International Partnerships in Public Services: from Pietermaritzburg and Beyond Camille Andrews May 2006

Objectives Challenges and opportunities in Mann’s international partnerships in: –Reference and Document Delivery for African Centre for Crop Improvement –Instruction for AGORA Key Lessons Learned

The Genesis van Tienhoven professional development travel award and additional funding ACCI Site Visit in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa –Reference & Document Delivery AGORA/HINARI workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia –Instruction

Off to South Africa Map from InfoPlease:

ACCI Site Visit African Centre for Crop Improvement –Joint Ph.D. program in plant breeding with Cornell supported by Cornell Transnational Learning – –As a CALS department, Mann supports with: Reference services Document delivery

ACCI Site Visit Tour of facilities Presentations to students Meetings with ACCI staff, librarians, faculty

Ref/ILL Challenges Infrastructure-Internet connectivity, electricity at remote sites –Availability of print and CD delivery emphasized –TEEAL and AGORA –Text messaging or short message service (SMS)

Ref/ILL Challenges Marketing and Communication –Website, brochure and s –Presentations –Setting expectations –Partners here and at ACCI

Ref/ILL Challenges Reference interview at a distance –ACCI profiles –Reference profile Licensing and copyright –Agreements

On to Addis

AGORA workshops Two 3-day workshops on AGORA and HINARI Held at International Livestock Research Institute

AGORA workshop First day-Introductions, Internet and electronic resources, open access journals, etc. Second day-split into AGORA and HINARI groups in computer labs; Third day-TEEAL, discussion groups on marketing & training, etc.

AGORA workshops Participants were librarians, researchers, doctors, IT people from all over Ethiopia (35 total) Co-facilitated with ITOCA trainers Gracian Chimwaza and Vimbai Hungwe (not pictured) and HINARI trainer Steve Glover

Instruction Challenges Some coordination by Mann but on-the-ground support is key: –ITOCA in Harare, Zimbabwe –Local hosts such as ILRI

Instruction Challenges Infrastructure again –Facilities, not only accommodations and training space but: –Bandwidth, bandwidth, bandwidth Low and slow Telecom monopolies Technical difficulties Hardware & software

Instruction Challenges Range of skill levels –I-Skills Resume (pre-assessment), post-tests –Additional training Cultural context –Relevant examples (tef) –Training structure –Training materials--vocabulary and language –Context for training topics (e.g. copyright, licensing restrictions)

Instruction Challenges Be flexible and expect the unexpected! –Technical difficulties –Logistics –Political disturbances

Lessons Learned Commitment from all partners –Importance of mission –Persistence, skill and ingenuity –Support (financial and philosophical) Knowledge of and sensitivity to local contexts Sustainable procedures Flexibility Communication

Home again Thanks and tribute to: –Ari and Ans van Tienhoven –Mann Library –Cornell Transnational Learning and ACCI