The original article published in Japanese ( http://current.ndl.go.jp/e1777 )
Current Awareness-E No.300
17 March, 2016
What is “Current Awareness Portal”?
“Current Awareness Portal” (CA Portal), a website of the National Diet Library (NDL), provides latest information about libraries as well as library and information science. The CA portal was launched in 2006. The name comes from “Current Awareness Service” where libraries and other information institutions regularly provide up-to-date information to users.
CA Portal consists of the following four contents:
“Current Awareness-R”
“Current Awareness-E”
“Current Awareness”
Research on Libraries as well as Library and Information Science
“Current Awareness-R”
“Current Awareness-R” (CA-R) is a news blog that delivers latest information on libraries as well as library and information science. Launched in 2006, CA-R has been updated every weekday without an exception. Approximately six to ten articles are being published on a daily basis. To date, about 22,000 articles have been published. Blog articles cover latest information about Japan and abroad.
“Current Awareness-E”
“Current Awareness-E” (CA-E) is an e-mail news magazine that provides latest news on libraries as well as library and information science. Launched in 2002, CA-E has been published 22 times a year (about twice a month), generally on Thursdays. One issue contains about four to six articles. As of the end of 2015, 295 issues have been published. The total number of articles adds up to 1,753. Articles include latest news of library society as well as reports of events and introduction of literature.
“Current Awareness”
“Current Awareness” (CA) is a magazine that explains and reviews recent trends and topics on libraries as well as library and information science in Japan and abroad. CA was launched in 1979 as a monthly magazine. In 2002, Library Support Division, Projects Department, Kansai-kan of the NDL began to be in charge of editing. Also with the launch of CA-E in October 2002, CA came to be published quarterly. Today, CA is published on the 20th of March, June, September, and December every year. One issue contains about six articles. As of the end of 2015, 326 issues have been published, and the total number of articles adds up to 1,864. These articles explain background information and review specific topics through multiple cases.
Research on Libraries as well as Library and Information Science
Every year, the NDL outsources research on libraries as well as library and information science (hereafter “research”) and releases the outcomes mainly through its publications such as “NDL Library Science Series” and “NDL Research Report.” “NDL Library Science Series” has been in press since 1960, with No. 40 being the latest issue. “NDL Research Report” has been published since 2003, with No. 15 being the latest issue. These researches contribute to improving services at diverse libraries.
Relationships among the CA Series
Among the four contents, the three CA series (with the exception of study) are closely related to each other. CA-R provides topics and stories for CA-E and CA. The origin of CA-R was a release of information that were collected as sources for articles in CA-E and CA. Therefore, CA-E and CA articles are sometimes written out of information published in CA-R. The expected roles are different. While CA-E provides latest news in concise form, CA explains and reviews diverse topics. With organic connection among these contents with different characteristics, we hope to provide latest information on libraries as well as library and information science more comprehensively.
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Current Awareness Portal
To support reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and to pass on the records and lessons learned from the disaster, the NDL has focused on providing information on this specific disaster. Each content of CA Portal has actively provided information related to disasters and libraries including the Great East Japan Earthquake. CA Portal intends to continue providing information on disasters and libraries.
Updated information of CA Portal are being wired via RSS and Twitter. To understand the latest trends of libraries as well as library and information science of Japan and abroad, we encourage you to visit the CA Portal.
Written by Research and Information Section
Library Support Division, Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library
Translated by Okada Aya
Ref:
http://current.ndl.go.jp/
http://current.ndl.go.jp/en
http://current.ndl.go.jp/car
http://current.ndl.go.jp/cae
http://current.ndl.go.jp/ca
http://current.ndl.go.jp/research
http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/aboutus/evaluation/fy2011.html
http://www.ndl.go.jp/jp/aboutus/evaluation/pdf/h23_report.pdf
http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/aboutus/mission2012.html
http://current.ndl.go.jp/sinsai
http://current.ndl.go.jp/about
http://twitter.com/ca_tweet
