Bart Goossens – IUFRO Research Institute for Nature and Forest Bonnie Avery – IUFRO Oregon State University Libraries International Union of Forest Research Organizations: “IUFRO” IAMSLIC: Every Continent, Every Ocean October 8-12, 2006 Portland, Oregon, USA

“Trying to describe the Canadian forest is like trying to describe the sea. You see it, but you can’t hold it with a look; you admire it even as you fear it; it seems the same, but is constantly changing; it’s quiet on the surface, but ready to burst into a torrent of flames. It is vast, diverse, living and working.” --State of Canadian Forests 2001/ quoi/sof/sof02/overview_e.html

Introduction to IUFRO Introduction to IUFRO Division – Information services and knowledge organization Division – Information services and knowledge organization Issues facing Forestry Librarians Issues facing Forestry Librarians Perspectives and Discussion Perspectives and Discussion CONTENTS

IUFRO is the global network for forest science cooperation; IUFRO is the only world-wide international organization devoted to forest research; IUFRO unites more than 15,000 scientists in almost 700 Member Organizations in more than 110 countries; Founded in 1892, IUFRO has a long history of international forest science cooperation It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization What is IUFRO?

science-based management, conservation and sustainable development of the world’s forest resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Vision

IUFRO promotes global cooperation in forest- related research and enhances the understanding of the ecological, economic and social aspects of forests and trees. It disseminates scientific knowledge to stakeholders and decision-makers and contributes to forest policy and on-the-ground forest management. Mission

GOAL 1: To strengthen research for the benefit of forests and people – –1.1 To address the changing research needs and priorities related to forests and trees – –1.2 To promote quality research, improve equity, and strengthen scientific capacity – –1.3 To strengthen the administrative, financial and legal foundations of IUFRO for the benefit of its members GOAL 2: To expand strategic partnerships and cooperation – –2.1 To enhance interdisciplinary cooperation within the scientific community – –2.2 To expand partnerships and collaboration of IUFRO with international organizations, governments and stakeholders – –2.3 To strengthen cooperation within and between regions GOAL 3: To strengthen communication and links within the scientific community and with students as well as with policy makers and society at large – –3.1 To enhance communication within the scientific community and increase interest and involvement of students in forest science – –3.2 To strengthen links between science and policy and provide scientific information and advice for international policy-making – –3.3 To increase public awareness about forest science GOALS

Eight permanent Divisions covering key forest research fields; – –Silviculture – –Physiology and Genetics – –Forest Operations Engineering and Management – –Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management – –Forest Products – –Social, Economic, Information and Policy Sciences – –Forest Health – –Forest Environment Within the Divisions, about 280 Research Groups and Working Parties address specific research topics. IUFRO structure (1)

Task Forces are established on a temporary basis for inter-disciplinary cooperation in inter-divisional forest research fields. – –Communicating Forest Science – –Endangered Species and Nature Conservation – –Forests and Carbon Sequestration – –Forests and Genetically Modified Trees – –Forests and Human Well-Being – –Forests and Water Interactions – –Forest Science-Policy Interface – –Illegal Logging and FLEGT – –Traditional Forest Knowledge IUFRO structure (2)

Special Programmes and Projects provide services that support the science collaboration in IUFRO: – –IUFRO Special Programme for Developing Countries – –SilvaVoc Terminology Project – –IUFRO Special Project “World Forests, Society and Environment” – –Global Forest Information Service (GFIS) –Joint Initiative of the CPF IUFRO structure (3)

GFIS is an internet gateway that provides free access to information resources through metadata harvesting. GFIS is a partnership of information providers. GFIS browsing and metadata search facilities allow the user to locate forest related information through a single entry point Users can locate maps, datasets, web resources, journal articles, books and other resources relevant to their forest information needs. (hosted by FAO) Global Forest Information Service (GFIS)

the possibility of global networking in forest research and related sciences the possibility of global networking in forest research and related sciences the receipt of documentation the receipt of documentation the guaranteed unrestricted access to the IUFRO website ( the guaranteed unrestricted access to the IUFRO website ( the possibility of a free link of your organization’s own homepage to the IUFRO website the possibility of a free link of your organization’s own homepage to the IUFRO website the advantage of IUFRO’s representation at regional, national and international fora such as UNFF and the advantage of IUFRO’s close cooperation with other scientific fields and groups of civil society. the advantage of IUFRO’s representation at regional, national and international fora such as UNFF and the advantage of IUFRO’s close cooperation with other scientific fields and groups of civil society. Member Benefits

Division – Information services and knowledge organization History History with thanks to Roger Mills – Oxford Forest Information Service Division Activities Division Activities with thanks to Carol Green – University of Washington Barbara Holder – FORINTEK Canada Corp., Vancouver, BC Issues facing forestry librarians Issues facing forestry librarians

Pre-World War I, IUFRO “Bibliographical Committee” is formed Need for a bibliography observed in 1903 Need for a bibliography observed in 1903 “International Committee on Forest Bibliography” formed in 1906 “International Committee on Forest Bibliography” formed in 1906 Goals Goals –Secretariat (permanent home for bibliography) –Support work via Subscriptions –Create Card catalogue and ‘quarterly magazine’ –Publish index to past literature from 1750 in book form All activity stopped by the first World War All activity stopped by the first World War

Between world wars, Birmensdorf to Oxford Forest Bibliography: an International Decimal Classification on the basis of Melvil Dewey’s system Forest Bibliography: an International Decimal Classification on the basis of Melvil Dewey’s system -- the “Flury system” (Dr. Philipp Flury, Birmensdorf) –published in German 1933, –translated to French and English in 1936 Professor R.S. Troup Imperial Forestry Institute (Oxford) Chairs Bibliographical committee Professor R.S. Troup Imperial Forestry Institute (Oxford) Chairs Bibliographical committee –card index and ‘magazine’ Current Monthly Record of Forestry Literature in 1934 –Imperial Agricultural Bureaux (IAB/CAB) invited to found Imperial Forestry Bureau (IFB/CFB) at Oxford with IUFRO’s support 1938 –Forestry Abstracts first published 1939 World War II ends plans for IUFRO International Forestry Bibliography Secretariat World War II ends plans for IUFRO International Forestry Bibliography Secretariat

Post World War II, : Bibliographical Committee revived as “Joint FAO/IUFRO Committee on Forest Bibliography” (IUFRO Section 01) Joint Committee is closely allied with Oxford Forestry Institute (OFI) whose library by default Joint Committee is closely allied with Oxford Forestry Institute (OFI) whose library by default –adopts the Clearinghouse role –Receives > 2000 current serials (~1900 via donation) –All contents indexed and abstracted via CFB. CFB begins work on a New Forestry classification in 1949, the Oxford System of Decimal Classification for Forestry, CFB begins work on a New Forestry classification in 1949, the Oxford System of Decimal Classification for Forestry, –adopted by IUFRO and FAO in 1953 –published in 1955 by the Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux (CAB) Joint Committee embarks on publication of a multi-lingual terminology, Terminology of Forest Science, Technology, Practice and Products, published in 1971 by SAF. Joint Committee embarks on publication of a multi-lingual terminology, Terminology of Forest Science, Technology, Practice and Products, published in 1971 by SAF.

More work for Serial Librarians More work for Serial Librarians “Joint Committee” becomes S6.03 = Information systems and terminology “Joint Committee” becomes S6.03 = Information systems and terminology Oxford Decimal Classification for Forestry is revised and updated Oxford Decimal Classification for Forestry is revised and updated Forest Decimal Classification published Forest Decimal Classification published Section 6.03 renames self and adds subgroups : Information services and knowledge organization Section 6.03 renames self and adds subgroups : Information services and knowledge organization 01: Libraries and Information Services 01: Libraries and Information Services 02: Trends in forest terminology 02: Trends in forest terminology 03: Forest Decimal Classification 03: Forest Decimal Classification 04: Latin American systems network 04: Latin American systems network Two more name changes Two more name changes Bibliographic information and library networks Latin American and Caribbean information systems network

2002-date New goals and recent accomplishments 2002-date New goals and recent accomplishments GOALS: –to create networks among information professionals –to coordinate efforts in the field of information services –to contribute to the organization of knowledge through terminology, classification and indexing –to evaluate and introduce latest technologies in communication and information services –to strengthen the geographical diversity of information exchange, partly through partnerships Recent accomplishments… Recent accomplishments…

Accomplishment: Networks/Geographic Diversity: International Directory of Forest Information Services

International Directory of Forest Information Services An effort to update International directory of forestry & forest products libraries An effort to update International directory of forestry & forest products libraries Initiated in 2002 by Carol Green (U. Washington) as Coordinator of with assistance and Forintek library staff. Initiated in 2002 by Carol Green (U. Washington) as Coordinator of with assistance and Forintek library staff. Hosted by ANDORNOT.COM (Canada) Hosted by ANDORNOT.COM (Canada) Uses regional coordinators to solicit additions and ideally to remind contributors to refresh content. Uses regional coordinators to solicit additions and ideally to remind contributors to refresh content. Located on web at: iufro.andornot.com Located on web at: iufro.andornot.comiufro.andornot.com

Accomplishment: Terminology Directory of Experts Includes 240 experts Includes 240 experts – in 395 forest-related fields and representing 42 languages; –Who will answer questions directly via , phone or fax Organized by Organized by s/iufro/ s/iufro/

Increase “terminological awareness” E-conferences to inventory terminological divergences for selected concepts: E-conferences to inventory terminological divergences for selected concepts: –Old growth forests, primary forests, virgin forests –Reforestation, afforestation, deforestation –Low forest cover –Forest health Consensus opinion from discussions are included in the SilvaTerm Database (an initiative within SilvaVoc) Consensus opinion from discussions are included in the SilvaTerm Database (an initiative within SilvaVoc)

Accomplishment: Classification and Indexing: Global Forest Decimal Classification Updating of the Forest Decimal Classification Updating of the Forest Decimal Classification Published in 2006 = No. 19 IUFRO World Series Published in 2006 = No. 19 IUFRO World Series Official UDC expansion for forestry (630) Official UDC expansion for forestry (630) Collaborative process with online development toolkit Collaborative process with online development toolkit –suggesting new concepts –hosted at: –German and English with French and Spanish translations in process coordinates this effort coordinates this effort.

Global Forest Decimal Classification (GFDC)

Accomplishment: Geographic Diversity Latin American and Caribbean information systems network

Accomplishment: Networking & Coordination Meetings and communication Formal: Formal: –September 2003 (Quebec City): Joint Conference with (Information Management and Information Technologies): “INFORMATION INTEROPERABILITY AND ORGANIZATION FOR NATIONAL AND GLOBAL FOREST INFORMATION SYSTEMS” –December 2005 (Oxford): Centennial Celebration of Oxford Forestry Institute: “FRONTIERS IN FOREST INFORMATION” Informal: Informal: –Division Coordinators where possible at IUFRO and/or Forestry meetings –PNW Forestry Librarians Annual Meeting (loosely affiliated with IUFRO) Webconferencing and Webconferencing and

Issues facing forestry librarians Lost expertise and institutional memory Lost expertise and institutional memory –Decline in the number of specialized forestry collections due to funding constraints and lack of space. –Decline in number of “forestry” librarians due to a need to serve interdisciplinary institutional goals. Perceived relevance of sustaining libraries as an information resource Perceived relevance of sustaining libraries as an information resource –more is available electronically and high value placed on electronic access to information –Decline in the visibility of historical materials as current collections are used electronically Challenge of locating, archiving and providing a permanent home for research findings that are borne digital Challenge of locating, archiving and providing a permanent home for research findings that are borne digital

Positioning IUFRO to address issues IUFRO has provided a solid history of concern for organizing global forestry information; IUFRO has provided a solid history of concern for organizing global forestry information; Oxford Forestry Institute and CABI have provided continuity in the past and will likely be critical partners in the future; Oxford Forestry Institute and CABI have provided continuity in the past and will likely be critical partners in the future; New Model may be needed to foster: New Model may be needed to foster: –forestry librarianship to replace lost expertise –access to distributed resources –collaboration with other organizations

Effective networking (contacting IUFRO libraries) Effective networking (contacting IUFRO libraries) –Via international directory of forest information services –Latin American and Caribbean information systems network Effective resource sharing Effective resource sharing –Setting up a listserver Z39.50 Distributed Library Z39.50 Distributed Library Regular meetings Regular meetings Collaboration with other Library Organizations Collaboration with other Library Organizations –Iamslic –Special Library Association (SLA) – Environment & Resource Management Division (Forestry Section) –CBHL, EBHL –IAALD, … Perspectives and Discussion

Financial possibilities Financial possibilities –Funding from IUFRO? No funds at all for groups –IUFRO tradition revolves around meetings being hosted and paid for voluntarily by the institution organizing the meeting –IUFRO Yearly Membership fee: covers the cost of running the Secretariat in Vienna (organises the quinquennial Congress ) –As a IUFRO group we can't charge a subscription and keep our own bank account, and we don't have 'members' as such since all staff of any institution which is a member of IUFRO can attend any IUFRO group events.  Barrier for initiatives Perspectives and Discussion

Establish a new forestry librarians organization? Establish a new forestry librarians organization? Find or establish a 'parallel' librarians organization to which 6.03 could affiliate? Find or establish a 'parallel' librarians organization to which 6.03 could affiliate? Establish a group within an existing library organization? Establish a group within an existing library organization? Take the lead from and add more regional divisions. Take the lead from and add more regional divisions. Perspectives and Discussion

Thank you!