Author: Yasar Ahmet Tonta
Title: Professor
Bio: I am currently the Chair of the Department of Information Management of Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, where, in addition to administrative duties, I teach courses on information retrieval, database management systems, information systems design, networked information services and bibliometrics. My research focus is on networked information systems, digital libraries, electronic publishing and bibliometrics. I also taught at the School of Library and Information Studies of the University of California at Berkeley. I served as the founding president of the National Academic Network and Information Center (ULAKBIM) of the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) from 1996-1998. I worked briefly as a librarian at the Turkish and International Children's Center. I received my graduate degrees in library and information studies from the University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D.), the University of Wales (M.Lib.), and the University of Hacettepe (M.A.). My works appeared in a number of professional journals including the Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, Library & Information Science Research, Library Collections Acquisitions and Services, Scientometrics, IFLA Journal, Libri, Library Resources & Technical Services, and Public-Access Computer Systems Review. (For a list of my publications, click here.) I co-edited (with Gail Hodges) the special issue of Information Services & Use (vol. 25, no 1, 2005) on electronic information management, and was editor of the Türk Kütüphaneciliği, a quarterly journal published by the Turkish Librarians' Association (1995-1996), and Bilgi Dünyası (2000), Turkish University and Research Library Association's bi-annual publication. I served as the Chairman-elect of the Information Management Committee (IMC) of NATO's Research & Technology Organization (RTO) (1999-2001). I acted as the Director of Lecture Series on Electronic Information Management which was organized by IMC and held in Lithuania (2002), Slovakia (2003) and Bulgaria (2004).  I served as the Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Symposium on Information Management in the Changing World, held in Ankara from 24-26 October 2007 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the foundation of the Department of Information Management of Hacettepe University. I am a member of several professional organizations including the American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) and the Turkish Library Association. I was a member of the Standing Committee on Education and Training of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). I can be contacted at Hacettepe University Department of Information Management, 06532 Beytepe, Ankara , Turkey. Tel. +90 (312) 297-8200 and +90 (312) 297-8204; Fax: (312) 299-2014; email: mailto:email:tonta@hacettepe.edu.tr