By-products / CD-ROM / Online

International Organization Information / Research: 2003 (Part #5)

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Yearbook Plus (CD-ROM version): This version (8th edition) was successfully completed with the new software interface in October 2002. It also included the new edition of Who's Who in International Organizations.

Yearbook of International Organizations (Online version): Continuing The access facilities to this version continue to be improved in response to feedback via SAUR. UN agencies continue to form a significant part of the subscribers. Access to the Who's Who in International Organizations is part of the subscription. SAUR recognizes the online format to be of growing importance in comparison with the book version. It has also been agreed with SAUR to incorporate the UIA's World Guide to Logotypes (1997) into the online service. This has now been done.

Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential (Online version): The related databases (problems, strategies, values, human development, etc) are very actively used as a free complement to subscriber access to the data on international organizations. Given that they share a common layout format with the Yearbook, they continue to be used to test improvements to the organizations online facility. They are recognized by SAUR as being of value to marketing the organization information.

International Congress Calendar (Online version): As previously indicated, the online version has not been activated under subscription because of a combination of technical problems (notably integration with the Yearbook data) and the unsatisfactory nature of the business model to ensure its viability. There is an active demand for this facility.

Republication of UIA historical publications Further progress has been made on the (partially outsourced) work in processing historical publications – to recover deteriorating archives, make them available, and in preparation for the centennial celebrations of the UIA. All versions of the UIA periodical (La Vie Internationale, 1912-21; Bulletin des associations internationals, 1943-44; Bulletin mensuel, 1951-53; International Associations, 1954-76; Transnational Associations, 1977-2001) have now been scanned – totalling some 35,000 pages.

They are in process of being converted into searchable text in PDF format (25 years partially completed). Two versions are being used to refine the access process with a view to permitting access online under subscription in addition to any possible CD-ROM version. These tests will also make it possible for more concrete discussion of options with regard to the future of any online version of the current issues of Transnational Associations which could be integrated into the same format. Discussions are in progress with Jacques de Mévius (a Full Member of the UIA) with regard to financial facilities in support of this work.

Links to individual articles in past issues of Transnational Associations will be provided from the online bibliography of research papers that forms part of Volume 4 of the Yearbook. Subsequently efforts will be made to design an access procedure via subject groups independently of that provided via the online databases.

Recent discussions with SAUR indicate interest in marketing this facility, possibly in conjunction with online access to the Yearbook.

The possibility of marketing a CD-ROM of back issues of Transnational Associations is also under consideration.

SAUR is now advertising an online version of the UIA's historical Annuaire de la Vie Internationale (1905-1911; 5,000 pages). These may be placed on CD-ROM in the future.

Multimedia products As indicated previously, following the production for demonstration purposes of poster-size maps (of networks of organizations, problems, strategies, etc) generated from the online facility, further work on these products is now envisaged in relation to a new marketing approach.

The main focus of such work over the past year has been with respect to Volume 5. It is probable that these facilities will play a key part in the UIA's participation in some future international meetings.

Website and database access Considerable work continues to be done to improve the look, feel, organization, security and integration of the UIA's static and dynamic websites – notably in relation to the needs of online subscribers, currency and the new facilities (historical publications, logos, etc).

A new approach to the time consuming process of user management has been developed in consultation with SAUR. Regular update procedures have now been standardized.

Requests for information and support The Secretariat continues to receive numerous e-mail demands for information. Some of these take the form of requests from Associate Members for which the extraction can be charged. Others involve much time by various staff members that is justified under the heading of public relations services. More problematic are those requests from universities and other bodies in process of setting up their own databases.

Requests are also received for technical assistance in the use of the CD-ROM and online systems.

Prix de these Une dizaine de candidatures recevables ont été enregistrées pour l'octroi du prix de thèse 2003. Celui-ci ayant été reporté à une date indéterminée, les candidats ont été retenus pour une prochaine sélection.

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