This article provides an overview of free and open source software (FOSS) and the variety of solutions that libraries are implementing in order to better serve their patrons and more efficiently manage their collections. In addition, two case studies from academic libraries in Zimbabwe demonstrate how librarians implemented FOSS solutions that allowed these libraries to meet patronsâ needs and increased library usage.
Education and training of agricultural librarians is central to the development of an efficient agricultural system because realization of socio-economic stability and sustainable development is anchored on access to information. Zimbabwe is an agro- based economy and as such the education and training of Librarians with requisite knowledge and skills to contribute towards increased agricultural productivity is of greater importance. The realization of the United Nations’ millennium development goal number one “Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger” is dependent upon the extent to which a country invest in the education and training of proficient and efficient agricultural Librarians or information professionals. The lack of a clear and robust agricultural information dissemination system in Zimbabwe, just like any other third world country shows that there is a need for a paradigm shift in the education and training of agricultural librarians so that new systems are developed to address contemporary challenges in the generation, collection, organisation and dissemination of agricultural information. This onerous task lies on LIS schools to come up with new models of education and training agricultural information practitioners that address contemporary issues to do with access to agricultural information by rural populace whose livelihood is entrenched in farming. This paper will examine education and training needs of agricultural librarians, challenges and opportunities and the prospects of developing vibrant and viable agricultural information systems to foster value addition and production in an agro-based economy. It will further explore the extent to which the current training offered by Library and Information schools in Zimbabwe is in tandem with the on the job requirements of agricultural librarianship and to what extent does this training incorporate Agricultural Information services. The paper will further expose the extent to which stakeholders in industry and commerce namely the agriculturalists are involved or consulted in the process of curriculum review and development, with regards to the Agricultural librarianship.
Globally the key role of agricultural information services cannot be underestimated because agriculture and food production are key facets of inclusive development. Farmers have dynamic and intricate information needs that can be fulfilled through well coordinated agricultural information services premised on appropriate modern technologies. The world over, access to agricultural information through modern technology has become the epicenter of all facets of the national economy and the struggle for sustainable development. Agriculture is the mainstay of Zimbabwe’s economy but however its success is premised on a number of factors chief among them being access to timeous and accurate information. The paper will explore information services that agricultural libraries provide to extension officers, for example, provision of information on prevention and cure of plants, animal’s diseases, training, crop assessment and farm management among others. It will further explore the challenges and opportunities that agricultural libraries face in providing for the information needs of farmers in urban areas. It will examine agricultural libraries and extension services nexus in the context of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s).The writers will explore the critical role of libraries in promoting access to agricultural information in print and electronic format. Furthermore, the paper will highlight how agricultural libraries can strengthen agricultural extension through utilization of innovative strategies like m-technologies. It will also suggest strategies to realign agricultural libraries and extension services to provide for sustainable development in agriculture. The paper will also look at how the use and optimization of information can lead to better crop, animal and land management. The writers will look at how to get information to urban farmers as a measure to ensure higher yields. It will also do an investigation of the link between agricultural extension libraries and urban farmers. The writers strongly believe in the immense potential of agricultural extension libraries in changing urban farming directly and indirectly. Agricultural extension libraries can help in the sustainable development of urban farmers whose crop yields can benefit many a households and livelihoods. Crucially, the paper will establish the overarching importance of agricultural extension information for sustainable agriculture development. The paper will also look at ways of developing linkages between agricultural extension libraries and urban farmers. Access to agricultural information has been the major driving force of development in agriculture and the paper will look at how dissemination can be enhanced so as to meet the informational need of urban farmers. M-technologies have had a profound and cumulative effect on sustainable development hence their correct and consistent use will give positive results.
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