" OptiRed "

For example: Chemical data on medicinal plants.
What is the source(s) of this data?
Where is it obtained?
Are there problems in obtaining it?
Why?

What sources are used for this information?
(priorities 1 to 12)

	priorities	problems
meetings
visit
workshops
journals
books
bibliography
databases
CD-Rom databases
distance databases
Internet
other1:
other2:

1. Methodologies for :

   	main source	where	problems
   preservation
   conservation
   culture
   taxonomy
   storage

2. Access to, and/or the interpretation of pharmacological data, such as:
   

   	main source	where	problems
   safety
   efficacy
   adverse affects
   dosages
   other

3. Access to knowledge and information on medicinal plants:
   

   	main source	where	problems
   therapeutic use
   conditions under which plants are being used
   sustainable use
   management strategies
   processing
   marketing

4. Current and new methodologies for community-based activities.

5. Public information and advocacy approaches.

PART II: INFRASTRUCTURE & COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY

1. What are the usual modes of communication which your organization uses to communicate with other individuals, organizations or agencies outside your unit? Please indicate the importance of these various forms of communication by estimated frequency of use.

   	Not available	Used rarely	Used sometimes	Used often	Almost all of the time
   Person to person
   Mail
   Messenger
   Courier service (like DHL)
   Telephone
   Fax
   e.mail
   Other means (please specify)

2. Provide comments on the advantages and drawbacks of each of the following communication mechanisms for your organization, if you use these mechanisms often:

   	advantages	drawbacks
   Person to person
   Mail
   Messenger
   Courier
   Telephone
   Fax
   e-mail

3. Computer(s)
   1. Does your organization have computers? YES NO
      How many?
      What kind of computer do you use? MAC PC Others

   2. Are there plans to purchase more in the near future? YES NO

   3. Please describe your current and planned computer(s) according to the following list of variables:

      *Capacity of the central processing unit (CPU):
      current: 386,	486,		Pentium,		other
      planned: 386,	486,		Pentium,		other
      
      *Hard disk Memory
      current:	640K.,	1M.,		4M.,		8M.,		etc.
      planned:	640K.,	1M.,		4M.,		8M.,		etc.
      
      *Speed of the CPU
      current:	33MHz, 66MHz, 100MHz, 166MHz, 300MHz, more:
      planned:	33MHz, 66MHz, 100MHz, 166MHz, 300MHz, more:
      
      Main types of softwares used on the computer(s)
      Text processor
      Tables
      Databases
      Drawing softwares
      Picture/photos softwares
      Wed design
      Other:
      

   4. Is there a local area network (LAN) for your computers, if you have several? YES NO

      If so, is the LAN connected to an external line for the receipt of external communication (E-mail)? YES NO

   5. Is there technical support available within your organization for these computers? YES NO

      If not, where do you source your technical support for problems that arise?

4. Please provide comments on the accessibility of your computer(s) to members of your organization.

   Is it necessary to allocate time blocks to staff? YES NO

   How many of your computers are equipped with modems?
   How many of your computers are equipped to access the Internet
   What type of software do you use for this purpose?
   Are there plans to buy (a) modem (s) YES NO
   If so, what is its (their) speed?

   Does your organization send and receive e.mail? YES NO

   If so, please answer the following information:

   How many e.mail accounts does your office have?
   Do staff members share accounts? YES NO
   What e.mail software do you use?
   What type of e.mail connection do you have? Internet Fidonet Other
   Do you know... YES NO
   If your Internet service is directly linked to the Internet?
   Or indirectly linked through a proxy server?
   

   Does your institution supply your Internet and e.mail connection (eg. university, college, government)? YES NO

   Or do you purchase Internet services from a commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP)? YES NO

   If you purchase services directly from a commercial ISP and must pay costs, please comment on these costs:

   	free /very cheap/cheap /regular/expensive/very expensive
   connection
   monthly costs
   time of connection
   local connection
   long-distance

   What is the name of your commercial Internet Service Provider?

   Is it your e.mail and Internet connection reliable? YES NO

   Are there times when you cannot access? YES NO

   Or is there restricted access at certain times? YES NO

   Can you send and receive attachments by e.mail? YES NO

   Are there limitations on the size of attachments? YES NO

   How valuable is e.mail to your organization?

   (Give a score between zero to ten)

   Other comments about your e.mail system, today and in the future?

   How valuable is Internet to your organization?

   (Give a score between zero to ten)

   How many of your staff are familiar with the Internet, and use it for information retrieval?

   Approximately how much time per day does your organization dedicate to the Internet (person-hours used searching and retrieving information)?

   Other comments about the Internet and your organization, now and in the future?

Date:_______/_______/19_____

Thank-you for your time and effort in filling out this questionnaire!