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The basic rule for guidance should be that, broadly, if an item
is not good enough for your library then it isn’t good enough for a
library in a developing country. One of the particular characteristics of
health information is that out of date information is not just useless but can
provide a real danger to people’s health and well-being.
The HINARI programme and others run by INASP, eIFL and others
are all concentrating on putting current top-class information in the hands of
doctors and researchers in the world’s poorest companies. It is natural
and admirable for working librarians in comparatively well-resourced situations,
but I would argue that there are better ways of doing this than shipping out
old books. There are good sister-library programmes currently running (I know
the MLA and the Scandinavian/Baltic ones best but I think PHI and others run
them too) and there is lasting good to be done by forging long-term links with individuals
and libraries who can benefit substantially from help and support. Many years
ago, I knew of one university medical library in Africa that put together,
photocopied, bound and distributed a basic undergraduate textbook from
photocopies supplied gratis from a library in the UK.
Fortunately, web access via HINARI is eliminating the need for this
type of grim and legally dubious expedient. There is still a lot of scope for individual
action, but not, in my view, for spending alot of time and trouble shipping our
discards.
Tony
Tony McSean
+44 7946 291780
From: UK medical/ health care library community /
information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gordon,
Alison
Sent: 11 March 2008 08:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Book Donations[Scanned]
On the other hand, some universities in developing countries are grateful
to have *any* books so if you have a medic with contacts they may be able to
suggest some organisation to benefit.
I know some of the medics at Ninewells here go and work for 2
or 3 weeks in areas of the world which are very poorly equipped.
Your local Rotary club may be able to help too.
Regards
Alison
*********************************
Mrs
Alison Gordon
Senior
Information Specialist (Academic Librarian)
Information
Services
University
of Abertay Dundee
Bell
Street
Dundee
DD1
1HG
Tel
01382 308865
Fax
01382 308867
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
*********************************
From: UK
medical/ health care library community / information workers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Roddham Mike
Sent: 11, March, 2008 08:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Book Donations[Scanned]
My understanding, having tried a few years ago, is that
international organisations want up--to-date information, not old books
Mike
Mike Roddham
Head of Library Services
01243 831507
http://www.westsussexhealthlibraries.nhs.uk