Enhancing access to animal health information; the role of information specialists

Abstract

This paper is a product of a larger study conducted between 2002 and 2004 on the state of libraries and use of (ICT) in research and academic libraries in Zambia. It examines the role of information professionals in enhancing access to animal health information under prevailing conditions. Animal health is an integral aspect of the agricultural sector, which has potential to contribute to the economic growth of the country. Sources of information on animal health include libraries, personal collections, colleagues and the Internet. The paper explores existing information services that facilitate access in order to meet the diverse information needs of different user groups ranging from farmers, researchers, lecturers, students, to extension workers and wildlife workers. It discusses challenges and opportunities in facilitating access to animal health information in the Information Age. A primary factor contributing to the poor state of libraries is a lack of appreciation of their place in research, services and development by policy makers at national and institutional levels. For instance, a number of government departmental libraries are left to become dilapidated and are only resuscitated when some externally funded projects include conditions to reorganize the library services. Other challenges include unqualified staff employed to manage the libraries, lack of skills (ICT), poor IT infrastructure, and poor linkages of information systems. The Internet provides access to a wide range of information available for free and at a cost on the web. Information professionals are equipped with skills that are relevant and could be applied to the electronic information environment. These include identifying, evaluating, selecting, acquiring, organizing, storing, retrieving, and disseminating information. This paper describes some efforts towards harnessing free information resources and making them easily accessible by creating simple link collections