Digital Library @ PNM : myrepositori.pnm.gov.my

Salam all, In my last writing : DSpace @ National Library of Malaysia : A Digital Initiative by Govt i wrote about initiatives taken by The National Library of Malaysia to make their collection available online. Today, i'm going to reveal the repository name and address. It is called myrepositori and you can view it here http://myrepositori.pnm.gov.my In fact, i found that u-pustaka portal has put a link to myrepositori which u can see in the below snapshot:

I believe that PNM is currently working very hard to make the repository as one of the best they have. Its not easy to digitize, cataloging and make the collection available via online. We are talking about NATIONAL LIBRARY, so you can guest how many items they have. Nevertheless, the PNM has all resources they need to make this possible. I wonder if the same repository(DSpace) can be extend to other state's library. hmmm.. Or each state may have their own repository and can import/export or link to each other repository(this is awesome!!). Anyway, please feel free to browse through the repository and you may find something useful/interesting for yourself.

DSpace 4.0 New Look : Awesome

Salam all, After years working with DSpace software, i have to admit that the new default DSpace 4.0 interface design by cineca is awesome. It's simpler and what is more obvious is the color used by them (blue and green) make the interface is very pleasant for the eyes. Here, take a look at the new DSpace snapshot: 1) DSpace Home

2) Edit Profile

3) Administration Tools

Great work guys :)

Installing DSpace 4.0 on Windows 7 : Common Problems

Salam all, Installing DSpace is quite easy. Installing DSpace on Windows should be easier. However, i'm struggling about 2 days trying to install postgresql database, then i execute command mvn package from a wrong directory and few other thing which i will highlight here may helps the 1st timer to find solutions with similar problems. Problems: a) Installing PosgreSQL database I download postgresql-9.3.3-1-windows-x64 from here. I tried to install but in the end of the installation i got warning like below: Problem running post-install step. Installation may not complete correctly. The database cluster initialisation failed.

-taken from here If you got this warning, you wouldn't be able to connect your local database. You will get error : Server not listening. So here is the solutions : great, working and straight to the point solution b) Installing DSpace There are two thing you need to pay more attention. i) dspace.install.dir Make sure u use forward slash like this : '/' eg: C:/dspace Refer step no.5 page 48 at DSpace Manual. ii) Build the installation package Refer step no.7 page 50 at DSpace Manual. This is wrong, suppose you need to run your command from cd [dspace-source]/ only. Here is the explanation. That's all for now, i hope with this post you will not struggling installing DSpace like me :)

Digital Library OR Institutional Repository?

Salam guys,

I have been thinking for quite some time, what is digital library and what is institutional repository? How are they differs from each other? So, i come out with a quick research and found this in wikipedia :-
1) "A digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media) and accessible by computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks. A digital library is a type of information retrieval system." - taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_library

and

2) "An Institutional Repository is an online locus for collecting, preserving, and disseminating -- in digital form -- the intellectual output of an institution, particularly a research institution.

For a university, this would include materials such as research journal articles, before (preprints) and after (postprints) undergoing peer review, and digital versions of theses and dissertations, but it might also include other digital assets generated by normal academic life, such as administrative documents, course notes, or learning objects." - taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutional_repository

So, from the above definition i can say that the different between DL(DIGITAL LIBRARY) and IR(INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY) is depends on its contents and its purpose. When it comes to the large community we use DL and as for smaller community we use IR. Let me give an example, In Malaysia, we have libraries, so whenever you want to digitize all the books/newspapers/magazines/journals/articles etc and put it online we call it DL. However, universities/colleges/institutional etc may develop an IR for their thesis/paper work/journals/articles etc.

Haven't said that, both DL and IR shares the main development purpose that is to preserve the digital assets and to make it accessible by the targeted user. Thus, you can call it either DL or IR and its still means the same (well, at least to me).

:)

DSpace and its growth

Salam everyone,

Sorry for not posting anything since January. It's not that i too busy for blogging, its just that i have nothing interesting to tell you guys. However, recently i received a call from one of the most established and well known university college. They asked for my consultation on DSpace.

So, i started to 'refresh' everything about DSpace. I have 'left' DSpace for almost a year and i know just where to start it all over again. It's the DSpace website. I'm shocked that not only the interface but also the content and functions that DSpace has to offer is changed. DSpace has growth and it's growing fast! They have a bigger community and better support for users.

Here are some of the functions that i find very interesting :-
1) Who's using DSpace
There are 883 institutions world wide using DSpace and only 4 of them are from Malaysia that are University of Malaya (UM), Islamic Science University of Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) and Universiti Tanaga Nasional (Uniten).(and i belive many institutions in Malaysia is thinking and some even has already started building its own digital repository.)

2) DuraSpace
"The DuraSpace organization provides leadership and innovation in open source and cloud-based technologies primarily for libraries, universities, research centers, and cultural heritage organizations. DuraSpace software and services are used worldwide as solutions for institutional repositories, open access publishing, digital libraries, digital archives, digital collections, data curation, virtual research environments, and more."-taken from DuraSpace website

3) Service Providers
The list of companies that provides services on DSpace related work such as design, development, installation/configuration, integration, customization, hosting, training and analysis. I wonder how can i put my company on the list.huhu..

4) Relevant Bloggers
Thoses blogs are relevant to digital libraries, open access and DSpace. I guess my blog is less technical so i'm not relevant at this moment.hhahha..

5) DSpace Ambassador
Well, the word 'Ambassador' has describe enough of what it is all about. This program is the best way to get 'in-touch' with the users. Each ambassador is pointed by DSpace and each region should have at least one ambassador. Malaysia? No ambassador so far (HELLO!!! I'M HERE!!!) :p

So, there you go! DSpace is absolute answer for digital repository initiative. Hopefully DSpace can mange to catch up with the latest technology to keep being 'relevant' to the digital solutions.

see ya :)

Digital Libraries using Greenstone at Malaysia

Salam,

Well..It is almost 2 years now i'm working on a digital library for malay manuscipts or pustaka digital manuskrip melayu using an open source software called greenstone. Its a software that build using Perl and macro language (for version 2.82 and below) by New Zealand Digital Library Project at the University of Waikato. At first i was shocked because i have never learn Perl Programming at school and the codes is totally different compared with java. As i don't have much choices during that time, i decided to learn and do some research on greenstone. Alhamdulillah, all documentations provided by greenstone helps me understand better on how the greenstone works. Moreover, they have a maling list that i subscibed, so that i can ask questions about developing a digital library using greenstone while helping others with their problems.




With help from friends here at fcsit at University of Malaya i managed to finish it. There are some features that i have embed within MyManuskrip (as my prof ask me too). Functions like "quick search", view statistics, register and auto calculate total records is hardly to do especially when you are using open source ("not your own codes"). Overall, for me greenstone is definitely one of the best digital library or institutional repository or whatever you call it in market right now.

Features of Greenstone :-
1) Easy Step by step Installation Guidelines.

2) 3 Choiceses of searching engine (Lucene, MG & MG++).

3) Easy to manipulate/alter the interface.

4) Able to create your own new metadata sets.

5) Easy to understand the process of building records and customization.

6) Almost all common plugins available.

7) You don't have to compile/build/export/restart when you change the code, just refresh the page.


--MyMaova--

The word MyMaova stands for 'Malaysian Modern Archive of Visual Art'. This is also the example of digital library developed using greenstone. This is a final year project (for masters) of my friend, shahnim safian. It tooks almost 3 months of hardwork to complete the system. As you can see, the interface can be manipulate to best suit your needs and creativity.


-Summary-

There you go!! As far as i'm concern there are 2 or 3 organizations in Malaysia already used greenstone for their digital library. But, i'm not going to tell you who. hehe.. So, if you're interested of developing a digital library using greenstone, gd lk and all the best. Let me know if you need a help..chow..