The work of International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) in access to information thru the Programme for enhancement of Research Information( PERI)

1
The work of International Network for the
Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP)
in access to information thru the Programme for
enhancement of Research Information( PERI)

• Buhle Mbambo
• University of Zimbabwe
• Harare

2
Overview of presentation

• Vision and Mission of INASP
• INASP objectives
• Programme for the enhancement of information
• Scenarios of operation
• Access to information initiatives
• PERI components
• Challenges
• Conclusion

3
INASP International Network for the
Availability of Scientific Publications

• Vision All people are able to access and
  contribute information ideas and knowledge
  necessary for sustainable and equitable
  development
• Mission to enable worldwide access to
  information and knowledge with a particular
  emphasis on the needs of developing and
  transitional countries

4
INASP objectives

• To improve access to scientific and scholarly
  information
• To catalyse and support local publications
• To strengthen local capacities to manage and use
  information and knowledge
• To foster in country, regional and international
  co-operation and networking

5
Initiatives to provide access to international
publications (online)

• HINARI
• Managed by WHO, specialising on Health content
• Agora
• Managed by FAO, specialising on Agricultural
  information
• EIFL
• Managed by EIFL.net
• PERI (Programme for the Enhancement of Research
  Information)
• Managed by INASP

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PERI

• Aim To support enhancement of capacity in the
  research sector in developing and transitional
  countries through strengthening the production,
  dissemination and access to information
  knowledge utilising new Information and
  Communication Technologies (ICTs)
• Key Words Affordability, Sustainability,
  Enhancing Capacity

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PERI a multi-component programme

• 1 Delivering information
• ICT-enabled national access to international
  research findings
• 2 Disseminating local and regional research
• - Increased availability of national research
  outputs
• 3 National research publishing
• More viable and more visible national publishing
• 4 ICT and E-Resource Management Training
• Enhanced skills in using electronic resources and
  tools
• 5 Supporting country collaboration and
  networking
• Stronger local mechanisms for information
  resource sharing
• 6 Supporting research and development

8
Typical scenarios of most PERI participants

• Limited bandwidth
• Limited financial resources
• Pioneering in e-resources provision
• Developing new ways of doing business
• Growing students populations
• Digital divide
• Limited ICT skills
• Limited equipment

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Countries where INASP PERI is currently working
Mandated to work in countries that fulfil GDP and
HDI criteria - in essence all the poorest
countries (full list on INASP website
httpwww.inasp.info) presence of PERI Country
Coordinator
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Methodology

• PERI works with country coordinators and networks
  of scientists, researchers, institutions and
  libraries to identify needs
• Country coordinators or coordinating teams plan,
  implement and develop services
• PERI responds and facilitates

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PERI Information delivery facts and figures

• No. of countries participating
• January 2002 6
• January 2005 22 (7 are 100 self-funded)
• 22 more country requests in pipeline
• No. of full text peer reviewed journals available
• January 2002 7,900 titles
• January 2005 14,500 full text titles
• Number of full text downloads
• 360,896 in 2004 (197,762 PDF and 163,052 HTML)

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PERI National research publishing

• Aims to increase the dissemination and
  visibility of nationally produced research and to
  enable effective publication of nationally
  produced research information.
• Activities Online publishing support (e.g. on
  www.ajol.info platform via other services), and
  assisting skills and knowledge building through
  workshops, study tours, partnerships and
  published resources

13
PERI ICT and E-Resource Management Training

• 9 workshop series include 65 different modules
  ranging from Using the Internet to Bandwidth
  Management Optimisation
• Travelling training materials and cascading
  methodology
• Local facilitation and in-country delivery

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PERI RD

• Aim to involve and inform the community in
  addressing new challenges
• Bandwidth optimisation management
• Supporting development and training in managing
  available resources
• National portals ELIN_at_PERI
• Supporting development and implementation of
  local search mechanisms

15
Funding models

• INASP is a non profit organisation
• PERI was initially funded by donors
• Has a model of self finance by participating
  countries
• Participating countries working self sustaining
  mechanisms

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Access initiatives Challenges

• Information overload
• Infrastructure stretched bandwidth and number of
  computers
• From PERI mid term review
• political and institutional will in supporting
  research
• effectively situating e-resources within a
  context of e-learning
• increasing use of e-library services and
  resources
• development of evaluation and impact indicators
• supporting strategies towards sustainability

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Conclusion

• PERI programme has been critical in the provision
  of multi-disciplinary digital information
• Has worked in country to strengthen local journal
  e-publishing
• Has strengthened dissemination of local
  information electronically
• Is working in country to ensure sustainability of
  provision and access to digital information
  beyond 2008

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The end

• Thank you. For more information contact
• inasp_at_inasp.info
• librarian_at_uzlib.uz.ac.zw