Information service and delivery for agricultural extension agents

Penn State’s agricultural extension personnel are distributed throughout the 67 counties of Pennsylvania and consequently have been unable to use the University’s library resources effectively. The OPAC is now available through a link with the College of Agricultural Sciences’ state-wide electronic network that also contains PEN pages, a public agricultural information system. Extension personnel may not only search the library’s online catalog, but they may also request material directly from their terminals. A request form is filled out online and electronically transferred to the library. Books are charged out to the registered users; journal articles are photocopied. The library uses the College of Agricultural Sciences’ weekly mailing system for actual delivery. Penn State is looking at this system as a prototype for future document delivery services.