APSIG Newsletter

Asian Resources Database needs an editor

The Asian Resources Database, now available on RMIT Publishing, both on CD and online as ASIANRES, was first established in 1994 by APSIG with a grantof $20,782 from the Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services(ACLIS).

The database was developed by Nereida Cross of the University ofNew South Wales. The aim of the project was to "uncover, describe and critically assesselectronic databases on Asia accessible from Australia" with the hope that the results "would be available in the public domain on the Internet" and that "a printed guide to the databases will be published." The search to find a host for the database resulted in it being mounted by Informit in 1995, which is now commercially run as RMIT Publishing. For a few years after its establishment, the database was maintained and updated by Susan MacDougall, formerly on the Committee of APSIG, but was discontinued from 2001, following her retirement.

The fact that the Database is still offered by RMIT Publishing, even though out-of-date, suggests that it is still a worthwhile product. But it is embarrassing professionally for Asian librarians that an out-of-date and unmaintained database should still be offered. RMIT Publishing pays some royalties annually, although they are not high for the amount of work involved for a directory database that doesn_tnecessarily grow in size.

If you wish to provide information to add to the database, or are interested in taking on updating the Asian Resources Database yourself, please contact Susan on smacdougall@actewagl.net.au for further discussion.