A network for Latin American science journals

Brussels, 06 May 2002

Latin American scientific series and journals are under-recognised. A website and network set up to promote publications produced in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal addresses this problem.

Latindex was set up in 1995 as a bibliographical information system for scientific journals and series published by Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Spain and Portugal.

The project is based on the participation of a network of regional and national resource centres which gather and disseminate scientific information. Using the internet as a platform to communicate to a wider audience, the system aims to foster the development of both the scientific and editorial sectors in and beyond Latin America. Potential users of Latindex are those who use, exchange, generate and analyse scientific data published in the region, including researchers, teachers, students, policy makers and science administrators, as well as editors, librarians and information specialists.

All serial publications, journals and periodicals from the exact, natural and social sciences are covered by the index. Work can be submitted, via the website, in any of the working languages of the region.

Spreading the word

According to the project coordinators, "Publications originating in Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal are largely ignored and rarely consulted. Even though they may contain works of quality and relevance, they are not properly distributed and scarcely reach libraries outside the region." The situation is getting worse for every year, say the website authors.

The creation of Latindex also addresses the need to establish standards and define 'quality criteria' for scientific data. This touches on the growing use of computers and electronic communications in the region which make it possible to disseminate up-to-date information quickly and efficiently, but without appropriate controls might run the risk of undermining editorial and scientific standards.

Source: Latindex - Sistema Regional de Información en Línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina, el Caribe, España y Portugal

Contacts: latindex@servidor.unam.mx

Website: http://www.latindex.unam.mx/in.html

http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/headlines.html#03