Virtual challenges

by Johnny Goloyugo

In the fast-changing world of the digital era, the worlds foremost collection of information on rice and rice research is moving with the times
At the helm of the IRRI Librarychief librarian Mila Ramos.

n 1960, the founding fathers of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recognized the need, especially in the developing world, for accessible knowledge and information in the eld of rice research. In his book, An adventure in applied science: a history of the International Rice Research Institute, IRRIs rst director general, Robert Chandler, wrote that an essential element of the institute would be a good library that would contain the world collection of important rice literature and such other reference materials as would be needed by a group of natural and social scientists engaged in an active research and training program. Furthermore, the facility should be able to make available to
12

scientists in developing countries any articles that they were unable to get in the libraries of the institutions where they were working. Now, almost 50 years later, the progress of rice research is available for all to see in the worlds largest repository of rice literatureIRRIs Library and Documentation Services (LDS). The institutes rst chief librarian was Lina Manalo, who, in the words of Dr. Chandler, built the best library among the network of international agricultural research centers. Today, the LDS houses a total bibliography of more than 230,000 references, including more than 138,000 books and monographs, and over 1,400 journals. There are also doctoral theses, conference proceedings, and comprehensive reference, audiovisual, and map collections. These publications are accessible not only to the librarys average 70 daily walkin clients, but also online at http:// ricelib.irri.cgiar.org. The library also houses documents in around 80 languagesEnglish accounts for just over half, Japanese almost one fth, and Chinese 6%. The entire bibliography is available in print, on CD, and online, and is updated daily. The library also offers electronic alerts, computerized literature searches, and electronic and print document delivery. Just as important, the LDS trains librarians from other organizations, and trains IRRI staff on database creation and management. At the helm of the LDS is Mila Ramos. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, Ramos began at the library in 1965. Over the ensuing 41 years, she has served at the worlds
Rice Today July-September 2006

most comprehensive repository of information on rice, rising to her current position of chief librarian. Along with former LDS Head Ian Wallace (1993-99), Ramos has helped lead the library into the digital era. In 2001, the LDS received the Outstanding Academic and Research Library Award from the Philippine Association of Academic and Research Librarians. The LDSs staff of 14smaller than that of most comparable organizationshandles admirably the challenges that come with being responsible for such an important body of information. The big challenge, explains Ramos, is being able to provide instant and easy access to electronic sources of information, journals especially. But the costs of e-resources are rising and we can provide only a fraction of what our scientists would like. The IRRI librarians need to be persistent and resourceful to be able to look for needed research articles for free or at the least cost. The emergence of new information and communication technologies (ICT) poses another big challenge. With the new ICTs, says Ramos, the role of the library will get bigger as the amount of knowledge available on the Web increases at an exponential rate. The task of the library is to navigate this maze, evaluate and select materials that would benet rice scientists, keep users aware of whats available, and ensure quick access. Meanwhile, assistant chief librarian and rice bibliographer Carmelita Austria points out that print publications remain as important as ever. Computers will not replace books, she says. We do not simply replace old technologies with new ones. Print and electronic resources have their own strengths. Making the ever-increasing knowledge available to the people who need it is indeed a great challenge for librarians. Failure means that all those print and electronic resources are consigned to gather dustboth real and virtual in the archives. With Ramos and her staff in charge, the needs of rice researchers across the globe are in safe hands.

JOSE RAYMOND PANALIGAN