Internet Chinese Librarians Club

Citation

Tang, J. (1998), "Internet Chinese Librarians Club", Asian Libraries, Vol. 7 No. 12, pp. 442-443. https://doi.org/10.1108/al.1998.7.12.442.9

The Internet Chinese Librarians Club (ICLC) was created on 1 December 1995. It is an Internet‐based non‐profit organisation committed to making full use of cyberspace and computer technology to cultivate scholarship among Chinese librarians and information specialists. All of its operations, including correspondence, publications and other activities, are conducted on the Internet.

The ICLC Web site is useful for all sectors in the library and information community. The homepage organises information in eight main sections: About ICLC, Bulletin Board, Offices/Committees, Publications, Programs/Services, Our Members, Internet Links, Registration Form. The most striking characteristic of the site is its emphasis on providing an environment wherein Chinese librarians, no matter where they are, can discuss at ease issues related to librarianship and information science. Great emphasis is laid on electronic publishing and electronic information exchange. The electronic publications issued by ICLC are as follows: Chinese Librarianship: An International Electronic Journal, Critical Review of Library & Information Science Literature: An International Electronic Journal, Library & Information Science Research: An International Scholarly E‐Journal, Internet Chinese Librarians Club Listserv, Internet Chinese Librarians Club FTP Site.

The electronic journals are produced with a view to facilitating information exchange among librarians and information professionals worldwide. To achieve this aim, no efforts are spared in exploiting the capacities of current computer technology. The peer‐reviewed publishing process guarantees high quality for these journals, and their articles cover a wide variety of topics, from library science research to practical Internet services in libraries. In addition, ICLC provides links to a wealth of current, detailed information on Chinese studies and Chinese librarianship. Toward the bottom of the homepage is a link to Magellan, which helps clients navigate the Internet.

The directors of ICLC, mainly from North America and China, are experienced scholars in librarianship, and all of them take an interest in China‐related library issues. The simplicity of the design and the well‐organised structure make ICLC easy to browse. Overall it offers an excellent and enjoyable means of communicating scholarly information on Chinese librarianship.