Using the Rural Information Center

An extensive source of information available to Extension workers and clientele is only a phone call away. The Rural Information Center (RIC) is a joint project of the Extension Service and the National Agricultural Library. It's designed to provide information and referral services to local government officials, businesses, community organizations, Extension faculty, and citizens working to maintain the viability of America's rural areas. The RIC provides a mechanism to accumulate and disseminate information about economic and social policies, resource use, revitalization, alternative income opportunities, community and public services, development of human capital, and other issues that have an impact on rural America. Basic help provided includes bibliographical searches from the National Agricultural Library, retrieval of Federal Domestic Assistance Program information, referral to state and federal agencies for needed information and help, and referral to subject-matter specialists in particular areas of expertise.

The RIC can be accessed by Extension staff or Extension clientele in one of two ways. The first option is to directly access the national RIC office, located at the National Agricultural Library. This can be done by using the national RIC office toll free phone number, 1-800-633-7701. The second way is to contact the RIC coordinator located at each state land-grant university. By contacting the state RIC coordinator, you can obtain local or subject area specific information in addition to information from the national RIC. This option might better satisfy information requests from Extension staff or clientele.

This center is just one of 15 information centers established to gather information and provide services on issues of critical importance to the agricultural community. Subjects covered by other National Agricultural Library information centers include: agricultural trade and marketing, alternative farming systems, animal welfare, aquaculture, biotechnology, critical agricultural materials, family, food and nutrition, horticulture, technology transfer, water quality, and youth development. The easy phone access, combined with the extent of information available, makes the RIC one of the most powerful resources at the disposal of Extension faculty.