Irwin Weintraub
Rutgers University, served as chair.
Conference attendees had the opportunity to attend one of five concurrent panel presentations hosted by a USAIN Interest Group. Immediately following the presentations, time was set aside for interest group discussions and preparations of interest group reports.
Irwin Weintraub
Rutgers University, served as chair.
Speaker Gary Paul Nabhan
from the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
Kimberly Buck
form the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum.
The Social Issues interest group sponsored a discussion of the topic, "Bridging Traditional Knowledge of Place with Technical Environmental Knowledge." Irwin Weintraub, Rutgers University, served as Chair. Speakers Gary Paul Nabhan and Kimberly Buck, from the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, discussed a project on which they are working to collect and make available cultural knowledge of traditional peoples in Mexico. It was emphasized that institutions need to maintain a cultural sense of place and that individuals need to be encouraged to share information across generations and protect the knowledge that is most in danger of being lost. The book, Valuing Local Knowledge, was highlighted as a resource.
Biddanda Ponnappa
University of Tennessee, chaired the Document Delivery interest group session.
Victor Desroches
Director, Canadian Agricultural Library and Information Management Services of Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada, "CAL-CISTI Partnership for Document Delivery."
Marilyn McCarthy
Head of Access Service, Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona,
"Docline."
John A. Eilts
Ariel Product Manager, Research Libraries Group, "Ariel Software for Document
Delivery."
Biddanda Ponnappa, University of Tennessee, chaired the Document Delivery interest group session. Speakers and their topics were: Biddanda Ponnappa, "Document Delivery for a Global Clientele: Prospects for the 21st Century;" Victor Desroches, Director, Canadian Agricultural Library and Information Management Services of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, "CAL-CISTI Partnership for Document Delivery; "Marilyn McCarthy, Head of Access Services, Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona, "Docline;" and John A. Eilts, Ariel Product Manager, Research Libraries Group, "Ariel Software for Document Delivery." Important issues for the future include business perspectives of document delivery; cost and speed of document delivery; copyright concerns; bibliographic description and indexing of literature; and, agreement on which libraries will purchase or obtain copies of the literature so that other institutions may borrow this material.
Jodee Kawasaki
Montana State University, co-chaired, The joint session for the Collection Management and
rural Information interest groups.
Tim McKimmie
New Mexico State University, co-chaired, The joint session for the Collection Management
and rural Information interest groups.
Patricia Rodkewich
University of Minnesota, Panlist for Grey and Alternative Literature.
Peggy Johnson
University of Minnesota, Panlist for Grey and Alternative Literature.
Diana Farmer
Kansas State University, Panlist for Grey and Alternative Literature.
Karl Schneider
National Agricultural Library, Panlist for Grey and Alternative Literature.
Karl Schneider
makes his presentation at the session on "Agricultural Grey Literature..."
Carole Warriner
University of Arkansas, Panlist for Grey and Alternative Literature.
The joint session for the Collection Management and Rural Information interest groups was co-chaired by Tim McKimmie, New Mexico State University, and Jodee Kawasaki, Montana State University. Speakers addressed the topic of "Agricultural Grey Literature, Alternative Literature, and State and Local Documents: Problems and Solutions for Information Management." Panelists included Patricia Rodkewich and Peggy Johnson, University of Minnesota; Diana Farmer, Kansas State University; Karl Schneider, National Agricultural Library; and Carol Warriner, University of Arkansas. Grey literature may be defined as anything, regardless of format, that is published outside of the regular commercial publishing channels. Electronic grey literature, as well as grey literature from foreign countries, is particularly difficult to identify and acquire. Cataloging problems may occur when needed information normally recorded on bibliographic records is lacking from pieces. Preservation and archiving can be even more problematic as the medium used for the publication of grey literature is often of a perishable nature. Few, if any, publishers currently have plans for archiving electronic grey literature. Efforts to digitize and archive this material in an electronic form may present the future with a major problem in the form of backward compatibility and, hence, potential inaccessibility. Also, a large percentage of the population, especially those who do not live in Europe or the United States, have only rudimentary electronic access, if they have any at all.
Anita Battise
University of Florida, co-chaired the AGRICOLA interest group discussion.
Maria Porta
University of Illinios, co-chaired the AGRICOLA interest group discussion.
Shirley Edwards
Panelist and Head, Indexing Branch, National Agricultural Library, Topic
"AGRICOLA."
Joseph Judy
Panelist and Manager, WAICENT/FAOINFO Dissemination Branch, Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, "AGRIS."
Dr. Christine Cunliffe
Panelist and Publisher, Database Products, CAB International, "CAB Abstracts."
Anita Battise, University of Florida, and Maria Porta, University of Illinois, co-chaired the AGRICOLA interest group discussion. The panelists and their topics were: Shirley Edwards, Head, Indexing Branch, National Agricultural Library, "AGRICOLA;" Joseph Judy, Manager, WAICENT/ FAOINFO Dissemination Branch, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, "AGRIS;" and Dr. Christina Cunliffe, Publisher, Database Products, CAB International, "CAB Abstracts." Edwards reported on recent indexing changes in AGRICOLA. She also stated that the List of Journals Indexed in AGRICOLA is available via the Web and is no longer being published in print format. Judy stated that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has hired a consultant to review issues related to AGRIS. Cunliffe gave an overview of CAB International and explained the abstracting policy for its database. She compared the CAB, AGRICOLA, and AGRIS databases. Cunliffe concluded by indicating future directions for the CAB database.
Debbie Currie
Louisiana State University, co-chaired the Changing Information Enviroment interest group.
Andre Powell
CAB International, co-chaired the Changing Information Enviroment interest group.
Michael Somers
panel member, topic: "Rewriting the Rules: Coping with Change in the Information
Chain."
Anne McKee
Anne McKee, B. H. Blackwell, panel member, topic: "Rewriting the Rules: Coping with Change in the Information Chain.
Debbie Currie, Louisiana State University, and Andrea Powell, CAB International, co-chaired the Changing Information Environment interest group. Panel members discussed the topic, "Rewriting the Rules: Coping with Change in the Information Chain." Panel members were: Michael Somers, Kansas State University; Andrea Powell, CAB International; and Anne McKee, B. H. Blackwell. All panelists felt that there will continue to be room for all the usual players in the modern information chain but only by creating niches. They also felt that the subscription model would survive but that new author-publisher relationships, and improvement in electronic-journal status in tenure evaluation, will begin to provide viable alternatives. Electronic access to materials will require new developments in subscription access and archiving.
Beverlee French
University of California, Davis, moderator for the luncheon presentation.
Dr. Michael Reid
Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Enviromental Sciences, University of
California, Davis, luncheon speaker, topic: "Agricultural Problem Solving: Prospects
for Use of the Internet."
Moderator for the luncheon presentation was Beverlee French, University of California, Davis. The speaker was Dr. Michael Reid, Associate Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis. His topic was, "Agricultural Problem Solving:Prospects for Use of the Internet." Dr. Reid advocated providing "just in time" information and tailored learning opportunities. Digital literacy should be used to facilitate life-long learning. Key issues for the future include controlling the tremendous amount of information and misinformation as well as the cost and maintenance of infrastructure. Librarians should reclaim their role in certifying the quality of information. The speaker believes the role of online research and electronic information needs to be valued during the promotion and tenure process.
Jeanne Pfander
gathers sample publications and talks with Andre Powell at the CAB International Exhibit.
Jeanne Pfander
University of Arizona, moderator for the session on "Building Partnerships."
Amy Hartman
Kansas State University, Electronic Documents Librarian, panel member for the session on
"Building Partnerships.
Luann Ingersoll
Kansas State University, science catalogers, panel member for the session on
"Building Partnerships.
Angela R. Jones
Kansas State University, science catalogers, panel member for the session on
"Building Partnerships.
Michael Somers
Kansas State University, Technical Services department, chaired this session on
"Building Partnerships."
The final series of concurrent papers for the conference were given Saturday afternoon. Session one, "Building Partnerships," consisted of a panel discussion on "Enhancing Access to Agriculture and Other Extension Materials: A Cooperative Project at Kansas State University." Moderator for the presentation was Jeanne Pfander from the University of Arizona. Panel participants, all from Kansas State University, included: Amy Hartman, Electronic Documents Librarian; Luann Ingersoll and Angela R. Jones, science catalogers; and Michael A. Somers, Chair, Technical Services Department. Kansas State University Libraries, Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, and the National Agricultural Library entered into a cooperative agreement to improve access to extension publications and other agricultural materials. Cooperative Extension provided materials with minimal level bibliographic records and also helped develop the functional system. The Cataloging Department of Kansas State University Library reviewed the Cooperative Extension records, provided training and support, and provided access to materials and MARC records. The National Agricultural Library, meanwhile, coordinated the project, developed minimum publication information requirements, and provided a file of retrospective records to the Kansas State University Library.
Tim McKimmie
New Mexico State University, served as moderator for the session on
"Training/Strategic Planning."
Patricia Wilson
University of Kentucky, addressed "Information Competency: It's Not Just
Bibliographic Instruction Anymore."
Toni Powell
University of Kentucky, addressed "Information Competency: It's Not Just
Bibliographic Instruction Anymore.
Tim McKimmie, New Mexico State University, served as moderator for the second session, "Training/Strategic Planning," which consisted of three presentations. Patricia Wilson and Toni Powell, both from theUniversity of Kentucky, addressed "Information Competency: It's NotJust Bibliographic Instruction Anymore." They detailed the history of library instruction at the University of Kentucky from 1974 to the present. Library instruction has evolved into information competency as resources have moved from paper to electronic formats. An additional area of change has been outreach in providing instruction to experiment stations and extension agents.
JoAnn DeVries
University of Minnesota, presented a "Case Study of Teamwork in the Reference Unit at
the St. Paul Campus Central Library."
"Case Study of Teamwork in the Reference Unit at the St. Paul Campus Central Library," was the subject of the talk given by JoAnn DeVries, University of Minnesota. In response to unpredictable and rapid changes in the library/information environment, the librarians chose to use teamwork as a structure for self-organizing. Developing teamworkrequired a strong facilitative role, consensus, and TQM for improvement. The Reference Unit increased its sense of commitment and developed a more healthy and adaptive philosophy.
Lutishoor Salisbury
University of Arkansas, reported on "Evaluation of CARL Reveal Service as a Source
for Current Awareness: Case Study at University of Arkansas."
Lutishoor Salisbury and Alberta Bailey, both from the University of Arkansas, reported on "Evaluation of CARL Reveal Service as a Sourcefor Current Awareness: Case Study at University of Arkansas." Salisbury and Bailey provided the results of a study evaluating student and faculty use of, and satisfaction with, CARL Reveal Current Awareness Service. Findings included: a higher rate of use inagriculture than in other disciplines; 80% of faculty and 30% ofstudents could not provide their access number (and were obviously notable to use the system); 53% of users never updated their profile; and, most users found the service to be excellent to very good. One reason that users discontinued use was a lack of relevant material retrieved. While 85% wanted to continue the service, only 42% would be willing to pay. It was concluded that training and retraining are necessary for wider and effective use of this service.
Tim Cullen
from the Natural Resources Institute in the United Kingdom moderated session three,
"Designing Information Tools/Distance Education."
Gerry McKiernan
from Iowa State University, titled his talk, "Give Them What They Want: Participatory
Development of a WWW Agricultural Database Collection."
Tim Cullen from the Natural Resources Institute in the United Kingdom moderated session
three, "Designing Information Tools/Distance Education." Gerry McKiernan, from
Iowa State University, titled his talk, "Give Them What They Want: Participatory
Development of a WWW Agricultural Database Collection." He described an experiment to
enhance a Web-based science and technology reference library by allowing users a voice in
the selection of subject categories of resources to be included within its collection. He
discussed benefits and limitations of the study and proposed an alternative model for
"virtual cooperative collection development." The URL for the agricultural
science and technology reference library [LC class (S)]is:
http://www.public.iastate.edu
/~CYBERSTACKS/S/Agri.htm
B. P. Ponnappa
from the University of Tennessee Libraries presented "Journal Online News:
Facilitating Communication on Evaluation of Subscriptions Using the World Wide web,"
a joint presentation.
Sandra Leach
from the University of Tennessee Libraries presented "Journal Online News:
Facilitating Communication on Evaluation of Subscriptions Using the World Wide web,"
a joint presentation.
B. P. Ponnappa and Sandra Leach from the University of Tennessee Libraries presented
"Journal Online News: Facilitating Communication on Evaluation of Subscriptions Using
the World Wide Web." "Journal Online News" was a web site used by the
University of Tennessee Library to solicit faculty input for de-selection during a journal
cancellation project. Journal titles were listed on the Web by subject fund as well as
alphabetically. Five year price histories were given as well as the measured and perceived
use of each title, and its accessibility via indexing or other means of dissemination. The
URL for this site is:
http://toltec.lib.utk.edu/~jon
Geraldine Holmes
from Louisiana State University, gave the last in this series presentations
"Diversity and Distance Learning: A Challenge for Distance Educators."
Last in the series was "Diversity and Distance Learning: A Challengefor Distance Educators," presented by Geraldine Holmes from Louisiana State University. Holmes stated that learners tend to learn more slowly when the values implicit in instruction differ from their own. Although students may speak English, they may not speak your English. Inter-cultural communication is vital for adult distance education learners, as well as for other learners.
National Agricultural Library staff presented a library update report. NAL's budget for the 1997 fiscal year is flat, but NAL hopes to protect the collections budget and retain its level of document delivery service. Funds are available renovate part of the building. One of NAL's goals is to revitalize its relationships with land-grant universities. Technical Services has been working on a retrospective conversion project. Preservation efforts at NAL continue to move forward. Information Systems continue to support AgNIC.
The last official program of the conference was devoted to the USAINExecutive Council, IAALD Board, and Interest Group reports. This was followed by a Conference wrap-up.
Alfonso Villaseñor
a free-lance interpreter from Tucson.
Although all of the sessions of the USAIN/IAALD joint conference were presented in English, many of the papers/sessions were translated into Spanish simultaneously. Alfonso Villaseñor, a free-lance interpreter from Tucson, did this translating.
Carla Casler
discusses a DIALOG-related document with Hilary Fox at the Knight-Ridder Information
Exhibit.
Andre Powell
taking down the CAB International Exhibit on the last afternoon of the USAIN/IAALD
Conference.
A wide range of vendors exhibited their products at the USAIN/IAALD Joint Conference. A list of exhibitors, sponsors and other acknowledgements follows this article. Vendor representatives participated with conference attendees in many of the presentations, discussions, and social events, as well as offering the latest information about their products in their booths. This contact is always beneficial to both the vendors and the information professionals.
At the closing ceremony the USAIN and IAALD presidents, NAL Director, and the
audience of conference participants recognized all who had contributed to make the
Conference a success. (L-R) Toni Powell, Jan van der Burg, and Pamela André.
Dr. Kenneth Foster
Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona, gave one of the welcoming statements
after the evening Mexican dinner.
Carla Stoffle
Dean of Libraries, University of Arizona, gave one of three welcoming statements after the
evening dinner.
Eugene Sander
Vice-Provost and Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, made his
welcoming statement after the evening Mexican dinner.
Conference attendees were treated to a wide variety of food and drink. Many of the luncheons were highlighted earlier in this paper. Continental breakfasts as well as morning and afternoon breaks were available each day in the exhibit area. A Wednesday evening informal ice breaker reception was sponsored by USAIN and the University of Arizona's Arid Lands Information Center. A time for socializing, following the poster sessions, was enjoyed by many of the conference attendees on Thursday. The evening concluded with a Mexican dinner sponsored by the University of Arizona Library and the College of Agriculture. Moderator for the after-dinner remarks was Pam André,Director of the National Agricultural Library. Welcoming statements were offered by Dr. Kenneth Foster from the Office of Arid Lands Studies, Dean of Libraries Carla Stoffle, and Vice-Provost and Dean of the College of Agriculture Eugene Sander, all from the University of Arizona. Conference attendees were treated to a southwestern social at the Corona Ranch on Friday evening. A southwestern dinner highlighted the event, followed by music, dancing, dance instruction, and socializing!
Barbara Hutchinson
was among the local Arizona staff recognized by USAIN and IAALD for making the conference
a success, she was awarded flowers.
Carla Casler
was among the local Arizona staff recognized by USAIN and IAALD for making the conference
a success, she was awarded flowers.
Michael Haseltine
University of Arizona, received a toy Kangaroo rat for his part in the success of the
USAIN and IAALD Conference.
Sydney Hutchinson
University of Arizona, received a toy Kangaroo rat for her part in making the USAIN and
IAALD Conference a success.
Lunch "on your own," Friday, gave some attendees the chance to try nearby eateries and/or investigate the unique items available in the nearby "Old Tucson" shops. Many of the conference participants attended organized tours of various near-by sites on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, including national parks, desert museums, missions, and art galleries. Some chose to add vacations before or after the conference to enjoy the scenery and weather.
Special thanks goes to the USAIN Executive Board, IAALD Executive Council, Conference planning groups, vendors, sponsors, and all who made the Conference a success. We appreciate your efforts on our behalf. Good job!