search through journal, Although Ghana is mainly an agricultural country, the provision for agricultural information has been inadequate. There is a wide gap between the demand for agricultural information and the supply of data. This paper describes the state of agricultural information provision in Ghana, highlighting on various problems such as the unavailability and production of reliable statistical information; deficiencies in local agricultural information sources and services; and the lack of formal courses on agricultural information at the only library school in the country. Improved methods for disseminating agricultural information in Ghana are discussed. (author)
Arboleda-Sepulveda, Orlando (author / Chief, IPM Regional Information Centre, CATIE-Tropical Agricultural Center for Research and Education, Turrialba, Costa Rica)
Format:
Journal article
Language:
Spanish with English abstract
Publication Date:
1993
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 96 Document Number: C07571
search through journal, Plant protection research results are analyzed in the framework of their generation, handling, publication and distribution in Central American countries. Personal attitudes as well as institutional policies to stimulate production and dissemination of information have to be established or reinforced. Particular reference is made to the utilization of national and regional journals and specialized information services such as those sponsored by CATIE. (author)
Cai, Jianfeng (author), O'Keefe, Garrett (author), and Cai: Information Institute, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences; O'Keefe: Agricultural Journalism, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1993
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 96 Document Number: C07568
search through journal, A study on information dissemination by journal publishing at agricultural research institutes in China focused on the following research areas: goals of publications programs, editing and publishing processes, dissemination, feedback gathering, evaluation, and corrective actions. Data were collected by surveying 75 agricultural journals published from 29 agricultural academies or provinces, municipalities or autonomous regions, and 28 research institute under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). Findings were that agricultural research institutes produced these journals mainly for disseminating their research information to other researchers, extensionists and educators. It was found that these journals published articles mostly from unsolicited manuscripts with the emphasis on the academic merit and that little interaction existed between editors and authors during the manuscript processing. Older typesetting and printing technologies seriously delayed publication and most journals were subscribed to and distributed through post offices. Promotion and marketing have not been given due attention. Journal offices at times obtained feedback from readers and evaluated the utility of publication and that the impact of publication programs was mainly evaluated on social benefits. Feedback and evaluation findings were sometimes used to improve future publications but not for the institute program planning. Recommendations are made to improve communication functions of journals programs at agricultural research institutes in China. (author).
optical disks; AGRISEARCH, search through journal, AGRISEARCH, produced by SilverPlatter, is a CD-ROM product which aims at coordinating current agricultural research [projects in Africa, Canada, Europe, and the United States. The database includes current project information concerning agriculture, food, and nutrition. In addition, AGRISEARCH provides contact names and addresses of research centers working on agriculture related projects. Considering that this is the first attempt to harmonize agricultural research project information, the database has much to offer towards the development, planning and coordination of agricultural research. (author)
Osigwe, Chibandu C. (author / Librarian/Documentation Specialist, National Agricultural Research Institute, Guyana) and Librarian/Documentation Specialist, National Agricultural Research Institute, Guyana
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1993
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 96 Document Number: C07572
search through journal, Information is the key to innovation and self-sustaining development. It is the vehicle that carries all development efforts in all disciplines of human endeavor. Sustainable agricultural development must have its base on a sustainable information infrastructure and both of them should be viewed equally. This paper looks at some definition of sustainability and from there defines sustainable information management. The systems and infrastructures that have helped in building and providing a continuous information flow to maintain sustainable agriculture development are reviewed. Efforts being made by information professionals to conserve information materials are mentioned and information cooperation in the form of information systems/databases and networks are examined. (author)
search through journal, The responsibility and tasks of a national agricultural information system (NAIS) is discussed with emphasis on the Ministry of Agriculture Library in Jamaica. The nature of the institutional and interinstitutional infrastructure for agricultural activities; lack of professional staff; lack of awareness of the need for information by potential users; lack of provision for collecting locally generated material; and lack of skills in documentation on the part of agriculturalists are identified as factors hindering the coordination and progress of a NAIS in Jamaica. The development of the National Information Plan; availability of training at the professional and paraprofessional level within the island; cooperation and commitment among librarians at formal and informal levels; and the possibility of approaching funding agencies are described as advantages to a NAIS. Recommendations are made concluding that the problems cannot be fully addressed by librarians without the support of user organizations and there is a definite need for librarians to be active in the problem solving process. (author).
electronic publishing, AGRICOLA IND 92047815; Presented at IAALD Symposium on "Advances in Information Technology", September, 1991, Beltsville, MD, This paper reviews the current trends of journal publishing and the costs associated with it. The current electronic journal is described: who is creating; who is distributing and where it is going. Current publishers of electronic journals include commercial publishers such as Elsevier; universities such as Cornell and Carnegie Mellon; scientific societies such as the American Chemical Society and the American mathematical Society. The paper concludes with speculation on what is to come by the year 2000. (original)
AGRICOLA IND 92047820; presented at IAALD Symposium on "Advances in Information Technology", September, 1991, Beltsville, MD, Much research literature in the sciences, and particularly in agriculture related sciences, originates from private and government research stations, is published in the form of technical reports or technical papers, and often does not appear in readily available published literature. The requirement for prompt delivery of these materials to researchers, combined with the evolving sophistication of researchers in the application of computers to research problems and the increasing demands to integrate library support into scientists; research functions, provides strong incentive to explore computer based alternatives for delivery of those documents that overcome the drawbacks of existing technical and procedural mechanisms, such as facsimile and postal delivery of photocopies. Fourteen institutions are taking part in this research and demonstration project which electronically transmits document images to remote sites using the national Internet telecommunications systems. (original)
scanning technology, AGRICOLA IND 92047818; presented at IAALD Symposium on "Advances in Information Technology", September, 1991, Beltsville, MD, This paper addresses the questions most frequently asked about scanning : Why are we doing it? How exactly is it done? What does it cost? The answer to why we do it touches on the global forces that are shaping the Information Age. The many purposes for which scanning systems can be sued represent a force in themselves that is explored in some detail. Regardless of the purpose, image scanning and optical character recognition (OCR) systems are made up of much the same components, and these are described. The focus is on operational procedures, work flow, throughput, staffing needs, and costs based on the experiences of the U.S. National Agricultural Text Digitizing Project at NAL. (original)
