Content area
Full Text
Introduction
Agriculture has always been the back bone of India's livelihood and continues to play a major role in the Indian economy after the green revolution of 1968. While the population of the country is heading towards 1.23 billion, Indian agricultural scientists are engaged in increasing the food grain production to address the food security challenge. The importance of agricultural production in the context of global competition has occupied a significant place in the national development plan.
One of the major constraints faced by the Indian agriculture is dissemination of knowledge generated in the research laboratories to the stake holders, i.e. farmers and field workers. In other words, there is an "information divide" between the farmers and agricultural scientists and extension agencies which needs to be "bridged" for effective transfer of technology.
A vast amount of research-based knowledge on existing and new agricultural practices is being generated all over the world, but much of it does not reach its potential users. In order to realize the full potential in Indian agriculture, it is necessary to manage the sector like an industrial enterprise, which is possible only through effective dissemination of knowledge through the use of information and communication technologies.
Application of ICT in libraries
Traditionally, libraries were engaged in collection, organization, preservation and dissemination of knowledge in the form of books and journal articles in print media to researches, scientists and policy makers. With the advent of the internet the role of libraries has expanded from printed materials to that of providing access to a wide range of digital information. However, there is need to create awareness among the users of agricultural information on how to access the required information using the latest ICT tools and techniques.
In the present age of globalization, technology is changing at a very fast pace. Capacity building in ICAR institutions and state agricultural libraries (State Agricultural universities (SAUs)) is the need of the hour for sharing knowledge in a cost effective manner. These libraries need updated infrastructure to face the technological challenges. There are about 123 libraries among ICAR institutions and SAUs. Some of these libraries are old, while most of them have recently started building their collection and services.
With a view to modernize the agricultural libraries, the...