Kasetsart University and The Center sign MoA for the integration of library systems

Bangkok, Thailand -- Kasetsart University (KU), Thailand’s premier institution for agriculture and forestry,  and The Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC) have signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The MoA, which was signed 10 January 2019, pledges to incorporate The Center’s extensive library into the KU Library system.

Dr. Chongrak Wachrinrat, the Acting President of KU, expressed his support for the new collaboration between the two libraries. “RECOFTC (The Center) has been part of the KU community and we appreciate the role of The Center in bringing in forestry-related knowledge and resources. I strongly believe that this Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) will strengthen our collaboration,”  Dr. Wachrinrat said.

KU and RECOFTC have a historic connection, with the University acting as an original partner of the Center in 1987. Dr. Somsak Sukwong, the first Executive Director and founder of The Center, was the Dean of the Forestry Faculty at Kasetsart University. Now, a representative from KU’s Forestry Faculty resides on The Center’s Board of Trustees.

Other existing partnerships and collaborations include the internship and scholarship programmes between the two institutions.  

“The exchanging of knowledge and resources is an important part of our mandate at The Center,” Dr. David Ganz, The Center’s Executive Director, said. “This MoA and collaboration will ensure that The Center’s learning resources will be widely available for the KU community and the University’s library users at the regional and international levels. I assure you that we will give our full support as we move into this next generation of library resources system together.”

As followed in the MoA, KU will integrate  The Center’s library system into the University’s library allowing the networks to access resources from The Center’s own library. The Center’s library stores over 10,000 records pertaining to community forestry, natural resource management and related development topics in the Asia - Pacific Region.

Under the supports of KU Vice President for Academic Affair, Dr. Ladawan Puangchit, and Library Director, Wanida Srithongkham, The Center will work closely to ensure that the integration processes and operations are well implemented.