The libraries of Syrian higher education institutions: Current state and ways of development

Abstract

Syria is one of the countries that was in the process of development at all levels, including education, but the war that began in 2011 led to the decline in the level of education and academic libraries activities. The features of Syrian higher education institutions and their libraries are described, with the focus on the four largest state universities (Damascus, Aleppo, Tishrin and Al-Ba'ath). The main characteristics including library collections of 8 public and 22 private higher education institutions are given. The organization of the libraries of Syrian educational institutions differs: a universitywide library plus the faculty (college) libraries, while the private universities have only one library. Modified and Arabicized Dewey decimal classification used in all libraries for indexing, catalogs are maintained on paper cards, modern information technologies are not implemented, there are still unsuccessful attempts to introduce ALIS Koha and Horizon. The authors show the prerequisites for designing conceptual, information and functional models of networked information system of university libraries to upgrade library and information processes to the modern level.