Asia Section. Regional Activities Division. Paper.

Two papers on library and information activities in developing nations, particularly in India and other Asian countries, were presented at the 1983 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference. In "IFLA in Asia: A Review of the Work of the Regional Section for Asia," Edward Lim Huck Tee (Malaysia) describes the low level of Third World involvement in IFLA until the 1970's and IFLA's Eurocentric orientation. Lim Huck Tee evaluates the activities of the IFLA Working Group for Developing Countries; its successor, the Division for Regional Activities; and one of the division's regional groups, the Section on Regional Activities: Asia. Also presented are seven guidelines for planning future section programs and an outline of the section's Mid-Term Programme for 1980-1985 for library education and academic, public, children's, and special libraries. In "Modern Technology and Its Impact on Libraries and Information Centres in Developing Countries," P. K. Patil (India) reviews the precepts of the Universal Availability of Publications program, the extent of library automation in technologically developed countries, factors inhibiting information technology transfer, Third World developments in information technology, possible negative side effects of imported technology, the possibility of technological independence through collaboration and alliances, and the development of national information policies and programs. (ESR)