Nikola Kezic
at his poster session entitled "Croatian Natural Sciences Information System:
Agriculture."
Librarians from Latin America attending the USAIN/IAALD joint conference. Some of
them and others not present for this photo were sponsored in part by USDA's Research and
Scientific Exchanges, Foreign Agriculture Service, with the cooperation of the National
Agricultural Library. Also at this conference NAL sponsored the U.S./Central and Eastern
European Agricultural Library Roundtable whose meeting report also appears in this issue
of ALIN.
Joe Swab watches as Michal Demes projects onto a large screen the web pages
related to ISTIA and the Slovak Republic and the two poster sessions he and his staff
authored.
Conference attendees had the opportunity to view the following wide variety of poster sessions:
Some of the University of Arizona staff who organized the conference and
coordinated the local activities and arrangements. (L-R) Sydney Hutchinson, Michael
Haseltine, Barbara Hutchinson Conference and Program Chair), Elissa Cochran, Doug Jones,
Katherine Waser, and Carla Casler.
"Designing a Web Resource on Aridic Soils of Israel and the U.S.," by Carla Long Casler and Michael Haseltine, Arid Lands Information Center, University of Arizona.
"Facilitating Access to Agricultural and Natural Resource Informationin Developing Countries: What Roles for European Cooperation?" by TimCullen, Natural Resources Institute, United Kingdom, and Peter Ballantyne, ECDPM, The Netherlands.
"SDI at STPC," JoAnn DeVries and Katherine Wern, University of Minnesota.
"Developing a Rangeland Management Web Site for the Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC)," by Mitchel P. McClaran, Michael Haseltine, and Jeanne Pfander, University of Arizona.
"Ten Best Ways to Search AGRICOLA Through First Search," by Lutishoor Salisbury, University of Arkansas.
"The State Information System within the Purview of the Slovak Ministry of Agriculture," by Jan Simko, Michal Demes, and Marcela Chrenekova, Institute of Scientific and Technical Information for Agriculture (ISTIA), Slovak Republic.
"The AgroWebClub Project," by Marcela Chrenekova, Michal Demes, and Jan Simko, Institute of Scientific and Technical Information for Agriculture (ISTIA), Slovak Republic.
"Croatian Natural Sciences Information System: Agriculture," by Nikola Kezic and Jadranska Stojanovski, University of Zagreb and Institute Rudjer Boskovic.
"EXAGRI Project: Availability and Accessibility of Agricultural Information from Small Farmers in Brazil," by Janeti Bombini de Moura and Nilce Puga-Nass, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
On the second day Keynote Speaker Dr. Charles McClure and USAIN President Toni
Powell (behind him) open the day's events.
Toni Powell, USAIN President, served as moderator for the opening session. Keynote
Speaker, Dr. Charles McClure, Distinguished Professor, School of Information Sciences,
Syracuse University, addressed the topic, "Developing Networked Information Services:
Strategies and Issues." Key aspects of the evolving internet telecommunications
environment include decentralization, collaboration, empowerment, globalization,
unpredictability, convergence, distributed IT planning and management, training, policy,
evaluation, and new products. McClure discussed the Access America web site, the federal
government's attempt to improve the public's access to government services and products;
it may be accessed at:
http://gits.fed.gov
Another site recommended by McClure was the Global Electronic Commerce URL: http://www.iitf.nist.gov/
electronic_commerce.htm
Important questions that McClure believes must be investigated by institutions writing web
pages are: who are the users of the services; what services are most important to them;
what are the costs and benefits of web service; would the organization receive more, or
better, benefits by reallocating resources to new or different services or programs; what
is the political context; and what are the services that users will need in the future?
McClure concluded byemphasizing that although evaluation of web sites is essential, so too
is the need for strategic thinking in planning for the future.
Ivo Hoch
from the Czech Republic talks with Brian Keyes at the Research Libraries Group Exhibit.
Charles King
a guitarist from the Tucson area, plays at one of the conference evening dinner meetings.
Conference attendees had the opportunity to choose among three sessionsoffered in Concurrent Papers III. Toni Powell moderated the first "Breakout Session." Dr. Charles McClure was again featured in a presentation entitled, "Federal Information Policies for NetworkedInformation Services." McClure discussed how "public policy" is made, problems with the Telecommunications Act, and copyright and intellectual rights. There are too many policy issues for a person to be adequately informed about each so McClure advises: 1) find one or two specific issues; 2) stay informed on these issues; 3) be an advocate--explain to friends and colleagues; 4) take action--publicize in newsletters, talk at PTA, etc.; 5) be persistent--someissues are long-term; and 6) be willing to compromise.
Rita Fisher, Washington State University, moderated the "Strategic Planning: Managing Change "session consisting of three presentations. Keith W. Russell, Deputy Director of the U.S. National Agricultural Library, spoke on, "The Value of Information in Agricultural Research." There are more than 100,000 publications in agricultural research published world-wide each year. Russell concluded: 1)creativity and innovation are essential in agricultural research; 2)contributions of an information-rich environment contribute to greater productivity; 3) diffusion of innovations through technology transferis important; 4) information has a role to play in change or development of paradigms; 5) information is valuable in re-direction of research areas to pursue; 6) information is critical in resolving crises, crisis management, and rapid response; 7) information can help avoid duplication of effort; 8) and information is valuable in other ways that can be documented.
Tim Lynch, Mann Library, Cornell University, addressed the topic,"It's a Matter of Context: Successfully Managing the High-Tech Project." Lynch raised several cautions related to managing the high-tech project. First, there is oftentimes a lack of common language between computer professionals and individuals planning the project. It is recommended that there be documentation of what is desired, including a clear definition of the scope of the project. Accountability should also be built into the project plan. Lack of common context between computer people and those planning the project could result in project failure.
Janet A. McCue, Head of Technical Services, Mann Library, CornellUniversity, presented, "Why Should a Cataloging Department Hire a Metadata Specialist? and, Are There Any Out There?" McCue defined metadata as data about data. The role of catalogers is being re-defined. Catalogers should be metadata specialists but should also articulate the unique value they bring to the ability to connect people to information.
Sharon Fujitani, California Polytechnic State University, served as moderator for
session three, "Web Site Demonstrations." The opening presentation was,
"INFOMINE: Unique Web Resource for Agricultural Information," by Charlene M.
Baldwin and Steve Mitchell, both from theUniversity of California, Riverside. INFOMINE is
a library of scholarly resources developed in 1993 at Riverside. It serves as both a web
index and a search engine. This award-winning web site has more than 9500 links to other
sites and is arranged by disciplinary focus with ten major research interests. The URL for
INFOMINE is:
http://lib-www.ucr.edu
The middle presentation originally titled, "How the WWW Redefines the Role of Information Specialists Working in the Fields of Nutrition and Agriculture," was later renamed, "GENUIN--Comprehensive German Nutrition Information Service on the Web." The presenter, Dr. Roy Ackmann, Director of the Nutrition Information Center at the University of Giessen, indicated that GENUIN is the most extensive information system for nutrition in Germany. It can provide World Wide Web access to all local databases, and it contains links to international websites as well.
Last in the series was, "AgEcon Search: Research in Agricultural Economics."
Because of the illness of the author and scheduled speaker, Patricia Rodkewich, this was
presented by Louise Letnes from the University of Minnesota. The AgEcon project is a
cooperative effort by agricultural economists and librarians to transmit, organize,and
preserve publications in an electronic format. "AgEcon Search" has been
designated the electronic publisher of choice for agricultural economic literature by the
American Agricultural Economics Association. After acquiring and mounting working/staff
papers in this field, it ishoped to expand the database by adding other types of
publications in the future. The URL for this web site is:
http://agecon.lib.umn.edu/
The panel at the "AgNIC Symposium" (L-R) were: Doug Jones (Arizona);
Nancy Eaton (Iowa); Pam André (NAL); Edith Hesse (Moderator); Rebecca Bernthal (Nebraska)
(speaking at the lectern); Bill Feidt (in front of the lectern) demonstrates the AgNIC web
pages, projected on a sreen simultaneously.
Bill Feidt (seated, center) continued the AgNIC demonstration after the symposium
speakers finished their presentations.
Nancy Eaton
Iowa State University.
Rebecca Berthal
University of Nebraska-Linclon.
Ina Pour-El
Iowa State University.
Dr. George Ruyle
University of Arizona.
Doug Jones
University of Arizona.
Richard Thompson
National Agricultural Library.
Jean Gilbertson
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bill Feidt
National Agricultural Library
The first part of the afternoon was devoted to an update on the AgNIC project. Edith
Hesse from the CIMMYT Library in Mexico moderated this session entitled,
"Agricultural Network Information Center (AgNIC) Symposium." Pam André
explained that AgNIC is a collaborative effort by the National Agricultural Library and
several land-grant institutions to provide Internet access to agriculture-related
information. Nancy Eaton, from Iowa State University, stated that although the pilot
project will end on June 30, 1997, it is expected that AgNIC will continue. Eaton
discussed Alliance Guidelines, drafted on April 3, 1997, and stated that additional
participating libraries are needed. Several librarians discussed their institutions
'involvement in the AgNIC project. Speakers and their institutions' subject area
involvement in AgNIC were:
Rebecca Bernthal, University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Plant Sciences. Ina Pour-El, Iowa State
University: Animal Science. Dr. George Ruyle, and Doug Jones, University of Arizona:
Rangeland Management. Richard Thompson, National Agricultural Library: Food and
Nutrition,and Rural Information. Ellie Mathews, Iowa State University, and Jean
Gilbertson, University of Wisconsin-Madison, spoke on behalf of AgNIC users. Bill Feidt
provided the AgNIC web site demonstrations. The URL for theAgNIC home page is:
http://www.agnic.org
A demonstration by vendors and colleagues, as well as are freshment break, followed the
AgNIC presentation.
Dottie Heise
at an interlude at the NAL Exhibit. Dottie's cap promotes NAL's AGRICOLA database.
Carole Cochrane
is visited by Constance Britton at the Chemical Abstracts Service Exhibit.
Evelyn Frangakis
Preservation Officer at the National Agricultural Library
Sam Demas
Cornell University, co-chair of the USAIN National Preservation Program Steering
Committee.
The late afternoon program was "U.S. National Preservation Program Update and Announcement of a New Initiative for an Agricultural Information Digital Archive." Presenters for this program were Evelyn Frangakis, Preservation Officer at the National Agricultural Library and Sam Demas from Cornell University. Demas, who is Co-Chair of the USAIN National Preservation Program Steering Committee, distributed a handout containing the following information: members of the National Preservation Program Steering Committee; current preservation planning models; premises of the program for agricultural literature; program structure; preservation plan including priorities; participants in the USAIN/NEH preservation project; and future directions. Institutions currently involved in the state and local literature preservation project (June 1996-June 1998) include University of Alabama, University of California-Berkeley, University of Connecticut, Cornell University, University of Florida, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Penn State,Texas A & M, and the University of Wisconsin. If funding allows, the following institutions will be added to the state and local preservation project for 1998-2000: University of Arizona, Universityof Arkansas, University of Hawaii, Iowa State, Kansas State, University of Minnesota, and Montana State University. Frangakis discussed NAL's plans to analyze microform holdings, preserve USDA titles by means of digital imaging, and upgrade the Special Collections program.
Elissa Cochran and Marcela Chrenekova
examine materials at the "Prize" table--materials donated by exhibitors as
prizes.
An overflow crowd attended the early morning USAIN membership meeting, called to order by USAIN President Toni Powell. Anne Fox and Dana Boden, outgoing USAIN Executive Council members, were recognized for their service as Directors on the USAIN Council. Continuing on the Council are: Toni Powell (President), Amy Blair (Secretary/Treasurer), Robyn Frank (NAL Liaison), Cynthia Via (Past-President), and Barbara Hutchinson and Andrea Powell (Directors). Newly elected to the USAIN Council are Rita Fisher (President-Elect) and Directors, Debbie Currie, Kay Mowery, Irwin Weintraub, and Pat Wilson. At the time of the meeting, USAIN membership numbered 143.
Major accomplishments of USAIN during the past year included planning and conducting
the USAIN/IAALD Joint Conference; putting together an "Action Plan" for the
future; producing the member survey; and developing "Procedures and Rules" for
the functioning of the organization. Goals for 1997-1998, as outlined in the "Action
Plan, "include: strengthening membership and communication within the membership;
supporting NAL and increasing communication and cooperation with this agency; increasing
cooperation with other agricultural organizations; and, providing education and
professional development opportunities for agricultural information specialists. There is
a tentative offer from Kansas State to host the 1999 USAIN Conference. Members were
encouraged to subscribe to the USAINlistserv. The subscription address for USAIN-L is:
LISTSERV@LISTSERV.LIB.NCSU.EDU
Leave name and subject line blank. In the body of the message type:
subscribe USAIN-L your-first-name your-last-name
Barbara Hutchinson
served as moderator.
Gary Paul Nabhan
Keynote Speaker, author and Director of Research at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum.
Barbara Hutchinson served as moderator, introducing the day's Keynote Speaker, Gary Paul Nabhan, author and Director of Research at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. His talk, "Giving Communities a Voice by Integrating Regional, Multicultural Knowledge into Information Resources," highlighted his agreement with the proposition that new western scientific knowledge does not make up for endangered knowledge lost forever. He suggested that we remember that "grey literature" is rich in information which can link generations; that natural and cultural resources should be valued; and, that the expression of values and validity of knowledge that encourages sharing is important.