Online reference service and Internet content service based on co-operation among libraries: LibInfO, the Hungarian Libraries Internet Information Service

Tóth Ferenc Tibor <ftoth@oszk.hu>

OSZK

Tokaji Nagy Erzsébet <tokaji@oszk.hu>

OSZK

From WHAT-WHERE (MIT-HOL) to LibInfO:

Planning and development of the online information service began at the Networkshop conference held in 1999, in the frame of the Electronic Library Section of the Association of Hungarian Librarians. The Hungarian Electronic Library (MEK) was chosen to co-ordinate the WHAT-WHERE (MIT-HOL) service and when MEK was integrated into the National Széchényi Library the idea arose of transferring the online information to the national library’s Information Service. This was put into practice in 2001.

At the meeting held in the National Széchényi Library at the end of August 2001, attended by representatives of the special libraries, the county libraries, and national library staff and outside specialists participating in the WHAT-WHERE service, the following agreement was reached:

• the development and high standard operation of the Hungarian online system should be carried out within the frame of a consortium,

• the Information Service of the National Széchényi Library should act as moderator,

• the link to the service’s website should be placed on the homepage of the participating institutions and on the public Internet portals from September 1.

The Agreement on establishment of a consortium was concluded by mid-October 2001, taking into account the opinion of the institutions participating. In addition to the 19 county libraries, the Budapest and the national library, it was joined by 2 Budapest, 18 higher education and 11 special libraries (making a total of 52 libraries) and by 4 individuals. In the course of this work it was found that the service cannot be operated professionally under the name MIT-HOL because this is already registered (for commercial services). The name chosen after a public opinion survey was LibInfO (Library Information Online) Hungarian Libraries Internet Information Service.

In its new form LibInfO operates in a roster system provided by the national library. The server receives incoming questions 24 hours a day. Answers are given within 48 hours. A moderator (co-ordinator)

• forwards questions received to member libraries participating in the system, according to their theme and nature,

• monitors the time the answer is given,

• forwards the answers to the questioner,

• archives the incoming questions and the answers given.

In addition to acting as co-ordinator, staff of the national library take part in the reference work and carry out the regular maintenance and control of the computer system (server).

Arising from the online nature of the service, the tasks of LibInfO increasingly include forwarding information available on the web. The greatest benefit of the system is that it expands the limited possibilities of the individual institutions as they can draw on each other’s sources in their information work.

Since the co-operation began there has been a sharp increase in the number of questions received by e-mail. This growing trend still continues.

LibInfO has shown that the library society is capable of meeting the demands of the knowledge-based society and that by combining forces and co-operating it can carry out this task efficiently, on a high standard.

LibInfO Service: http://mithol.oszk.hu/