1. Aims and Objectives of Project
There is a great identified need to further strengthen regional networking of marine related libraries and information resources in the Pacific region. This can be done by strengthening relationships and integrating activities amongst the major regional agencies. This pilot project aims to focus on specific aspects of that broader task, by using the PIMRIS Coordination Unit as facilitator and coordinator with the support of the IOC/IODE.
Visit the Pacific Islands Marine Portal on http://www.pimrisportal.org
2. About PIMRIS
PIMRIS is a formal cooperative network of libraries and information centres within regional organisations and government agencies concerned with the development of fisheries and marine resources in the Pacific. Its aim is to improve access to information on marine resources in the region by:
- collecting, cataloguing and preserving relevant documents in print and electronic formats, especially "grey literature" (ephemeral, unpublished material);
- disseminating information via new products (reports, newsletters, posters, bibliographies, websites & databases) and services (literature searches, inter-library loans, question and answer services);
- supporting the development of regional libraries and information centres through training and technical assistance; and
- cooperating with similar networks and institutions throughout the world, including the International Association of Marine Science Libraries & Information Centres (IAMSLIC), FAO and IOC.
2.1. ODIN-PIMRIS
ODIN-PIMRIS is a pilot project that will contribute to the objectives of PIMRIS, by focusing on:
- establishing a regional information portal
- creating capacity at national and institutional level to use & contribute to the portal,
- promoting of the portal as a valuable information source for managers and decision makers
ODIN-PIMRIS hopes to achieve the following outcomes:
- Better management of the institution’s published or semi-published information
- Secure long term storage and protection of this information
- Enhanced sharing of published and semi-published information
- Development of the skills and capacity to identify important resources available outside the institution
3. Background
The proposal to establish a Pacific ODIN originated from the Eight Session of IODE GE-MIM (IODE Group of Experts on Marine Information Management) (2004, Hobart, Australia) where Suzie Davies, Chair of GE-MIM, reported on the results of a Capacity Survey of Marine Libraries and Information Centres in the (South) Pacific Region) that was mailed to 50 libraries in the South Pacific region in 2004; Suzie Davies informed the session participants (based upon information received from Chris Nelson, PIMRIS Coordinator 2004-2006) that factors affecting information management capabilities in the region include: (i) lack of recognition by governments of the strategic importance of information; (ii) regional libraries are largely staffed by people with nor or only very basic qualifications.
The need for trained information workers (librarians, archivists, etc.) is exemplified by:
- lack of sponsorships for people wishing to study in these fields;
- low salaries;
- lack of concern about the state of regional libraries and information centres;
- other factors include climate, geography, politics, economics, and the diversity of languages, currencies and legal systems;
- most regional libraries remain unable to take full advantage of the ICT changes because of the lack of a supportive policy and resources (human, financial & technological).
It was suggested at that stage that IOC could assist through:
- supporting promotional efforts to raise the profile of information professionals in the region;
- sponsoring scholarships for students wishing to study information management courses;
- encouraging the adoption of common standards so that efforts are not diminished by each country or sector adopting a different one;
- utilization of existing networks in the region rather than creating a new competitor for the limited resources.
IODE Committee Meetings (IODE-XVIII and IODE-XIX) have reiterated support for this initiative in 2005 and 2007. The 2005 IAMSLIC Pacific Islands Regional Group (PIRG) meeting participants proposed that PIRG will work together with PIMRIS to prepare a project concept paper to identify needs, priorities, possible strategies, etc. to facilitate a coordinated effort in marine information management in this region. However the development of the project was delayed for another year due to replacement of the majority of PIMRIS agency participants (including the PIMRIS Coordinator) in 2006.
The PIMRIS Coordinating Unit (CU) completed a Survey of Fisheries and Marine Resources Libraries and Information Centres in the South Pacific in August 2007. Results of the Survey confirmed that main obstacles hampering efficient flow of aquatic information in the region still remain: (i) lack of trained librarians/information officers; (ii) persons in charge of libraries are not at levels of great influence or authority within their organizations; (iii) in many countries aquatic and fisheries collections (often containing unique “grey literature†remain unorganized and unprotected from unfavourable climatic factors and natural disasters; (iv) lack of library equipment; v) insufficient library budgets etc.
In 2007 the IODE GE-MIM stepped forward with the initiative to develop ODIN for Pacific Island Region under the wider umbrella of the ODINWESTPAC project (Ocean Data and Information Network for the WESTPAC region). The proposal was introduced by Suzie Davies on behalf of GE-MIM at the Joint 13th PIMRIS Steering Committee Meeting /IAMSLIC PIRG meeting which was held in Suva, Fiji 15-16 November 2007. IODE suggested that ODIN Pacific should have its own identity, coordinator and that training programs for the region should be designed especially for the smaller Pacific islands states. It was proposed by IODE to implement an ODIN Pacific network through the PIMRIS Coordination Unit (which would allow the continuation of the PIMRIS brand, which is well recognized throughout the region).
The GE-MIM/IODE proposal was met with enthusiasm by the participants of the Joint Meeting, who unanimously agreed to proceed with the establishment of an ODIN Pacific Islands pilot project under the umbrella of ODINWESTPAC assuming that it will have its own identity within the wider body and will be implemented through the PIMRIS Coordination Unit.
A preliminary proposal was submitted to the IODE Project Officers Meeting in November 2007. The IODE Officers approved the organization of an initial training course/meeting at IODE Project Office, Oostende, Belgium to identify training needs for the ODIN, and to develop a formal proposal for a pilot project.
The “ODIN-PI MIM: IODE Training Course on Marine Information Management towards the Ocean Data and Information Network for the Pacific Island region “was held between 13-17 May 2008 at the IOC Project Office for IODE in Oostende, Belgium.
A small scale project proposal was drafted based upon the discussions at the Training Course and submitted for funding to the 15th Session of the Steering Committee of the UNESCO-Flanders Trust Fund for Sciece (26 September 2008) where the proposal was approved.
4. Proposed Structure of Network
4.1. Major Collaborating Partners
The main organizational partners in the project will be:
- PIMRIS Coordination Unit
- USP
- SPREP
- SPCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Regional Agencies
- FFA
- SOPAC
- IOC/IODE
- IAMSLIC
4.2. Other Potential Partners
The national partners will include National fisheries & marine agencies in the following countries: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Other organizational partners will be invited to participate.
4.3. Coordination of Network
The PIMRIS Coordination Unit will be the Secretariat/Coordination Unit of ODIN-PIMRIS, hosted by USP.
4.4. Planning Meetings for Network
A preparatory meeting (for all partners) has taken place simultaneously with the IAMSLIC Conference half September 2008, to discuss the development and implementation of the ODIN-PIMRIS Pilot project.
5. Identified Needs for the Pacific Islands Region
The following issues have been identified as equally important short-term and long term needs for the region:
- Access to both national and international information;
- Secure and long-term storage & preservation of published information in a range of formats to meet stakeholders needs;
- Information management skills for librarians and information officers to take advantage of existing and new information management tools (eg resources kits, toolkits, manuals);
- Standardized information management tools (eg. Library management systems, e-repository software);
- Regionally coordinated capacity building;
- Long term and consistent ‘technical backstopping’ (IT infrastructure, IT technical expertise and support) at both national and regional levels.
5.1. Products and Services Required for Pacific Region
The following list highlights products and services which are necessary for better information and data sharing across the Pacific Islands region. Some of these items are achievable in the pilot project, which will focus on specific marine information services and products. Others will be investigated in later stages of an ODIN development.
1. Establishment of a regional marine portal which:
- Promotes access to web-based information resources (may include static copies)
- Promotes access to marine data resources
- Ensures an integrated access point for both marine information and data at the regional level
2. Improve access to published information (eg ASFA, Interlibrary loan services);
3. Experts directory (regional implementation of OceanExpert);
4. E-repository (institutional and regional facilities with emphasis on grey literature and historical materials, and must include a regional harvester) (regional implementation of OceanDocs);
5. Support of internships;
6. Regional/national training;
7. Promote regional and international networking (membership IAMSLIC, travel grants, awareness creation on networks, resource sharing);
8. Promotion of marine information management at decision maker level (government);
9. Newsletters;
10. Assistance in setting up information centre (and collection management system: may include ILMS);
11. Ensure long-term preservation of electronic collections (disaster mitigation/recovery);
12. Preferential search engine for Pacific Island agencies and their resources.
5.1.1 E-Repository Development
Why have one?
- Institutions are often lacking air-conditioned space;
- Institutions have problems with degradation of materials;
- Most institutions have no organized way to manage their collections;
- Risk of loss of collections by hurricanes, floods etc.;
- Risk of loss of electronic databases due to system failure, hurricanes, floods;
- Loss of library resources due to departure of staff (loss of corporate memory).
Required Attributes of an E-repository
- System that enables scanning and electronic archival of documents
- System that enables searching, browsing of materials at institutional level (LAN)
- System that allows combining records from different institutions in the region
- System that enables searching, browsing of materials at regional level (e-repository)
- Stand-alone and easy-to-use, windows application that can run on PC (for institutional system)
- Regional centralized system with high reliability (and backup)
- Easy creation of removable media version of institutional or regional (sub-collection)
Preferred Software
The Group has decided to recommend the use of OAI compliant software. At the national and institutional levels, PIMRIS will support installation of Greenstone software as a e-repository tool.
Greenstone Digital Library is preferred for the following reasons:
- It is already installed in USP Library for thesis collection
- It is used by SPC as an output tool
- IT Expertise is available locally from USP
- Greenstone company resides in New Zealand (which is close)
- Allows easy installation at local level & can be offered via CD-ROM or internet access
- Greenstone is OAI compliant and is interoperable with DSpace
- Greenstone is supported by Unesco, who are already installing software in Pacific region national libraries
At regional levels, group has decided to recommend the installation of OAI compliant software (such as DSpace, EPrints, Greenstone).
7. Proposed Work Plan for the ODIN-PIMRIS Pilot Project
The detailed work plan of the project will be posted here by the end of 2008.
8. Contact information for this project
(since 8 November 2010)
Susana Macanawai
Librarian / PIMRIS Coordinator
School of Marine Studies, USP
Private Mail Bag, Laucala Campus
Suva, Fiji
Tel: 679 323 2934
Fax: 679 323 1526
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Created on: Tuesday, 30 September 2008 14:42
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Last Updated on: Monday, 01 July 2013 12:20
