Agriculture Library
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National Agricultural Library (NAL), often referred to as the Agriculture Library, is one of the world's largest and most accessible agricultural information collections, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mission
The mission of NAL is to ensure access to agricultural information for the enhancement of farming practices, research, and policy development. It aims to collect, preserve, and disseminate agricultural knowledge to support agriculture's growth, sustainability, and innovation.
Parent organization
NAL is part of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which is within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Legislation
NAL was established by the Organic Act of 1862, which authorized the creation of the Department of Agriculture and its library.
Partners
NAL collaborates with:
- Universities and academic institutions
- Other federal and state agencies
- International agricultural organizations
Number of employees
NAL has approximately 200 employees.
Organization structure
- Collections and Information Services manages the library's physical and digital resources.
- Information Centers provide specialized services on topics like food safety, animal welfare, and rural issues.
- Digital Initiatives focuses on digitization and digital access to information.
List of programs
- AGRICOLA (Agricultural Online Access)
- PubAg (Public Agriculture and Related Literature)
- Digital Collections of Historical Agricultural Documents
- Thesaurus and Taxonomy Services
Last total enacted budget
The budget for NAL was approximately $26 million for Fiscal Year 2023.
Leader
NAL is led by a Director.
Services provided
NAL offers services such as access to its vast collection of agricultural literature, research support, information dissemination through various platforms, and specialized information centers. It provides tools like search engines for agricultural literature, digital resources for public use, and educational outreach programs.
Regulations overseen
NAL does not oversee regulations but supports the implementation of agricultural policies by providing necessary information and research.
Headquarters address
10301 Baltimore Ave, Beltsville, MD 20705
Website
Wikipedia article
wikipedia:United States National Agricultural Library