Major Programme 190. Library and Documentation

Summary of 1998-99 proposals and comparison with previous biennium (including funds from other sources)

190.1 Information on labour and related issues is an essential working tool for the ILO and its constituents in support of policy-making, planning and research activities. The dissemination of labour information is therefore an important aspect of the ILO’s work, as set out in the ILO Constitution (article10), which states that the Office’s functions include “the collection and distribution of information on all subjects relating to the international adjustment of conditions of industrial life and labour...”. The two principal objectives of the programme are: to collect, organize and disseminate key information on labour and related issues for constituents, headquarters and field staff, partner institutions and researchers; and to strengthen the capacity of ILO constituents, staff and partners to make effective use of labour information. These objectives will continue to be pursued through three types of activities: the acquisition, processing and dissemination of information; the development of technical standards to facilitate the use of information; and the preparation and provision of related training, advisory services and publications.

190.2. The ILO Library has traditionally played a leading role among United Nations agencies in the dissemination of data through computerized systems. During the biennium 1998-99, it will continue to adapt its information processing and dissemination activities to current developments in information technologies, and particularly to such innovations as digital libraries, the Internet and the increasing number of client groups with specialized information needs.

190.3. The resources for this major programme are reduced by some $422,000 in real terms. This economy is mainly associated with a reduction in the provision for subscriptions and acquisition of books and with the deletion of the provision for RBTC activities. These activities will be initiated by the ILO’s external offices.

Client services

190.4. This subprogramme has a dual function: to provide key information on labour and related issues in print, electronic and other formats to ILO officials and constituents in member States; and to provide technical advisory services and training related to the provision and use of library and documentation services. Client services therefore include: the organization of training courses for constituents and partners, at headquarters and in the field; and the provision of advisory services on information management, including the publication of guides and manuals, to ILO offices, constituents and partners. A question and answer service is operated, bibliographies are supplied and the LABORDOC and ILO Thesaurus databases are disseminated in printed and electronic form. The activities of the subprogramme also cover the operation of the headquarters Reading Room, the management of the Library’s collections, and the circulation, reproduction and loan of materials. The volume and variety of services delivered have increased steadily over the past three biennia. Despite the growing number of requests for bibliographies in electronic form, demand for printed bibliographies has remained stable. Emphasis will continue to be placed on the delivery of services using new information technologies, such as CD-ROM and high-speed computerized telecommunication links within headquarters, between headquarters and the field, and between the Office and information institutions worldwide. Special emphasis will be placed on supporting the field offices and multidisciplinary advisory teams.

Information acquisition and processing

190.5. The functions of this subprogramme include: the identification, acquisition and processing of information products containing key information on labour and related subjects; and the development and maintenance of technical standards, computer systems, databases and other tools which give comprehensive, timely and cost-effective access to the Library’s collections. The work of the subprogramme includes producing and reviewing technical manuals and the ILO Thesaurus, an internationally recognized lexicon of multilingual subject descriptors on labour and related issues. About 600 items per month are added to the LABORDOC database, which reflects the core work areas of the ILO through the materials selected by the Library, requested by other major programmes or received from constituents and partner institutions. LABORDOC is currently published on two CD-ROMs (LABORDOC via SilverPlatter and on the Helecon International CD-ROM), via on-line hosts accessible on the Internet and through the ILO’s ILIS Referral System, for which a World Wide Web (WWW) Internet interface is under development.. Continuing demand for International labour documentation, the printed abstracting and indexing journal produced from LABORDOC, is expected to remain sufficiently high to justify its continuation in 1998, although an assessment of its future beyond that date will be made in 1997. Several ILO documentation centres participate actively in the development of LABORDOC through the preparation of entries on specialized topics. The application of a common framework of standards and procedures for information management by the Library, headquarters and field documentation centres creates economies of scale and uniformity of access to ILO information.

Programme management

190.6 In addition to programme management, provision is made under this subprogramme for administrative and secretarial support for the major programme as a whole.

International Labour Organization (ILO): Contact us | Site map |

Copyright and Permissions 1996-2009 International Labour Organization (ILO) - Disclaimer