CRITERION IV: INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEARNING RESOURCES 4.1 Physical Facilities
4.2 Library as a Learning Resource
The IARI library is one of the oldest and possibly the best in South Asia. Prior to India’s Independence, the library was dedicated to Lord Linlithgow and is known as “Linlithgow Library”. It has the status of National Agricultural Library of India, and is regarded as one of the 10 best agrobiological libraries of the world. It houses over 6 lakhs publications including 1 lakh books/monographs, 3,50,000 journal volumes, 45,000 bulletins, 15,000 post graduate thesis, 10,000 pamphlets, 30,000 news clippings, 30,000 reports, and other reference materials. The Library functions as the depository of FAO, IDRC and AVRDC publications and also as the National Depository for CGIAR institutes publications. The library has, on its roll, 2000 members and serves about 80,000 visitors every year. A training cell has been established with the financial support from LIS-NATP for Scopus demonstration to scientists of IARI, OVID database training, and interactive learning programme and for practical classes of the students of USI and AIS courses and various other training/demonstrations of the Institute. Under a memorandum with C-DAC
a total of 5143 books having 32.5 lakhs pages have been digitized and are available for consultation under the name “digital library of India”. Further digitization of old and rare documents and institutional publications of all types is being done under e-Granth project of National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP).
4.2.1 Does the library have an Advisory Committee? Specify the composition of the committee. What significant initiatives have been taken by the committee to render the library student/user friendly?
Yes, Library has an Advisory Committee namely “Library Advisory Committee”. The Committee consists of twelve members comprising of HOD’s/Professors of different Schools, Incharge Library Services and President of the PG School Student Union. Dean and Joint Director Education is the Chairman of the Committee and Coordinator of IARI Library is Co-Chairman. The committee has taken various initiatives, to make IARI Library user friendly. Some of the initiatives taken are providing Wi-Fi facility, Extension of library timings, subscription of Periodicals, Subscription of CD ROM etc.
4.2.2 Provide details of the following:
a. Total area of the library : 73880 sq. ft.
b. Total seating capacity : 140
c. Working hours (on working days, on holidays, before examination, during examination, during vacation)
The library remains open throughout the year except on three national holidays, viz. 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October. The timings on working days are: 8.30 AM to 8.30 PM, while the timings on second Saturday, Sunday and Government holidays are 9.00 AM to 1.00 PM. Library services during General Shift are provided from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM, stack rooms and lending facilities are available up to 7 PM. Lunch break timings are from 1.00 PM to 1.30 PM but users services are available in lunch time also.
d. Layout of the library (individual reading carrels, lounge area for browsing and relaxed reading, IT zone for accessing e-resources)
Library has two reading halls, one student facility unit, CD-ROM facility unit for IT zone. One language lab is also available for training and accessing the e-resources.
e. Clear and prominent display of floor plan; adequate signboards; fire alarm; access to differently- abled users and mode of access to collection
Map is displayed at the Ground Floor which gives information about different sections at various floors of IARI Library. A chart is available at the entrance which gives information about Incharges of the Technical Sections. IARI library has a layout plan, adequate signboards, fire alarm etc. at entrance gate. Library provides open access for users and publications are arranged in a proper classified manner.
Access of literature is given to differently-abled users through online consortium/ Network connectivity and library staff available in stacks for help. A proposal has already submitted for providing the ramp for differently-abled users and will be made available very soon.
4.2.3 Give details of the library holdings a) Print (books, back volumes and theses)
Books and monographs = 1,31,501 books
Bound volumes of Journals = 2,50,000
Bulletins = 21,500
Post-Graduate theses = 15,023
Pamphlets = 5,200
Reports and other reference materials = 12,500
b) Average number of books added during the last three years = 1101 books
The Institute also provides contingency money to purchase textbooks required for them in both M.Sc./
M.Tech and Ph.D. programmes.
c) Non Print (Microfiche, AV): Nil d) Electronic (e-books, e-journals):
Under the NAIP subproject on CeRA, the website of CeRA (http://cera.iari.res.in and http://
jgateplus.com - revised version of http://cera.jccc.in) has been updated. During 2013–14, more than 35 lakhs out of the total of 85.68 lakhs (during 2008-2013) full text articles and more than 15,000 out of total of 77,000 (during 2008-2013) articles have, respectively, been downloaded and distributed among researchers in CeRA. Based on downloads of full text articles and applying corrections to the extent of 10% of downloads, CeRA has enabled a cost saving which works out to more than Rupees 50 crores for NARS till 2014; not to mention the easy online availability. Also, analyses reveal that there is improvement in the quality and quantity of research publications after the establishment of CeRA to the extent of 10% compared to Pre-CeRA period for institutes under Crop Science Division, ICAR. Nearly 2424 on line journals are available for full text from nine publishers.
e) Others
Each M.Sc./Ph.D. student submits three copies of the thesis, of which one copy each is deposited in the Central Library, Divisional library and with the major adviser. Additionally the student has to submit PDF of his/her thesis to Central Library. The student also submits with the thesis five copies of the abstract of the thesis.
4.2.4 What tools does the library deploy to provide access to the collection?
a. OPAC : Yes
b. Electronic Resource Management package for e-journals: CeRA (please refer to section 4.2.3 above) c. Federated searching tools to search articles in multiple databases: Yes, through DELNET
d. Library Website: http://www.iari.res.in
e. In-house/remote access to e-publications: All the journals subscribed by the institute and other online resources of IARI library are freely available to the staff and students of the Institute through INTRANET.
4.2.5 To what extent is ICT deployed in the library? Give details with regard to
a. Library automation Yes, fully automated
b. Total number of computers for general access 30 in language lab, 20 in reading halls, CD-Rom and student facility unit
Total numbers of printers for general access 2 Internet band width speed 2 mbps 10 mbps 1 GB
Institutional Repository World bank and CGIAR
Content management system for e-learning Krishkosh and Krishiprabha
Participation in resource sharing networks/consortia Krishikosh, Krishiprabha, CeRA consortium, etc.
(like INFLIBNET)
4.2.6 Provide details (per month) with regard to
a) Average number of walk-ins 5650
b) Average number of books issued/returned 725 c) Ratio of library books to students enrolled 370 d) Average number of books added during the last four years 1435
e) Average number of login to OPAC 325
f) Average number of login to e-resources 550 g) Average number of e-resources downloaded/printed 235
h) Number of IT (Information Technology) literacy trainings organized- in house training for KOHA and CD-Rom
4.2.7 Give details of specialized services provided by the library with regard to
a. Manuscripts : No
b. Reference : Yes
c. Reprography/Scanning : Yes
d. Inter-library Loan Service : Yes e. Information Deployment and Notification : Yes
f. OPACS : Yes
g. Internet Access : Yes
h. Downloads : Yes
i. Printouts : Yes
j. Reading list/ Bibliography compilation : Yes k. In-house/remote access to e-resources : Yes
l. User Orientation : Yes
m. Assistance in searching Databases : Yes
n. INFLIBNET/IUC facilities : Yes
4.2.8 Provide details of the annual library budget and the amount spent for purchasing new books and journals.
About Rs. 2.5 crores (Plan) and Rs. 25 lakhs (Non Plan & P.G. funds) were spent on purchasing new books and journals.
4.2.9 What initiatives has the university taken to make the library a ‘happening place’ on campus?
IARI Library has the most updated collection of publications/ Journals (Foreign and Indian) in the field of Agriculture. Services are provided to Scientists / Farmers/ students/ Users from all over India. Library also provides CD ROM facility to Scientists/ Farmers/ students/ Users from all over the country. Further Meetings/ Conferences of Delegates from various countries are held in the Conference Room of IARI Library Building.
4.2.10 What are the strategies used by the library to collect feedback from its users? How is the feedback analysed and used for the improvement of the library services?
Suggestions box is kept at the entrance of IARI Library for feedback of users. Issues are discussed with Senior Officers at the appropriate level.
4.2.11 List the efforts made towards the infrastructural development of the library in the last four years Established the language lab in 2012 with 30 computers in IARI Library. Daily class of English language of duration two (2) hours is taken for students of IARI by English Teacher. Wi-FI facility has been provided in the library. Photocopy Machines, Printers etc. have been purchased for smooth functioning of the library.