IT@AGRILIBNET - 2003: REPORT
T.A. Murthy, K. Prakash and J.K. Vjayakumar
Introduction
With the support received from the World Bank through the National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP), Indian Council for Agricultural Research with its great vision embarked upon training the manpower in Libraries as a pre-requisite to implement its total library automation and networking programme in the Agriculture sector across India. By taking into account INFLIBNET's highly recognized training capabilities, NATP authorities selected it as the national level training center for Agriculture Librarians in India. Dr T.A.V. Murthy, Director of INFLIBNET Centre, accepted the "Herculean" and motivating task given, after obtaining necessary sanctions from University Grants Commission.
INFLIBNET successfully conducted seven training programs during June –September 2003, under the title "ICAR-INFLIBNET Training Program for Agriculture Librarians on Networking and E-Resources Management(IT@AGRILIBNET-2003)" (see Table I) as a series with two weeks duration each, specially designed for Agriculture Library professionals from Institutes and Universities. The course contents were identified in consultation with senior agriculture librarians and INFLIBNET technical staff. The topics were selected keeping in view the objectives of this programme, i.e. awareness building of the most modern technologies and nurturing IT culture for and among Agriculture Librarians. The following broad topics were selected in which specialized INFLIBNET Faculty delivered comprehensive lectures and practical with equal emphasis.
Basics of Computer and Hardware/Software.
Planning for Local Area Networks in Libraries.
Networking Security Issues.
Mail Server and Web Server Configurations & Applications.
Library Management Software Systems and SOUL.
Web site Designing and Hosting.
Creation of Digital Libraries using Green Stone.
Impact of Internet and Identification of Resources
Internet Resources and Gateways for Agriculture Scientists.
Design of a model Agriculture Information System.
In addition to these, invited external faculties handled topics related to experiences in Library Automation, Digital Library Creation and Networking. Study tours to different Libraries to understand the proper deployment and implementation of modern technologies were also arranged for the participants.
IT@AGRILIBNET is the first kind of programme designed by INFLIBNET, in which it was compulsory that participants present their projects in the concluding session by using power point presentations for the following sessions:
About Library and its services.
SOUL Software – Each Module.
Designing of Library Web site.
Creation of a Digital Library using Green Stone Software.
Searching and Identification of Internet Resources.
Evaluating the Programme.
First Group June 16-28, 2003
The first training programme in the series was held in conjunction with the inauguration of "Workshop on Website Designing and Hosting" on June 16,2003. Dr Edward Proctor, Electronic Resources Librarian & Asst Professor,Southwest Missouri University, USA, inaugurated the function. He reminded the library professionals to accept the challenges and make a face shift of their libraries by adopting the latest technologies and appreciated the efforts taken by INFLIBNET to train the working librarians in this direction. Dr T.A.V. Murthy(Director, INFLIBNET), Dr S.P. Jain (Librarian, GBPAU) and Ms. Swathi Bhattacharya (Librarian, IIM-Kolkata) also spoke on the occasion.
There were a total of seven groups of agriculture librarians who held training during July, August and September 2003 and the fourth group was held in conjunction with the inauguration of "ICAR-INFLIBNET Workshop for Senior Agricultural Librarians on IT Management" and the "SOUL Training Programme on Installation and Operations" on Monday, 4 August, 2003. Many invited speakers from different libraries, institutions participated as lecturers and all participants received certificates of completion at the end of each two-week programme.
The programmes were very successful and all participants were happy in learning new things. A total of 127 participants attended the course from 86 different institutions. It will be very interesting to see how this training translates into programme development and library services and outreach at agriculture libraries throughout India. The future of information technology should be well shaped by this experience.
Mr K. Prakash (prakash@inflibnet.ac.in) Mr J.K. Vijayakumar (vijay@inflibnet.ac.in) of INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad, India (www.inflibnet.ac.in) acted as the course coordinators for the entire series of IT@AGRILIBNET-2003.
