The Cadists : a national network of reference and backup libraries

In 1983, the Ministry for Universities created the first centres for the acquisition and diffusion of scientific and technical information (Cadist), in order to set the basis of a national information map, by giving reference libraries supplementary means to build information centres of excellence in the service of research. The mechanism was assessed in 2002 through two surveys which reaffirmed the legitimacy of a network of reference and backup libraries. Today the Cadist libraries are expected to ensure 3 types of mission: acquisition and diffusion; promotion of a network by discipline; and added value services.
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