Discovering IRRI Library

After the Lopez Museum, the next stop for the LIS 260 students was the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Library in Los Baños, Laguna. The class paid a visit to the library last October 4, 2011. The class was welcomed by Ms. Mercedes Vijandre, the new head librarian of IRRI Library. She gladly toured us and gave a presentation about the IRRI and its Library.

Ms. Vijandre discussed the history of IRRI and the IRRI Library and Documentation Service. According to her, the mission of IRRI is "to reduce poverty and hunger, improve health of farmers & consumers, and ensure environmental sustainability, while the mission of the library is "to build the world's most comprehensive collection of technical rice literature in any language and to provide open access to this body of knowledge."

The IRRI Library was established in 1961. It has the widest collection of rice literature here and around the world. Books, theses, journals, maps, and scientific papers, proceedings and reports, journals, audio-visual materials, maps, and online databases are the collection of the library. They have three online databases, the Web of Science, CAB Direct, and TEEAL.  Most of their rice literatures are focused on the breeding, growing, harvesting, products, and its economic aspects. Biotechnology and genetic engineering, climate change, and even the population growth can also be found in their library. In organizing their collections, the library uses the LC Classification scheme and expanded classification scheme for rice materials.

IRRI library serves the IRRI community, UP Los Baños community, students from other institutions, Los Baños community, farmers, and the scientists and researchers worldwide.

IRRI library offer services like the fully automated library services, interlibrary loan, centralized cataloging, AV collection, and photocopying services, bindery, and orientation to the visitors and users. They have the facilities such as the main reading room, book stack, Journal stack, OPAC terminals, E-readers, AV Center, and Wi-fi ready.

I asked Ms. Vijandre if they are digitizing their collections. She answered yes, but unfortunately we were not able to see or observe the process.

The library system of IRRI Library is the Millennium ILS which is considered as the most expensive system. IRRI and La Salle are some of the few users of the said system. One of the staff showed us how to use and how to search on their database. The system was able to give the search results quickly. One thing that I observed with their library system is that the recall is low and the precision is high.

The tour ended with the class munching on superb lunch at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan together with Ms. Vijandre. Taking of photos were enjoyed by class as well as buying pasalubong for our loved ones.

Photo credits: Ma'am Sharon