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{{Organization | |||
|OrganizationName=National Agricultural Library | |||
|OrganizationType=Research and Development Agencies | |||
|Mission=The National Agricultural Library serves as the primary agricultural information resource of the United States, providing access to a vast collection of agricultural literature and digital resources. Its mission is to facilitate the creation of agricultural knowledge by acquiring, curating, and disseminating information to solve agricultural challenges. | |||
|ParentOrganization=Agricultural Research Service | |||
|TopOrganization=Department of Agriculture | |||
|CreationLegislation=Organic Act of 1862 | |||
|Employees=100 | |||
|OrganizationExecutive=Director | |||
|Services=Information Services; Digital Collections; Special Collections; Research Support | |||
|HeadquartersLocation=39.02283, -76.92172 | |||
|HeadquartersAddress=10301 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705 | |||
|Website=https://www.nal.usda.gov/ | |||
}} | |||
{{short description|Agricultural research library}} | {{short description|Agricultural research library}} | ||
The '''United States National Agricultural Library''' ('''NAL''') is one of the world's largest agricultural research libraries, and serves as a national library of the [[United States]] and as the library of the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. Located in [[Beltsville, Maryland]], it is one of five national libraries of the United States (along with the [[Library of Congress]], the [[National Library of Medicine]], the [[National Transportation Library]], and the [[National Library of Education]]). It is also the coordinator for the [[Agriculture Network Information Center]] (AgNIC), a national network of state [[Land-grant university|land-grant institutions]] and coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) field libraries. | The '''United States National Agricultural Library''' ('''NAL''') is one of the world's largest agricultural research libraries, and serves as a national library of the [[United States]] and as the library of the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]. Located in [[Beltsville, Maryland]], it is one of five national libraries of the United States (along with the [[Library of Congress]], the [[National Library of Medicine]], the [[National Transportation Library]], and the [[National Library of Education]]). It is also the coordinator for the [[Agriculture Network Information Center]] (AgNIC), a national network of state [[Land-grant university|land-grant institutions]] and coordinator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) field libraries. | ||
NAL was established on May 15, 1862, by the signing of the Organic Act by | NAL was established on May 15, 1862, by the signing of the Organic Act by Abraham Lincoln. It served as a departmental library until 1962, when the Secretary of Agriculture officially designated it as the National Agricultural Library. The first librarian, appointed in 1867, was Aaron B. Grosh, one of the founders of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
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[[File:National Agricultural Library lobby 2018.jpg|thumb|Lobby of the Abraham Lincoln Building]] | [[File:National Agricultural Library lobby 2018.jpg|thumb|Lobby of the Abraham Lincoln Building]] | ||
NAL was established as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library on May 15, 1862, by the signing of the Organic Act by | NAL was established as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library on May 15, 1862, by the signing of the Organic Act by Abraham Lincoln. In 1863, the library's collection comprised 1,000 volumes that had been transferred from the U.S. Patent Office's Agricultural Division. By 1889, the library's collection had increased to 20,000 volumes, and a librarian from Amherst College was hired to create a [[library classification|classification system]] for the library's collection. At this time, the library was located on the second floor of the Department of Agriculture's main building. In 1893, William Cutter was hired as Librarian of the Department, and he began a reorganization effort to modernize the library and improve its effectiveness. His primary achievement was consolidating the library's collection of 38,000 volumes into one central library; previously, more than half of the library's collection was held in divisional libraries across the United States. By 1900, the library's collection contained 68,000 volumes, and in 1915, the library was moved to a larger facility in the Bieber Office Building at 1358 B Street SW, Washington, DC. The library moved again in 1932 to facilities in the USDA's South Building on Independence Avenue.<ref name="fusione">Fusione, Alan E. 1988. The history of the National Agricultural Library. ''Agricultural History'' 62(2):189-207.</ref> | ||
In 1934, the collection reached 250,000 volumes in size, and the library began participating in the Bibliofilm Service, which, along with the [[American Documentation Institute]] and the Science Service, supplied microfilm copies of articles to scientists. This was the first large-scale attempt by a library to provide copies of library materials to patrons rather than the original documents, and during its first year, over 300,000 copies were distributed.<ref name="fusione" /> | In 1934, the collection reached 250,000 volumes in size, and the library began participating in the Bibliofilm Service, which, along with the [[American Documentation Institute]] and the Science Service, supplied microfilm copies of articles to scientists. This was the first large-scale attempt by a library to provide copies of library materials to patrons rather than the original documents, and during its first year, over 300,000 copies were distributed.<ref name="fusione" /> | ||
During [[World War II]], the Department of Agriculture underwent reorganization to address wartime needs. The library, which had been decentralized since 1920, was consolidated into a central facility under the direction of Department Librarian | During [[World War II]], the Department of Agriculture underwent reorganization to address wartime needs. The library, which had been decentralized since 1920, was consolidated into a central facility under the direction of Department Librarian Ralph R. Shaw. | ||
On May 23, 1962, the 100th anniversary of the library's establishment, Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman officially designated the library as the National Agricultural Library, making it the third [[national library]] in the United States. In 1964, funds were appropriated by Congress to begin planning for a new library facility in Beltsville, Maryland, on the grounds of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Construction on the new facility began in 1965, and it first opened in 1969. In 2000, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman designated the building as the Abraham Lincoln Building.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} | |||
==Facilities== | ==Facilities== | ||
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===Paul L. Byrne Agricultural Teaching and Research Center=== | ===Paul L. Byrne Agricultural Teaching and Research Center=== | ||
The [[Paul L. Byrne | The [[Paul L. Byrne Agricultural Teaching and Research Center]] is located at [[California State University, Chico]] and is part of the 800-acre Paul L. Byrne Memorial University Farm.<ref>[https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/edtr/paul-l-byrne-agricultural-teaching-and-research-center "Paul L. Byrne Agricultural Teaching and Research Center"], ''United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library website''. Retrieved August 16, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.csuchico.edu/ag/university-farm/index.shtml "The University Farm"], ''California State University, Chico College of Agriculture website''. Retrieved August 16, 2020.</ref> | ||
==Services== | ==Services== | ||
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===AGRICOLA=== | ===AGRICOLA=== | ||
{{main|AGRICOLA}} | {{main|AGRICOLA}} | ||
NAL maintains AGRICOLA (AGRICultural OnLine Access), the largest | NAL maintains AGRICOLA (AGRICultural OnLine Access), the largest bibliographic database of agricultural literature in the world.<ref name="avma">[http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/oct01/s100101h.asp AGRICOLA a useful database on agriculture, veterinary science]. ''Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association''. 2001-10-01. Retrieved on 2008-12-05.</ref> It contains more than 4.1 million records for publications dating as far back as the 15th century. 78 percent of the records are for journal articles and book chapters, while 22 percent cover full-length books, journals, maps, electronic resources, and audiovisual materials.<ref name="agricola">[http://agricola.nal.usda.gov/help/AGRICOLADoc2006.pdf Specifications for cataloging and indexing records from the National Agricultural Library]. National Agricultural Library. July 2006. Retrieved on 2008-12-05.</ref> The database indexes publications from many disciplines related to agriculture, including veterinary sciences, entomology, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries, economics, food and human nutrition, and environmental sciences. | ||
AGRICOLA originated in 1942 as the ''Bibliography of Agriculture'', a printed index of article citation records. It was first digitized in 1970, when records were placed on magnetic tapes rather than reproducing them manually.<ref name="uiuc" /> The name was changed to AGRICOLA at this time, and the records were made available through database vendors such as Dialog and OCLC. In 1998, it became available to the general public for free on the | AGRICOLA originated in 1942 as the ''Bibliography of Agriculture'', a printed index of article citation records. It was first digitized in 1970, when records were placed on magnetic tapes rather than reproducing them manually.<ref name="uiuc">Paskoff, Beth M. 1990. [http://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/bitstream/2142/7672/1/librarytrendsv38i3c_opt.pdf History and characteristics of agricultural libraries and information in the United States]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. ''Library Trends'' 38(3):331-349.</ref> The name was changed to AGRICOLA at this time, and the records were made available through database vendors such as Dialog and OCLC. In 1998, it became available to the general public for free on the World Wide Web.<ref name="agricola" /> | ||
===National Agricultural Library Special Collections=== | ===National Agricultural Library Special Collections=== | ||
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====Pomological Watercolor Collection==== | ====Pomological Watercolor Collection==== | ||
Within the Special Collections, the Pomological Watercolor Collection holds over 7,500 original watercolors on botanical subjects created by USDA artists between 1886 and 1942, almost half of which are apples. It is a unique resource documenting new introductions of fruit and nut cultivars as well as specimens discovered by USDA's plant explorers, representing 38 plant families in all.<ref name="jwen">White, James J., and Erik A. Neumann. "The Collection of Pomological Watercolors at the U.S. National Arboretum". ''[[Huntia (journal)|Huntia: A Journal of Botanical History]]'' 4:2 (January 1982), pp. 106-107.</ref> Some of these watercolors were published in the ''Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture'' in the 1902–1913 period, but many were never published at all.<ref name="jwen"/> | Within the Special Collections, the Pomological Watercolor Collection holds over 7,500 original watercolors on botanical subjects created by USDA artists between 1886 and 1942, almost half of which are apples. It is a unique resource documenting new introductions of fruit and nut cultivars as well as specimens discovered by USDA's plant explorers, representing 38 plant families in all.<ref name="jwen">White, James J., and Erik A. Neumann. "The Collection of Pomological Watercolors at the U.S. National Arboretum". ''[[Huntia (journal)|Huntia: A Journal of Botanical History]]'' 4:2 (January 1982), pp. 106-107.</ref> Some of these watercolors were published in the ''Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture'' in the 1902–1913 period, but many were never published at all.<ref name="jwen"/> | ||
Some 65 different artists are represented in the collection, of whom one-third were women.<ref name=djk>Kevles, Daniel J. [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-to-trademark-a-fruit-16888575/ "How to Trademark a Fruit"]. ''Smithsonian'', August 2011.</ref> Just 9 of the 65 are responsible for more than 90% of the total: | Some 65 different artists are represented in the collection, of whom one-third were women.<ref name=djk>Kevles, Daniel J. [http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-to-trademark-a-fruit-16888575/ "How to Trademark a Fruit"]. ''Smithsonian'', August 2011.</ref> Just 9 of the 65 are responsible for more than 90% of the total: Deborah Griscom Passmore (over 1500 watercolors), Amanda Newton (over 1200), Mary Daisy Arnold, (over 1000), Royal Charles Steadman (over 850), J. Marion Shull (over 750), Ellen Isham Schutt (over 700), Bertha Heiges (over 600), Elsie E. Lower (over 250), and William Henry Prestele (over 100). Many of the pictures in the Pomological Watercolor Collection are available online through the library's Digital Repository (see link below). | ||
===National Agricultural Library Digital Repository=== | ===National Agricultural Library Digital Repository=== | ||
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NAL also houses several specialized information centers, which provide access to comprehensive and essential information resources focusing on the specific aspects of agricultural subjects. In addition to the general reference services available at NAL, each center offers Internet access to resources enhancing information availability and dissemination. The centers have staff available to serve customers on-site as well as by phone, fax or email. The Information Centers at the National Agricultural Library include: | NAL also houses several specialized information centers, which provide access to comprehensive and essential information resources focusing on the specific aspects of agricultural subjects. In addition to the general reference services available at NAL, each center offers Internet access to resources enhancing information availability and dissemination. The centers have staff available to serve customers on-site as well as by phone, fax or email. The Information Centers at the National Agricultural Library include: | ||
*Alternative Farming Systems Information Center | *[[Alternative Farming Systems Information Center]] | ||
*Animal Welfare Information Center | *[[Animal Welfare Information Center]] | ||
*Food and Nutrition Information Center | *[[Food and Nutrition Information Center]] | ||
**Nutrition.gov | **[[Nutrition.gov]] | ||
*Food Safety Research Information Office Center | *[[Food Safety Research Information Office Center]] | ||
*National Invasive Species Information Center | *[[National Invasive Species Information Center]] | ||
*Rural Information Center | *[[Rural Information Center]] | ||
*Water and Agriculture Information Center | *[[Water and Agriculture Information Center]] | ||
==== Animal Welfare Information Center ==== | ==== Animal Welfare Information Center ==== | ||
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is a centralized resource of information products, services, and activities that provide information on [[animal welfare]] in research, teaching, testing, and exhibition as specified by the Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act of 1985.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Animal Welfare Information Center|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=About AWIC {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/about-awic|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref> The 1985 Act was an amendment to the [[Animal Welfare Act of 1966]] (AWA), and mandated an information service at the NAL to provide information on employee training, preventing duplication of animal experiments, and improving animal experimentation methods by reducing or replacing animal use and minimizing animals' pain and distress.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=U.S.C. Title 7 - AGRICULTURE|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title7/html/USCODE-2015-title7-chap54.htm|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.govinfo.gov}}</ref> The center later became known as AWIC in 1986.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Science|first=National Research Council (US) Committee on Educational Programs in Laboratory Animal|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235681/|title=The Animal Welfare Information Center|date=1991|publisher=National Academies Press (US)|language=en}}</ref> | The [[Animal Welfare Information Center]] (AWIC) is a centralized resource of information products, services, and activities that provide information on [[animal welfare]] in research, teaching, testing, and exhibition as specified by the Improved Standards for Laboratory Animals Act of 1985.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Animal Welfare Information Center|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=About AWIC {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/about-awic|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref> The 1985 Act was an amendment to the [[Animal Welfare Act of 1966]] (AWA), and mandated an information service at the NAL to provide information on employee training, preventing duplication of animal experiments, and improving animal experimentation methods by reducing or replacing animal use and minimizing animals' pain and distress.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=U.S.C. Title 7 - AGRICULTURE|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2015-title7/html/USCODE-2015-title7-chap54.htm|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.govinfo.gov}}</ref> The center later became known as AWIC in 1986.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Science|first=National Research Council (US) Committee on Educational Programs in Laboratory Animal|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235681/|title=The Animal Welfare Information Center|date=1991|publisher=National Academies Press (US)|language=en}}</ref> | ||
The AWIC provides educational outreach through its website, free in-person and virtual workshops and trainings, the USDA NAL Twitter feed, and monthly newsletters.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=AWIC Workshop & Trainings {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/awic-workshop|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=USDA Agricultural Research Service|url=https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAARS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDAARS_3|access-date=2021-09-22|website=public.govdelivery.com}}</ref> Outreach topics focus on the AWA and its amendments, the [[Three Rs (animal research)|Three Rs]] principles (reduction, replacement, and refinement of animal use), and alternatives literature searching.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Animal Welfare Act {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=3Rs Alternatives: Technologies and Approaches {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/3rs-alternatives-technologies-and-approaches|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Alternatives Literature Searching {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/alternatives-literature-searching|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref> This information is available to the public, but is specifically targeted towards scientists, veterinarians, animal care staff, librarians, and students. AWIC also provides free literature searching services upon request.<ref name=":2" /> | The AWIC provides educational outreach through its website, free in-person and virtual workshops and trainings, the USDA NAL Twitter feed, and monthly newsletters.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=AWIC Workshop & Trainings {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/awic-workshop|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=USDA Agricultural Research Service|url=https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAARS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDAARS_3|access-date=2021-09-22|website=public.govdelivery.com}}</ref> Outreach topics focus on the AWA and its amendments, the [[Three Rs (animal research)|Three Rs]] principles (reduction, replacement, and refinement of animal use), and alternatives literature searching.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Animal Welfare Act {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=3Rs Alternatives: Technologies and Approaches {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/3rs-alternatives-technologies-and-approaches|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Alternatives Literature Searching {{!}} Animal Welfare Information Center {{!}} NAL {{!}} USDA|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/alternatives-literature-searching|access-date=2021-09-22|website=www.nal.usda.gov}}</ref> This information is available to the public, but is specifically targeted towards scientists, veterinarians, animal care staff, librarians, and students. AWIC also provides free literature searching services upon request.<ref name=":2" /> | ||