Science, Industry and Business Library

The Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL), the nation's largest public information center devoted solely to science and business, was created by merging The New York Public Library's extensive resources and services in these areas. Its circulating and noncirculating collections are enhanced by services and electronic resources geared to the needs of science and business users for quick, efficient access to accurate, up-to-date information.Reflecting advances in information and computer technology, SIBL houses multi-format collections.

An Electronic Information Center (EIC), with 73 workstations, connects users to the hundreds of internal and external electronic information resources. The EIC is supported by a 39-workstation Electronic Training Center (ETC). SIBL also offers a circulating library of approximately 4o,ooo titles, and a noncirculating research collection of 1.2 million volumes.

Collections and Resources

• SIBL's collections feature a wide range of materials:
• Electronic business and scientific resources from networked CD-ROMs, online services, and the Internet
• A comprehensive collection of U.S. and foreign government documents, patents, local laws, New York City information, and demographics
• Extensive international trade and business resources
• Extensive applied science and technology resources that support business development
• U.S. and foreign industrial directories and buyers' guides
• Corporate annual reports, both domestic and foreign, in microfiche and electronic formats
• Financial information services (loose-leafs, stock reporting services, and newsletters)
• Handbooks and reference works

Electronic Resources, Democratic Access

SIBL was designed to allow its users to take maximum advantage of the opportunities provided by today's information technology revolution. This approach provides the public with open access to the World Wide Web, global and local information, and communication -- an increasingly important factor in individual and community development and growth. The technology-supported services were developed in the Library's tradition of democratic public access. Their design addresses the information needs of people with varying degrees of technological sophistication, diverse economic circumstances and cultural backgrounds, differing levels of education, and widely ranging research needs. Primary features of SIBL's technological offerings include:

Electronic Information Center
A specially designed area for public use of electronic information tools, via 73 networked workstations. On-site users are able to connect to a wide range of internal and external electronic resources, including Internet databases, CD-ROMs, electronic journals, and online services.

Electronic Training Center
A sophisticated facility where staff train the public in the use of electronic resources. The educational features of the Training Center include both videotaped instruction and computer-based instructional media for individuals and groups.

Remote Access to SIBL's Resources

Technology enables The New York Public Library to become a library without walls, serving a broad public constituency locally, nationally, and internationally. World Wide Web access on a 24-hour basis and document delivery make it possible for users in offices, educational institutions, libraries, and homes throughout New York, the United States, and the world to search for and request material from the Library's collections. SIBL is also a gateway to the vast resources of The New York Public Library's branches and other research libraries.

In addition, SIBL provides seating for up to 5oo users, with each reader position wired to support users' own laptop computers. SIBL's infrastructure was developed with as much flexibility as possible to allow for future developments in the information industry and library service. The Library continually monitors advances in technology to keep its services current and relevant to user needs. Targeted Information Services As a major research center, SIBL continues to serve a diverse, international audience of users. In addition, to ensure optimum service to special constituencies of users, SIBL has implemented a series of targeted information services, including:

Small Business Information Service
A program that provides targeted information services for small business users including demographics, marketing, planning, and financing. A team of information professionals focuses their efforts to ensure that appropriate resources are added to the collection and to teach a bi-weekly course on locating small business resources. SIBL is also an outpost of the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), a volunteer branch of the Small Business Administration, which offers one- on-one counseling for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

International Trade Resources Center
An extensive resource and referral center for international trade data for businesses seeking to compete in the global marketplace. This service was planned in consultation with major trade agencies, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Science Education Program
A program that develops formal initiatives with secondary and higher education institutions in areas where the Library, as a technology-intensive resource, can have the most impact. Orientation and training programs for both teachers and students at local high schools are offered throughout the academic year. Other ventures link SIBL and local high schools participating in exciting initiatives, such as the University of Michigan's Digital Library and the Department of Education's challenge grant for Technology in Education. NYPL Express
A service which provides fee-based information and document delivery from SIBL and other parts of The Research Libraries' comprehensive collections. Information specialists answer research queries for clients in the New York metropolitan area and around the world. Orders can be placed by phone, fax, and e-mail.

• 16o,ooo-square-foot high-tech facility in midtown Manhattan
• Research-level collection of 1.2 million volumes and a circulating collection of 4o,ooo books and videos
• Over 1o,ooo current business and scientific serial titles
• An open-shelf reference collection of 6o,ooo volumes
• Seating for up to 5oo users, wired to support readers' laptop computers
• An Electronic Information Center with 73 workstations
• An Electronic Training Center with seating for 39
• 1oo database titles and access to the World Wide Web
• Telephone reference and NYPL Express services for remote readers

The Science, Industry and Business Library is part of The New York Public Library, which consists of four major research libraries and 85 branch libraries located in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

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