DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION ONLY
Minutes - First PIRG meeting
6-7 April 2006
SPC, Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Nouméa, New Caledonia
Meeting hosted jointly by SPC and by PIMRIS.
Agenda (attached)
April 6
Present: Suzy Davies, Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority Library
Clare Ame, NFA, PNG
Daisy Dalisay, WorldFish Centre, Philippines
Isabelle Perin, IRD
Anne Gibert, SPC
Chris Nelson, PIMRIS
Satui Bentin, SPREP
Rachele Oriente, SPC
9:00 am: Opening and welcome (RO)
Agenda, approved as attached.
1. Introductions by each member:
SPC (RO): SPC library is a special corporate library that has existed since the creation of SPC in 1947, it has a budget of about 26,000 US and about 32,000 items in all formats and media. It serves the staff, but it is open to the public on a part-time basis. About a quarter of the collection is in the marine sciences and fisheries and most of the research work by library staff is in fisheries and marine sciences. Since 2004, SPC has been an ASFA input center for our own publications. We rely on IAMSLIC for ILLs, professional development and current awareness. We want to contribute to the Z39.50 catalogue because we appreciate the benefits of IAMSLIC and would like to return the service in any way we can.
GBRMPA (SD): The GBRMPA is funded by the Federal government of Australia; the GBRMPA is a marine environmental park, and the library of the organization serves abut 200 staff. SD is also chair of GEMIM, which is funded by the UNESCO body, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee. The IOC is putting significant effort and resources into capacity building and networks, such as the ODINs.
PNG National Fisheries Authority (CA) : CA has been working with the NFA in PNG but she is employed by Gillett-Preston. She has been working to improve the NFA library, which now has a small collection. There has no full-time employee but recently a replacement librarian has been hired and that person will start work very soon. CA’s attendance at this PIRG meeting was funded by Gillett-Preston and by the IAMSLIC grant, for which CA is appreciative. Networking and resource sharing is a problem in PNG for many reasons and it will be very useful to have better ways to access information. The NFA library has about 2000 fisheries reports being scanned and put into Koha. Most of these reports are pdf image files and only a small percentage are pdf-searchable. CA has done some ocring. The koha database is only available internally.
WorldFish Center (DD) : In 2000, the library moved to Penang, so the Philippines office is a small office with a total of 30 staff and the library is a solo library. DD relies on IAMSLIC. She has no budget and she wants to network. DD works with FishBase.
PIMRIS (CN): PIMRIS is a network consisting mainly of South Pacific libraries with some few North Pacific libraries. It was established 20 years ago after an information needs assessment for marine science and fisheries was conducted by Esther Williams and Ueta Fusili at USP. CN is also the librarian for the Marine Studies Programme at USP.
The challenges and limitations of the PIMRIS center are that USP considers PIMRIS as a branch library and PIMRIS has no budget only an allocation for acquisitions. The activity of PIMRIS has varied according to external funding, historically it has been funded by Canada, but now Canada is withdrawing from the Pacific and USP is turning to the EU for funding. One of PIMRIS’s activities has been the MOANA database, which CN is now working on to revitalize after a lapse of several years. The aim of MOANA is to contain citations to all fisheries literature held in the PIMRIS network libraries, with full text links where applicable. MOANA will be distributed in CD-Roms. All PIMRIS libraries are encouraged to send their records to CN. The PIMRIS website has links to fisheries websites and to regional organizations, among other things.
SPC (AG): The priorities are to serve SPC staff. AG has produced editions in 2005 and in 2006 of the SPC Marine Resource Bibliography, which is a bibliography of all fisheries and aquatic and marine sciences held in SPC library. In 2005, AG went on a pro bono basis donated by SPC library to catalogue the monographs of the RE Johannes memorial collection, which is now housed at PIMRIS. Selected grey literature from the Johannes collection has been catalogued in 2006. The collection is catalogued on the KOHA software in SPC’s catalogue but it is flagged in the location field as held at PIMRIS. Discussion around the donation of Anne’s time to USP for the Johannes collection.
IRD (IP): IRD has existed since 1946, and was formerly known as ORSTROM. It is a French research institute and has many centres in France and in the Pacific, and in other tropical zones around the world. Until the last few years there was an office in Vanuatu, which IP also managed. There are 200 staff at IRD in Nouméa working in oceanography, geology, GIS/remote sensing and the human sciences. The Library has about 15,000 documents and grey literature. The periodicals collection is also important as it has long and historic runs. IRD works with the French network and with SPC, and now the library which is staffed by 2 professional staff, also provides library services for IFREMER, which is now physically housed in the same building as IRD.
SPREP (SB): SB is the new chair of PIRG. As IMRC Manager, her work falls under Corporate Services. In IRMC, there are 3 components 1) library, (which can access approx. 30,000 records, inclusive e-documents from national collections2) archives, and 3) publications dissemination. The Registry supports the work of the Archives where and all corporate documents are scanned and kept. There are only 2 staff in the library at SPREP. The challenges is operating all three components within a limited are severe budget constraints. The IRCM also operates the PEIN is the Pacific Environmental Information network (PEIN)and itwhich sits under Programme 1 of SPREP, Island Ecosystems; this network is run by the IRCM with the support of the Assistant Librariany. PEIN is implemented by SPREP and funded by the EU. In PEIN, Phase 1 is a technical an assessment of information library needs of Depts. of Environment and partner agencies; Phase 2 is the purchase of equipment required to establish an information centre or network develop the library; Phase 3 is national activities which includes information sharing workshops and training and Phase 4 is country attachments. PEIN covers the cost of software licensing.
2. Introduction to and Roundtable Discussion of IAMSLIC:
SD: Discussion and explanation of IAMSLIC and how it functions and its benefits to members, with emphasis on the z39.50 and union catalogue. Z39,50 catalogue,other benefits: donations to members,Professional development and assistance,ASFA via PIMRIS or SPC. The discussion focused on the example of Euraslic as a regional group that may have precedents worthwhile to PIRG. SD as chair of GEMIM has had a lot of contact with Euraslic. Euralsic is extremely productive and do a lot of things and avoid focusing on any one single European nation. It was noted that it strengthens the international aspect of IAMSLIC to have the annual conference in 2009 in Fiji after having had the 2004 in Hobart, TAS, AUS.
CN: PIMRIS is hoping to add its holding to the IAMSLIC Z39.50 catalogue. Participation in the IAMSLIC Z39.50 shows goodwill since we all use the Z39.50 so much, and also if more PIRG library’s participate in Z39.50, it shows a good presence. PIMRIS might move to KOHA, and then it would be possible to be a Z39.50 server without directly involving USP.
Discussion on KOHA—it is being used by NFA, SPC, and FFA and SOPAC is considering it.
GEMIM is funded by the IOC of UNESCO, and so GEMIM can assist IAMLSCI. Two years ago GEMIM developed a MOU between IAMSLIC and OIC to enhance communication and cooperation between the two organizations.
Current IAMSLIC members:
ID / NAME / INSTITUTION797 / Ame, Clare / National Fisheries Authority
576 / Anderson, Kristen L. / University of Hawaii, Hamilton Library
911 / Baine, Mark / Motupore Island Research Centre, UPNG
582 / Barnwell, Jane / University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hamilton Library
785 / Bentin, Satui D. / Information Resource Center, SPREP
782 / Dalisay, Daisy / WorldFish Center- Philippines Office
321 / Naidu, Dorene / SOPAC Secretariat Library
103 / Nelson, Chris / University of the South Pacific, School of Marine Studies
805 / Oriente, Rachele M. / SPC-Secretariat of the Pacific Community
358 / Rao, Ganeshan
476 / Roi, Nooroa Soko / Ministry of Marine Resources
754 / Thoulag, Jean / College of Micronesia, Learning Resources Center
889 / Ura, Kinibo / National Fisheries College Library
Number of matching entries: 13
Potential members: The Australian & NZ members are already members of IAMSLIC but not of PIRG and the idea is to enlarge PIRG:
AIMS (AUS)
GBRMPA (AUS)
CSIRO (AUS)
Fishnet Australia: network of Austalian marine science libraries.
NZIMS
University of Guam, MARC
Pacific Islands country and territory Ministries of Fisheries/Marine Resources
Discussion on the composition of PIRG: should PIRG include AUS, NZ and Asia? Historically, there has been some concern that the interests of AUS and NZ would dominate the group; discussion now around the benefits that the resources, both financial and professional, that AUS and NZ can offer to Pacific Island members. SD suggested that the example of PARBICA is useful. Reading and review of IAMSLIC information on membership and on regional groups. Discussion.
AGREED: that all the Pacific Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia and New Zealand and Australia be included in the region of the Regional Group but that this region will exclude Asia as the challenges, problems and digital divide issues are different. Hawaii can be invited to join.
Discussion and suggestions for changing the name of PIRG:
IDEAS include,
PIAMSLIC: Pacific Islands Aquatic & Marine Science Libraries & Infor Centers
PAMSLIC: Pacific Aquatic & Marine Science Libraries & Infor Centers
PacAMSLIC: Pacific Aquatic & Marine Science Libraries & Infor Centers
PacSLIC: Pacific Science Libraries & Infor Centers
Others?
No decision reached, but members should express an opinion when s/he has one.
ACTIONS: SD will provide a list of FishNet Libraries and contacts
SB will draft a letter of invitation to join PIRG and IAMSLIC to follow up on the letter already sent out by RO (70 letters sent out in English and in French). This letter will highlight the benefits of IAMSLIC.
RO will send SB a list of names and addresses for these letters of invitation.
Draft a request for members and submit it to the IAMSLIC newsletter.
Discussion around invitation to the meeting and how to reach people who didn’t attend.
SPC has volunteered to sponsor five 3-year memberships for developing countries (ie: 60.00USD per member).
ACTIONS: SB will include SPC offer of sponsorship in letter.
CN will follow up with Tonga Ministry to try to get them to accept a membership.
CA will follow up with going to University of PNG library and with the Maritime College.
Discussion around the proposed funding changes to regional groups. Once membership drive is completed, we will approach the IAMSLIC treasurer for information on funds. Decision not to have a treasurer as the IAMSLIC information says we can use IAMSLIC treasury and we are such a small group with so few funds that it is not worth the effort.
SD: suggestion that the PIRG have a list-serv and that it be hosted by IAMSLIC.
CN: If there are any difficulties, SPC can easily host the list-serv.
ACTION: to ask IAMSLIC to host a PIRG list-serv.
3. An ODIN for the Pacific? (SD)
ODIN (SD) ODIN = Ocean Data and Information Network. These ODINs have a strong link with IAMSLIC regional groups.
SD: IODE is the International Oceanographic Data Exchange, and it is one part of the IOC. The IODE sets up the data networks over the glove for marine management sites and also data management sites—it is this second kind of network that includes information management. Historically, these ODINs have been for large geographic areas, such as for Africa. ODINs are there to assist with building up infrastructure; capacity building and training; to raise the status of data and information management in the region and by extension as a way of raising the status of marine libraries. One of the values of an ODIN is that the IOC is a large international organization that is willing to support the national marine libraries, and then national governments take notice and consider their national libraries as valuable because the IOC has recognized them as valuable. The current ODINs are:
ODIN Africa (19 countries, 25 libraries)
ODIN Casa (27 libraries)
ODIN Indio
ODINECET
The ODIN Africa and ODIN Casa are developing regional union catalogues, so there are many libraries that don’t have the capacity to participate directly in the z39.50 can donate to the regional union catalog which then is a collective point to donate to the IAMSLIC Z39.50. And, regional users can go to the regional union catalogue as a start, and then go to IAMSLIC if it is necessary.
The funding for ODINECET comes from the IOC and Euraslic together.
For an ODIN Pacific, it would be necessary to avoid duplicating the work already being done by PEIN or by PIMRIS. Can the ODIN concept fit in the Pacific?
SD did a capacity survey of Pacific marine libraries in 2004 for IOC to highlight the lack of recognition by national governments of marine libraries. There maybe opportunities to assist in or cooperate with existing networks. Is it logical or necessary to have an ODIN Pacific?
SB: It is necessary to break down the definition of network. For technical specialists, a network is a purely online service. In terms of resources, PEIN covers all the same components as we are discussing. But there must be a regional overhead body so perhaps. Is there a way to have partnership with PEINODIN could consider a partnership with or PIMRIS?
SD: Instead of building another network, a Pacific ODIN could assist PIMRIS in functioning as it was intended to function and by having the support of the IOC and Unesco behind it, USP might be encouraged to recognize and support PIMRIS.
CN: The oceanographic side of data is more SOPAC’s area than any other organization.
SD: An ODIN Pacific would need a collaborative effort by SPC, SOPAC, FFA, SPREP (PEIN) but the leading agency would have to be PIMRIS. The PIROF strategy (Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Forum) could be a supportive document.
Discussion on the utility of and acceptance by Pacific regional countries of the PIROF meeting and the outcome papers.
SD: the idea of a Pacific ODIN was first vetted at Hobart in 2004, when the idea of the Pacific Regional Group also came up. Recent IOC and IODE meetings have reiterated support for a Pacific ODIN. If we see a logical reason to go ahead with a Pacific ODIN (PAC-ODIN), then it will be received favorably. If we decide not to go ahead, that decision will be accepted by IOC. No two ODINS are alike and each one is designed to meet regional needs, and each one can be flexible.
SD: How would a PAC-ODIN duplicate MOANA?
CN: MOANA is supposed to be a union catalogue but it is out of date. MOANA is now in DB/tEXt but it can be converted to a Z39.50 compatible system.
SD: In Africa, each library periodically sends a copy of the entire library catalog in DB/Text to produce a web catalogue, and this will soon in the future be converted to a Z39.50 by a consultant based in London, England. Control of content is managed by a steering committee which vets the content and acts as an editor.
CN: This is a parallel system to what is happening in PIMRIS with MOANA as SPREP has volunteered agreed to a proposal by PIMRIS to host MOANA. The PAC-ODIN would be a justification to USP for more resources, capacity building, status, especially a ODIN would be recognition from UNESCO.
SD: All the existing ODINS have websites.
SD: We need to discuss with IAMSLIC the aim, participants and interaction with PIMRIS. It would be helpful to have a representative or contact in each marine library to act as a contact between IOC and ODIN. There are seven IOC member states in the Pacific: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and New Zealand. Libraries can participate even if they are not members of IOC. Money or funding is restricted as a function of the number of members. To join all you have to do is write a letter to IOC to ask to join.
ACTION: SD will send the IOC contact to PIRG members for membership in IOC.
SB: If PIMRIS is going to host PAC-ODIN but SPREP is going to host MOANA, how will that work?
Discussion.
SD: The IODE hosts ODINECET and ODIN Africa and can host PAC-ODIN too.
Discussion.
AGREED THAT PIRG WILL PROCEED WITH A PACIFIC ODIN.
4. 15:00-16:30 “Regional cooperation in marine resources information capacity building”- HOF meeting/Conference Center
- 15h00-15h15: Jean-Paul Gaudechoux, SPC Fisheries Information Adviser (will talk on the soon-to-be EU-funded ACP Fish 2 Project, including the a presentation of the FMKES = Fisheries Management Knowledge Exchange System)
QUESTIONS from the floor