Guide to New Normal
Univ Library marks 2019 Nat’l Book Week
“Inclusive. Innovative. Interconnected.” This is the 2019 theme of the 85th National Book Week (NBW), which the University Library celebrated on Nov. 4-11 through four lined-up activities. The event opened with the ribbon cutting of the exhibit at the BM Gonzalez Hall lobby, featuring the best theses of each college for AY 2018-2019. Leading the ceremony were University Librarian Concepcion DL. Saul and guest Pio Salvador Ramon Omana, country account manager of Elsevier Singapore. Immediately following was a knowledge sharing activity called Forum on Apps and Information Resources for Teaching and Research held at the Chancellors’ Hall, with participants from UPLB, Laguna State Polytechnic University-Los Baños Campus, Los Baños National High School, and Philippine High School for the Arts. Serving as forum speakers were Elsevier’s Omana and Dr. Edmund Centeno, college secretary of the College of Development and Communication.
Omana talked about “Measuring and increasing research impact” using Elsevier tools in promoting articles, getting a paper noticed, and tracking readership; while Dr. Centeno, an assistant professor in educational communication, introduced the blending of traditional classroom learning with online mode in his topic “Flipping the classroom: teaching and learning with technology.” The University Library also installed a three-day book fair at the Chancellors’ Hall on Nov. 6-8, in partnership with five book dealers, namely: MegaText, Bellview, Forefront, Fast Book, and Linar. The NBW celebration was sealed on Nov. 11 with a spoken word poetry competition that revolved around the celebration’s theme, with participating UPLB students not only from the college level, but also from UP Rural High School and the Graduate School.
Of the 11 competing participants, Ralph Adrianne Cauilan from the College of Economics and Management bagged the first prize. (Virginia P. Alcantara)
BIOTECH researchers learn ways to increase research impact
Learnings from a collaboration by the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) Library and the University Library is surely going to create more impact in the scientific community.
At the seminar that the two units co-organized, entitled “Measuring and increasing your research impact: a library user education and engagement program for BIOTECH researchers and staff,” the participants from the institute learned strategies to increase the citation of their scientific articles and identified the tools to measure the impact of their research.
Held on Sept. 23 at the BIOTECH Seminar Room, the learning event featured talks from Elsevier’s Pio Omana and Cristy Pineda, and UPLB Main Library’s Learning Commons Head Pius Murillo.
Omana discussed the available tools that could help promote one’s article. He presented ways to read and write well, share publication, track author profile and readership, use bibliometrics and altmetrics analysis, and join international groups for collaboration.
For her part, Pineda talked about research references in support of BIOTECH’s cross-disciplinary research.
Both speakers showcased how Elsevier’s Researcher tools and ScienceDirect incorporate innovative technologies, which help evolve information discovery for the benefit of researchers.
Murillo introduced to the participants the OpenAthens, a single sign-on solution that makes searching and downloading scientific literature and scholarly references from the University Library’s e-resources more convenient.
The University Library has recently made OpenAthens available to its users.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Mannix S. Pedro, program leader of Biotechnology for Agriculture and Forestry Program, acknowledged the role of library access and knowledge to research.
Present during the event were Dr. Francisco B. Elegado and Dr. Jeffrey P. Tamayo, program leaders of Biotechnology for Industry, Energy, and Environment, and Technical Services Programs, respectively; Dr. Hiyasmin Rose Benzon, president of the Organization of Researchers at BIOTECH (ORB); and Concepcion DL. Saul, university librarian. (Meichelle Ann Jenine S. Rivas)
5th User Training for Faculty, Reps and Staff
The University Library in cooperation with the College of Economics and Management Library and Emerald Publishing conducted the 5th Library User Training for Faculty, Researchers and Staff last June 30, 2018 at the UPLB Main Library. This activity aimed to help authors maximize academic impact, support career development and in aid of optimal production of research outputs.
Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, welcomed more than 100 participants composed of Faculty, Researchers and Staff with gratitude saying,”I’m very happy that the University Library came up with this activity that will further improve our capacity in publication.” Mr. Carlos L. Eclevia Jr., Business Manager of the Emerald Publishing, served as Resource Speaker who imparted advices and tips on getting published with his presentation on “Developing a Publication Strategy: Guide to Getting Published.” His parting words to participants was “Read, read again and then read, read, read.” (MAJS Rivas)
University Library leads data privacy and e-database fora
Modern technologies have made it possible to easily access or expose anyone’s information, but those whose information are collected, stored, and processed should be informed about it.The University Library’s Research, Training, and Staff Development Committee spearheaded a forum to educate UPLB constituents on data privacy. Entitled “Data privacy & keeping data secure: basics for educators and researchers,” the knowledge sharing event was held on Mar. 26 at the Main Library in BM Gonzalez Hall.Following this forum on the same date and venue was another forum entitled “Library information and beyond.” The first forum aimed to provide awareness on the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173). It also informed educators and researchers of their responsibilities as data controllers and processors and their rights as possible data subjects in the future.
Atty. Eleno O. Peralta, director of the Office of Student Affairs, shared his insights about the provisions and structure of the Data Privacy Act, including personal information, especially the sensitive ones, lawful processing of personal data, data protection, rights of data subject, and other issues and scenarios concerning data privacy.
Meanwhile, the second forum updated the participants on the available library databases for literature search.Dr. Benny Ang, research reference consultant of Elsevier ScienceDirect, and Mark Daniel Agnes, business development officer of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, talked about the stepwise approach for efficient and effective literature search. The two recommended practical pieces of advice, tips, techniques, and tools that support literature-searching in electronic library databases.
Present during the fora were Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and University Librarian Concepcion DL. Saul. (Meichelle Ann Jenine S. Rivas)
Library Staff join workshop that meets millennials’ needs
The University Library is stepping up its efforts to know how to best serve its regular clients – the “millennials.”
Through the workshop entitled “Meeting the needs of the millennials” onDec.13, 2018 at the BM Gonzalez Hall, the library staff learned about the current trends in serving and dealing with today’s learners. They explored the application of social media and emerging technologies that will hone their competencies.
Prof. Dan Anthony D. Dorado of the UP Diliman School of Library and Information Science led an interactive session about reinventing library services for the millennials using the participants’ mobile phones. He discussed ways in instructing students, promoting services, and configuring spaces and library programs that best suit today’s students. Meanwhile, Edwardo S. Barrera Jr., Administrative Staff, showcased the features of HP Reveal, formerly known as AURAMSA. It is an augmented reality application where real world is modified, enhanced and augmented with additional information presented in digital format. University Library’s Dr. Mary Ann M. Ingua, head of the Cataloging Section, delivered a talk about information literacy and the roles of librarians in the age of technology and social media.Present during the workshop were Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Concepcion DL. Saul, university librarian.
The two recognized the importance of the activity in continuously improving library and student support services in the University. The University Library’s Research, Training, and Staff Development Committee spearheaded the learning event. (Meichelle Ann Jenine S. Rivas)
UPLB University Library Conducts Benchmarking Activity in Baguio
The University Library, spearheaded by Ms. Concepcion DL. Saul and Ms. Adelina M. Esperante, University Librarian and Head of the College of Veterinary Medicine/Institute of Animal Science Library, respectively, underwent a Library Benchmarking at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) Library and Benguet State University (BSU) Library last 27-28 July 2018. This benchmarking activity aimed in improving internal efficiency, streamlining work processes, and establishing and strengthening library partnerships.
The group first visited the UPB Library and Ms. Julieta S. Dela Peña, officer-in-charge, delightedly welcomed the staff. She talked about how they modify some library rules, developed some strategies to cope up with the decreasing number of their library users due to K-12 and identified some of their best practices in the library. Over lunch, a wide-ranging discussion took place wherein the library leaders including Ms. Dela Peña, Ms. Saul, College/Section Heads of the UPLB Library, sought clarifications, discussed some ideas and shared some insights and information about their existing library services.
Next to UP Baguio Library, the group had an opportunity to visit BSU Library. Mr. Lauren P. Kipaan, Director of BSU Library and Information Services (LIS) provided an overview of the BSU showing connections between the Library and the BSU community. UPLB Library Staff were toured at the BSU LIS’ physical space. It has been acknowledged how the BSU Library refurbished their library facilities over the years, for those who have been there before.
University Library’s visits to UPB and BSU Libraries were a wonderful opportunity to share and gather information and experiences. The library benchmarking activity was also worthwhile because it gave the UPLB University Library Staff a chance to be exposed to other library set-up and see comparisons with their existing services and facilities. (MAJS Rivas and VP Alcantara)
User Training for Faculty, Researchers and Staff
