Tell us something about yourself... what is your background and role in the organization you are working for?

My background is in communication for development, working with small organizations - radio stations and libraries - that disseminate information and encourage community participation in content. Currently, I work for EIFL (Electronic Information for Libraries) doing communication for the EIFL Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP).

How did you get in contact with AIMS?

My director, Ms Rima Kupryte, pointed me to AIMS as a rich resource for public libraries in developing and transition countries working in the field of agriculture.

What is your opinion on AIMS?

I like it - sometimes the information is a bit dense, but that is perhaps because I am not a specialist in its core topics (agricultural, scientific). I like the diversity of information - news, announcements, papers. It is a good knowledge-sharing vehicle. Sometimes, though, it is hard to keep up with the flow of information! It is a great opportunity for others wanting to communicate (like EIFL-PLIP).

According to you, what is the most important benefit that AIMS provides to the agricultural information management community?

Information and ideas for small organizations, connection to a broader community. It brings sense to a vast world of sometimes confusing information resources and tools.

How do you think that information management standards can contribute to agricultural research for development?

I would not be an expert in this - but many of the libraries we work with speak about a desperate need for local information - information that farmers who are marginalized by factors like poverty, distance, lack of technology, language and many others, can trust. This means - straightforward language, focused on local issues, communicated in local languages. Communicating in this way would encourage feedback about the issues farmers face, and their information needs.