Minister Launches UBD's e-Library, Information Week
By Sonia K

Bandar Seri Begawan - University libraries are presently the custodians and information-transfer agents in the traditional sense. There is a need for them to be communicators of information, and thus be involved in all processes in the information lifecycle.

This was stressed by Minister of Education Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Haji Mohamed Taib during the launch of the UBD Information Week 2007 yesterday at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

The minister, who was present as the guest of honour, said, "In a university environment, the e-library should be integrated with e-learning. Information specialists should know the principles of e-pedagogy and support these with relevant information provision."

To achieve the ideal state of e-libraries, he said, the strategic challenges that lie ahead of UBD are firstly the creation of new visions and strategic intents for its library.

"Old-thinking models of information dissemination have become outdated in the new e-learning environment."

Organisational structures should be addressed next, in order to align e-strategies of the university and the elibraries, including the coordination of ICT, e-learning and e-library strategies.

Information specialists also need to upgrade and pass their skills on to that core to information management and information consultancy/brokering, while university libraries should be visible in terms of new regional and international e-strategies.

"If these strategic challenges were met, they would result in better quality services to all clients of the academic library - students and lecturing staff - by a group of welltrained, motivated librarians and information specialists," the minister said.

"The signing of a contractual agreement for a project to implement a virtual library system in the country will move us closer to our goal of a library system that supports our vision of a better education system."

He added that the project "covers various aspects of digital libraries encapsulating content development and information services for the Ministry of Education community. Digital content will be available to everyone in the ministry as well as in schools. "The launch of the Information Week and the e-library@UBD portal will serve to highlight the vital role of the university and its library as well as the need to continually enhance its information management system."

The e-library@UBD is one of the Ministry of Education's digital library initiatives introduced in May 2005. It aims at improving the infrastructure of the university library's information management systems. The components of the project are: the digitisation of the university information resources and publications; the upgrade of library management systems; and the implementation of the university library digital portal.

Meanwhile, the virtual library system is a project that will lead to the establishment of an integrated digital library system for schools in the country as well as the application of other library management- technologies such as digitisation, enterprise portal engine and radio frequency identification technology.

The Universiti Brunei Darussalam is currently holding its fourth information week, which runs from February 510. It is aimed at creating awareness on the importance of information in supporting academic, personal and organisational needs.

Other objectives include creating a society that is knowledgeable and information-conscious, and encouraging life-long learning among the citizens.

Among the activities scheduled to be held during the week-long event are: an exhibition and book fair, workshops, financial and career talks, and an Information Literacy Roadshow featuring UBD faculties.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition held at the library of UBD.

Various projects and electronic resources that will be subscribed by the university are also on display, while exhibitors include Access Dunia Sdn Bhd, Proquest, Science Direct, Emerald and Ovid. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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