The importance of government publications in the field of agriculture cannot be
understated. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) continually publishes information
aimed at farmers, consumers, and the general public. However, these myriad resources
can prove challenging to identify and locate. While more information is online now, the
difficulties of identifiying and locating these agricultural documents are still present.
This webinar will provide an overview of historical resources from the USDA’s
research-producing entities. It will connect librarians to these resources by recommending
access points and defining certain publications’ limitations. We aim to acquaint
agriculture librarians with federal publication distribution processes and introduce newer
librarians to publications’ applicability to various reference interactions. We will provide
opportunities for experienced librarians to contribute their tips for accessing this type of
information and hope to increase everyone's confidence in locating USDA publications.
Learning Objective(s):
● Understand basic government publication organization and access
● Identify notable USDA publications and where to find them
● Understand key USDA subject areas and their publications
● Explore ongoing and developing issues with federal agricultural information
A link to a recording will be sent out following the session to attendees that register.
Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2023, 2-3pm EDT
Speakers:
● Helen Smith, Agricultural Sciences Librarian, Penn State University
● Jen Kirk, Government Information Librarian, Utah State University
