Library and Documentation Center

Library and Documentation Center

Library Collection

WARDA-The Africa Rice Center Library and Documentation Center collection consist of books, journals, annual reports, theses and dissertations, pamphlets, reprints, microfiches, video - cassettes, maps and CD ROM databases. At the end of August 2003, the library has 17000 volumes of books, 1500 journal titles, 3900 annual reports, 860 theses and dissertations, 4700 pamphlets, 694 reprints, 3000 microfiches, 60 video – cassettes, 182 maps and 103 CD ROM databases. These collection both print and electronic are mostly rice – related. Special efforts are also made to acquire the publications of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS). Such as their annual reports, relevant monographs and research reports. Also, the annual reports and other relevant publications produced by other international agricultural research centers (IARCs), United Nations agencies, The World Bank, IMF and other major international organizations are acquired.

Library Services

The WARDA Library provides a range of services to WARDA staff, Trainees, Visiting scientists, NARS, students from Universities and other higher institutions that constitute the core of our clientele. These services include:

Lending Services
Bona fide library users may borrow books and monographs from library for a period of two weeks. This may be renewed for another period of two weeks. However, books and monographs that are constantly used by staff are issued on long-term loan basis.
Reference Services
The library stocks a wide range of reference information resources. Users may consult these resources, available on the open shelves or send their reference queries to the Librarian.
Literature Searches
Bibliographic literature searches are made on the in-house database called the West Africa Rice Bibliographic Information (WARBI), as well as on relevant international databases for users.
Selective Dissemination of Information Service (SDI)
The SDI service provides bibliographical information on specified areas of research to enable users to keep abreast of all current published material relevant to their field of interest.
Document Delivery
Subject to copyright laws and regulations, the library provides photocopies of articles, book chapters and other information resources; without charge to staff, NARS and users who request for documents/information.
Current Contents at WARDA
This Library publication contains the table of contents of all subscribed journals and books received by the library. Current contents at WARDA are sent to rice scientists in Africa. Two request forms that allow scientists to order up to 50 photocopy pages free of charge normally accompany the current contents.
Information Repackaging
Exploiting the opportunities provided by the Internet, statistical or factual information is downloaded and reformatted to make the resource more accessible to users.
Outreach Services
Realizing the need for timely and current information for our scientists located outside the headquarters, the library provides outreach services to our remote locations in Bamako, Mali; Ibadan, Nigeria and Saint Louis, Senegal. Electronic information resources are delivered to scientists in timely fashion; while books, photocopies of articles, CDs, etc. are sent through the pouch.
Photocopying Services
The library provide photocopies of articles and book chapters without charge to staff and other bona fide users subject to copyright regulations.
Training
Training in agricultural documentation services and in library automation is provided to Librarians in NARS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, library and information science students from Universities and higher institutions in Africa are allowed to undertake their industrial training in the library; where they are taught modern information communication technologies as applicable to library and documentation services.
Referral Services
For publication requests that the library does not have and could not easily source from other collaborating information centers, the library directs users to appropriate libraries or places where they may obtain the information.
Specialized Abstracts and Bibliographies
Specialized abstracts and bibliographies on particular topics of interest to WARDA and national programs are periodically compiled from WARBI, online journals, international and CD ROM databases. This provides quick reference source for users looking for information on these subjects.
Retrospective Computer Searches
Retrospective computer searches on subjects of interest to users are made on TEEAL (The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library), other CD ROM databases and WARBI.
Current Awareness Services
Staffs are kept abreast of current developments on rice production science, technology, socio-economics and the allied sciences by E-mail. Also, the library displays recently accessioned books and journals on the display rack.
Interlibrary Loan
Through the new strategic alliances within the CGIAR, especially the CGIAR Library and Information Services Consortium (CG-LISC), publications not available in WARDA Library, are readily and quickly obtained from other CG centers to service our users.

Access to Library Services

Users may access our library services by personally visiting the library or by mail, email, telephone, fax, and other information communication technologies.

Lending Policy

WARDA staff, visiting scientists, fellows and regular trainees may borrow books and other monographs from the library. By regular trainees are mean persons who are pursuing their Masters and PhD degree programs and are sponsored by WARDA or WARDA partners in development. As a matter of policy, trainees who come to WARDA for short trainings are not entitled to borrow books from the library. However, such individuals may be allowed to use the library.