Bernama Upgrades Blis Elements, Components To Faciliate News Production

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) has upgraded its library and infolink service elements and components to facilitate news production, especially among its Editorial Department, Bernama TV, and Bernama Radio personnel.

Bernama Digital Library Information Manager Hasnita Ibrahim said the newly upgraded Bernama Library & Infolink Service (BLIS) 4.0, an electronic library providing news and information on Malaysia, is now equipped with several new elements such as video and audio editing, mobile applications, and data analytics.

She said that as the central news hub for Bernama and the country's main local newspapers since 1968, the information in BLIS is obtained from reliable sources and updated by Digital Library and Database Division personnel, as well as those from the Commercial Department, and its strategic partners such as the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

“It is hoped that (with BLIS 4.0) our customers can continue to produce quality and accurate news. We and the National Library will continue to run programmes to promote it to internal users and our customers on a larger scale,” she said at the Kenali BLIS 4.0 dan Buku Elektronik programme here today.

At the same time, Hasnita said her department is also promoting reading culture among Bernama personnel and, realising that most staff would not have time to go to the library, bring the library to them.

“Every Wednesday, our team will push trolleys laden with reading materials to the editorial and other departments in Bernama. Last week alone, 120 books were borrowed by the staff without having to come to the library,” she said.

At the programme, the National Library is also promoting the national digital library service known as u-Pustaka which can be accessed by all Malaysians.

Membership in u-Pustaka is free and all registered members can borrow physical and digital books, involving 12 u-Pustaka consortiums and electronic services such as e-books, e-journals, e-newspapers, and e-learning covering nearly one million materials.

Among the electronic databases in u-Pustaka are PNM Overdrive, E-Law, LawNet, Press Reader, Okbee Buffet, and Me Books.

-- BERNAMA