Sabre's main vehicle for its programs in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (FSU) is the Scientific Assistance Project, established in 1986. (In those regions, the term "science" commonly refers to any disciplined branch of knowledge.) The Project provides support for research and teaching in the natural sciences, technology, the professions and the humanities. The Project's programs respond directly to the expressed needs of constituent groups abroad. It has four principal branches: the Book Donation Program; the Matching Fund and Low-Cost Purchase Program; the Internet-based Technical Assistance Project; and the Translation and Publication Program. These programs are complemented from time to time by related special projects.

1994 Highlights

Sabre Project Director Tania Vitvitsky (center) at launch of new program in Kyrgyz Republic, with (at left) Richard Piet, Assistant Dean, Kyrgyz-American School at Kyrgyz State University and interpreter; at right, Mira Jangaracheva, Deputy Mayor of Bishkek, and Kubanychbek Jakypbaev, Chief of Staff.

• During 1994, Sabre received for distribution to the country programs 360,148 volumes, with a total fair market value of $10.3 million. Sabre's program is dis- tinguished by the large proportion of advanced texts, with a high average value per book.

• New programs were set up during the year in two Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union--Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic--making a total of fifteen countries with established Sabre programs. The others are: Belarus, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. In addition, smaller special shipments of new books were sent to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Nepal and Turkmenistan, while a special collection of 5,000 volumes went to Leipzig in the former East Germany.

• The Reduced-Cost Journals Program, in its first year of full operation, received orders for over 400 three-year subscriptions from six countries. Estimated savings to libraries over the life of the subscriptions were more than $600,000. With libraries contributing a substantial amount of their own funds, this program is an example of Sabre's facilitating the transition from donations to market development.

• The Internet-based Technical Assistance Project (as it is now called), which was started in 1993, continued to grow. The newest component of the project involves the development of repositories, or archives, of full-text electronic documents in selected topic areas.

  Book Donation Programs

  Sabre's book donation programs are managed in-country by local Partner Organizations--non-governmental entities with links to academic, library, charitable or professional organizations. These Partners (listed on the inside of the back cover) are responsible for choosing and distributing books in their countries.

  Sabre's staff works with the Partners to define areas of need in each country. This information is used to solicit the donation of new books and journals from U.S. and European publishers, and academic and professional societies, as well as the donation of special collections from universities and individual scholars. When donations are received, Sabre sends lists of available materials to its Partners for selection. Partners consult with advisors and potential recipients and place their orders, which are then packed and shipped in 20- or 40-foot sea containers from Sabre's warehouse facilities at Dunn & Co. in Clinton, Massachusetts.

  

  

  LEFT: A container of books is unloaded in Krakow for Sabre's Polish partner, the Free Enterprise Transition Center

  RIGHT: Prof. Andrzej Mania, Director of the Center for American Studies at the Jagiellonian University, Krakow, whose library receives Sabre book donations
  

  Since the beginning of the Program in 1986, donations from some 150 publishers have covered such areas as the arts and literature, business and economics, English language and education, geography and the environment, history, law and government, library science and reference, medicine and nursing, science and technology, and the social sciences. Most of the books are new, unremaindered college- and professional-level titles and are donated under a provision of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (sec. 170(e)(3)) which permits an enhanced deduction to donors of current inventory to charitable organizations which serve the needy, the ill, and children. Nearly all the books are in English, which is the second language of choice in the countries served by Sabre.

  

  Olha Isaievych, Executive Director of Sabre-Svitlo, left, at presentation of law books to Serhiy Holovaty, President of Ukrainian Legal Foundation in Kiev
  

  Besides new books and journals, Sabre also receives donations of special collections for placement with institutions which are creating or enhancing their holdings in a specific area. Special collections have been donated in such fields as art, bibliographic reference, entomology, medicine, history, law, economics, international relations, physics, philosophy and social policy. Sabre looks to donors and Partners to help identify an appropriate recipient before materials are shipped.