1. ‘Virtual Libraries‘ and ‘Subject Portals‘ as Gateways to Subject Information Dr. Norbert Kunz, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Osteuropaabteilung, Japan. Delegationsbesuch, 26.11.2009

2. Contents ‘Virtual Libraries‘ and ‘Subject Gateways‘ Background: The German System of Special Collections („Sondersammelgebiete“) The Virtual Libraries of the Bavarian State Library Users and Usage

3. ? ? literature data bases new acquisitions internet resources holdings projects scientists full texts current university calenders e-

4. ‘Virtual Libraries‘ and ‘Subject Gateways‘ - concepts information to be delivered online: independence of location and closing hours focus on one subject: abundance vs. relevance Parallel search options (metasearch) integration of different kinds of relevant and complementary information […] => …‘one-stop-shop‘ in the internet information must be –relevant –as full as possible –delivered quickly –easy to handle –[…]

5. ‘Virtual Libraries‘ and ‘Subject Gateways‘ – typical features library catalogues literature and subject databases new acquisition databases full text services database on internet resources document delivery options pull- and push-services, alerts further subject information: who?, where?, when?, what? news corner, newsletter => no clear definition on the difference between both types, in Germany ‘Virtual Libraries‘ tend to be more complex than ‘Subject Gateways‘

6. The System of Special Collections Funding in Germany Background: unlike other countries there is no unique National Library in Germany Established in 1949 by the German Research Foundation (DFG), funding of acquisition budgets Modern functions of National Libraries fulfilled by several libraries and information institutions => acquisition of foreign countries scientific literature: 22 mainly university and state libraries with national library functions

7. Guidelines on supraregional Special Collections and Virtual Libraries literature and other information ressources nearly on the whole spectrum of knowledge scientific information for scientific users decentral organization: key institutions with excellent holdings in one or more subjects via electronic information systems (WWW): free access - supraregional, suprainstitutional Virtual Libraries infrastructure: ideally cooperation of Special Collection Libraries In comparison to search engines: stand-alone features –Integration of traditional and digital information resources of one subject –librarian competence: indexing and selection of relevant material –Unhiding the „hidden web“ –connection of metadata with distribution channels (licence, free of charge)

8. BSB - Special Collections funded by DFG Pre- and Early History Classical Archaeology and Philology Byzantine Studies Modern Greece Roumanian Philology East, Central East and South East Europe Albanian Philology History in general History of Germany, Austria, Switzerland History of France and Italy Musicology Library, Book and Information Science http://webis.sub.uni-hamburg.de

9. BSB – additional special collections (among others) Bavarica: collection as Bavarian State Library, legal deposit privilege Bio-Sciences, Medicine: extraordinary holdings esp. of relevant journals

10. BSB – Subject Portals and Virtual Libraries Bavarica Biological and medical literature History Classical Studies Musicology Romance Studies Library, Book and Information Science Eastern Europe

11. Users and Usage - The example of ViFaOst oldest Virtual Library of the BSB and one of the first germanwide (online since 2003) cooperative project: libraries and research institutions manifold offers well established in German speaking countries among students and scholars

12. ViFaOst – Users 1.1.-24.11.2009: 130 different IPs (Germany – Saint Vincent & Grenadines) totalling > 1.8 million hits, 2009: 2 million hits expected 10 most intense user countries: >40% of total usage

13. ViFaOst - Usage 2003-2005: yearly increase of usage between 125% and 229% 2006: new statistical parameters 2007: after relaunch increase of > 380% (compared to 2006) from 2008 on: consolidation, rather small increase, but more intense usage according to ‘campus activities‘: monthly 110.000 – 180.000 hits

14. ViFaOst – Usage II