Founded in 1971 within the framework of the International Association of Agriculture Librarians and Documentalists, AGLINET has had its Co-ordinating Centre at the FAO David Lubin Memorial Library since its inception. AGLINET has served as a co-operative library network in the field of agriculture and aims at combining efforts and resources towards achieving common interests. General agricultural libraries with strong regional/country coverage and specialised subject resource collections around the world have agreed to provide, upon request, speedy inter-library loan, reproductions, (fiche or photocopy) and bibliographic information to other member libraries, normally without charge.
AGLINET Centres are only asked to provide literature originating in the country, region or specialisation concerned and are invited to provide exchange publications on a voluntary co-operative basis. The aim is to achieve a comprehensive resource coverage and mutual and rational use of library resources, not only for the benefit of members' own constituencies, but also in support of other libraries within their country/region. The structure, tasks, principles and procedures and changes in membership are guided by the AGLINET Statutes which were formulated and are periodically reviewed by members.
In the past many worthy projects have strengthened the cost-effectiveness of the partnership. In an era where information resources are becoming more expensive and funding sources are diminishing, cost- effective networking can be vital to information and technology transfer. Modern communication and digitising technologies can now support a revitalisation and expansion of this network to carry all member libraries forward to face the challenges of the third millennium.
Resources are definitely scarcer than ever before. Developing countries and countries in transition, in particular, need all possible avenues for information transfer. Evolving technologies permit new and exciting co-operation activities. Information may be delivered in new dimensions of time and space. Co-operative networks such as AGLINET can be revitalised and redirected to take advantage of this technology. New ideas to move beyond the present print, diskette, CD-ROM and INTERNET technologies need to be developed to bring information transfer into the third millennium.
New AGLINET members are welcome to expand membership to underrepresented subjects and geographic areas. To apply for membership please contact the International Co-ordinating Centre at the David Lubin Memorial Library. You may address your queries to:
Jane M. Wu
Chief Librarian
David Lubin Memorial Library
AGLINET International Co-ordinating Centre
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Rome,
Italy
Tel. 00396 522 53703
Fax 0039 6 522 52002
Telex 610181 FAO I
E-mail: aglinet@fao.org