Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) hosted a four-day training program on institutional repositories, titled Lakasa ti Sirib: The DMMMSU Institutional Repository at the DMMMSU-NLUC Library in Bacnotan, La Union on October 9-12, 2024.
The training aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to install, manage, and optimize the repository for preserving and sharing the university’s research outputs and academic resources.
Dr. Sonia B. Siago, Director for Library Services and Development, and Dr. Jake C. Alminiana, the University ILS Administrator, led the program, which brought together librarians, staff, Integrated Library System (ILS) administrators, and representatives from various research and ICT offices, as well as affiliated research institutes such as SRDI, NARTDI, FRTI, and PCC.
The program was designed to meet the following objectives:
- Install and manage the Institutional Repository (IR);
- Identify the IR workflow and define team members’ roles;
- Digitize in-house publications and reports according to prescribed standards;
- Deposit records into the IR;
- Boost the visibility and citation counts of DMMMSU publications and theses;
- Draft the IR policy; and
- Provide online access to the university’s publications and theses/dissertations in line with policy guidelines.
Dr. Elsie M. Pacho, Director for Academic and International Affairs, delivered the opening remarks, underscoring the importance of digitization in advancing academic access and research.
The event featured expert resource speakers with significant experience in institutional repository management and digital archiving. Among them was Mr. Stephen B. Alayon, Associate Professor at the College of Information and Communications Technology, West Visayas State University, who shared his extensive expertise in library and data banking services. Meanwhile, Mr. Elvi S. Nemiz, Senior Information Assistant at SEAFDEC/AQD, brought insights into the maintenance of institutional repositories. Mr. Vince Ervin Palcullo, Archives and Special Collections Librarian at Central Philippine University (CPU) presented best practices in archival management and digitization processes, and Ms. Joy F. Geromiano, Information Assistant at SEAFDEC/AQD, contributed her indexing and repository management knowledge.
A major highlight of the training was the introduction of Dspace version 8, a cutting-edge platform that will serve as the backbone for DMMMSU’s institutional repository. This version ensures advanced functionality and scalability for managing digital assets effectively, promising a seamless and efficient repository management experience for all users.
This workshop marked a significant milestone for DMMMSU in its pursuit of establishing a centralized institutional repository. The repository will serve as a comprehensive database for the university’s intellectual and academic outputs, ranging from scholarly publications to administrative documents, providing future scholars and students with access to relevant historical data and research. (By Kethley Joyce Perona Vizmanos)
