1. INTRODUCTION

Historically, the history and significance of pagodas were recorded on folded paper, palm-leaf manuscripts (parabaik) (Universities’ Central Library, 2015), and inscriptions. Today, these records are typically authored and published by either historical authors or pagoda trustee members. Libraries preserve pagoda-related resources such as books, inscriptions, palm-leaf manuscripts, parabaik, folded pieces of paper, and electronic books. The University’s Central Library (UCL) (Nwe, 2018) and the National Library (Htwe, 2016) in Myanmar have acquired palm-leaves and parabaik from owners and monasteries. The UCL website showcases the color parabaik that King Mindon used to renovate ruined temples and pagodas. Additionally, pagoda donation information is written on palm leaves that have been manually collected. Documents of palm leaf or parabaik can be accessed on the national library website. Furthermore, information about pagoda history and records can be obtained from the community or on stone inscriptions. Documentation about the pagoda repair process is carried out by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Culture (Aye, 2020). The Department of Archeology and National Museum, along with local and foreign specialists, have conducted a documentation project that includes three-dimensional laser scanning of Bagan pagodas (Coughenour, 2022).

Libraries play a crucial role in acquiring, organizing, storing, and retrieving various resources such as books, journals, magazines, and audiovisual materials. A reliable data management system is essential to meet the needs of users and ensure efficiency. The Library Management System (LMS) is a specialized software that stores and organizes collection and user data, including borrowing history, preferences, and demographics. The library system consists of cataloging, search and retrieval, reporting, integration with other software systems, reference management, and document management capabilities. Libraries use Digital Management Systems to manage data and support users (Tochukwu et al., 2015). Metadata helps users understand and use data by describing its content, context, and structure (Gilliland, 2016; Riley, 2017). Metadata in libraries includes author, title, subject, date of publication, shelf location, and more. E-books, databases, and online journals require metadata management. Metadata is essential for resource management and system integration.

The ancient Myanmar library (Pitakat Taik) held Buddhist scriptures (Allon et al., 2016) and other literature. The structure was designed in the form of a temple, and examples include the Anawrahta Pitakat Taik and the Amarapura Pitakat Taik (Revolutionary Government of the Union of Burma, 1963). The British colonial Bernard Free Library founded the modern library system in 1883. Rangoon’s 1952 National Library of Myanmar collects and preserves Myanmar’s cultural heritage (Oo, 2018). Today, it remains the largest and most significant library in the country, managed by the Department of National Libraries and Archives under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture (Aye, 2020). The Yangon and Mandalay universities have large academic book and journal collections. Despite the growth of these libraries, access to information remains limited, especially in rural academic libraries where they lack modern facilities and technology due to limited funding and resources (Nyein, 2016). Many Myanmar libraries still use manual LMS, and automation is still rare. However, the eLIB library automation system has greatly improved library services and information access. Yangon’s and Nay Pyi Taw’s national libraries have advanced technology and funding for conservation and digitization (Kaung, 2012). Their online union catalogue holds rare Burmese books, manuscripts, educational reports, and audio and video resources. Myanmar libraries are working with international organizations and government agencies to improve information access and library services. There are 55,755 registered public libraries that are operated by the Ministry of Information, Myanmar, but they only use manual systems for cataloging and circulation (1World Connected, 2017). Private community libraries have been successful with support from donors and Ooredoo Myanmar, using library automation or manual systems. The “Save the Library” initiative has a website and mobile app providing information on various topics, including contact information for public libraries.

The Myanmar Museum protects ancient palaces and libraries, and every archaeological site has a museum. The Mrauk U Archaeological Museum (Zan, 2016) and Bagan Archaeological Museum (Aung, 2018) were founded to preserve many pagodas. These museums display miniature pagodas, inscriptions, and Buddha images. The Shwedagon Pagoda Museum in Yangon displays old lotus petals, bananas, buds, and umbrella crowns, while the Mahamuni Pagoda Museum in Mandalay has a bronze statue and other exhibits.

Previously, the rector committee of the Myanmar Academic Library Consortium (MALC) held a meeting to discuss the implementation of a digital library at the university. Following this, the university rector approved the transformation of the library’s digital infrastructure (Nyein, 2016). However, various obstacles hindered progress, including limited Internet bandwidth, a tight budget, and the absence of a qualified library technician. Additionally, the costs of establishing, processing, and analyzing large datasets must be taken into account.

Thus, this study aims to examine the current LMS, report on its findings, and generate metadata for Myanmar pagodas. These elements are all crucial for establishing a digital library environment. The metadata will be particularly useful for libraries responsible for preserving cultural heritage items and religious monuments, as it will help to maintain accurate and up-to-date information.

2. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

The storage of data documentation for Burmese pagodas in Myanmar libraries has various issues, and its retrieval method causes problems for users and libraries. To address these issues, this study will focus on creating metadata for Myanmar’s pagodas. The research aims to answer the following questions: 1. How does the library manage the pagoda collection? 2. How is the library’s pagoda data currently managed? 3. What type of information do library professionals want to include in metadata? The study seeks to investigate and provide solutions to the above issues by analyzing the library’s management system and the pagoda data storage process. The research will find out what information library professionals think should be in metadata. This will make the retrieval system more effective and efficient.

The primary objective of this research is to examine the data management system for pagodas and libraries in Myanmar. This study aims to achieve the following objectives: (1) To study the library collection management of pagodas in Myanmar; (2) To investigate the management of pagoda data in Myanmar libraries; and (3) To identify the pagoda data requirements for metadata development from the library professional perspective. By fulfilling these objectives, this research will contribute to the development of a better data management system for Myanmar pagodas and libraries. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the library’s metadata development process, ensuring a more efficient and effective retrieval system for pagoda-related data.

3. LITERATURE REVIEW

Multiple studies have been conducted on library services in universities across Myanmar. For example, Aung (2018) highlighted the need for Pyay University Library to enhance its services to meet users’ demands. The author conducted a comparative study of university libraries in Bago, Pyay, and Taungoo, and recommended acquiring more books and periodicals. Oo et al. (2022) evaluated the Yadanabon University library from 2000 to 2021, assessing its collection, customer service, and information demands over time. The study identified the library’s strengths and weaknesses and emphasized the importance of providing adaptable and diverse resources, improved services, and facilities. Another study by Swe and Yang (2021) focused on the accessibility of databases, information sources, library catalogs, and scholarly papers through library websites. The study examined six Myanmar university library websites, including University of Yangon, Universities’ Central Library, University of Computer Studies Yangon, Yangon University of Foreign Languages, East Yangon University, and Dagon University. The survey assessed the performance, efficiency, usage frequency, satisfaction, skillfulness, and convenience of these websites, highlighting the need to improve university library websites to enhance customer satisfaction. In 2016, MALC was established with nine universities, and it has since grown to include forty-six academic libraries, of which forty-one are public university libraries. MALC provides extensive training for library staff and librarians, including workshops on library management and research support, capacity building, digital information literacy, and research training. Additionally, MALC has acquired licenses for electronic resources and plagiarism checkers, which are shared among its member libraries in Myanmar (Oo, 2016a). In a separate study, Oo (2016b) analyzed the preservation of palm-leaf and parabaik manuscripts in Yadanabon University, identifying valuable historical records and recommending their digitization. The manuscripts contained information on generalities, history, architecture, and religion on the parabaik. While there may not be any special research on the topic of “pagoda data management in Myanmar libraries,” numerous studies have been done on the management and services provided by libraries in Myanmar universities.

There have been many reports for national libraries. Oo (2018) provided discussion of the recent developments and initiatives taken by the National Library of Myanmar. It has many books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, and other items, including rare publications and manuscripts. To support research, the library buys local and foreign-language literature and interacts with academic libraries, archives, and publishers. The library’s online catalogue offers a hybrid approach that combines traditional library operations and automation tools. Aye (2020) reported the history, status, and future of the National Library of Myanmar. It collected books, manuscripts, and digital collections, and collaborated with government and private organizations on collection development and library services. There were only a few visitors a day to the library due to its location. It had 120 employees and an average annual budget of 150 million Myanmar Kyat, which is about $1,500 USD, for collection development.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture is responsible for preserving Myanmar’s religious and cultural heritage, including pagodas, with the Department of Archeology and National Museum overseeing their preservation and development. They collect and preserve artifacts and documents related to pagodas, while also collaborating with volunteers from other countries. The department disseminated information about pagodas through their Facebook page and published research papers, but the information was not widely available. They have collected inscriptions, parabaik, palm leaves, and other ancient documents related to pagodas. The Kabaaye Buddha Research Library’s website has an extensive collection of full-text files about Buddhist scripture, Pali texts, monastic history, Buddhist literature, and pagoda histories, but only 64 of these books are pagoda-themed. The Myanmar National Archive has digitized various ancient governmental documents, including those related to pagodas, which can be accessed by visiting the archive in Nay Pyi Taw.

4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The library possesses data related to pagodas, and its staff and librarians have experience managing such data. This research involved eight participants. The scope of this qualitative study was limited to seven select university libraries located across Myanmar and the National Library (Yangon). The participating academic libraries were the Yangon Economic University Library, Yangon University Library, Sitagu International Buddhist Academy Library, Yenangyaung University Library, Yadanabon University Library, Mandalay University Library, and Kyaukse University Library. For the quantitative research, an online Google form was sent to member libraries of MALC (Oo, 2016a) and national libraries. The purpose of this research was to investigate and analyze the management of pagoda-related data in libraries across Myanmar, and the study’s findings will provide valuable insights into developing metadata for Myanmar pagodas.

5. RESEARCH METHOD

The present study utilizes a mixed methodology of both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of the library system for pagoda data management, the demand for pagoda information, and metadata concerns in Myanmar libraries. For the qualitative study, eight participants were selected for this study using purposive sampling based on their knowledge about pagoda data and expertise in library services, which included library staff, librarians, and retired experts who were interviewed using a semi-structured approach to explore pagoda data in the libraries. The interviews were conducted online and audio-recorded with participants’ consent. For the quantitative study, a questionnaire was developed to investigate pagoda data management and necessary metadata elements in libraries of Myanmar, including 23 university libraries of the MALC membership and two national libraries. Two questionnaires were sent to each library via email or social media private accounts to collect data from the decided representatives of the library who were most involved with library information resource management and pagoda data management. Fifty-seven questionnaires were returned, of which at least one questionnaire was returned from each library.

The qualitative data analysis process typically involves organizing and coding the data, identifying patterns and themes, and interpreting the results. In this study, recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Independent codes were used to analyze the transcripts, and themes were identified from the codes to gain insights into pagoda data management systems and metadata development. After analyzing the data, the researcher drew conclusions and made recommendations based on the findings. For the quantitative component of the study, SPSS was used to analyze the data obtained from the questionnaire survey. The overall responses of survey participants to each question were calculated by conducting a frequency analysis for each question. This allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the trends and patterns in the data collected. Given that the random sampling method used in this study ensures that the sample is representative of the entire population of libraries of MALC member libraries and national libraries in the country, the results of the data analysis can be generalized to the broader population.

The research findings highlighted the importance of using multiple data collection methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of the research. During the interview, in cases where participants misunderstood the questions, the researcher sought clarification by rephrasing the queries. While half of the participants indicated that the metadata element in question should be added, the remaining half expressed uncertainty. In order to validate these findings, a survey form was administered, wherein the same question was posed once more.

The researcher followed the Khon Kaen University’s Ethics Committee for Human Researchrules and got a certificate with the number HE 653250 on October 10, 2022.

6. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

7. CONCLUSION

This study identified four main challenges in the management of pagoda data in libraries in Myanmar, including difficulties in finding information on the open shelf system, lack of online access, insufficient storage, and the need for visitors to physically go to the library to get data. The Pagoda Data System of the Myanmar Archeology Department and National Museum plays a crucial role in preserving and conserving pagodas in Myanmar, but the lack of widely published research papers limits knowledge dissemination and prevents further research. To address these issues, this study suggests using metadata in both Burmese and English languages to improve the storage, retrieval, and organization of pagoda data documentation. The metadata should be updated regularly and contain information about famous pagodas. The National Library, Department of Archaeology, and National Museum should work together to update metadata to ensure library uniformity and correctness.

Based on the findings of the research, it appears that there are several challenges facing library users and librarians in accessing and managing Myanmar pagoda data. The libraries face challenges in retrieving and storing pagoda data due to limited stocks and retrieval tools. This makes it difficult for librarians to manage this information and provide access to users. Library users may have difficulty accessing all of the available pagoda data easily online. This can make it challenging to research and understand the cultural significance of Myanmar pagodas. Users desire to secure unrestricted access to the pagoda data for academic libraries. Currently, the arrangement of the books on the shelf is convenient, but they all want to get Myanmar pagoda metadata. The National Library can only transition to an online library system, but it is still facing financial and technological challenges. Another staff member is concerned about the pagoda metadata because of their past negative experiences with library software that needs to be updated, cannot be accessed with library computers or electronic devices, and requires high-speed Internet. However, the national museum is responsible for managing this metadata. This is due to government organizations’ limited freedom and a lack of library staff with information literacy skills. According to research findings, there is no centralized database or repository for retrieving and storing pagoda data. To manage a set of pagoda data, libraries must establish certain metadata criteria to assist users in finding and accessing relevant data. Overall, it is clear that there is a need for better management of Myanmar pagoda data in libraries. Improving access to technology and developing metadata can all help to address these challenges. By ensuring that accurate information is available and accessible to library users, we can better understand and appreciate the cultural significance of Myanmar pagodas.

The scope of this study was constrained to qualitative research conducted at seven university libraries and the National Library in Yangon, along with quantitative research carried out at MALC member libraries and national libraries. Consequently, the data collected only reflected the perspectives and practices of national and academic libraries in Myanmar pertaining to pagoda data management. Furthermore, the study did not incorporate the viewpoints and practices of other types of libraries, including public libraries, self-funded community libraries, and other special libraries which could be involved with pagoda data management in the future.