Public Library - the Important Link between Rural Libraries and Successful Farmers

Abstract

This paper speaks of AgroLib-Ja (Agricultural Library in Jagodina), innovative project of Public Library of Jagodina, Serbia, which has “developed the idea of changing the libraries according to the changing of users’ needs ”

In the past, Public Library of Jagodina was a classic, traditional library devoted to readers. Today, Public Library of Jagodina is a modern library devoted to users and it is actively involved in solving problems in the local community.

In addition to its basic functions in sharing knowledge, Public Library of Jagodina is also devoted to provide support to socially underestimated groups of people. As the main Library for Pomoravlje region, Public Library in Jagodina supervises all libraries, among others rural libraries. Supervisions data indicated difficult situation in the villages and in the rural libraries.

Considering the possibilities for improving the lives of people in rural areas with the help of forming new services in rural libraries, Public Library of Jagodina in 2008 conducted a survey among farmers. The conducted survey showed the following: that about 90% of questioned farmers had no ICT skills; 88% of them wanted to attend ICT trainings; 84% wanted to attend agricultural lectures and 100% wanted to visit the library in order to find agricultural literature. Also, according to that research we found out that the farmers have no computers and Internet and they do not know how to use them and they are not familiar with the advantages of informing by the Ministry of Agriculture...