The problem of managing agricultural information systems : a profile of Jamaica
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 1993
- Published:
- International
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 96
- Subject Term:
- developing nations, government services, information management, information needs, information systems, Jamaica, librarians, national programs
- Notes:
- 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).
