AgEcon Search is sponsored by the American Agricultural Economics Association, the USDA Economic Research Service, and the Farm Foundation. It is the creation of Patricia Rodkewich, agricultural and applied economics librarian. Economists traditionally rely on working papers to communicate current research. Online reference services are provided in the selected subject areas included in an AgNIC subject site. The sites include access to electronic resources available from their collections and links to other relevant resources available on the Internet.
Many sites identify recommended frequently used resources and post frequently asked questions.
These resources should provide the answer for most, if not all, questions that users will have. If there are unanswered questions, a librarian will personally assist a request for information. There is no opportunity to observe subtle inflections of the patron s voice or body language or to ask probing questions. Therefore, the librarian alone determines how much or how little information is needed. Since speed is valued in this environment, the librarian feels the urgency to complete a response quickly, though it actually takes more time and effort to compose a written response than it does to reply verbally.