Information in Library Changed into Data Base

Starting in 2001, all the book lists and indexes of Korea's libraries will be available at a governmental library homepage(www.dlibrary.go.kr).
Also, digital information centers will be set up in 381 public libraries in Korea, which will be created between 2001 and 2002.
These digital information centers will purchase 5 to 50 of the latest computers for each library, and they will have search engines and software for automatic translation of foreign languages.
On March 14, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism(MCT) and the National Library of Korea announced its ' Comprehensive Plan for Digital Information of Korean Library.'
According to this plan, a database will be created to provide information on book lists and the indexes in public libraries, college libraries, and special libraries in Korea. The project will cost $34 million.
Concerning the data base for the book lists, the National Digital Library, which is already operating and is formed from seven libraries, including the National Library of Korea and the National Assembly Library of the Republic of Korea, will provide 56 percent of all the information for the new data base. An additional $6.7 million will have to be spent on creating the book indexes within this year.
In addition, data bases covering the contents, key words, and abstracts will be set up to provide information until 2002. These data bases will contain a huge amount of information equal to 300 thousand books.
Oh Ji-chul, a director in the culture policy bureau, stated that the budget planning department has already allocated $34 million for these projects, and that this amount will be distributed from this year.

by Cho Hyun-wook