The document discusses linking the libraries of Himalayan universities through a centralized system hosted by ICIMOD. It considers options like two-way harvesting of metadata between all libraries, one-way harvesting of metadata from the libraries to ICIMOD, or parallel searches of library collections from ICIMOD. The goal is to provide mutual access to bibliographic records and documents. Benefits would include greater access to regional research, improved visibility of knowledge from the region, and more efficient use of library resources.

1. ICIMOD Library
Project
HUC Librarians Meeting
Kathmandu
26-27 August 2010
Deependra Tandukar
dtandukar@icimod.org
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Technologies
In use
• CDS-ISIS, WebAgris
(http://library.icimod.org.np), BooksOnline
(http://www.icimod.org/publications)
Tested and reviewed
• KOHA-
Greenstone, NewGenLib, Dspace, Invenio
…
Currently being developed
• Invenio

3. ICIMOD Library Homepage

4. Why Invenio
Functionalities we were looking for
KOHA- Dspace NewGenLib Invenio
Greenstone
Full text
indexing    
User Interface Integration Good Good Good
between KOHA
and Greenstone
is not seamless
Personalisation
 Simple
 
Access
restriction  Flexible
 Flexible
Display of data Not user-friendly Not very flexible Flexible Flexible

5. CDS Invenio
• Integrated digital library system - formerly CDSware
• Free software (GNU-GPL)
• Complies with OAI-PMH
• Uses MARC21 as bibliographic standard
• Developed and maintained by the CERN, the European
Organization for Nuclear Research
• Powerful search engine including parallel searching of
external libraries/collections
• User personalisation, including document baskets and
email notification alerts
• Flexible and powerful user right management

6. HUC Library concept

7. Concept
HUC Board members (vice chancellors/
deans) called upon ICIMOD to explore the
concept of connecting the HUC libraries
especially to provide access to bibliographical
records and grey literature and full text
thesis, PhD to start with.
Dehradun meeting, February 2009
Builds on
• Connecting HKH libraries
(first discussed in 2003)
Couldn’t start
– technologies
– funding

8. Goal
Link the libraries to give mutual access to
information
Possibilities (depend on agreement and technologies)
1. Metadata of documents of all (or some of) the
libraries accessible from all other libraries
(each harvests the others’ data)
2. Metadata of documents of all (or some of) the
libraries accessible from ICIMOD
(ICIMOD harvests data)
3. Metadata of documents of all (or some of) the
libraries searchable from ICIMOD
(no harvesting)

9. Now
Library 5 Visit each library
No online ICIMOD separately to get
presence library
the results from
Library 3
the libraries
Library 4
Library 1
Library 2
No online
presence

10. Option 1: two way harvest
Visit any library
Library 4 and carry out
integrated search
Library 3
of all libraries
ICIMOD
library
Any
Library 1 Library
Library 2

11. Option 2: one way harvest
Visit ICIMOD
library and carry
Library 4 out integrated
search of all the
Library 3 Library 5 libraries at once
ICIMOD
Library 1 library
Library 2

12. Option 3: parallel search
Visit ICIMOD
Library 1 ICIMOD library, search
library other libraries at
once
Library 2
Library 3
Library 1
Library 2
Library 3
Library 4 Library 4

13. Harvesting
HUC Libraries ICIMOD Library
Repositories
(OAI Compliant)
BibHarvest
Other
BibConvert
repositories Metadata
WebSubmit
Interactive
Submissions

14. Benefits
Issue
• Research done in our part of the world is not visible due
to difficulty in access
After libraries are linked
• Access to greater volume of knowledge including grey
literature and PhD theses
(more efficient use of library resources, existing research become the basis for
further research, hence contributes to generate new knowledge)
• Easier access within and from outside the region to
regional research knowledge
(helps publicise knowledge, avoids duplication and improves visibility, saves
time for researchers)

15. Ideally!
HUC
Libraries
I
ICIMOD
Library 4
n Library
t
Access HUC libraries e
Library 1 Library 3
from anywhere any time r
with any device f
a
Library 5 Library 2
c
e