Networking of Agricultural Information

 Systems in Bangladesh (BD-AGRINET): A

Model

      Dr. Md. Hanif Uddin

Assistant Professor ,Dept. of Information Science and Library Management,
 University of Dhaka
Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

md HARUN-or-RASHID
Librarian, National Academy for Educational Management, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
1205, Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is mainly an agricultural country. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. Agricultural sector contributes 32% GDP in the country. Agricultural information supply is vital for the development of agriculture. The rapid growth of publications, decreasing ability of libraries to go for comprehensive acquisition of documents, escalation of prices, regular increase in foreign currency value with reference to Bangladesh currency, growing demands of increasing number of users in the agricultural libraries and multi-faceted user requirements are a few challenges presently facing the library and information professionals in Bangladesh. Resource sharing/networking would help smooth library management and enrich resources and provide better services to the library users. In this present age of information explosion, no library is self-sufficient to provide comprehensive services to (he users. To overcome these shortcomings sharing of resources through networks assumes greater importance these days. The use of information technology has added new dimensions to the concept of networking in the agricultural libraries. This paper highlights the need and importance of networking in the agricultural libraries and describes a plan for developing a network of the libraries of agricultural universities, agricultural colleges and research institutes in Bangladesh (BD-AGRINET). The functions and objectives of the network and how it can help in strengthening the development of skills, the design of appropriate information products, exchange of information and document supply is described.

I INTRODUCTION

Library and Information Centres are institutions responsible for meeting
information needs of the agricultural scientists and researchers. The proper performance of this function requires well organized library services supported by an infrastructure comprising an administrative authority in the form of legislation, an organizational structure and adequate finance. As no library can be self sufficient, it is difficult to fulfil all the users demands relating to their information needs. Networking of libraries is thus essential for sharing of library resources. ¹

The library network aims at providing materials, information and services
by different types of libraries to the needy users. These libraries may be in
different jurisdictions but agree to serve one another on the same basis as each service to its own constituents. Computer and telecommunication may be among the tools used for facilitating communication among them.² However, with the growth of agricultural information, there are very often delays in 'providing service to the end users. The cost of providing service is also rising, mainly because of adoption of manual methods and duplication of investments in library holdings. On the other hand, the costs of valuable books and journals are rising day-by-day.³

The above have made it imperative to share library resources and to go in for networking of agricultural information systems in Bangladesh. This may he possible only on the application of modern information technology in the agricultural libraries of Bangladesh. The need of networking of agricultural information system for Bangladesh has been well recognized but the technology options available till now are limited. Considering the above factors, the authors are proposing a Network in Agricultural Sector of Bangladesh. The proposed network may be be called BD-AGRINET.

The BD-AGRINET covers two Agricultural University Libraries, three College Libraries, ten NARS Institute Libraries, AIC. BADC and Department of Agricultural Extension Library in Bangladesh.

2 DRAWBACKS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM

In the present set-up, the services of several agricultural libraries have been found to be far from satisfactory. The shortcomings observed mainly relate to three aspects. They are:

(a) Insufficient reading materials and ineffective services.

(b) Inadequate funds.

(c) Lack of trained manpower.

21 INSUFFICIENT READING MATERIALS AND INEFFECTIVE SERVICES

Most of the complaints received from the users are about less access to
information. The problem of providing the required reading materials as sources of information to the readers, with limited financial resources of libraries, is now almost universal.

22 INADEQUATE FUNDS

Almost all agricultural libraries in Bangladesh are facing financial constraints. Due to lack of sound financial position of the libraries, they can not  provide the required information to the users. The escalating cost of the reading materials on one hand and huge cost of the infrastructure on other have made the  agricultural libraries to suffer from insufficient flow of funds.

The various information services that can be deployed in libraries are also dependent on sound financial position of the libraries. The existing information services available in agricultural libraries of Bangladesh are not adequate. To improve the existing condition of the agricultural libraries effectively, it is necessary to design a networking proposal model for agricultural libraries, situated in various places in the country.

23 LACK OF TRAINED MANPOWER

There are non-professional library personnel working in agricultural libraries of Bangladesh. As a result, they can not provide proper services to the researchers and scientists. For this reason, there should be a programme in BD-AGRINET for training of the library personnel so that it may reduce the lack of trained manpower in agricultural libraries.

3 NETWORK DEFINITIONS

Library network may be defined as "a distribution system composed of two or more libraries and/or other organizations engaged in a common pattern of information exchange, through communications for some functional purpose".⁴

The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) in
its  National Program Document (1975) defined a network as: "Two or more libraries and/or other organizations engaged in a common pattern of information exchange, through communications for some functional purpose. A network usually consists of a formal arrangement whereby materials, information and services provided by a variety of libraries and other organizations are available to all potential users. Libraries may be under different jurisdictions but agree to serve one another on the same basis as each serves its own constituents. Computers and telecommunications may be among the tools used for facilitating communication among them."⁵

Alphonse F Trezza has defined networks as "a formal organization among
libraries for co-operation and sharing of resources, in which the group as a
whole is organized into subgroups, with the exception that most of the needs of a library will be satisfied within the subgroups of which it is a member."⁶

The term 'network' has been defined by Greenberger and Arnofsky as a mode for sharing resources and linking otherwise incomparable procedures and formats of different systems and organizations". Miller has defined it as "a cooperative system established by libraries and information centres which are brought together by common subject, geographic proximity to share informational resources, human resources and all other elements essential for providing effective information service."⁷

Accordingly to United Nations Information System for Science and Technology (Unisist), "Networking is a set of inter-related information systems associated with communication facilities, which are co-operating through more or less formal agreements and institutional agreements in order to jointly implement information handling operations with a view to pooling their resources and better serving the users. They generally follow identical or compatible rules and procedures."⁸

From the above definitions, it is clear that a network is a co-operative
systems of sharing resources among two or more libraries through a formal
institutional agreement, common pattern of exchange of information among the libraries by the help of communications system. The networks are often called information networks, electronic networks, library networks etc.

     4 TYPES OF NETWORKS

Networks are mainly of two types, these are as follows:

41 LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN)

A LAN could be said to be a set of data processing devices interconnected through cable. It sends and receives data transmitted over relatively short distances. The type of data transmitted in LAN may include mail (messages and notes), manuscripts, reports, computer files and software.

42 WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN)

Wide Area Network System (WAN) usually covers distance between nodes geographically scattered in hundreds or thousands of kilometres apart. It is generally a mixed-media network system using a combination of terrestrial lines and satellite communication system.

      5 TOPOLOGY

The network topology is the arrangement of nodes on a network. This
includes the physical arrangement or the geographic pattern by which the nodes are connected. It also includes the logical arrangement; the possible destinations to which each can route data. Inter-connection of system can be achieved in many ways, but basically there are three most important methods, viz. point-to- point, multi-point/multi-drop and broadcasting.⁹ We will consider here the design of hardware components called nodes.

These nodes, when linked, form patterns, that are classified as star like topologv: tree-like topology; ring topology and meshed topology.¹⁰ The successful topology for BD-AGRINET depends on several factors like funds,
trained personnel, hardware, software and communication facilities that
continually influence their growth. The following number of terminals in BD-
AGRIGNET will be connected to national and international networks. The
institutions are identified as follows:

(1) Agricultural University Libraries in Bangladesh.

(2) Agricultural Libraries in Dhaka City.

(3) Agricultural College Libraries in Bangladesh.

(4) Agricultural Research Institutes Libraries in Bangladesh.

51 FORMS OF TOPOLOGY

The star network is one in which one member of network holds the majority of the resources while at the same time. all other network members use the same resources. Figure 1 illustrates such a network, with member A possessing virtually all the resources, while the other network members B, C, D & E make use of resources.'''

The tree network topology, on the other hand, is suitable for an environment where network members share resources locally. In this topology the nodes are connected hierarchically. Here mini computers are used as intermediary nodes and micro-computers as end nodes. It makes for reduced communication costs as several terminals can be connected to a single communication line. This type of topology is illustrated in Fig 2.

The ring like topology is shown in Fig 3.                                      

In this topology each network members is connected with other members like a ring. This topology generally suits a network in a building on a small campus with well-defined but limited operations.

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