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libraries progress • information communication technologies • collection development • libraries progress • information communication •

libraries progress • information communication technologies • editorial • collection development • libraries progress • information communication •

Vol. 2, no. 1 (March) 2006

Areas needing attention include thecomprehensive acquistion of materialson the Pacific; skilled and trainedpersonnel, higher levels of funding,development of infrastructure and qualityissues, especially with regard to thecampus and centres outside of Laucala,where development has beenconcentrated - this being our biggestchallenge to date.

To deal with the challenges means thatwe will have to adopt a combination ofof approaches. For example, given thatthe large majority of our users are spreadacross huge geographical distances,adopting a `digital strategy' would beideal and most cost-effective.

ICT is a powerful tool for informationdissemination and access and the USPhas developed an amazing ICTinfrastructure for teaching and thedelivery of services but there remainlimitations.

With the assistance of the Planning andDevelopment Office, we are trialing the'Digital-Library-in-a-Box project wherebydigital information is stored in localservers at campus libraries and accessedvia the LAN. Developing infrastructureand library capability across the networkwill mean convincing UniversityManagement to allocate more funds andresources to the development of campusand centre libraries, an integral part ofthe Library's Triennial Submission, 2007-2009 to the University.

Ms Joan Yee newly appointedUniversity Librarian 2006.

ontents

The year 2006unveils a new wave

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1. Editorial

2. Regional Connections

3. People - recruitment, achievements, leaving etc.

4. Interview - Liviana Tabalala

6. Conferences, Training & Workshops

7. Developments

8. Associations, Publications

in the leadership line up at the University of the South Pacific Library

s Sin Joan Yee was appointedUniversity Librarian in February,

following the apppointment of herpredecessor, Dr. Esther Williams, as theUSP Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Ms Yee was asked her views on librarydevelopment in the last five years andwhere she sees Library developmentgoing. Her response was:

I believe we have achieved alot in thepast 5 years, despite many challenges.We have focussed on developing libraryservices that are responsive to our users'needs, are modern and of high quality.We hope that the services developedwill help library users maximise theresources that are available. Somehighlights are the Information LiteracyProgramme which helps users developlifelong learning skills in finding, usingand evaluating information; the upgradedweb-based Sypydus catalogue; the movetowards online materials over print sothat all our users, no matter where theyare located, can access these; therevamped library website that providesa portal to the Library's resources; thedevelopment of reference servicesincluding the Ask-A-Librarian service; theprovision of over 60 PCs with Internetaccess, word processing and e-mailfacilities with the assistance of ITS andother sections. Of course, our successin each of these initiatives varies. Thereis room for improvement and other areasthat we need to address and thanks tothe skills, commitment and dedicationof the staff and the support from theUSP community, we have been largelysuccessful.

Where do we need to go? We need toconsolidate and further develop theseinitiatives; identify areas for improvementand as the USP charts new directionswe must be responsive to these.

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ISSN: 1815-3240 (hardcopy); 1815-3259 (electronic copy)

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New Manual for PICParliamentary LibrariesVilimaina Vakaciwa reports...

Parliamentary libraries in Pacific IslandCountries (PICs) are now equipped witha manual that provides practicalguidelines designed to strengthen theinformation and research capacities ofparliamentary libraries in island countries.The manual is an outcome of a trainingworkshop for parliamentary library staffthat was conducted in collaboration withthe Fiji Parliament in Suva, from the 19-22 July 2005. The Workshop wasorganized by the Regional Centre of theUNDP with training provided byWorkshop Consultant, Michael Ong ofthe Research Section of the AustralianParliamentary Library in Canberra.

“The production of the manual issupported by the AustralianRegion of the CommonwealthParliamentary Libraries of thePacific Parliaments.”

The online version of the manual isaccessible and can be downloaded at:http://regionalcentrepacific.undp.org.fj/Files/proof_Library%20Manual.pdfAlthough the manual is tailored to suitparliamentary libraries, it has good ideasfor general library application.

Japan Donates to USP LibraryTony Dadalo reports…

On Friday 27 January, His Excellency MrMasashi Namekawa, the JapaneseAmbassador to Fiji, Tonga, Nauru, Kiribati,Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Palau officiallypresented the books to the USP Library.The books cover different areas ofJapanese society including legal, culturaland economic aspects. When presentingthe books to the USP H.E. Mr Namekawa

said that the Japanese Government ispleased to be continuously assisting theUSP in various ways. He pointed out thatthe books will disseminate knowledgeabout Japan to the students, staff andusers and in turn, foster mutualunderstanding.

On receiving the gift, Professor Tarrthanked the Ambassador for the donationand said that the USP had been arecipient of these contributions fromJapan for over 20 years and as a resultthe University has an expanding collectionof works on Japan.

SPC Noumea Supports LibraryDigital and Online AccessInitiativesVilimaina Vakaciwa reports…

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community(SPC) Library embarks on three majorprojects in 2006. The first project is thedigitizing and mounting online ofapproximately 8,000 SPC historicphotographs, mostly black and white,from the early 1950s to date.

The second major initiative is the settingup of an integrated library network toallow SPC clientele easy online retrievaland digital access to information held invarious branch libraries associated withthe SPC Suva Office and those held atthe headquarters in Noumea. The thirdproject is focused on strengthening tiesthrough meetings and resource sharingwith partner fisheries libraries andinformation centres in the Pacific Region.

Recently SPC Library & PIMRIS hosteda Pacific Regional Group of IAMSLIC(International Association of MarineScience Libraries and InformationCentres) meeting in conjunction with theSPC Heads of Fisheries meeting from 3-7 April 2006.

REGIONAL CONNECTIONS

Achievements

Gwen Mar, USP Library’s GraduateTrainee returned to work from StudyLeave at the Victoria University ofWellington, NZ. Gwen has completedher studies in the Master in Library &Information Studies programme and hasbeen appointed as a librarian in theReader Services section. Gwen said thattime management is the mostchallenging part while studying and thatthe course is intensive and a neverendingweekly cycle of receiving and submittingassignments and one can easily lagbehind if personal time is not managedwell.

In her research thesis, Gwen looked at"Attitude and Behaviour of Library Staffin Fiji towards Freedom of Access." Shefound that attitude and behavior towardsinformation access do not fall at the sameend of the scale.

Sharmila Pillay was appointed to aLibrarian position in Reader Serviceshaving completed a B.A. in Librarianshipand Corporate Information Managementfrom Curtin University of Technology inPerth, Australia.

She said “The course was an eye-openeras it made me realize the importanceand value of being an informationprovider.” Sharmila strongly feels thatthe core focus of librarianship is qualitycustomer service and that one has tohave the skill and ability to respond tothe information needs of users.

PEOPLE

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Free expression of views or the morefamiliar phrase Freedom of Expression(FoE) is most often associated withinformation and media sectors but inreality covers all sectors of thecommunity.

With some Pacific Island Countries (PICs)undergoing elections at this time, thefreedom of political candidates to statetheir views and the populace to air theirson issues of national and personalinterest, it is an opportunity to test FoEin a nation.

At election time in Pacific countries, thePacific Collection Librarian, together withthe USP Campus and Centre personnel,make every attempt to collect informationon the various political parties andcandidates.

Documentation collected can be a toolindicative of the degree of freedom ofexpression within PICs.

FoE in the USPLWhilst discussions in recent months areon the Solomon Islands and Fiji elections,there has also been some chatting onwork-related matters.

One can only guess the web of ideas inthe minds of the staff as they quietlycarry out their daily assigned duties. This

month in Mi Harem Se, we posed thefollowing question, 'what will be the bestway forward for the USP Library?' to afew library paraprofessional staff andtheir answers were:

“Management to identify and drawfrom the pool of para-professionals thebest candidate who already has theprerequisite and experience to pursuethe professional library graduatetraining - this will ease the career pathstagnation and staff turn-overexperienced at para professional level.”

“Best way forward for the library is toencourage local capacity building, toinvest in local or regional talent to takeup the hard to fill positions - buildconfidence on regional elements andthrow them in the deep end and if theydo not know how to swim they willsurely know in order to survive.”

“A “think tank” committee wellblended with both professionals andparaprofessionals to advise theUniversity Librarian regarding libraryinitiatives.”

Have your say in the next issue ofLibraries Pa-C-fika. Send your views orcomments to views expressed in thisissue to Libraries Pa-C-fika.

PEOPLE VIEWS. OPINIONS. TALKS

Three Library Assistants from the USPLibrary received their paraprofessionalawards at the USP Graduation ceremonyheld on Friday 21 April 2006.

Francis Chute, Library Assistant atPIMRIS and Sashi Reddy, LibraryAssistant at the Pacific Collectiongraduated in the Diploma in Library &Information Studies. They both joinedUSP Library in mid-January 2006.

Niranjila Kumar (Part-Time Junior LibraryAssistant, Reader Services) graduatedwith the vocational Certificate in BasicSkills in Library & Information StudiesShe joined the Library in January 2005.

Departures

Victoria York returned to Montana aftercompleting a two year contract as theReader Services Librarian. She alsocoordinated the Library's InformationLiteracy programme.

Rose Campbell resigned after a shortstint with the USP library as DigitizationLibrarian.

Best way forward for the library is to encourage localcapacity building, to invest in local or regional talent

MI HAREM SE

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iviana Tabalala who joined the USPLibrary Training Department in1998 is a librarian by profession

and coordinator of the USP Certificate inBasic Skills in Library and InformationStudies Programme. In this interviewwith Vilimaina Vakaciwa, Liviana offersan insight to the status and prospects ofthe Library Certificate programme andthe need, training and employmentprospects of professional and para-professional of personnel.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: You have beenwriting and teaching the programme foralmost a decade. How can you tell ifstudents have achieved the learningoutcomes of the courses you have taughtthem?

Liviana: I use a variety of methods tofind out if a student has achieved thelearning outcomes /objectives of acourse. If a student has achieved thelearning outcomes/objectives, he/shewill show this by applying his/herunderstanding of the learning outcomes/objectives in the tasks and activitieshe/she has been asked to do. The keyterms here are “understanding” and“application”.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: What do you deducefrom the course enrolment statistics interms of the viability of the programme?

Liviana: In view of the enrolmentstatistics of the Certificate programme,based on the USP Library’s Annualreports,

one can see that while there was anincrease in enrolments in 2002 but from2003-2005 there has been a decrease inenrolments. Generally speaking,enrolments for the last 5 years have beenat an average of 27-50 students for eachof the five courses. Although there isdownward fluctuation, enrolments in theCertificate have been quite high and it isencouraging to know that we are trainingso many. Initial statistics for Semester 12006 are 111, so it looks as though 2006may improve on 2005. You have toremember that we have not vigorouslymarketed our courses, but are securing

healthy enrolments. There are a lot oflibraries out there with untrained staff,so we are hopeful that our graduates arefilling a niche.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: How easy dograduates in certificate or diplomaprogrammes find para-professional jobsin their respective island state countries?

Liviana: I cannot comment on the easeor otherwise of a certificate or diplomaholder finding a paraprofessional job inhis/her country, as this depends on thejob vacancies available in their owncountries and the skills employersrequire. The Department has not kept arecord of this either. For Fiji, there hasbeen an increase in the last 2-3 years ofadvertised job vacancies for Certificateand Diploma holders, so our graduateswho qualify fill these positions.

Thus, if a graduate possesses the skillsrequired by an employer for a particularposition, he/she will be able to find a job.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: Do you think therewill be an influx of paraprofessionalsnow or in the near future in our region,considering the increasing rate of studentenrolment in the certificate and diplomaprogrammes?

INTERVIEW Liviana Tabalala

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2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

262 302 271 205 162

Enrolment Statistics

Co-ordinator, USP Certificate in Basic Skills in Library andInformation Studies Programme

the Pacific Islandregion is poorlyaware of therole, power andinfluence oflibraries indevelopment.There is a lack ofpolitical will norare there anypolicies in placeto supportdevelopments inthis field

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Liviana: Yes, I anticipatean increase in the numberof paraprofessionals judgingfrom the rate of enrolmentsin the last 5 years.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: How do youperceive our Pacific shores labourmarket for paraprofessionals in thenext 10 years?

Liviana: I am not sure about thelabour market in the rest of the USPregion. For Fiji, apart from a fewinstitutions like the USP, FSM, FIT, PIFS,SPC that have always insisted on therecruitment of qualified paraprofessionalstaff in their libraries, a lot of parentbodies and organisations like schoolshave not realised the importance ofemploying skilled personnel. Thus, whilethe demand for paraprofessionals in theformer institutions have either stabilizedor improved, there is room for furtherimprovement in the labour market.

In Fiji for example, there are 714 primaryand 160 secondary schools (Fiji. Ministryof Education. Annual report. 2004). Mostof these are run by untrained staff. It isa similar situation with many governmentdepartment libraries, so this representsa huge market in Fiji alone of which wehave barely touched the surface. For thelibrary course coordinators, this is achallenge as it means having to marketthe library/information studiesprogramme. The library associations invarious countries could also contributeby raising awareness of the need toemploy skilled people in libraries.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: Out of the 21Campus and Centre libraries in the USPregion there is only 1 regional professionaland 3 expatriates. What do you inferfrom this?

Liviana: There are not enough qualifiedand experienced regional librarians.Upcoming paraprofessionals who qualifyto upgrade their education to anundergraduate degree in librarianshipneed to be encouraged to do so. Those

with an undergraduate degree in othersubject areas could also be encouragedto undertake a post-graduate course inthis area.

Apart from this, what is also veryimportant is the ability to apply/translatethe skills learnt during formal studies tothe work environment, and this comeswith work experience. This is what isalso lacking in the region and that is whywe still need to get expatriates, most ofwhom have the educational qualificationand the experiences needed for the workof a librarian.

We keep a database of Fiji citizens withprofessional qualifications in librarianship.Of the 35 Fiji citizens we have identified17 migrated, 3 work overseas (but havenot migrated), 9 work as librarians, 2have retired and 3 are not working inlibraries. Obviously from this, a lot foundit attractive to migrate. It should be notedthat these migrants were all working asprofessional librarians at the time of theirmigration, so it is not as though theycould not find employment here asprofessional librarians.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: How do you perceivethe regional labour market demand fortrained librarians in the next 10 years?

Liviana: I think that the demand fortrained librarians in the next decade isdependent on a combination of factors.Firstly and foremost, the Pacific Islandregion is poorly aware of the role, powerand influence of libraries in development.There is a lack of political will nor arethere any policies in place to supportdevelopments in this field.

Because of this, libraries are givenminimal recurrent funding or none at all,and as a result most libraries in the regionoffer basic services that do not warrantthe services of a professional.

Secondly, because of the limited budgetsgiven to libraries, many find it hard to

pay for the services of a librarian, letalone buy books and resources for thecollection. Unless the situation improvesand decision makers are made aware ofthe link between well establishedinformation centers, good informationand development, I think that the demandfor librarians will continue to be minimaland centered only on a few institutionsthat realise the important role of librariesand the need to employ professionals.

Libraries Pa-C-fika: As trainer in thelibrary studies programme, is there anystrategic measure in place now to meetthe demand for trained librarians in theregion perhaps in the next 5-10 years?

Liviana: Not at the moment, as the mainareas for training is centered onparaprofessionals, where there is a hugedemand. This is why the Departmenthas continued to offer the Certificate(vocational course) and the Diplomaprogrammes. The Certificate wasintroduced in 1998 in response to theneed for more basic training at anoperational level.

As explained earlier, the labour marketfor trained librarians in the region isrelatively small, so it will be very costlyfor the University to run a degreeprogramme or higher and sustain it inthe future, if the demand is as such.

In Fiji alone, there are 27 peopleoccupying senior professional positions.These people have professionalqualifications which range from LISmajors, postgraduate diplomas toMasters degrees or higher, and a fewvacancies occur now and again in thenewspapers for these positions ascompared to the need forparaprofessionals. At the moment,students who wish to attain higherawards in library/information studies(Degrees, Post-Graduate Diplomas, andMasters) will have to study overseas.There is no intention to develop this levelof training at USP yet.

a lot of parent bodies and organisations likeschools have not realised the importanceof employing skilled personnel

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Elizabeth Reade Fong attended meeting in Vietnam,20–24th February 2006

Elizabeth Reade Fong attended the Mid-Term Meeting of the IFLA RegionalSection for Asia and Oceania (RSAO) inHanoi, from 20-24 February as theOceania representative. The meetingincluded a one-day seminar by RSAOmembers on Information Literacy and atwo-day training programme for theRSAO committee members on LogicalFramework Analysis. The seminar washeld at the Vietnam National University,School of Social Sciences and Humanitiesand the training and meeting at theVietnam National Centre for Science andTechnology (NACEST) and funded by theIFLA ALP. Her presentation was titledThe University of the South PacificInformation Literacy Programme:development from inception.

AGM for ISBN Agencies Worldwide

Lusiana Ravuvu Dakuidreketi, Librarian, Cataloguingat USP library attended the 33rd international ISBNAnnual General Meeting held in Tehran, Iran from8th – 9th November 2005.

There were 38 participants from 27countries who attended the AGM forISBN Agencies worldwide where asignificant number were from library/information science backgrounds.

This was the first time that the USPbased Regional Agency (excludingAustralia and New Zealand) wasrepresented.

Vilimaina Vakaciwa, Librarian at the USPattended the Workshop on InformationLiteracy & Information Technology heldat the School of InformationManagement, Victoria University ofWellington, New Zealand from 14November – 09 December 2005. TheWorkshop was funded by theInternational Federation of LibraryAssociations and Institutions Action forDevelopment through LibrariesProgramme (IFLA ALP). Otherparticipants mainly from Asia Pacificcountries included librarians fromBangladesh, Mongolia, Fiji andparaprofessional, Bonaface Supa, fromthe Bishop Patteson KohimaramaTheological College in Solomon Islands.

The course focused on the developmentand design of an information literacycurriculum programme for targetedaudience, using IT web design software.Vilimaina said that given the nature ofher role and responsibilities as regionallibrarian, the training was mostappropriate because it provided her withan opportunity to produce a self-taughtinformation literacy programme for theUSP campus and centre library officers.

Plans are underway to have the self-taught programme available to the 21USP campus and centre library officersshortly.

Liviana Tabalala attended an “InformationLiteracy Workshop for Public LibrariansAcross the Commonwealth" held at theUniversity of West Indies Main Library,Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica from28 January - 2 February, 2006.

The workshop was held to provideInformation Literacy training for PublicLibrarians so that they are betterequipped to contribute to nationalinformation literacy goals in theircountries. Workshop participantspresented a country report on IL initiativesin public libraries in their countries andalso evaluated the training kits whichthey could use later to develop trainingprogrammes for their own communities.

Paula Jones, Librarian and Coordinatorof the USP Diploma in Library &Information Studies Programme wasinvited to a Workshop at LautokaTeachers College on Information Literacythat took place on 16th February.

Paula gave a powerpoint presentationtitled “Information Literacy in PrimarySchools: The Role of School Libraries.”which is available upon request fromPaula Jones: jones_p@usp.ac.fj

CONFERENCES

'it provided me with an opportunity to produce aself-taught web-based information literacy coursefor USP campus and centre library officers'

TRAININGWORKSHOP

The USP Library ISBN Agencyrepresentative, Lusi Ravuvu Dakuidreketisaid that the presence of the South PacificISBN Agency in International ISBN forum iscrucial because it provides an opportunityto dialogue with other ISBN agencies onissues common to developing countries.Lusi added that the AGM is an excellentopportunity for the International ISBNAgency, which was relocated from Berlinto London, to become better informed ofthe issues affecting developing nations. TheUSP Library has been the regional ISBNAgency since the mid 80s.

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LATA LIBRARY REOPENSTony Dadalo reports…

After a five-year closure, the TemotuProvincial Library in Lata, SolomonIslands, officially reopened its doors inthe last week of January 2006. A reportto Libraries Pa-C-fika, confirmed that theproject which was launched andcommenced in mid-2005, is sponsoredby the New Zealand Volunteer ServicesAbroad (VSA), after the Temotu ProvincialGovernment requested their assistance.

This is the third provincial library that VSAhas assisted in the Solomon Islands andclosely relates to the organisation’sstrategic direction of helping communitiesat the grassroots level, particularly in theareas of education and literacy.

The reopening of the Lata Library wasmade possible with generouscontributions from Australian librariesand the Rotary Club of Honiara whodonated the books, and a VSA volunteerCarole Harris and the Library Officer inLata Ellen Salopuka, who processed overa thousand new books.

Ms Harris said at the opening that mostof the books were almost new hardbackswith protective covers and card pocketsalready attached. She also pointed outthat books, particularly popular ones,have a relatively short shelf life, so sheappealed to the Lata community,particularly children, to look after thebooks.

According to Ms Harris, a library lies atthe heart of any community and not onlyis it a recreational facility but is essentialin the development cycle of children.

“A well used and healthy library is a suresign of a healthy and active community,”she went on to say.

“Ever since I arrived, people have beenstopping me in the streets and askingwhen the library was going to reopen,”Ms Harris said.

“This was a sure sign that it was indemand, and it gave both Ellen andmyself enormous satisfaction when wewere finally able to open the doors tothe public. Seeing the excited anticipationon the faces of the pikininis (children) asthey receive their books is a delight puremagic.”

Ms Harris thanked the donor agencieson behalf of the community of Lata andsays that their kind assistance has beencrucial in the development of all threelibraries.

In other news, Kirsty Anderson, memberof a group of six youths under theAusAID’s Australian Youth Ambassadorsfor Development program, will spend sixmonths as an adviser on public andschool library development in the NationalLibrary of Solomon Islands.

There she will assess local librarycollections and provide advice onestablishing library services and oncollection development for school andpublic libraries, as well as the NationalLibrary.

FCAE Library Gets EU fundedComputers for INTERNET AccessVilimaina Vakaciwa reports…

The Fiji College of Advanced Educationlibrary has received three personalcomputers and a printer through fundingassistance from the European Unionallowing Internet access for students.

Mr Sonny Vikash Chand, FCAE LibraryAssistant said, “Internet access willsupplement the print resources held inour library collection. It's availability willboost students' interest in learning touse online resources. Library staff, onthe other hand, will need to teachstudents the “know how” of finding,selecting and evaluating onlineinformation.”

Japan Funds SICHE LibrariesTony Dadalo reports…

Four libraries of the Solomon IslandsCollege of Higher Education (SICHE) willbenefit from funding from the JapaneseGovernment. The agreement was signedin January by the Japanese Charges

d'Affaires, Mr Katsuhiko Kubo and theDirector of SICHE, Mr Gabriel Taloikwaiat the Japanese Embassy in Honiara.

The grant of close to SI$3000 will caterfor reference books and audio visualresources. SICHE libraries to benefit fromthis assistance are the Kukum, Panatina,Ranadi libraries in Honiara and PoiteteLibrary in the Western Province.

At the signing, Mr Kubo stated that"libraries are centres for academic andintellectual interaction and therefore musthave an environment conducive tolearning and with proper facilities andequipment.”

According to Mr Nelson Manerara, Headof SICHE Library Services, part of thegrant will go towards the provision ofInternet facilities at SICHE and theremainder to libraries to take a leadingrole in assisting academics, staff of theCollege and the general public inaccessing information they need in theirwork.

Nelson commented: "Information whichis made available on the Internet issomething we have wanted available inour libraries for a long time. We just can'tconfine the search for information bystudents to the books on the shelves."

He further added that once the fund ismade available, the College will be incontact with suppliers in the UnitedKingdom and Australia for books, audio-visual and internet equipment.

SOPAC Library Plans a Switchto KohaVilimaina Vakaciwa reports…

The South Pacific Applied GeoscienceCommission library is planning to changeits library bibliographic and retrievalmanagement system from CDS-ISIS toKoha.

Ms Dorene Naidu, Library Assistant said“the library is anticipating a change ofsystem from CDS-ISIS to Koha tomaintain consistency and uniformity withour partner libraries, such as the SPC,with whom we share resources."

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FLA Re-Elects Council Executives

Several members of the Fiji Library Association Council of 2005 were re-elected inthe recent FLA Annual General meeting of the Fiji Library Association held on 25thMarch 2006 at the USP PRIDE Conference room.

The council Executives are:

President: Elizabeth Cass, Information Specialist,PRIDE Resource Centre, USP

Treasurer: Vilimaina Vakaciwa, Librarian, USP

Secretary: Francis Ali, Library Assistant, Reserve Bank of Fiji.

New Councilmembers elected: Samuela Nakalevu, Library Assistant, SPC

Roshni Deo, Library Assistant, USP

Susana Macanawai, Library Assistant, Institute of Justice and Applied Legal Studies, USP

Lorraine Bhan, Information & Research Officer, Munro Leys Lawyers

Sunny Vikash Chand, Library Assistant, Fiji College of Advanced Education

The Draft FLA Strategic Plan was tabled at the AGM where it was agreed a strategicplan committee would be formed to finallize the document.

ASSOCIATIONS

Elizabeth Reade Fong attended meeting in Vietnam,20–24th February 2006

Elizabeth Reade Fong attended the Mid-Term Meeting of the IFLA RegionalSection for Asia and Oceania (RSAO) inHanoi, from 20-24 February as theOceania representative. The meetingincluded a one-day seminar by RSAOmembers on Information Literacy and atwo-day training programme for theRSAO committee members on LogicalFramework Analysis. The seminar washeld at the Vietnam National University,School of Social Sciences and Humanitiesand the training and meeting at theVietnam National Centre for Science andTechnology (NACEST) and funded by theIFLA ALP. Her presentation was titledThe University of the South PacificInformation Literacy Programme:development from inception.

AGM for ISBN Agencies Worldwide

Lusiana Ravuvu Dakuidreketi, Librarian, Cataloguingat USP library attended the 33rd international ISBNAnnual General Meeting held in Tehran, Iran from8th – 9th November 2005.

There were 38 participants from 27countries who attended the AGM forISBN Agencies worldwide where asignificant number were from library/information science backgrounds.

This was the first time that the USPbased Regional Agency (excludingAustralia and New Zealand) wasrepresented.

The Changing South Pacific: Identities andTransformations / Tcherkezoff, Serge and FrancoiseDouaire-Marsaudon (eds) (2006), 360pp. ISBN 1 74076 2037.

“The texts collected in this volume take an anthropologicalapproach to the variety of contemporary societal problemswhich confront the peoples of the contemporary SouthPacific: religious revival, the sociology of relations…”

Island Ministers: Indigenous Leadership inNineteenth Century Pacific Islands Christianity/Lange, Raeburn (2006) 422pp. ISBN 1 74076 176 6.

Published in association with Macmillan Brown Centre forPacific Studies “Island Ministers studies the spread of thislight of Christian missionisation and concentrates onuncovering the story that belongs to the Pacific Islandersthemselves and the Christian ministry they performedthroughout the nineteenth century.”

Dorene said that as an open sourceintegrated library system withcomprehensive functionality, Koha lookswell-suited to meeting their managementinformation needs as it includes modulesfor cataloguing, acquisitions, serials,reserve, patron management, branchrelationships, and more.

Dorene said that the SPC Library,Noumea is already using it and thatPIMRIS is trialing it, which she feltjustified the SOPAC decision, as it willcontribute to increasing the quality andeffectiveness of resource sharing amongspecial libraries in the regional fisheriesnetwork.

Marine Librarians Meet atFisheries Forum in NoumeaChris Nelson, USP PIMRIS Coordinator

A very successful mini-summit of regionalfisheries and marine resource librarianswas held during the Heads of Fisheries(HoF) Meeting in Noumea, NewCaledonia, in the first week of April. TheHoF meetings bring togetherrepresentatives of marine and fisheriesministries from 22 Pacific Island countriesand territories.

Held at the headquarters of theSecretariat of the Pacific Community(SPC), the Pacific Islands Regional Groupof IAMSLIC (the International Association

of Aquatic and Marine Science Librariesand Information Centres) met to discuss

common issues, determine ways ofstrengthening regional cooperation, andto commence planning for the 2008IAMSLIC Annual Conference which willbe held in Suva, hosted by PIMRIS. Fivemembers of the group also madepresentations to the full Heads ofFisheries forum to highlight current andplanned activities and solicit support fromregional governments.

A major initiative arising from themeeting, the establishment of anOceanographic Data and InformationNetwork for the Pacific region sponsoredby the Intergovernmental OceanographicCommission of UNESCO, is now being

followed up by members.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Vol. 2 no. 1 (March) 2006 Libraries Pa-C-fika replaces CentreLibraries Update and PIC News

A quarterly newsletter produced by:Regional Libraries and PacificCollection, USP Library

Managing Editor

Elizabeth Reade Fong DUL Customer Services Tel: (679) 323 2363Email: fong_e@usp.ac.fj

Assistant Managing Editors /Writers

Vilimaina VakaciwaLibrarian, Regional Libraries Tel: (679) 323 2234Email: vakaciwa_v@usp.ac.fj

Tony DadaloLibrarian Pacific CollectionEmail: dadalo_t@usp.ac.fjTel: (679) 323 2285

Technical Assistance by Yadav Narayan - Analyst Programmer

Proudly sponsored by USP Book Centrehttp://www.uspbookcentre.com/

Libriaries Pa-C-fika connects the librariesaround the Pacific Region keeping themabreast of the latest libraries and ICTdevelopment and progress in the region andabroad.

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