Publications and Library

Publications and Library services are maintained to publish and provide access to corporate, work programme and promotional reports and publications. The service also maintains a special geoscientific library for the PICTs and staff containing a vast and unique collection of reports, charts, maps, seismic sections, research cruise tracks, cores and other data records from geoscientific surveys. As such it is the most frequently used entry point for enquiries regarding access to products and services.

SOPAC Library Services

The SOPAC Library provides information from its collection and by accessing other regional and international sources through interlibrary loan. Other services include in-house current awareness services and provision of subject lists/bibliographies from the library collection. The Library is primarily for the use of SOPAC staff, officials from SOPAC member countries and libraries in the region. The SOPAC Library is also opened to the public. Student researchers are major users the SOPAC library facilities

Library collection

The main collection comprises approximately 15000 books, monographs, reports, periodical articles, videocassettes, conference papers, and conference proceedings, CD-ROM's & VCD's both published and unpublished. Other material include journals, newsletters, annual reports, maps and charts, slides/photographs and aerial photographs. Language coverage is mainly English, however, a few items are either in French, German and Japanese.

Subject coverage

Subject coverage focuses mainly on non-living marine resources in the Pacific. It includes coastal protection works; coastal, near shore and offshore minerals; OTEC; sea-level changes; wave energy; petroleum geology and exploration; oceanography; marine geology and geophysics; marine technology; dredging; drilling; meteorology; climatology; water resources, water supply, sanitation, water treatment; disaster management.

Users

Although opened to the public, the Library is basically for the use of SOPAC staff, officials working for SOPAC member countries and libraries in the region. Research scientists, consultants, university lecturers, and students are also heavy users of the Library. Borrowing privileges are limited to SOPAC staff, MRD staff, and officials working for SOPAC member countries. Special concessions may be made for consultants working for member countries with the prior approval of Management. Material borrowed by users (other than those from SOPAC, and items loaned to officials in the SOPAC member countries) may not be taken out of Fiji unless approved by Management.
Using the Collection

Each separate collection has its own database which can be accessed on the Library computer or any computer at SOPAC through the information retrieval system: WINISIS.

The names of each of these databases are:

• SOPAC - documents, reports, monographs,periodicals articles, video cassettes, conference papers & proceedings, both published & unpublished. .
• SOMAP - bathymetric, navigation, topographic, EEZ, geological maps, from agencies, institutions. These are hard copy maps in the SOPAC Library archives.
• SLIDE - slides and regular size photographs taken by staff during field trips.
• SERIAL - journal collection
• NEWS - newspaper clippings
• The SOPAC AERIAL PHOTO collection may also be accessed from any computer at SOPAC.

Document delivery

Photocopies of material can be provided according to copyright restrictions, photocopy charges apply. Most SOPAC publications are available for sale from the SOPAC Library. The Publication and Library Service maintains a list of reports and joint contribution reports prepared by SOPAC Experts and development partners.

Virtual Library

Most of SOPAC-produced reports are freely available for digital viewing on the Virtual Library, accessible from our website. They can be downloaded from http://www.sopac.org/index.php/virtual-library or ordered.

For more information please contact Dorene This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Lala This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the Report ID you request. You can also consult SOPAC on-line Library available at Library Online? which lists all the books available in our library shelves.

Opening Hours:

Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays

For further information, contact:

The Librarian
SOPAC Secretariat
Private Mail Bag, GPO
Suva, Fiji Islands
Mead Road, Suva,
Fiji Islands

Telephone: +679 338 1377
Facsimile: +679 337 0040