Serving a Diverse and Ever-Changing Agricultural Sciences Department: Family, Youth and Community Sciences in Perspective

Abstract

Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS) is an agricultural science department traditionally served by a science librarian. The unique set of information requirements that have grown with the scope of the department makes it a challenge to meet the diverse needs. No longer primarily covering the rural household, the department now encompasses theoretical, methodological, empirical, and practical issues associated with urban life, social trends, and complicated life-long financial planning. The information needs of this department far exceed the standard knowledge base of the traditional science librarian and require a strong foundation in social science, business, education, and health sciences information sources. This creates a restriction in information access for the many and varied members of FYCS departments. In order to relieve the restriction, science librarians must familiarize themselves with a variety of resources from statistical databases, government and international sources, and social science databases. This article covers the changes in the FYCS department, the expansion of information needs, the resources of vital importance to research and students, and the challenges to the science librarian in meeting their needs. The article concludes that the science librarian should understand the growing interdisciplinary nature of this science field and recognize the steps that must be taken to increase access to information.

The Liaison's Role in Serving Agriculture & Life Sciences Information Users: A Review of the Literature

“…More than seven decades ago, most libraries serving agriculture-instructing land grant institutions provided orientation sessions and lectures on library resources and services (Jones, 1952), and the traditional one-shot session is still being used in ALS disciplines today (Davis & Dinsmore, 2009). Dugan (2008), however, vividly explains the challenges associated with building information literacy skills solely through a one-shot session:…”

“…Land grant ALS users may be involved in research, teaching, and Extension activities, often conducting a combination of these duties rather than serving a specific appointment in just one area. Moreover, ALS liaisons are facing novel and evolving fields of study (Davis & Dinsmore, 2009). New and existing liaisons strive to meet the needs of these distinct and changing populations.…”