Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Agriculture Network Information Center (AgNIC) – Building Partnerships among Land Grant
Universities, County Extension and Others
Melanie GardnerAgNIC CoordinatorNational Agricultural Library/USDAMay 3, 2006Maryland Library Association
National/International Initiative
GOAL:To provide immediate access to a broad
base of agricultural research and practical information using a distributed Web-based retrieval system developed and maintained by an alliance of land-grant universities, the National Agricultural Library, and other interested organizations
AgNIC Audiences
Students and faculty in universities, colleges, K-16
General public Government agency personnel Policy makers Industry partners International customers
AgNIC Partners
Universities Research Institutes Not-for-Profit Organizations Government Agencies Others
Collaboration from the Beginning
Preliminary AgNIC concept development (1994)
General Services Administration grant to NAL (October 1995) - $250,000
With this funding NAL worked with the University of Arizona, Cornell University, University of Nebraska, and Iowa State to create the first AgNIC Web sites
Decided to go with Open Source – free & collaboratively supported and developed
First Generation of AgNIC Five original partners “Centers of Excellence” approach Subjects chosen in areas of strength Evaluated links to related subject sites Online reference services offered within
first 2 years Encouraged development of FAQs and
FURs
Building the Concept Face-to-face meeting annually to express
needs, train, plan, and resolve issues Decided on a “distributed” architecture Currently 60* institutional members Instituted a “partner’s portal” in Fall of 2005
for developing content and collaborative virtual workspace
New version of portal will be released next week
Collaboration … it’s easy!
Technology makes it easier than ever before Find others who believe in the same goals Put organizational or institutional “ego” aside Communicate, communicate, communicate … Share content, ideas, skills, and share the “load”
– for reference and developing new projects
Partnering with Extension
Commonalities between local libraries and county extensionLocal presenceEvery countySimilar goals
Logical partnerships!
Why would you partner?
Customers expect extended and expanded resources.
Budgets are shrinking! Partners share the load. Share skills.
Benefits of Partnerships
Improved and expanded information and resources
Increased access to and awareness of information and expertise
Reduced redundancy Improved efficiencies and cost benefit Improved long-term access to information
How do you build partnerships?
Build on your natural strength! Information management and delivery Education and outreach
Try not to infringe on each other’s “territory” Find common ground - together Stay positive Understand that there is enough for everyone to
do Stress the strength of working together
