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Documentation and Archives Unit

Documentary resources

Scientific information supporting research, innovation and sustainable development.

Support at every stage of research

The Documentation and Information Unit (CDI)

The Documentation and Information Unit (CDI) of the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS) is dedicated to accessing, managing, disseminating and promoting scientific and technical information. It supports researchers, students, teaching staff, scientific and technical staff and the Centre’s partners with their documentary research and scientific information needs.

As part of the Documentation and Archives Unit, it facilitates access to scientific information and supports the production, management, promotion and dissemination of scientific knowledge generated at CSRS and in its fields of activity.

Bringing together physical collections and digital resources, the CDI is evolving towards a hybrid scientific information service, combining documentary collections, electronic resources, digital services, personalised support and information literacy training.

This development is part of the CSRS digital transformation, with the ambition of making the CDI a scientific information space and documentary portal that supports access to knowledge, literature searches, the promotion of scientific outputs and researchers’ use of digital tools and artificial intelligence.

Several users work around a table with computers in the CSRS library.
Research and work within the documentary resources
A user works on a computer among the CSRS documentary collections.
A space dedicated to scientific information

Our mission

  • Facilitate access to the scientific and technical information needed for research.
  • Develop, organise, preserve and promote CSRS documentary resources.
  • Support researchers with bibliographic and documentary searches.
  • Support access to databases, scientific journals and electronic resources.
  • Help manage and promote CSRS scientific publications.
  • Strengthen researchers’ and students’ skills in finding, managing and sharing scientific information.
  • Promote good practice in managing documents, research data and digital resources.
  • Help raise the scientific visibility of researchers and CSRS outputs.
  • Support the adoption of digital tools and artificial intelligence for research and information management.

Consult, explore, learn

Our documentary resources

Physical collections

Shelves of scientific books with the CSRS Documentary Resources graphic.
The CSRS documentary collections

The CDI provides physical and digital resources covering scientific fields related to CSRS activities. Its documentary collections include:

  • Scientific and technical books
  • Theses and dissertations
  • Scientific and technical reports
  • Scientific publications and outputs
  • Periodicals and specialist journals
  • Institutional documents
  • Offprints and other specialist documents
  • Documents produced or acquired through CSRS research programmes and projects

Digital resources

A user works at a computer in the CSRS library.
Digital tools supporting research

The CDI facilitates access to electronic scientific resources, platforms and specialist databases, including those covering health, agriculture, the environment, biodiversity, social sciences and sustainable development.

Subject to available access rights, users can receive support with Research4Life, HINARI, AGORA, GOALI and other scientific databases and platforms.

Research4LifeHINARIAGORAGOALI
Get help with access

Services tailored to researchers

Literature searches and monitoring

Documentary support integrated into the research process, extending beyond access to documents.

  • Bibliographic searches
  • Identifying reliable scientific sources
  • Searching specialist databases
  • Support with developing search strategies
  • Selecting and evaluating scientific information
  • Monitoring literature and scientific developments
  • Selective dissemination of information

Scientific publication support

The CDI supports researchers in promoting their scientific outputs.

  • Identifying and managing bibliographic references
  • Finding information about scientific journals
  • Using DOIs and scientific identifiers
  • Creating and managing researcher profiles
  • Support with ORCID, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and other scientific visibility tools
  • Promoting CSRS scientific publications and outputs
  • Supporting the dissemination and visibility of scientific outputs

Training and capacity building

Training and workshops are regularly offered to researchers, students, teaching staff and other users. The CDI develops skills in digital tools and techniques for accessing, managing and promoting scientific information.

  • Literature searches and search strategies
  • Scientific databases
  • Reference management with Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote and other tools
  • Electronic document management
  • Using online scientific resources
  • DOIs and scientific identifiers
  • ORCID and researcher visibility
  • Google Scholar and ResearchGate
  • Collaborative and digital tools
  • Managing and promoting research data
  • Data collection and processing tools
  • Artificial intelligence for research and scientific information management
A group poses outdoors, with several people holding a certificate.
Training and capacity building

New tools, a critical perspective

The CDI and artificial intelligence

As scientific information evolves, the CDI is progressively supporting users in the considered use of artificial intelligence tools.

AI is a tool to assist research and information management, rather than a substitute for scientific and documentary expertise.

  • Identify relevant uses of AI in literature searches
  • Improve information searches and exploration
  • Organise and analyse document collections
  • Assist with processing and promoting information
  • Develop responsible and critical use of AI tools
  • Preserve the quality, reliability, traceability and integrity of scientific information

Promoting CSRS scientific outputs

The CDI helps build the CSRS scientific record and disseminate knowledge produced by its researchers and partners.

  • Identifying and collecting researchers’ publications
  • Organising bibliographic references
  • Highlighting CSRS scientific outputs
  • Sharing information about publications
  • Promoting researchers’ scientific visibility
  • Building and updating the Centre’s scientific documentary resources

Within the CSRS scientific ecosystem

The CDI works with CSRS researchers, laboratories, research stations, programmes and projects, as well as its scientific partners. This approach positions it as a research and knowledge management support service.

Two users discuss their work at a computer in the CSRS library.
Support tailored to research needs

Users and access conditions

Documentary resources can be consulted under the conditions set by the CDI. Loan arrangements and access to electronic resources may vary according to user status and the rights granted for each resource.

External applicants must submit a request for access to CSRS documentation to the Director General, together with their research document and an identity document, at the General Directorate secretariat.

  • CSRS researchers and academic staff
  • Students and interns hosted by the Centre
  • Doctoral students and early-career researchers
  • Scientific and technical staff
  • CSRS partners
  • Research and educational institutions
  • External users authorised under resource access conditions

Personalised support

Tell us about your research

Ask a librarian for help

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Your request will be prepared in your email application. You can review it and add an attachment before sending it. No data is stored on the website.

Request training

Fields marked * are required.

Your request will be prepared in your email application. You can review it and add an attachment before sending it. No data is stored on the website.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What you need to know to access resources and use our services.

How can I access physical and electronic resources?

Researchers associated with CSRS can send their enquiry directly to the Documentary Resources manager at djibril.dosso@csrs.ci.

Who can access documentary resources?

Researchers associated with CSRS can contact the manager at djibril.dosso@csrs.ci. External applicants must submit a request for access to CSRS documentation to the Director General, together with their research document and an identity document, at the General Directorate secretariat.

How can I borrow a document?

To consult or borrow a physical document, visit CSRS Documentary Resources and speak to the manager.

How can I request a literature search?

Send your request to djibril.dosso@csrs.ci, specifying your research topic, keywords or the type of documents you need to help process your enquiry.

How can I access Research4Life?

Access credentials are available to authorised CSRS researchers. Contact the Documentary Resources manager for access information or support.

How can I request training?

Email the manager or use the training request form on this page. Topics may include literature searches, reference management, scientific visibility, electronic resources, artificial intelligence and research tools.