US National Agricultural Library Changes its Collection Policies

The US National Agricultural Library (NAL) announced it is changing how it develops its collection by shifting its emphasis to creating and acquiring digital items.

Library customers’ desire for fast online access to content and NAL’s goal of serving more customers nation-wide, coupled with declining use of print items, is charting a path toward digital items and away from print. Continued belt-tightening is also requiring the library to critically consider how best to spend its budget.

The complete story can be found at the NAL website.

Invasive species portal at NAL

In the USA, the National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) serves as a reference gateway to information, organizations, and services about invasive species.

NAL Director Peter Young stands down

The NAL blog announced that Peter Young has moved on after 6 years as NAL Director. The comments on the posting show that he will be missed by the US AgInfo community.

He will also be missed by his international colleagues - in IAALD and beyond. His lively and light approach to meeting facilitation, as experienced in Kentucky in 2005 and at the Rome e-agriculture meetings in 2007, were particular characteristics we will miss...

NAL Deputy Eleanor Frierson - also a long-term internationalist - has been named Acting Director.

Peter has re-joined the Library of Congress.

NAL Update

At USAIN's 2008 conference, Peter Young and colleagues gave an update on recent developments at the National Agricultural Library.

He introduced 'Blueprint for Success: The National Agricultural Library 2008-2012' - a staff discussion paper that, according to Young explains "what it is that NAL's programmes are about." It responds to the question "what do you [the NAL] need ..." to revitalize and sustain the library and its services into the future. The paper is "meant to stimulate discussion, evoke critical comment and spark debate about NAL’s future."

The starting premise of the team writing the report is that "information consumers, whether USDA staff worldwide or the Nation’s citizens, now expect easy and seamless access to digital content and personalized services. They demand reports, images and news feeds in a variety of formats. They also insist on the ability to customize interfaces, to tailor content to their precise needs and to have that content come to them on their timetable wherever they are." The various chapters set out ways that a national agricultural library and its partners can address these demands, through services, collections, marketing, partnerships, infrastructure and facilities. [Download the report - pdf format]

He also talked about several digital initiatives: AgSpace - a repository with more than 11,000 USDA-authored articles (searchable through AGRICOLA); the NAL Digital Repository (NALDR) - mainly historical USDA publications; and a new 'biofuels and bioenergy' page that will become an information center.

He also talked about 'InfoFarm' - the NAL blog. Young referred to this as "NAL's voice, sassy as it is." He asked readers to feel free to be 'sassy' right back - through comments and feedback.

After the session, we asked Peter about the international dimension of NAL's work, particularly the need for global collaboration:

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NAL logo reflects access to global information role

This seems like old news but is interesting anyway...

The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has adopted a new graphic symbol standing for the Library’s role in advancing access to global information for agriculture.

The icon is a graphic representation of an opened book, a tree, a flag, or of an agricultural field.

I wonder what other logo's have been adopted to signify notions associated with agricultural information, libraries, communication, and knowledge sharing?

Tags: agricultural information usa nal

Rethinking the Agricultural Library

Many visitors to Wageningen in the Netherlands will recall their visits to the Jan Kopshuis - site of the Wageningen University Library. On 21 February, the new library space was opened with a special congress held in the Forum building.

NAL Director Peter Young was keynote speaker at the congress - talking on 'Transforming Knowledge Services for the Digital Age : Redefining the Research Library.' Wageningen library's own blogger Wouter Gerritisma reports on Young's presentation, he also covered the other presentations (in Dutch).

Peter Young's conclusion on web 2.0 - that we need to "focus on the library in the user environment rather than the user in the library environment" was picked up by several of the bloggers at the meeting (download Young's powerpoint.

Tags: agricultural information libraries wageningen

US National Agricultural Library launches its blog

The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has joined the web 2.0 movement! This month it set up a blog - InfoFarm - where it is hoped that NAL staff and partners will enter into conversations.

In her October 1 opening entry, NAL's blogger in chief Mary Ann Leonard explains why NAL set up the blog:

"We want to give this great national library a human, personal voice; to give you a fresh glimpse into what we do; and to give us a chance to hear from you."

Interestingly the email announcement of the blog includes a disclaimer which says that the blog "does not necessarily represent the official views or formal communications of USDA, of NAL, or of the array of organizations represented by NAL’s customers and partners." However, it "aligns well with library standards encouraging the open and free exchange of information in support of an educated and informed citizenry."

Tags: agricultural information nal blog