invitation for voluntary resource persons (long)

Wed Apr 2 22:40:43 EST 1997

The Center for Library and Information Resources at the Asian Institute of
Technology (AIT) in Thailand are going to organize its 3-month training
course on  "Emerging Technologies for Automated Information Services and
Management"  in July-September 1997.

We would like to invite voluntary resource persons who are interested in
sharing their expertise by giving a lecture or hands on training on PC  to
the participants of this course.  Those participants are librarians,
documentalists and information personnel from the countries in Asia and
Africa, such as  Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Botswana,
Mongolia, Bhutan, etc.  There would be around 10-15 participants to the course.

Each session of a lecture or hands on training would last 3 hours.  Each
topic should cover one or two sessions. 

The Asian Institute of Technology is a non-profit institute, thus, we could
only offer to cover the resource persons ' accommodation at AIT during the
time of  his/her lecture.  This could be interested for resource persons who
would have to come to Thailand for other business during the time of the
training course.

If interested, please email me and state the topics that you could offer and
the dates that you would be in Thailand.

Suggestions are also welcome.  Thank you.

Please find details of the 3-month training course below.
=================

Emerging Technologies for Automated Information Services and Management (3
months)

Duration:	7 July - 26 September 1997,  6 July - 25 September 1998

Background:	Our 3-month training course is carefully designed to provide an
understanding of the principles of automated library systems and information
services for librarians, documentalists, information managers, and subject
specialists.

Objective:
                Ø To provide an understanding of the principles of automated
library systems and information services; 
                Ø To provide an opportunity for participants to update their
knowledge of issues and developments in the rapidly changing technological
environment; 
                Ø To ensure that participants develop an ability to handle
effectively the new multi-media technologies in order to address the needs
of their targeted information seekers.

Course Contents:	The course focuses on 6 subject areas relevant to the
envisioned proactive role of information professionals.  These subject areas
are:

1.	Effective Communication Skills		

This is the first topic of the course.  Participants are encouraged to work
in teams.  Good listening abilities and features of interpersonal
communication are emphasized as important. The topics covered are:

	-  	Group Dynamics
	-  	Interpersonal Communication

2.	Organization of Information	

Here, emphasis is placed on the functions of an information specialist in
setting up a specialized information database or data bank.  Bibliographic
tools and database construction, management and control, with work-sheet
design, output formats, commands and indexes are included. General problems
in running specialized centers and various solutions would also be examined.

The topics covered are:

	-  	Abstracting
	-  	Indexing
	-  	Bibliographic Descriptions
	-	Record Management/Classification
	-	Introduction to Thesaurus

3.	Networking	

Regional and international networking (Internet) for exchange of information
through direct computer links would be  introduced.  Participants will learn
how to make the most use of the Internet and other networks available.

The topics covered are:

	-	Information Networking
	-	Information Sources and Finding
	-	On-line Database Services
	-	Introduction to LAN/WAN
	-	Internet/Gopher/WWW/Multimedia
	-  	Electronic Mail
	-  	Virtual Library

4.	Computer Applications	

The participants will attend theoretical and practical sessions on a number
of applications software packages which have been tested and proven
successful at CLAIR.  The fundamentals of management information systems,
database management, basic programming concepts and disk memory management
would be  introduced.  The latest technological equipment, software, and
systems would be used in the training.	The major concern in this part  would
also be on the use of Micro CDS/ISIS database program in the
library/information centers. This program was designed by UNESCO for
libraries and distributed to developing countries. 

The topics covered are:

	-  	Introduction to Computer Technology
	-  	Introduction to WINDOWS
	-	Introduction to Microsoft Word
	-	Introduction to Pagemaker/Desktop Publishing
	-	Introduction to Powerpoint
	-	Creating a Web Page
	- 	Database Management Systems:  Micro CDS/ISIS

5.	Information Dissemination	

The participants  will learn how to produce a meaningful publication using
desktop publishing.  The awareness of the users’ needs would be emphasized
during these sessions.

The topics covered are:
	-  	Writing Techniques
	-	News Writing/Newsletter Preparation
	-	Publication Production-Methodology
	-	Current Awareness of  Services
	-	Selective Dissemination of Information
	-	Reference Interview

6.	Issues in Information Services	This area explores management of personnel
and human relations in an information institution.  The information market
would be studied with a view to information product design, cost evaluation,
and commercialization.  Critical issues such as copyright law would also be
discussed.	Participative teaching-learning methodologies including
lecture-discussions, group projects, role play, field and cultural trips and
demonstrations would be  applied to the teaching of the course.

The topics covered are:

	-	Management of Information Organization
	-	Personal Utilization and Management
	-	Marketing of Information
	-	Barriers to Access

Participants:	Participants should have a degree in Library Science or be
working in libraries or information centers or related work for at least 2
years. The course will be conducted in English, therefore participants
should be able to communicate in English.  The course is limited to 25
participants.

Venue:	The training course will be organized at the Center for Library and
Information Resources (CLAIR) on the Asian Institute of Technology campus
situated on Pahonyothin Road, 42 km north of Bangkok, Thailand.

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Naiyana Thanawattho
Program Associate
Center for Library and Information Resources
Asian Institute of Technology
P.O. Box 4
Klong Luang
Pathumthani 12120
Thailand
Tel: 66-2-5245869
Fax: 66-2-5245870
Email: nai at ait.ac.th
http://www.ait.ac.th/clair/training/training.html
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