Encouraging Network Members to be Active

It is very important for network members to be active in the network's projects. In the case of PhilAgriNet, the top priorities are development and maintenance of the PhilAgriNet database and capacity building for members and prospective members.
Currently, in spite of the efforts of everyone concerned the growth of the database has been very slow because of technical, staff, and other problems. Now, it is apparent that some technical kinks regarding software have been solved and inputs will come in faster than before.
What incentives lie ahead for PhilAgriNet members? First and foremost is the opportunity to create better awareness of their products of research. The world's scientists will know what each agricultural institution has accomplished. Then there is always the chance to add new knowledge and develop skills through PhilAgriNet's capacity building workshops and those sponsored by other groups. On the side, exchange of best practices takes place as members socialize with colleagues in the field. Members are also made aware of trends in the information field via social networking tools such as blogs, FB page, and the web site. What else can a PhilAgriNet member wish for?

Training Workshop for Non-Librarians

Agricultural institutions worldwide fight hunger indirectly through their research initiatives. Agricultural institutions in the Philippines, for one, have been actively conducting researches and programs that produce in vital agricultural research literature. However, not all of these are made available to potential users. It is in this light that the Bureau of Agricultural Research of the Department of Agriculture (DA-BAR) conceived the idea of training their information officers on the rudiments of information documentation and sharing in order to create a team of DA information officers who are capable of database creation, management, and dissemination.

Thirty six (36) participants coming from various regions of the Philippines (from Northern Luzon up to Southern Mindanao), gathered at the Hotel Kimberly, Tagaytay City on July 6-8 for a 2-day Training Workshop on Information Documentation and Management for DA RIARCs and RFRDCs. The trainors are seasoned librarians and information officers who shared their expertise on the following topics: The Value of Documentation of Philippine Agricultural Research Outputs (Julia A. Lapitan, Head, ACD,DA-BAR); Introduction to PhilAgriNet, AGRIS, and other Agricultural Databases (Concepcion DL. Saul, UPLB University Librarian);Selection and Evaluation of Documents (Ryan Joseph Abrigo,Librarian, DA-BAR); Introduction to Document Indexing and Dublin Core Metadata (Mila M. Ramos, Member, Board for Librarians, PRC); Subject Indexing and Controlled Vocabularies (Carmelita S, Austria, Librarian Consultant); and Data Input and Exporting of Metadata (Cherry Ann Barrientos (System Analyst, UPLB). The lectures were supplementted with open discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises using Dublin Core and DSpace for PhilAgriNet. Each participant from DA was provided with a laptop with the DSpace program and indexing template already embedded in it. After the workshop, the participants declared that with the newly acquired skills and hands-on experience, they are now ready to contribute metadata to the PhilAgriNet and AGRIS databases. In addition, they stated their wish to have follow-up training programs in the future so that they may acquire additional information and update their skills in indexing and database management.

The other PhilAgriNet officers who participated and assisted in the workshop are Andriette S. Valdez, Secretary (College Librarian, UPLB-CFNR), Imelda B. Veluz, Treasurer (College Librarian, CSC-CA, UPLB),Sonia S. Isip, Auditor (Head Librarian, DMMSU), Elaine E. Joshi, PRO (Librarian, PhilRice), Ma. Teresa R. Marquez, Director (Librarian, BengSU), Rolando P. Oloteo, Director (Librarian, CBSUA), and Rhodora L. Vargas, Director (College Librarian, UPLB ML). Joy and Gretel, from DA-BAR, were in charge of arrangements and logistics.
The next training workship for PhilAgriNet members is slated for the second half of October this year.