Library workshop on Information Management for HELLIS librarians

Yangon, Myanmar

With the support of WHO, the Department of Medical Sciences conducted the HINARI (Health Internetwork Access to Research Initiative) and HELLIS (Health Literature, Library and Information Services) training workshop from  26 October to 3 November 2009 in Yangon at the Medical Education Centre conference hall. There were two sessions in the workshop, the first session is on HINARI and the second session is on PhpMyLibrary software using Marc 21 for data inputting. The workshop was targeted to build capacity in HELLIS libraries who have not yet integrated the HINARI into their library services. The HINARI programme, set up by WHO together with major publishers, enables developing countries to gain access to one to the world’s largest collections of biomedical and health literature. Over 6400 journal titles are now available to 3400 health institutions in 108 countries, benefiting many thousands of health workers and researchers, in turn, contributing to improved world health. The HINARI website can be found at www.who.int/hinari.

The workshop was facilitated by Librarians from WHO country office, Myanmar, University of Medicine I, University of Medicine II and Central Biomedical Library, Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar), Yangon. 

Based on this background during one week 25 librarians from national institutes of different parts of Myanmar, were trained on line. As part of the training, participants and observers had the chance to observe demonstrations and practice in accessing and retrieving full text articles from HINARI website using Pubmed and MyNCBI. They also had the opportunity to register for their institutes. Additional presentations include how to run a training workshop and how to manage references using EndNoteWeb.

The objective of the workshop was to train the librarians in information management following international standards by using PhpMyLibrary software. This software is a PHP MySQL Library automation application. The programme consist of cataloguing, circulation, and webpac module. The programme has an import – export feature and it strictly follow the USMARC standard for adding materials. PhpMyLibrary is a free software (open source) developed by Philippines and customized by U Aung Myint with an initiative and support from Ms Anchalee Chamchuklin, IMD, WHO SEARO.