Database Management Tools Available from FAO: the Agricultural Information

Management Standards (AIMS) Web Site

Mila M. RamosChief Librarian, IRRI

Paper Presented at the Seminar-Workshop on Enhancing the Capacity of Information Professionals for Effective Agricultural Information Management, Sharing and Dissemination,

Benguet State University, La Trinidad, February 21-22, 2008 and Silliman University, May 22-23, 2008

Overview

• Databases and their functions• Requirements of an effective

database• Standards: Why do we need them• Tools available at the FAO

Agricultural Information Management Services web site

• Conclusion

What is a database?

A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. In one view, databases can be classified according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric, and images.

Source: http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid87_gci211895,00.html

Requirements of an Effective Database

• A good database management system (DBMS) or software with a user-friendly interface

• Relevant and up-to-date content• Efficient Maintenance• Skilled database management staff• Interoperability

Why the need for standards?

Standards serve as:• a model for creating practical

systems• a set of rules for structuring

information• an assurance of the protection of the

“long term” value of data• a basis for sharing information

More Uses for Standards

• facilitator of information storage and retrieval

• tool for simplification of training staff in data encoding

FAO’s Agricultural Information Management Standards Web

Site (AIMS)

• URL: http://www.fao.org/aims/index.jsp• A Centre for Agricultural Information

Management Standards that will allow the sharing, and promote the uptake, of common methodologies, standards and applications.

Objectives of the FAO AIMS• to facilitate collaboration, partnership and

networking among partners by promoting information exchange and knowledge sharing;

• to harmonize the decentralized efforts currently taking place in the development of methodologies, standards and applications for management of agricultural information systems;

• to encourage the re-use of these standards to facilitate interoperability between information systems,

More Objectives of the FAO AIMS

• increase awareness of these freely available resources,

• promote the sharing of good practice examples, and

• provide channels for communication between different actors in the community.

Conclusion

• Dealing with digital information objects require skills and tools not previously needed in a manual environment

• FAO’s Center for Agricultural Information Management Standards (AIMS) is there for information providers to explore and utilize

• Standards are vital for interoperability and for sustainability

Challenges

• The responsibility for creating databases as a means to link scientists with information lies on the shoulders of information managers

• The task does not end with creation. Efficient maintenance and use of standard tools are necessary (e.g. FAO AIMS tools)

• Databases need to be marketed and used by our clients

• Sharing our database with other agricultural institutions is a must (AGRIS and PhilAgriNet input) as this will create better awareness of our organization’s intellectual output.

Final Words

In the information world, the need to share and receive information is vital, hence the

right vehicles (standards/tools)

should be utilized and we should make the most out of freely available resources.

Thank you.