Quick
Reference
Guide
Version 1.0
Text: Martha McDevitt
Project Management: Ingrid Verver and Lin Pugh
Published by the International Information Centre and Archives for the Women's Movement (IIAV)
© 2002 International Information Centre and Archives for the Women's Movement. We encourage women's information centers to reproduce this guide for use by their clients. Reproduction for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Finding Sources of Women's Information
The Mapping the World of Women's Information Services database is a tool for finding relevant sources of women's
information. The IIAV collects information on women's information centers that have chosen to participate in the
database. The centers provide the information, which includes a description of the center, top subjects in the
information collection, opening hours, and contact information.
This Quick Reference Guide explains how to use the Mapping the World of Women's Information Services
database. It shows you how to use the search functions to find information centers in your region or internationally.
Information Resources
Many of the centers listed in the Mapping the World database have resources such as books, periodicals, and
photos, that you can view or use onsite at the center's facility, or online information that you can search directly.
If a resource center has a website, the Mapping the World database will show the URL. Follow the URL link to
search the center's online information.
Assistance with Your Search
Women's information centers often have information specialists who can help you find the information you need. The Mapping the World database provides contact information for the center so you can contact them directly for assistance.
Using the Mapping the World Database
The database is a resource for anyone looking for print, online, photographic, audio-visual, or other resources
about women. You can find sources of women's information in over 50 languages, covering hundreds of relevant
subjects, from more than 120 countries.
Here are some ways you can use the Mapping the World database.
For example, if you are:
a public policy maker looking for information on gender mainstreaming in your country, you can use the database
to find a local women's information center that you can contact for assistance.
a staff member in a funding organization and have been asked to help develop a project to create women's
information and documentation centers in Asia, you can use the database to find out what centers already exist in
Asia.
a trainer in health care, you can use the database to find out which centers have information on your subject.
a journalist looking for a photo for an article on girls and education in Africa, you can use the database to
find centers in Africa that have photo collections.
Searching the Database
The database provides several ways to search for women's information services. You can display the following lists with the Mapping the World database:
List | Displays |
Name of organization | an alphabetical list of all 350+ centers in the database. |
Country | a list of countries that have women's information centers. From the country list, you can display a list with the names and locations of all centers in the database located in the country you selected. |
Continent | a list of continents and sub-continents. From the continent list, you can display a list with the names and locations of all centers in the database located on the continent or sub-continent you selected. |
Language | a list of languages. From the language list, you can display a list with the names and locations of all centers in the database that collect information in the language you selected. |
Type of organization | a list of types of women's information centers. From this list, you can display a list with names and locations of centers of the type you have selected. |
Collection subject | a list of subject areas. From this list, you can display a list of centers that have indicated that they collect information on the subject you have selected. |
Mapping Database Search Page
You start your search on the Mapping Database Search page.
You can directly access the main page of the Mapping the World project at
www.iiav.nl/mapping-the-world.
To begin your search:
Select Search in the left navigation bar.
The Mapping Database Search page appears. The example below shows the Mapping Database Search page.
From this page, you can select the type of search.
The following sections of this guide describe searches you can perform with the Mapping the World database.
Displaying a List of Women's Information Centers
From the Mapping Database Search page, you can display a list of centers based on the criteria you choose: country,
continent, language, type of organization, collection subject, or all organizations in the database.
To display a list:
Select Name of organization, Country, Continent, Language, Type of Organization,
or Collection Subject.
The example below shows a list of centers sorted by the name of the organization.
Displaying Details for a Center
You can display details for a center by clicking on the center's name.
You can display details for more than one center by checking the box next to the center's name, and clicking on
Show Details at the bottom of the list.
You can display details for all centers in a list by selecting Mark Records and Show Details from
the bottom of the list.
The example below shows the top portion of the information for the C.A.E.F. center in Senegal. See the
Appendix for a full example of a database record for a center.
Finding Centers in a Country or Continent
You can use the Mapping the World database to find centers located in a country, continent, or subcontinent. You can choose from a list to display all centers in the database that are located in that country, continent, or subcontinent.
Searching by Country
Select Country from the Mapping Database Search page.
An alphabetical list of countries displays.
The example below shows the top portion of the country list. The number next to each country is the number of
centers from that country in the database.
Click on a country name to display a list of centers from that country.
A list of center names and locations displays. This list below shows centers in Argentina.
Searching by Continent or Subcontinent
Select Continent from the Mapping Database Search page.
A list of continents and subcontinents displays. The example below shows the top portion of the list of continents.
Select a continent or subcontinent to display a list of centers in that region.
A list of centers displays. The example below shows the top of the list of centers in Asia.
Finding Centers by Language
You can use the database to find a center that has information in its collection in a specific language.
To search by language:
Select Language from the Mapping Database Search page.
A list of languages displays. The number indicates the number of centers in the database that collect information
in that language.
The example below shows the top portion of the list of languages.
Click on the language name to select a language.
A list of centers that collect information in the language you selected displays. The example below shows centers
that collect information in Arabic.
Finding a Type of Organization
You can use the Mapping the World database to find centers of a particular type.
To search by type of organization:
Select Type of Organization from the Mapping Database Search page.
A list of organization types displays. The example below shows the top part of the list of types of organization.
Click on the type of center you wish to display.
The database displays the names of centers all over the world that match the type you selected. The example below
shows a list of documentation centers.
Finding Centers that Collect Information on a Subject of Interest
You can use the database to find a center that collects information on a particular subject.
From the Mapping Database Search page:
Select Display Lists by Collection Subject.
A list of subjects displays. The example below shows the top portion of the list of collection subjects.
Click on a subject to display a list of centers all over the world that collect information on the subject you
selected.
The example below shows the top part of the list of centers that collect information on the subject of abuse.
Note: The Mapping the World database only displays the centers that have reported the subject you selected as one of the main subjects in their collection.
Using the Free Text Search Feature
You can use the free text feature to search in all fields of the database for a term or combination of terms. This feature is available on the Mapping Database Search page.
Database Fields
The fields in the Mapping the World database are:
Name organization
Contact person
Address
Telephone number
Fax number
E-mail
Website
Business hours
Year in which the service began
Description of the organization
Services provided
Collection
Languages
Subject Top Ten
System of indexing
Levels of automation
Catalogue on Internet
Publications
Activities
Keywords
The Appendix shows a sample database record.
Performing a Simple Search
To search for a word or phrase:
Select Free Text from the Mapping Database Search page.
The Free Text Search page displays.
Enter a word or phrase in the first box and click on Search.
The database displays a list of centers.
Performing a Complex Search
You can also combine two words or phrases in your search.
If you use "and" to search for two words or phrases, the database searches for centers that have both terms in
their database record.
For example, suppose you want to find all centers in Africa with a focus on health. If you search on "Africa" and
"health", the database displays all centers that have both of these terms. Centers that have "health" but do not
have "Africa" in their record will not display, nor will centers that have "Africa" but do not have "health" in
their record.
The list of centers will include centers in Africa, as well as centers outside Africa that collect information
about Africa.
If you use "or" to search for two words or phrases, the database searches for centers that have either term in
their record.
If you search on "Chinese" or "Arabic", the database displays all centers with "Chinese" in their record, as well
as all centers with "Arabic" in their record. The list will include centers with collections in the Chinese and
Arabic languages, as well as centers that have the words "Chinese" or "Arabic" in any field.
To search for two words or phrases:
Enter a word or phrase in the first box.
Select "and" or "or".
Enter a word or phrase in the second box and click on Search.
Adding your Center to the Mapping the World Database
The IIAV adds new centers to the database on a regular basis. The goal is to have at least one women's information
center for every country in the world.
You can add your center using the online form on the Mapping the World website. Click on Participate in
the left bar to display the online entry form.
On the online form, please provide full and complete information on your center and information collection.
If you would like to receive the form by e-mail, contact the IIAV at
[email protected].
If you know of a women's information center not yet represented in Mapping the World, you can contact the
IIAV at [email protected].
Getting Additional Support
With this Quick Reference Guide you should be able to find the information you need in the Mapping the World database. If you need additional support, you can contact the IIAV by phone, e-mail or fax.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +31 20 665 0280
Fax: +31 20 665 5812
Appendix: Mapping the World Database Sample Record
The example below is for the IIAV and shows all the fields in the Mapping the World database.
Name organization
Internationaal Informatiecentrum en Archief voor de Vrouwenbeweging IIAV
International Information Centre and Archives for the Women's Movement IIAV
Contact person
Joke Blom, director
Marjet Douze
Address
Obiplein 4
NL-1094 RB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Telephone number
+31 20 665 1318
+31 20 665 0820
Fax number
+31 20 665 5812
E-mail
[email protected]
[email protected]
Website
www.iiav.nl
Business hours
12:00 - 17:00 Monday
10:00 - 17:00 Tuesday - Friday
Year in which the service began
1935
Description of the organization
The IIAV is the national library, documentation centre and archives on the position of women and women's studies
in the Netherlands. Founded in 1935 as a private initiative the International Archives for the Women's Movement
(IAV) merged in 1988 with the Information and Documentation centre (IDC) and the journal Lover. The IIAV preserves
the cultural legacy of the women's movement and provides information about the position of women in past and
present. The IIAV receives an annual subsidy from the Department for Coordination of Emancipation Policy (DCE)
of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. The staff consists of 20 full-time positions.
Services provided
compiling bibliographies, interlibrary loan, internet access, lending, photocopying, reading room, reference
service, reproduction service
Collection
archives (825m.), articles, bibliographies, books (76.459), CD-ROMs (3), databanks, dossiers on persons (6.792),
dossiers on subject (45m.), egodocuments (150), grey literature, microfiches, microfilms, pamphlets (30m.),
periodicals (5.274), photographs (17.750), posters (6.515), press cuttings (21m.), reference journals
Languages
Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Turkish, Russian, Japanese
Subject Top Ten
literary genres, politics, economics, labour, women's movement, health care, education, history, arts, media
System of indexing
till 1993 a self designed classification scheme and list of keywords
from 1993 the (Dutch) Women's Thesaurus
Levels of automation
addresses (1.250)
calendar
catalogues (85.000)
current research (1.146)
experts (313)
Catalogue on Internet:
Yes
Publications
Lover, tijdschrift over feminisme, wetenschap en cultuur
Vakblad Vrouweninformatie
International Newsletter on Women's Information Services
Activities
exhibitions, lectures, projects
Keywords
archive, documentation centre, library, Netherlands, Western Europe, Europe
About the Database
Mapping the World of Women's Information Services is a database listing over 350 women's information centers, services,
libraries, archives, documentation centers and resource centers in more than 120 countries, from Austria to Cuba, from
Tonga to Zimbabwe. The centers vary from large, national women's libraries to small grassroots centers. The database
gives an indication of the wealth of information on the position of women available in these centers. It is updated
weekly.
The online database is available at
www.iiav.nl/mapping-the-world.
About the IIAV
Mapping the World of Women's Information Services and Centers is developed by the International Information Centre
and Archives for the Women's Movement (IIAV), with support and financial contributions from UNESCO and the Dutch
Ministry of Social Affairs.
The IIAV provides a gateway to information on the position of women and women's studies at
www.iiav.nl.
IIAV
Obiplein 4
1094 RB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel +31-20-6651318
Fax +31-20-6655812
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.iiav.nl
For questions or more information please contact: [email protected]