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.
