INTRODUCTION

The World Criminal Justice Library Network (WCJLN) is a group of librarians and information specialists with members from more than thirty countries, representing academic institutions, government and nongovernment organizations, research institutes, together with individual scholars. The Network was established at a meeting at Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, in April 1991 and has grown to be an influential contributor to communications and the dissemination of information in the field of criminology and criminal justice. This paper provides background to the establishment of the Network, a description of its services, and an outline of the development of its services.

ANTECEDENTS

A number of the individuals and agencies involved in the establishment of the World Criminal Justice Library Network had previously been involved with the United Nations Criminal Justice Information Network (UNCJIN). UNCJIN, formally established in March 1989, was an initiative of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch, Vienna, and its affiliate United Nations research institutes.

UNCJIN had two main aims: first, to facilitate the sending and exchange of information between members, and the exchange of information with members of other networks, and second, to provide data from a variety of databases, including United Nations surveys of crime trends, crime victims surveys, and other information such as legislation. From the early stages of the network it was recognized that a wider range of affiliates would enhance its effectiveness.