the dost-esep library network

THE DOST-ESEP LIBRARY THE DOST-ESEP LIBRARY NETWORKNETWORK

Presented by Lourdes T. David, Director, Rizal Library, Presented by Lourdes T. David, Director, Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila University at the public forum on Ateneo de Manila University at the public forum on

“Networking for survival: a sharing of consortial “Networking for survival: a sharing of consortial experiences” sponsored by PAARL, held at the World experiences” sponsored by PAARL, held at the World Trade Center, on August 12, 2004 in conjunction with Trade Center, on August 12, 2004 in conjunction with

the Manila International Book Fair.the Manila International Book Fair.

IntroductionIntroductionThe DOST – ESEP Library Network is a The DOST – ESEP Library Network is a network of eight academic libraries in the network of eight academic libraries in the Philippines. It was established in 1994 in Philippines. It was established in 1994 in response to the need to share information response to the need to share information resources to support the manpower resources to support the manpower development program of the government development program of the government in the area of science and technology.in the area of science and technology.The implementing agency of the project The implementing agency of the project was the DOST.was the DOST.ESEP stands for Engineering Science ESEP stands for Engineering Science Education ProjectEducation Project

Distribution and Composition of Distribution and Composition of the DOST-ESEP Library the DOST-ESEP Library Network Network • Manila: 3 libraries: U.P. Manila Main

Library, De la Salle University Library, and University of Santo Tomas Main Library

• Quezon City: 3 libraries: U.P. College of Science Library, U.P.College of Engineering Library and the Rizal Library, Ateneo de Manila University

• Laguna: 1 library: U.P. Los Banos Main Library

• Mindanao: 1 library: MSU-IIT at Iligan

Manpower Development ProjectManpower Development Project

Designed to develop faculty and staff in Designed to develop faculty and staff in the participating institutions specifically in the participating institutions specifically in Mathematics, Chemistry, Biological Mathematics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Physics, Sciences, Computer Science, Physics, Statistics, Engineering and Geological Statistics, Engineering and Geological Sciences. Sciences.

Status of Member Libraries before Status of Member Libraries before Networking Networking

None of the libraries were using integrated library systems. All were using Micro CDS/ISIS for building their catalogs, indexes and OPAC.

IT facilities were inadequate. Computers were not networked

Books and other library materials were insufficient in quality and quantity

Budgets were small

Staff were not trained in use of ICT

Vision for the NetworkVision for the NetworkAs an integral component of the DOST-ESEP manpower development project, the library network was envisioned to :– Build complimentary resources through

cooperative acquisitions schemes– Become automated and interconnected– Have trained staff on ICT use– Share resources through interlibrary loan,

document delivery services and reciprocal use

– Have Internet access

Objectives Objectives

1.1. To provide the member To provide the member libraries with an integrated libraries with an integrated library system which they can library system which they can use independently of each use independently of each other while at the same time other while at the same time providing access to each providing access to each other’s catalogsother’s catalogs

Objectives Objectives

2.2. To build library resources and To build library resources and services adequate to support services adequate to support eight member institutions eight member institutions identified for the masters identified for the masters degree programs in science and degree programs in science and engineering through a engineering through a cooperative acquisitions cooperative acquisitions program and efficient document program and efficient document delivery mechanismdelivery mechanism

ObjectivesObjectives

3. To provide member libraries with access to the Internet and all its services

4. To provide non-member libraries access to the network library catalogs via the public telephone system and/or any Internet service provider

ObjectivesObjectives

5.5. To achieve a widespread diffusion of To achieve a widespread diffusion of skills in the use of IT by providing training skills in the use of IT by providing training for members and non-members and by for members and non-members and by acting as demonstration sites for other acting as demonstration sites for other libraries wishing to automatelibraries wishing to automate

Concerns and StrategiesConcerns and Strategies

Need for Coordinating Committees for administration and technical planning and implementation

Inadequate library space

Inadequate equipment and furniture

Establish a Establish a coordinating coordinating committee composed committee composed of librarians and IT of librarians and IT personnel from each personnel from each participating participating institutioninstitution

Build new facilitiesBuild new facilities

Purchase equipment Purchase equipment and furnitureand furniture


Poor book collection and poor and fragmented serial collection

Library services not adapted to coming digital age

Purchase books and Purchase books and serials. Fill-in gaps in serials. Fill-in gaps in serials collection, if serials collection, if possible. Share possible. Share resourcesresourcesReview and evaluate Review and evaluate services against services against institutions abroad institutions abroad with similar course with similar course offerings and FTEs offerings and FTEs for faculty and for faculty and students.students.


Lack of hardware and software for digital applications

Absence of network infrastructure

Absence of Internet access

Purchase hardware Purchase hardware and software for and software for library automationlibrary automation

Interconnect Interconnect hardwarehardware

Provide access to the Provide access to the InternetInternet


Inadequate staffLibrary staff not knowledgeable and unskilled in IT applications in libraries

Need for continuous funds for network viability

Recruit staff with IT Recruit staff with IT skillsskillsTrain existing staff on Train existing staff on IT applications. Send IT applications. Send them to local and them to local and institutions abroad for institutions abroad for short term and formal short term and formal training.training.Seek funds or ways of Seek funds or ways of generating funds generating funds

Key factors to successKey factors to success

Committee composed of head librarians of Committee composed of head librarians of the participating libraries developed the the participating libraries developed the plan and agreed to have cooperative plan and agreed to have cooperative acquisition, share resources through ILL acquisition, share resources through ILL and document delivery systems. and document delivery systems. Committee composed of technical staff Committee composed of technical staff from the participating institutions assisted from the participating institutions assisted the librarians in preparing and the librarians in preparing and implementing the technology plan.implementing the technology plan.

Key Factors to SuccessKey Factors to Success

Common library system and hardware Common library system and hardware platform made interaction among librarians platform made interaction among librarians possible specifically during training and possible specifically during training and annual conferencesannual conferencesStaff training was well supported by the Staff training was well supported by the participating institutions. Librarians and participating institutions. Librarians and technical staff were sent for training in technical staff were sent for training in formal and non-formal training programs formal and non-formal training programs both within and outside the countryboth within and outside the country

Key Factors to SuccessKey Factors to Success

The PhNet was established and provided The PhNet was established and provided a vehicle for e-mail between and among a vehicle for e-mail between and among the librarians and facultythe librarians and faculty

Access to the Internet was made possibleAccess to the Internet was made possible

Reciprocal use of libraries was started and Reciprocal use of libraries was started and continuedcontinued

PitfallsPitfalls

The DOST-ESEP Network was born at a time The DOST-ESEP Network was born at a time when the Philippines was not yet set-up for a when the Philippines was not yet set-up for a good data backbone. The speed of the PhNet good data backbone. The speed of the PhNet was too slow for data access and transfer.was too slow for data access and transfer.

Many librarians and faculty were not ready to Many librarians and faculty were not ready to embrace automation. embrace automation.

The dollar exchange rate soared to The dollar exchange rate soared to unprecedented heights such that the materials unprecedented heights such that the materials that were delivered could not be paid for. that were delivered could not be paid for.

ConclusionConclusion

It was successful because the objectives It was successful because the objectives were met including online access even if were met including online access even if the speed was very slow.the speed was very slow.

The major accomplishments are in the The major accomplishments are in the areas of resource sharing, automation, areas of resource sharing, automation, and staff training. and staff training.

It spearheaded the development of It spearheaded the development of automated libraries in the Philippines.automated libraries in the Philippines.

RecommendationRecommendation

Revitalize the DOST-ESEP Library Revitalize the DOST-ESEP Library Network but call it by another name and Network but call it by another name and increase the membership. Although the increase the membership. Although the good things that happened then are good things that happened then are continuing, the Network needs to be re-continuing, the Network needs to be re-energized specifically in terms of energized specifically in terms of consortium arrangements re acquisition, consortium arrangements re acquisition, cataloging, access and use. cataloging, access and use.

Let us thank God for giving us another day Let us thank God for giving us another day to show we care for one another!to show we care for one another!

Lourdes T. David

the dost-esep library network

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