Consortium for e-resources in Agriculture

CeRA

R and D institutions have been procuring print versions of journals and literature in aid of science and technology. With the advent of internet facilities and advancement of web technology, almost all reputed international journals are available on-line and can easily be accessed by researchers over the network. Since ICAR is having network connectivity across the institutes and state agricultural universities, select journals could be made available over the network for the use of scientific community. Keeping this broad objective in mind, the NAIP has established the Consortium for e-Resources in Agriculture (CeRA) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

CeRA Website

The CeRa website is available at:

Objectives of CeRA

• To develope the existing  R & D information resource base of ICAR institutes/universities, etc., comparable to that existing in world leading institutions/organizations
• To create an e-access culture among scientists/teachers in ICAR institutes/agricultural universities
• To develope a Science Citation Index (SCI) Facility at IARI for evaluation of scientific publications
• To assess the impact of CeRA on the level of research publications measured through SCI

Federated search

 

Federated search technology enables users to search multiple information resources simultaneously through one search query. Users can then view search results in a single integrated list. In other words, users do no longer need to consult each information resource individually. Instead, they can search multiple library catalogs (OPACs), Web sites (e.g. Amazon.com, Google etc.), subscription and citation databases all at once.

Federated search technology is an integral component of an Information Portal, which provides the interface to diverse information resources. Once the user enters his or her search query in the search box of the Information Portal, the system uses federated search technology to send the search string to each resource that is incorporated into the Portal. The individual information resources then send the Information Portal a list of results from the search query. Users can view the number of documents retrieved in each resource and link directly to each search result.

In short, an Information Portal uses federated search technology to enable users to:

• Search for information in multiple information resources through a single query.
• View search results in a single list.
• Link directly to each resource to expand the search.

federated search for agricultural resources:

http://search.nal.usda.gov/nalsearch/

Types of agricultural Library

   They can be classified on the basis of the nature and objective of the institutions with which they are attached, such as:

è  The libraries attached with educational institutes;

è  The libraries attached with research institutes;

è  The libraries attached with state and central government departments;

è  The libraries attached with trade and industrial organizations.

Moreover the type of agricultural libraries are categorised on the basis of their functions:

•  Academic libraries:

 It may be called educational institutions libraries. The responsibility of education and formal research in the field of agriculture are taking care by universities and colleges of agriculture. These universities and colleges have their own libraries which support them in fulfilling their aims and objectives.

Agricultural University libraries:

 In India there are two type of university system. First is state universities funded by state government and second is central universities funded by central government. Some time they are funded by both governments. Every university has their own library system or library. 

Agricultural college libraries:

 All agricultural colleges are functioning under the agricultural universities either state university or central university. In some state of India agricultural colleges are functioning as affiliated to their respective traditional universities parallel to agricultural universities. And their libraries functions are as similar to traditional library functions.

• Research institute libraries:

In India different research institutes are established and administered by central government’s agencies and most of them are controlled by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. Some are under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi. Remain research institutions are under the department of Government of India. Predominant among the all research institute is Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. Every research institute has their own library with rich collection of literature, which forms the Nation’s main information resources in the field of agriculture.

•  Government industrial libraries:

 Different government departments related to agriculture and their core field such as animal husbandry, dairy, fishery etc have their own library to conduct research and development. The state dept of Agriculture, Horticulture, animal Husbandry and dairy have their own libraries at various levels.  

  

•  Private Trade and industrial libraries:

Apart from government organizations there are some more private Agro-based industrial and trade concerns have their own libraries to support their information needs. The pesticide and food Industry also run by private sector is one of the examples of trade and industry which has their own library. More over The Fertilizer Corporation in India, The Natural Seed Corporation, and The Food Association of India run by both Private and Public sector have their own library support system.

Function of Agricultural Library:

Functions of agricultural libraries are based on their objectives. They are responsible for promoting research, teaching, learning and extension in the field of agriculture. Their function is to helps agricultural institutions in finding their objectives. Thus we see three basic function of an agricultural library, which are as follows:

         

A.    Teaching:  teaching is basically function of academic institutions such as university and college. So agricultural library which attach with these educational institutes helps teachers or instructors in teaching or educating graduate students, post graduate students.

B.     Research: agricultural libraries play important role for research. It provide help to the organization in conducting research either agricultural university or research institution.

C.    Extension education: third and most important function of an agricultural libraries is extension education  which includes training programmes, vocational training, demonstration of latest technologies, exhibitions, radio talks etc.

Objective of Agricultural Library

The objective of agricultural libraries is the same of agricultural institutions where they are attached. One of the main objectives of agricultural libraries is to process, organize and disseminate the much-needed agricultural information to the users followed by these objectives:

Ø  To provide agricultural information needed by farmers for their empowerment in the agricultural production.

Ø  To create awareness on important agricultural-related programs and issues so that clients can make informed decision.

Ø  To improve knowledge and skills of stakeholders to optimize agricultural production.

Ø  To capacitate farmers to identify and find solutions to their own problems.

Agriculture and India

Agriculture sector has been the back boon of the republic of India as it is the main source of economy for a large number of people residing in rural area. It contributes nearly 14.6 %( 2009-10) of Gross Domestic Product and about 55% (2009-10) population is dependent on agriculture for their living hood.

some of the Agricultural Libraries:

Holistic Agriculturae Library
http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html

Agriculture Network Information Center
http://www.agnic.org/

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Library
http://www.tnau.ac.in/lib/index.html

University Library G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar
http://www.gbpuat.ac.in/library/index.htm

Indian Agricultual Research Institute Library
http://www.iari.res.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=221&Itemid=518

Indian Agricultural Statistical Research Institute, New Delhi
http://lib.iasri.res.in/