The Iraqi Virtual Science Library is an Iraqi Virtual Library providing Iraqi academics with access to recourses via the internet. The library, launched in May 2006, initially provided access to more than one million articles from 17,000 electronic journals and other resources. Access to this knowledge is considered vital for the rebuilding of Iraq as it will improve the curriculum which suffered under Saddam Hussein's regime. The library is part of the overall plan to improve access to information in Iraq.Iraqi Libraries and Archives in Peril: Survival in a time of Invasion, Chaos, and Civil Conflict, A Report http://archnet.org/library/documents/one-document.jsp?document_id=10241
Background The library's creation was spearheaded by a group of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellows,AAAS News Release Virtual Library Offers Reams of Data—and Hope—to Embattled Iraqi S&T Community http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0509iraq.shtml including D.J. Patil, a scientist from the University of Maryland, College Park, in connection with JSTOR. According to Patil, Iraqi libraries have been looted while available texts in existing archives are out of date. The construction of a scientific library for the strife-torn country would have been expensive and time-consuming so the virtual library initiative was launched, making some 17,422 journal titles immediately available to Iraqi scientists and engineers.
The library was funded in part by the US Department of Defense. The National Academies of Science is also part of the collaboration.
The U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) has managed the Iraqi Virtual Science Library following its official launch in May 2006. It is part of its initiative to redirect human capital, particularly out of the weapons experts who found themselves out of work after the collapse of the Soviet Union, into entrepreneurial initiatives and collaboration. Continued funding has been provided by the US Department of State and the United States Department of Energy.CRDF Fact Sheet: Iraqi Virtual Science Library: http://www.crdf.org/factsheets/factsheets_show.htm?doc_id=676089
In 2008, the Iraqi Virtual Science Library was expanded to provide access to all public universities in Iraq and a handful of Iraqi Ministries that are key to reconstruction efforts and future development.
From 2010 to the present, the IVSL is managed and funded by Iraq's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Digital databases such as Elsevier, JSTOR, Project Muse, and Springer, among others are partners.
Participating Institutions University of Anbar Al-Mustansiriya University Al Muthanna University Al-Nahrain University Al Qadissiya University Babylon University Baghdad University Basrah University Diyala University University of Dohuk Hawler Medical University - Kurdistan The Islamic University, Baghdad University of Karbala Kirkuk University University of Koya Kufa University University of Kurdistan - Hawler Misan University Mosul University Salahaddin University University of Sulaimani Thi Qar University Tikrit University University of Technology, Iraq Wasit University Iraqi Academy of Science Ministry of Environment (Iraq) Ministry of Science and Technology (Iraq) Ministry of Electricity (Iraq) Ministry of Oil (Iraq) Ministry of Agriculture (Iraq) Ministry of Health (Iraq) Ministry of Water Resources (Iraq) Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Iraq) Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works (Iraq)
References
External links Iraqi Virtual Science Library