Access to scholarly literature via a free knowledge management enabler

An overview of the goals and achievements of the electronic Journals Delivery Service (eJDS), provided freely to scientists in developing countries by the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy, is presented. The E. Canessa, C. Fonda, M. Zennaro and K.R. Sreenivasan, 2006 Access to scholarly literature via a free knowledge management enabler: an opportunity for scientists in developing countries. Knowledge Management for Development Journal 2(3): 75-85 www.km4dev. org/journal 84 implementation of eJDS, based on low-cost and open source software, is a concrete example of how one might reach a world-wide community whose access to scientific literature is otherwise limited. The effort has been made possible by the generous collaboration of publishing companies and scientific societies that donate the electronic contents of their periodicals in physics and mathematics. eJDS can also be seen as a Knowledge Management Enabler that attempts to manage the identification and accumulation of knowledge or intellectual capital of the developing world. A larger eJDS usage from countries with the lowest DAI (Digital Access Index), consistent with the digital and knowledge divides that exists today, is reported. About the authors Dr. Enrique Canessa is a PhD Physicist working as a Scientific Consultant at ICTP. His main areas of research and interest are in the field of condensed matter and scientific software applications, with particular focus on disseminating science to and within developing countries using open source technologies. For more than a decade, his interests have been in web-enabling technologies and low bandwidth networks. E-mail: canessae@ictp.it Carlo Fonda is a Scientific Consultant at ICTP. He is involved in training and projects on computer networking using wireless techniques, open source and standards. His interests include, among others, radio propagation issues and the relationship between social and economic development and telecommunications. Since 1995, he has been involved in the implementation of the first Wireless LAN in an African University. E-mail: cfonda@ictp.it Marco Zennaro received his Engineering degree (Laurea) in Electronic Engineering from the University of Trieste, Italy. He worked in the field of Digital Design at the Design Centre of Infine on Technologies in Villach, Austria and at the Microelectronic Systems Lab at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland as Research Assistant. He is currently working at the ICTP in projects involving networking and wireless communications for scientific institutions in developing countries. His research interests are antenna design, network measurements and open source software solutions. E-mail: mzennaro@ictp.it E. Canessa, C. Fonda, M. Zennaro and K.R. Sreenivasan, 2006 Access to scholarly literature via a free knowledge management enabler: an opportunity for scientists in developing countries. Knowledge Management for Development Journal 2(3): 75-85 www.km4dev. org/journal 85 Prof. Katepalli R. Sreenivasan is Abdus Salam Honorary Professor and Director of ICTP, an institution that is run by scientists for scientists to support the best science possible, with special attention to the needs of scientists from developing countries. He has authored about 200 scientific papers and book chapters in international journals on fluid dynamics and other aspects of physics, and has supervised many PhD students and post-doctoral associates. He has served on many educational, scientific and prize committees. E-mail: director@ictp.it Acknowledgements Sincere thanks are due to Mr C. Onime from the ICTP Scientific Computer Section and Ms N. Zar and M. Fasanella from the ICTP Library who help with various technical and legal aspects of the eJDS project. Ms H.A. Cerdeira is also acknowledged for her early contributions to the implementation of eJDS.