Library and Documentation

The Library and Documentation Unit has a mission of providing information, literature and publications that support the research activities of the Department aimed at developing production technologies for improving agricultural production, livestock, range management and conservation of natural resources.

Enhancing access to agricultural information through effective management of its resources and provision of a wide range of information services and products to researchers and scientists.

Facilitate the exchange of information between researchers, government departments, ministries and other interested institutions locally, regionally and internationally in response to the needs of the local agricultural production system.

1. Collecting, processing, storing and disseminating locally published literature on agriculture and related subjects.
   
2. Establishing databases on current agricultural research projects as well as completed ones in the country.
   
3. provide access to agricultural information resources on CD-ROMs, Computerised journals, Microfiche, and Internet.
   
4. Facilitate regional and international exchange of agricultural publications.
   
5. Participate in agricultural information networks that benefits researchers and scientists in the country.
   

1. Loan services
   
2. Literature search services
   
3. World wide web search services
   
4. Current Awareness Services
   
5. Selective Dissemination of Information Services
   
6. Document Delivery Services
   

These information services are offered to scientists and researchers in the Department with support from international organisations.

1. CTA Selective Dissemination of Information
   
2. CTA/CABI Document Delivery Services
   
3. CIMMYT selective Dissemination of Information and Document Delivery Service
   
4. CTA Internet Information Search Service
   

The unit has a collection of 11,706 volumes of books, currently subscribes to 89 core agricultural journals, and has a total of 180 title back issues of serials on agriculture and related subjects, over 2000 government publications, 200 FAO documents, over 4,000 microfiche, 10 electronic journals on livestock production, and 102 CD-ROM products.

In its endeavour to enhance access to agricultural information, the unit has attempted to automate some of its services with the following equipments:-

• 2 IBM Pentium computers with in-built CD-ROM drives
• 1 Hewlett Packard Scan Jet 4C
• 1 Hewlett Packard Laser Jet 5P Printer
• 1 Laser Magnetic Storage stand alone CD-ROM player

Internet connectivity through a local service provider has been put in place in the library and the service is used by researchers to search for agricultural information on the world wide web. The E-mail facility is used for communication with collaborating scientists in other institutions globally and for sending and receiving electronic mail. It is also used for sending files of search results conducted on CD-ROM products to researchers and scientists.

The library exchanges publications and information with institutions locally such as Botswana Agriculture marketing Board, Botswana College of Agriculture, Botswana Institute for Development and Policy Analysis, Botswana National Archives, Botswana National Library Service, Institute of Development Management,Botswana National Productivity Centre, Botswana Technological Centre, Rural Industries Innovation Centre, Thusano Lefatsheng and University of Botswana

Internationally, the library exchange publications with ACIAR, AGRIS, CABI, CIMMYT, CIP, CTA, FAO, IDRC, IITA, ILRI, NRI and USAID.

The library is the focal point for the Southern African Agricultural Information Network (SAAINET). SAAINET is a network of national and regional agricultural information centres (libraries and Documentation centres) and is coordinated to reinforce in a sustainable way the cooperative effort of collecting, processing, storing, managing, accessing and dissemination of agricultural information among information centres. It serves as a conduit for sharing information to support agricultural development in the region.

As a focal point among the many of its functions are:-

1. Identify agricultural information needs of researchers in the country
   
2. Provide information on the status of agricultural information in the country
   
3. Promote agricultural information activities and collect information on resources of all sectors, eg. Information professionals, information units, specialised collections, research collections, and information activities
   
4. Maintain records of ongoing agricultural research and directories of research institution and research workers
   
5. Collect, index and maintain records of locally produced reports, special studies, and publications on agriculture and related subjects
   
6. Provide basic information services such as current awareness services, accession lists, promote access to locally produced literature and promote access to international and regional literature