AGRICOLA IND 92047811; Presented at IAALD Symposium on "Advances in Information Technology", September, 1991, Beltsville, MD, Plant It!-CD, a prototype multimedia CD-ROM is a joint project of the National Agricultural Library, the University of Florida's Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the Michigan State University State Cooperative Extension Service. This interactive CD-ROM contains over 1,000 full-color images, an audio pronunciation guide to scientific plant names, full test documents, selected bibliographies, and an extensive database on plants, all linked together through hypermedia connections. The disc features a dual interface: The Plant Selector, developed at the University of Florida,a nd the PlantExpert Advisor, and expert advisory system developed at the National Agricultural Library. (original)
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)
AGRICOLA IND 92047817; presented at IAALD Symposium on "Advances in Information Technology", September, 1991, Beltsville, MD, Since 1985 the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research has been involved in the production of a collection of its research reports on CD-ROM. This has involved the conversion of thousands of documents to machine-readable text and scanned images. This paper briefly outlines the history of the project from its inception to current status. Particular attention is paid to key factors that have impacted the design and production of the collection, with special emphasis on the ways in which this information can be put to use by those contemplating similar conversions. (original)
AGRICOLA IND 92047816; presented at IAALD Symposium on "Advances in Information Technology", September, 1991, Beltsville, MD, The National CD-ROM Sampler: an Extension Reference Library is a multimedia CD-ROM product containing 14, 540 documents; 1,900 graphics; 71 comprehensive collections; 65 individual computer programs; and over fourteen minutes of audio. This product was developed through a cooperative agreement among the U.S. National Agricultural Library, Extension Service-USDA, Interactive Design and Development at Virginia Tech,and the University of Minnesota. The paper provides information on the design and development of this project. (original)
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).
