International Reception

This year’s International Reception will be held on Monday, November 9, 2009, at 8pm. At the reception you will be able to meet and congratulate this year’s International Paper Contest winner and mix with colleagues from all over the world.

This year’s contest winner is Muhammad Rafiq, from Pakistan. His paper is titled “[The] LIS community’s perceptions towards open source software adoption in libraries,” and is set to be published in the September, 2009 issue of the International Information and Library Review, edited by Toni Carbo. Come meet with Muhammad Rafiq, and pick up one of the copies of IILR that Elsevier has generously donated to the event.

SIG-III will hold its annual InfoShare Silent Auction at the event. If you have items you would like to donate to the Silent Auction, please contact InfoShare Officers Abebe Rorissa (arorissa [at] albany [dot] edu) or Sarah Emmerson (saemmerson [at] yahoo [dot] com), and bring your items to the conference with you.

We will also have our annual Raffle Ticket Sale at the Reception. The prize in the Raffle is a gift basket put together by the local chapter of ASIS&T, with locally produced products and goodies. If you have something small and new that you could contribute for the basket, please contact Abebe or Sarah and bring it to the conference as well.

All proceeds from the Silent Auction and Raffle Ticket Sale will go to the SIG-III InfoShare Fund, which offers ASIS&T memberships to information professionals in developing countries for whom the cost of membership would otherwise be a financial burden.

Thank you for your support! Come enjoy yourself at the International Reception! International attire is encouraged!

Aaron Bowen
Chair, SIG-III

International Paper Contest Winners

SIG-III is pleased to announce two winners for the 2009 International Paper Contest. The first place award goes to Muhammad Rafiq (pictured above), from Pakistan, who will be awarded a two-year membership to ASIS&T, as well as funding to travel to this year’s annual Meeting. His paper is titled “[The] LIS community’s perceptions towards open source software adoption in libraries.”

The second place award goes to Muhammad Arif and Saima Kanwal, both from Pakistan as well. Their paper is titled “Acceptance of digital library among female students and effects of limited access of digital library on their performance in research work: a case of International Islamic University.” As principal author, Dr. Arif will be awarded a two-year membership to ASIS&T.

Both papers will be considered for publication in the International Information and Library Review.

Please join me in congratulating our 2009 Contest winners! We hope you will come meet them at the International Reception at this year’s ASIS&T Annual Meeting.

Contributed by Aaron Bowen

2009 Annual Meeting at Vancouver, British Columbia

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors four panels at the 2009 Annual Meeting:

• Free Access to Computers and the Internet at Public Libraries: International Reflections on Outcomes and Methods
• International Partnerships in Developing and Deploying Health Open Educational Resources
• Globalization of Intellectual Property Rights: Implications of the TRIPS Agreement for Access to HIV/AIDS Drugs in Africa
• International Implementation of Digital Library Software/Platforms

In addition to these panels, there are additional panels and contributed papers relating to different aspects of international information:

• The Impact of ICTs on Politics in Uganda: The Convergence of Radio and Telephony in the Power Contest between the Resurging Buganda Nationalism and the Central Government
• Documentation and Communication in Aboriginal/Indigenous Cultures
• Nationality in information behavior: Comparing Koreans and Japanese
• Information Access across Languages on the Web: from Search Engines to Digital Libraries

Last but not least, we would love to see you at the 2009 International reception!

Announcement of the 2009 International Paper Contest

The Special Interest Group on International Information Issues (SIG-III) of the American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) is pleased to announce its tenth competition for papers to be submitted for the 2009 Annual Meeting, which will take place in Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 6 -11, 2009.

The theme of this year’s paper contest is: "Thriving on Diversity - Information Opportunities in a Pluralistic World".

The theme may be addressed at either the country or regional level issues. Papers could discuss issues, policies and case studies on specific aspects of the theme, such as, but not limited to the following (mainly adopted from the conference theme):

• Multilingual information systems
• Cross-language information retrieval
• Accessibility and cultural factors in system design and information services
• Cross-border data flows
• Open access and cultural diversity
• Information literacy and challenges of harmony versus hegemony
• The role of international organizations in building on diversity
• Digital inclusion
• Social networking in a linguistically and culturally rich environment
• Information behavior in diverse contexts
• Knowledge management in diverse contexts
• Information policy

There will be up to six winners who will be selected by a panel of judges including Hong Xu (Chair), Jonathan Levitt (Co-Chair), Aaron Bowen, Nadia Caidi, Yunfei Du, Daqing He, Macia Lei Zeng.

Selection Criteria

Papers will be selected through a peer review process. The judging criteria will be based on:

• Originality of paper in the developing world environment (originality of the project described, etc.)
• Relevance to the Paper contest.
• Presentation and organization.
• Style. The international paper contest committee requires that submissions follow the <a href="http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622845/authorinstructions">International Information and Library Review instructions to authors</a>.

The prize for each winner is a two-year individual membership in ASIS&T. In the case of multiple authors, the principal author will be awarded the ASIS&T membership. In addition, depending on SIG III fundraising for this competition, the first place winner will be rewarded a minimum of $1,000 toward travel, conference registration, and accommodations while attending the ASIS&T Annual Conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada, November 6 -11, 2009.

Publishing opportunities

Submitted papers will be considered for inclusion in a special issue of the International Information and Library Review, subject to the usual peer refereeing process, for that journal.

Information for authors

Only papers by a principal author who is a citizen of, and resides in a developing country are eligible. Winners in the 2005-2008 contests are not eligible. The papers should be original, unpublished, and ONLY in English. We encourage submissions from librarians, information and network specialists, and educators involved in the creation, representation, maintenance, exchange, discovery, delivery, and use of digital information.

ASIS&T Copyright Policy

ASIS&T will have the non-exclusive right to publish any of the papers submitted on its web site or in print, with ownership and all other rights remaining with the author.

Deadline for submission of full papers

Authors are invited to submit manuscripts, not to exceed 5,000 words, by May 31, 2009, to hgxu [at] pitt.edu, preferably as Microsoft Word attachments.

Please check the SIG III website for more information about the SIG III International Paper Contest, including frequently asked questions, past CFPs and previous winners.

InfoShare winners announced!

InfoShare, a program sponsored by SIG-III, awards one-year ASIS&T memberships to information professionals in developing countries for whom the cost of membership would be a financial burden. InfoShare increases awareness of the importance of international cooperation, facilitates and enhances communication and interaction among ASIS&T members and colleagues worldwide, and provides a forum for exploration and discussion of international information issues.

Recipients must reside in a country where there is no ASIS&T chapter, and may be practitioners, researchers, or students enrolled in an information science program. This year SIG-III is please to offer InfoShare awards to nine information professionals, two of whom are students.

InfoShare Memberships:

• Mumtaz Memon (Pakistan)
• Maqsood Shaheen (Pakistan)
• Hanane Boujemi Morocco)
• Yuanxin Zhong (China)
• Tara Mani Dahal (Nepal)
• Abdul Waheed (Pakistan)
• Tibebe Beshah (Ethiopia)

Student InfoShare Memberships:

• Sandra Miguel (Argentina)
• Mae'n Al Assaf (Jordan)

Please join SIG-III in congratulating our 2009 InfoShare winners! You are also welcome to check out our Blog announcement and the InfoShare section of our website -- just click "InfoShare" in the left-side navigation menu.

2008 Annual Meeting at Columbus, Ohio

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors four panels at the 2008 Annual Meeting:

• 25 Years of SIG/III and the Future of International Information
• ICT-Mediated Diaspora Studies: New Directions in Immigrant Information Behavior Research
• Understanding Visual Search Tools through Users’ Reactions
• Global Perspective on Wikipedia Research

2008 SIG-of-the-Year Award

SIG/III is please to be a co-recipient of the 2008 SIG of the Year award (shared with SIG/USE). The ASIS&T Bulletin writes that

As internationalism and global information have become increasingly more important to the academic and corporate environments, SIG/ International Information Issues (SIG/III) has demonstrated its strength and importance to the work of ASIS&T. SIG/III consistently produces excellent programs and publications at the Annual Meeting and throughout the year. One key example is the February/March 2008 issue of the Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, in which SIG/III offered a special section that included articles on information activities on four continents. The popular International Reception at the Annual Meeting offers an opportunity to celebrate our international – and local – members, and it raises funds to support memberships for professionals in developing countries. SIG/III helps to bring international members to ASIS&T through the InfoShare and Digital Scholars programs and aids many countries in forming and evaluating information policies. As one of the jury members noted, “SIG/III rocks!” In recognition of its work supporting the society at home and abroad (wherever that may be), we are pleased to recognize SIG/III as the 2008 SIG-of-the-Year.

International Reception

ASIS&T Bulletin Special Section

2007 Annual Meeting at Milwaukee, Wisconsin

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors four panels at the 2007 Annual Meeting:

• Information Behavior in Developing Countries: Research, Issues, and Emerging Trends
• International Perspectives in Open Government
• North American Information Initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa (NAIISA): Social Computing Environments and Implications
• 5th Global Information Village Plaza – MySpace, OurSpace: Social Networking in the International Arena (see also the Global Plaza link in the left navigation on this page)

2007 SIG-of-the-Year Award

SIG/III is please to be a co-recipient of the 2007 SIG of the Year award (shared with SIG/DL). The ASIS&T Bulletin writes that

SIG/III continues to set the bar high for what ASIS&T SIGs can and should do: deep involvement and participation with the membership, extensive outreach beyond the Annual Meeting, the InfoShare project which opens the world of ASIS&T to information scientists around the globe and many other activities that are planned throughout the year.

International Reception

2006 Annual Meeting at Austin, Texas

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors three panels at the 2006 Annual Meeting:

• Life After WSIS: Lessons Learnt and Implications for the Information Professions
• 4th Global Information Village Plaza - Personal and Professional Trust in Information in the 21st Century (see also the Global Plaza link in the left navigation on this page)
• Information Realities of HIV/AIDS Information in Sub-Saharan Africa: Barriers and Challenges to Information Professionals

2007 SIG-of-the-Year Award

SIG/III is please to be the recipient of the 2006 SIG of the Year award. The ASIS&T Bulletin writes that

SIG/International Information Issues (III), winner of the 2006 SIG-of-the-Year Award, continues to set the bar for excellence in everything an ASIS&T Special Interest Group can and should be. This truly international SIG had broad and deep participation from the membership and continues to grow each year. Communication to the membership is diverse, frequent and of very good quality. One jury member noted that this SIG displays an "[i]mpressive array of activities and a very enthusiastic group of SIG members broadening ASIS&T's horizons and membership." We are proud to award SIG-of-the-Year honors to SIG/International Information Issues (III) for another impressive year of exceptional activity and service.

SIG/III Officers Nadia Caidi and Caryn Anderson win the James M. Cretsos Leadership Award and SIG/III wins the SIG-of-the-Year Award

International Reception Photos and More

2005 Annual Meeting at Charlotte, North Carolina

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors five panels at the 2005 Annual Meeting:

• International Standards Developments
• Cross-cultural Analysis of Virtual Reference
• Cross-Cultural Issues in User Learning and the Design of Digital Interfaces
• Multilingual Digital Libraries: Research and Practice
• Re-visiting the Neutrality of Technology

International Reception Photos and More

SIG/III Won All Three SIG-related Awards at ASIS&T 2005

2004 Annual Meeting at Providence, Rhode Island

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors five panels at the 2004 Annual Meeting:

• Important Technical Issues for Digital Libraries with Multiple Collections, Different Languages, and Diverse Audiences
• National Security Policies: Implications for Information Flow and Scholarly Exchange
• Building Digital Libraries through Collaboration Within and Between Nations
• 3rd Global Information Village Plaza (see also the Global Plaza link in the left navigation on this page)
• The State of Libraries and Information Services in Developing Countries

• International Reception Photos
• SIG III Technical Sessions Photos
• Global Plaza Photos
• SIG Rush Photos

SIG III Activities at the 2003 Annual Meeting

SIG/III Activities at the 2003 Annual Meeting

SIG III Won Awards for 2003

Sue O'Neill Johnson is the winner of the SIG Member-of-the-Year Award for 2003

SIG/III has been a winner of the ASIST SIG-of-Year Award for the past three years in a row (2000-2002). Sue played a leadership role in the group as its Chair in 1999-2000, Past Chair 2000-2001, and Chair Elect 2001-2002. Under Sue’s leadership, SIG III has initiated many new programs, such as International Paper Contest and International Travel Grants, to name a few. Congratulations to Sue on the well-deserved award!

SIG III Web Site Won the SIG Publication-of-the-Year Award for 2003

The SIG/III Website is the winner of the SIG Publication-of-the-Year Award. The award is to recognize the best publication produced by a SIG during the previous year. Yin Zhang, SIG III Communications Officer and Webmaster (2001-2004), received the award for the group. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions for improving the site! The SIG III Web site strives to meet the needs of its audience and to facilitate SIG III administration and communication. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome!

ASIS&T Potomac Valley Chapter and SIG III Fundraising

ASIS&T Potomac Valley Chapter and SIG/III present: An International Bazaar and Merrymaking Thanks for the support!

SIG III Won SIG of the Year Award for 2002

SIG/III was the co-winner of the SIG-of-the-Year Award at the 2002 Annual Meeting! It has made history to win this award three times in a row for a total of 8 times:

-1982/83
-1983/84
-1990/91
-1992/93
-1996/97
-1999/2000
-2000/01
-2001/02

SIG/III sponsors or co-sponsors five panels at the 2002 Annual Meeting:

• Digital Divide II: Global vs. Local Content
• Global Information Village Plaza (see also the Global Plaza link in the left navigation on this page)
• Multicultural Aspects of Information Organization and Access
• Society Metrics in the Global Environment
• Working With or Around Your ILS? Solutions from the Real World

SIG III Won SIG of the Year Award for 2001

SIG/III was the winner of the SIG-of-the-Year Award AGAIN this time at the 2001 Annual Meeting! This award is to recognize outstanding professional accomplishments and activities of an ASIS&T Special Interest Group. What made this award very special is the fact that SIG III won this award two times in a row!

SIG III at 1999 Annual Meeting

The Silent Auction at the International Reception at the Annual Meeting of ASIS 1999 was successfully held on November 1. Many SIG/III members contributed wonderful and wacky items for sale, some helped to set up and manage the sale, and many others bought the items. The best news of all: we made over $500! Thanks to the generous donation from Elsevier to underwrite the costs of the reception itself, all the profits from the silent auction can be used for Infoshare memberships. On behalf of the SIG/III, we want to extend a sincere thanks to all of you who organized and participated in this event!