• To discuss the need for shared keywords among BPFA-related sites, and strategies towards distributed databases and shared searching facilities.
• Issues in site organisation, navigation, labeling as they relate to the WomenAction global site.
• To demonstrate some tools/implementation of searching facilities.

Demonstration and discussion.

• APWINC directory project
• AWORC multilingual search mechanism and keywords/thesaurus
• General discussion on site organisation, navigation and labeling. How this impacts on global strategy.

If global sites and regional sites are going to continue after B+5, we should be developing shared keywords / thesaurus. A means for our sites to be searchable from global site or eachothers’ site.

• Cheekay demonstrates AWORC multilingual search engine
• SK demonstrates APWINC search

• AWORC is an initiative to make offline information accessible online
• Main activity of AWORC search – finding strategies for sharing information electronically (resource exchange).
• Search engine preceeded BPFA section.
• Some resourch centres don’t have computerised catalog systems.

• AWORC overcomes character set issues by using images for non-Latin characters.

• Doesn’t change resource centres’ own cataloging system. When they submit their catalog resources to AWORC, are provided unique resource identifiers: AWORC provides first half of catalog number, second half is the identifier used in the providing resource centres own database/catalog.

Challenges:

• Language/multilingual aspect and fact that AWORCis dependent on the member organisations to submit their records.
• A lot of work to do indexing. Has to undergo second process at AWORC level.
• Search engine is resource intensive. Technical team are volunteers.
• Funders don’t seem to be interested in search engines / miltilingual components. Why?

[irene] Movementos – in process of developing search engine. English, Spanish… easier because all Latin-based characters.

[justina] like global calendar development, can we develop search engines at global level?

[irene] Important to have a formulation about these things according to Section J. We can make a draftng here. Real problem wityh the idea that this is not a priority with funding agencies – very discriminating concept. Suggest we put the issue how we negotiate strategy for negotiating with the international agencies that theere are maybe many women’s initiatives that don’t get as much priority. We must strategixe more power to negotiate these isues. Access to technologies (J)

[cheekay] Important that ICT part of J mostly has been pout to the side. The concept that people have about communication includes more traditional forms of communication. Ict as communication always put to the side. If theer is a concerted effort, our perceptions, ict wount take a back seat

[irene] Marginalise technological possibilities. Thsese technologies only for rich people? People on north? Sometimes women who work in technologies feel guilty about internet because 80% don’t have access.

Problem is not have / have not, problem is how we use ICTs.

APWINC ‘Active Bridge’

Site in development, public launch November 1999.

• keyword search / directory service for women’s organisations
• users add/edit listings

• 2 components – women’s organisations and website search. entry form organisation info for database and for general interest.
• global search (not just regional)
• APWIN – plan to share database among region.
• Data structures follow IIAV, Informix IUS

[SK] As this is not final database, SK wants feedback on the database structure, categories, keywords. Also, is it relevant to us, to other women’s organisations.

[malin] would like some kind of link – to display organisations / activist groups who may not have websites. Wants to know what types of active groups exist in various parts of the world regardless of whether they have email/website. Phone and fax is good.

[malin] emphasise needs to show activist groups, not only women’s information and resource centres.

[pi] Active Bridge service fills need for directory services. Not tied to any particular campaign. Long-term development.

• Highlights need for work in shared keywords and categories
• Global WomenAction site needn’t set up own search engine, since members within group already have search engines.
• WomenAction site shouldn’t duplicate effort in building search engine as search engines already exist. Effort is better spent on activities like coordinating keyword strategies.