User Involvement in Co- construction of User Involvement in Co- construction of Knowledge Knowledge
A case study of Digital Library of Flora A case study of Digital Library of Flora (JKflora)(JKflora)
S. M. SHAFIAffiliation: Professor and Head
Department of Library and Information Science University of Kashmir, Srinagar. J&K. India 190 006
Email:[email protected]
OUTLINEOUTLINE
OUTLINE of the PRESENTATIONINTRODUCTIONALLIED LITERATUREPROJECTS ONLINE WESTERN WORLD INDIA ‘ Jkflora’LESSONSCHALLANGES
The “Open Content” creation through ‘collaborative and interactive’ process finds a path fo ‘knowledge co-construction’ and Management. The focus of scholars in the present era ,with emerging Tools and sources of knowledge support, for learning; research; and extension is to develop a Vibrant Knowledge Base.
The Paper(presentation) highlights the ‘Mechanism’ , ‘Challenges’ and ‘Lessons for
stakeholders’ (Subject specialists, information professionals and users) with a case study of a
Locally developed ‘Digital Library of flora’.
RELATED LITERATURERELATED LITERATURE
The related literature on digital library of flora and allied areas can best be categorized into pure websites, portals, databases, digital library or information system. Many web-enabled activities, available in the literature, encompass data, bibliographic and full text information concerning farmers, researchers, business and extension workers. Besides, many databases of international scope( like AGRIS/ ENVIS etc. ) also cover flora in various dimensions .This review in the paper ,however, lists briefly literature about floral Digital library systems and their activities only.
Projects OnlineProjects Online
Western world
PROJECTS ONLINE-PROJECTS ONLINE-(Western World)(Western World)
The initiatives are: “ iVillage Garden web1; Alabama Plants2;Amber: Window to the past3; Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System4 ; ISB: Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants5; CalFlora Database6 ; California Wildflowers7; Canada's Aquatic Environments8; Carnivorous Plant Database9
;Electronic Plant Information Centre (ePIC) 10 ; eNature Field Guides11 ; European Plant Index12 ; Florida Plants Online13; Georgia Native Plant Society14 ; Kew Herbarium Catalogue15 ; Missouri Botanical Garden16 ; Name That Plant17; PLANTS Database18 ; PlantZAfrica 19 ; Royal Botanic Gardens20 ; UConn Plant Database 21 ; United States Botanic Garden22.”
Projects online -IndiaProjects online -India
a. 101 Herbs.com (Delhi)
b. FRLHT's Encyclopedia of Indian Medicinal Plants
c. Exotic Naturals( Mumbai)d. Gardentia (Maharashtra)e. Medicinal Plants, NTFP and
Bamboos of Sikkimf. Mother Herbs and Agro Products (Maharastra)
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
JKFLORA: “JKflora”29 is a research project undertaken by the Department of
Library and Information Science ( University of Kashmir, srinagar, J&K) in collaboration with DSIR(Government of India, New Delhi) to document flora of all regions of J& K state( Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh) highlighting ,besides other information, indigenous Knowledge collected and edited from primary and secondary sources with valuable inputs from diverse stakeholders .
The knowledge is accessible (www.jkflora.org.in) through different access points having useful features for scholars and others to enhance and update their information , getting learning support and sharpening their business outlook etc.
The access points are: ‘Search’, ‘Advance Search’, ‘Browse’, ‘Book Search’, ‘Image gallery’ etc. The user inputs are made through ‘Add a plant’, ‘Identify a plant’ and ‘Blog ‘/”Wiki” buttons etc. These features are noticeable on the home page of the Library. (NEXT SLIDE)
HOME PAGE:SEARCH,BROWSE,NAVIGATION
DISPLAYING A RECORD
ADD APLANT STARTS
DISPLAYING A RETRIEVED BOOK
IMAGE GALLERY: watch IDENTIFICATION BUTTON
A BLOG: WATCH ALSO NEW INITIATION OF A BLOG
COMMENTS OF A BLOG
LESSONS FROM THE PROJECTLESSONS FROM THE PROJECT
1.CO –BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
2.CONTENT MANAGEMENT
3. NEW ROLE
4.CURRICULUM DEVLOPMENT
CO-BUILDING KNOWLEDGECO-BUILDING KNOWLEDGE
Such initiatives may serve a catalyst in developing more initiatives by ‘Knowledge and Information Centers’ (Library 2.0 version) in diverse areas of flora, fauna, crafts, folk medicine, culture, heritage etc and let users and stakeholders to co-build knowledge.
The nations with rich oral and undocumented heritage, civilization and knowledge have enough potential to develop many individual and cooperative programmes.
It is right time that special libraries and other centers especially in public domain, with support from their parent institutions, to spell out the programmes of ‘Open Content’ for ‘knowledge capture’, ‘Collaboration’, ‘Organization’ and ‘Packaging’.
CONTENT MANAGEMENTCONTENT MANAGEMENT
‘Content Management’ is the area where the professionals can play a key role for possessing better skills of knowledge capture, organization and presentation. However, orientation and refreshing in understanding new information seeking behaviors, information analysis and packaging techniques besides equiping with latest ICT skills is considered necessary to reach diverse users. The multimedia revolution has helped and thrown open better opportunities to reach the public at large in a more soft and receptive manner. Thus , such initiatives can open new landscape for ‘Information professionals’ to be partners of knowledge capture, construction and regulation in more empirical way.
NEW ROLENEW ROLE
The Web2.0 and its advanced versions are generating ‘flexible and changing role’ for professionals to suit the ever increasing, diversified requirements of the user in an age of information disarray. They have to manage new brand of libraries (in a broader context here) with emerging ‘harvesting and presentation engines’ and provide ‘nascent services’ with new skills. Above all, they can be stakeholders in developing ‘new products’ day out and day in, hand in hand with ‘boarderless and convergent professions , to find a niche and even the harbinger in Knowledge and information Society But, professionals need to renovate to assume the right role in emerging and changing ‘Knowledge Dissemination Industry
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENTCURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
The Library Schools can’t simply discuss to change the tags , for the name sake, but act on ground to work for Knowledge and information Studies in a meaningful direction to direct professionals to meet all challenges and groom engineers capable of producing a new products for diverse institutions for public and private enterprises , societies and originations. The schools need to teach and conduct research on tools of generation, building and development, organization and dissemination of the knowledge products to suit diverse eco -system of the changing canvas of new ways of learning, development and research and extension. They can’t simply afford to embrace traditional tools .The basic philosophy may not change but conditions demand to meet new demands of a well equipped and relatively more aware user. Thus, the schools have to revamp their course contents in such away to develop competencies and skills of students and trainers to be equal partners of Knowledge Society in co- building and co-disseminating knowledge.
CHALLENGES AND ISSUESCHALLENGES AND ISSUES
1. ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL
2. TECHNICAL
3. ACADEMIC
4. SOCIAL
ECONOMIC & POLITICALECONOMIC & POLITICAL
Economic challenge here implies that many under- privileged nations, societies or regions still lack basic amenities of life,
literacy and sit on older tools and techniques However, increasing awareness demands that world forums have to
look for ways and means to bridge the divide.
A strong feeling and understanding, as on date, is for collaborative and innovative tools in open environment ( FOSS/ Open Scholarship) - cost effective and feasible means - that may help everyone to come out of the slumber of disparity.
Hence, it seems less of economic anxiety and more of Political determination and accomplishment in changing times.
TECNICALTECNICAL
Technical challenge seems a less concern as ICT is developing at an exponential speed but its penetration is not deep in developing countries particularly in rural pockets .
Thus the divide need to bridged among different geographic pockets and communities to keep track of technology who lack it due to poor literacy or economic , social and political backwardness.
However, this inadequacy may become otherwise as a major barrier in retarding co –building the knowledge, highest percentage of the population reside in such areas with highest indigenous knowledge base.These are primary sources and also users which need a great attention and concern.
ACADEMICACADEMIC
The introduction and facilitation of specialists, awareness programmes for developing a mind-set and tang for volunteering academicians to load knowledge, process information and package products for development and dissemination for the public good is a challenge which deserve our attention.
Thus, initial steps need to be taken by research organizations, societies and NGOs to create a culture of developing an open, voluntarily and Participative knowledge goods.
Some individuals and organizations have started commendable initiatives on this front but pace need to be accelerated on the academic border.
SOCIALSOCIAL
The social acceptance of the ‘new products’ may be a challenge for some time due to our obsession with peer reviewed and accredited publications.
One may either hesitate to cite and refer such sources for a brief time till evolution of new versions of the peer reviewed , transparent products , with less probability of plagiarism and manipulation , and definition of social, technical and research standards in a new scholarly environment.
FUTURE AREASFUTURE AREAS
1. SHIFING CANVAS
2.NEW INITIATIVES
SHIFTING CANVASSHIFTING CANVAS
The focus of every initiative should be to widen its horizon from a local to regional one assume an international arena and meets creditability in academic and peer groups.
The present sketch has a potential to extend its scope on regional basis and converge into a national project. The plan in process and future one can ultimately form an international enterprise.
With passage of time, flow of new technological opportunities and each coming closer to one another will help for development of an integrated and coherent projects for the present and allied fields ,besides other new proposals.
NEW INITIATIVESNEW INITIATIVES
In Web 2.0 milieu, one can develop a wiki type initiative to list all flora of the globe on voluntary basis and name it Floropedia/Herbepedia. This will be a new encyclopedia useful to different stake holders ranging from common man to business folk and helpful to students and scholars.
The professionals can play an active role in developing such projects for having better knowledge capturing and organizing skills using both old(gold) and emerging(green) professional techniques.
Many such initiative with a proper planning and strategy can be outlined in field of Culture, flora and fauna, crafts , Art and Music etc to help to build knowledge on collective basis making better use of technology for the preservation , dissemination and regeneration.
Wrap UPWrap UP
NEW PARTNERSHIP
NEW CHAPTERS & RELATIONS
KNOCK CORRIDORS OF 21ST DIPLOMACY
ACTORS OF KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION INDUSTRY
MUCH MORE
THANKSTHANKSTO PARTICIPANTS
TO ORGANISORS
TO SPONSORS
TO DSIR& TO EVERYONE FROM TRIBAL TO MY COLLAGUES AND STUDENTS
QUSTIONS
SUGGESTIONS
