with the agricultural policy formulated at the highest governmental levels.  As a part of these development activities, efforts has also been  focused on the strengthening of research productivity and improving its impact at the farm level.

Although agricultural research has generated improved technologies for development, considering the large variety of problems and production constraints there are still many challenges for these technologies to solve the agricultural problems confronting Indonesia. To adopt these technologies for solving these problems will require a large research effort.

While many different organizations in the country have a role to play in the process, the contribution of agricultural research is critical. Indonesia's goals for the agricultural sector can be achieved only if we are capable of developing new packages of technological innovations that are profitable for our farmers to utilize and the enhance productivity and contribute to employment generation while meeting ecological and natural resources criteria. The task before us now is much more complex than a decade ago when we began our intensive efforts to increase rice production.

VI.	ASIA Fellow Program

The principal goal of the ASIA Fellows Program is to increase the overall awareness of intellectual resources in the People’s Republic of China, South and Southeast Asia, and to contribute to the growth of long-range capabilities for cross-regional knowledge sharing.  The program seeks to develop regional expertise, establish a multilateral network of Asian specialists from many disciplines, professional fields and countries, stimulate interdisciplinary research and inter-societal comparison, and contribute to new developments within existing area studies communities. The ASIA Fellows Program offers opportunities for participants to gain knowledge of the countries in the region and an understanding of the contexts that shape global and regional issues. I have proposed a proposal "Increasing Access to Scientific and Technical Information on Tropical Biology for Users at SEAMEO -BIOTROP AND Other Institutions During and After Economic Crisis". The fellowships has enabled me to visit IRRI, . Los Banos, the Philippines for Internship Working and preparing questionnaire for my survey from Nov. 99 to Jan. 00.  Feb. to early May I have been in Indonesia for data collecting by visiting and interviewing scientists and  lecturers of the target universities involved in the project.
 
The survey was designed to identify the information needs and patterns of information use of the scientists, and faculty members of the target universities of the ADB Project No. INO-1253, where SEAMEO BIOTROP, in Bogor, and Institut Teknologi Surabaya (Institute of Technology of Surabaya)  (ITS), Surabaya, are designated as the Resource Institution. Those target universities are as follows: Universitas Jambi (UNJAM), Jambi, and Universitas Bengkulu (UNIB), Bengkulu, both in Sumatera. Universitas Jenderal Sudirman (UNSOED), Purwokerto, and Universitas Jember (UNJEM), both are in Java. Universitas Mataram (UNRAM), in Lombok, West Nusatenggara. Universitas Cendana (UNDANA), in Kupang, East Nusatenggara. Universitas Tadulako (UNTAD),  Palu, and Universitas Haluoleo (UNHALU), both in Sulawesi. Universitas Cendrawasih (UNCEN), in Jayapura, Papua (Irian Jaya).

	A comprehensive questionnaire consisting of eighteen items was developed. It consists of three sections as follows: (1)  Personal data (2) Use of Library, and (3) Information Need/Sources and Retrieval. The final questionnaire was distributed to scientists and faculty members of the target universities through their respective Rectors, Deans and Local Project Implemented Unit (LPIU)  of ADB Project of the said universities. 

	Specifically, the aims of the survey are:

1.	To know the scope and the types of scientific information needed by each universities, and the target universities as well;
2.	To know which of the information sources available are most used by them;
3.	To identify the specific purposes for which they use the library;
4.	To  identify the methods of searching information used by them as well as the results of their searches;
5.	To identify the information-seeking behavior patterns of the users;
6.	To find out users' awareness of available information services and to know which of these services are most used by them;
7.	To identify some problem areas and make recommendations to improve the library facilities and information services rendered by their libraries.

The following requirements were identified through visiting and interviewing scientists and lecturers of the universities visited and contacted:

1.	Access to information and databases on their specific needs, such as tropical biology  available and compiled by organizations in developing and developed countries, especially in ASEAN member countries;
2.	Information clearing house to facilitate information marketing and access to wider communities
3.	Improved communication software interface
4.	Facilitating access to phone lines and e-mail networks for institutions based in remote regions
5.	Improved networking strategy, co-ordination and planning among universities to avoid duplication in research and also other program/project
6.	Training in data communications application and use

VII.	TRAINING NEEDS IN INFORMATION SCIENCE

	The Field of Information  Science is dynamic one. Advancing technology provides tools which allow for great degrees of specialization and refinement in information services. In addition, the creation of new disciplines and the increase in knowledge produce new types of users and information needs. Moreover, activities in information science are no longer carries out only by persons whose primary area of specialization is information/documentation.  Subject specialists have now entered the field and STI project come from a variety of technical backgrounds including for example engineering, agriculture and economics.

"The process of acquiring knowledge of attitude and skills in information, as a  major determinant of the way in which people exploit reality, develop. Live, work and communicate in an information society". Generally, however, a student who is information literate and has information skills is expected to:

•	recognize that accurate and complete information  (textual, numeric, or graphical) is the basis for intelligent decision making. In other words they have values which promote information use and can implement information processes. This would include the confidence to tackle relatively undefined problems through the  knowledge that information could be found.

•	determine exactly what problem or  aspect of the problem they are trying to solve. This would include skills such as brainstorming or concept mapping which would enable the individual to place the problem within a particular knowledge  context.

•	Define  and  determine what information is required for the task in terms of type of material, media and comprehensiveness. This requires the individual to understand what may be expected in terms of the final "product" whether it is a final year project report or an executive summary.

•	Formulate questions based on information needs that help to define what content is required. For example would case studies, past experiments, information on methods, regulatory information etc. be useful. What exactly do they need to know?

•	Identify potentially relevant and valuable primary, secondary, and tertiary sources of information. This implies a knowledge of the 'world of information', including journals, books, people, organizations, electronic newsgroup etc. In terms of primary data this would also imply knowledge of appropriate research techniques.

•	develop successful search strategies in both the paper based on electronic domain for identifying secondary  information. This requires knowledge of relevant paper and electronic full text and surrogate indexes as well as principles along which such systems are organized. In the area of primary knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research techniques is required. It also implies the use of effective scanning techniques such as the u se of contents pages, headings, conclusions, summaries etc.

•	gather information and data through experiment or through secondary sources. This may involve the use of  appropriate research methodologies such as sampling and the application of good experimental practice such as taking laboratory notes. It may involve the use of information technology such as the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) search engines or publicly available online catalogues. It would also involve effective adaptation of search strategies, browsing and recording useful data.

•	Organize and store information. This requires the use of information technology to develop databases, containing for example, bibliographic citations, quantitative or qualitative data. It would also include the basic skills of note taking and organization of data and information.

•	Interpret, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and also to critically challenge the validity of collected information. This would include recognition of the need to evaluate and corroborate before adopting information.

•	Develop insight, judgement, and prediction. This would involve extrapolation and the application of findings to different and possible future situation.

•	Use of effective and appropriate tools and methods for the presentation and visualization of data and findings. This involves knowledge of effective presentation and communication style and format as well as an understanding of what is appropriate to the situation. It increasingly requires knowledge of presentation and data visualization software.

•	Develop strategies and techniques for the publishing of result of reports. This requires knowledge of the avenues for publishing in that domain and increasingly the ability to distribute information using electronic format such as hypertexts mark  up language (HTML) or portable document format (PDF).

•	Adapt these cognitive and behavioral information 'strategies' to different situation and contexts.

VIII.	BIOTROP LIBRARY  SERVICE IN THE NEXT MILLENIUM

	Changing and adapting are two essential requirements for survival and growth. A library  generally  operates with no  great sense  of urgency and by its nature, is more conservative  and protective.  Here,  inertia, reigns  and valuable  traditions  and status quo are jelously guarded  against disturbing change.  Thus, as a supporting unit,  the BIOTROP library today  is confronting daunting new challenges as it  enters the early years of the 21
f1st Century. the BIOTROP library is forced to grapple with  these pervasive changes  in order to meet the demands  of times, the relevance of its services to societal needs, and  its role in social, economic and political  activities.

	The new challenge of the  BIOTROP library in the new age is to remain contemporary. It must preserve what it is in its tradition, while  at the same time  introducing the changes required by dynamic society entering the 21st Century. In general, libraries must ask which changes they must make,  rather than whether or not to make these at all. To achieve this, libraries must create an environment that encourages innovative thinking and risk taking.

Any attempt to transform the work philosophy of a certain library must have a well-  defined  mission. They should be in line with their supporting institutions with responsibility of developing its own quality. Whatever ideas,  practices and procedures may be borrowed, whatever their origin, they must be adapted to fit local needs and circumstances. Indonesian librarianship can undoubtedly profit from the experience of others.  The most urgent of these problems would seem to be education for librarianship. Without leadership in this field, Indonesian librarianship will have difficulty in achieving the status it needs and deserves. Indonesian  librarians by the very magnitude and special nature of their problems are in the position to develop new techniques and to offer  other  countries  useful  suggestions. 

BIBLIOGRAPHIES 

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JOHANNES, Herman. 1983
	
	“The Needs of Scientific and Technological Information in the  Developing World”
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	"Increasing access to scientific and technical information on tropical  biology for users at SEAMEO - BIOTROP and other Institutions during and after the economic crisis in Indonesia”, final report. Bogor, 2000. 15 p.