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| History |
| The VOWB submitted an ambitious project to the Flemish Government (AWI = Flemish Administration of Sience and Innovation) that aims to set up a (Flemish) network for digital information. The feasability of this project was investigated during a study-, test- and starting phase (1996-1998). This pilot project, for which the Flemish government has put aside a sum of 5 million BEF, was closed with a demo-periode from November 23th till December 23th 1998. During a month a set of fifty databases ( library catalogues, bibliographic databases and full text databases) were offered for free to universities, high schools and public libraries. During this demo-period it was proved that in Flanders exists a public interested for digital information and that an interactive information environment for a large group of users can be realised. In 1999 for the first time the Flemish Government provided a global budget line of 80 million BEF for digital information. On Februar 15th 1999 the General Assembly of the VOWB adopted a concrete plan for the communal providing of digital bibliographic information. In a first phase the concerned institutions themselves have to look after the acquisition and the linking with bibliographic information. The recommandations are transmitted to the AWI (Flemish Administration for Science and Innovation) and the Cabinet for Science Policy. On the last Council of Ministers of 1999 it was decided to purchase bibliographic databases for a total amount of 72 million BEF. Since May 2000 all these databases can be used effectively by the institutions for which, on base of the licences, access is provided. On June 21th ISI Web of Science was officially introduced in Flanders with a press conference and a champagne breakfest. Flemish Minister of Education, Marleen Vanderpoorten, delivered a speech in which she called the launching of Web of Science one of the five priorities of the Flemish scientific and innovation policy, to wit the reinforcement of the data flow between the scientists. For 2000 the extension of the supply of bibliographic databases is planned for the three current user groups: universities, high schools and scientific institutions. Such a proposal for an amount of - approximatively - 55 million BEF was already approved by the cabinet. Before the autumn a proposal for the acquisition of full text will be prepared. Therefore an amount of about 15 million BEF is still available. Publications: W. Bosmans / Ch. Peeters, Overheidssteun onmisbaar bij de ontwikkeling van informatiebeleid: wetenschappelijke informatievoorzieningen in Vlaanderen?, in: Th@ma (1996), p. 36-40. K. Bergé, Elektron: Elektroniscue informatie voor Vlaamse Wetenschappelijke bibliotheken, in: Mediagids, 4 (1999), p. 37-57. |