Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN EDUCATION,SCIENCE AND CULTURE1991 > Part Chapter2 4 1 |
In 1986 the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture established
the National Center for Science Information System as a national inter-university
research institute. Its function is to quickly provide researchers with accurate
science information, by establishing networks using computers and electronic
communication techniques, and to strengthen the systems for diffusing Japan's
research achievements both in and out of Japan. Also the Center is making efforts
to improve and expand the nation-wide, comprehensive science information systems.
The Ministry encourages the computerization of library resources
for the purpose of rationalizing lending services and preparing catalogues and
location information. The Ministry also promotes the introduction of special
computers for library use and the adoption of high-speed facsimiles for reproduction
services of books and other documents between university libraries.
The Ministry encourages the formation of data bases in national
universities covering various fields of science and helps learned societies and
groups of researchers form data bases through its grants-in-aid system. The National
Center for Science Information System also stores data bases with a wide potential
use and promotes their public use.
The Ministry is striving to improve science information networks with the National Center for Science Information System at the center. It connects each main base with high-speed digital circuits and each university with telecommunication lines, so that retrieval services as well as electronic mail services may be facilitated. The National Center is connected with the U.S. National Science Foundation, the British Library and other foreign institutions to provide retrieval services.
Universities are also making efforts to improve campus information networks to promote the distribution of various kinds of information, both scientific and non-scientific, and to facilitate sophisticated utilization of the computer.
Back to Top | MEXT HOME |