Análisis de la implementación de repositorios digitales en la OPS

Primera conferencia. Bibliotecas y Repositorios Digitales: Gestión del Conocimiento, Acceso Abierto y Visibilidad Latinoamericana. (BIREDIAL) Mayo 9 al 11 de 2011. Bogotá, Colombia.

Electronic dissemination technologies are effective tools to reach target audiences, while accelerating the diffusion of research findings and evidence in policy-making, these tools organize the sources of information according to the needs of the users, by identifying the specific selection criteria to, among others factors, provide useful content and thus, support successful dissemination. This article describes the experience of the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization with these electronic tools and specifically that of the Equity, Health and Human development list server (Equity List). We discuss the requirements for effective posting of information, and present the results of a recent survey that shows these tools potential to support health research processes, health policy development, human resources development and training. The List reaches a wide geographical area and a varied audience across a wide range of organizations, professional functions, and subject sectors. Our experience highlights the importance of linking regional and global networks to support dissemination of information. The findings of the survey were, overall, reassuring and the testing of D-Spaceas a digital repository, confirmed the validity of most of the core assumptions and design principles of Equity List, and the need to preserve the knowledge generated in the organization through meetings, conferences and instances of virtual learning. Based on this experience we recommend and support the use and electronic dissemination technologies and learning from them while contributing to build a stronger culture of knowledge sharing and communities of practice for public health