Agricultural Communications Documentation Center Reaches 50,000 Items

By Janis Shearer, Public Services & Engagement Librarian

This summer brought a milestone worth celebrating for the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC). In June, the collection reached its 50,000th item—just in time to launch its 45th year (1981–2026).

The achievement was made possible in part by completing the processing of a remarkable donation that had been in the works for six years. The collection of 2,371 items offered rich insights into agricultural communications and helped push ACDC past the 50,000 mark.

ACDC holds agricultural communications materials from 212 countries, making it one of the most comprehensive and unique collections of its kind in the world. Developed and maintained by agricultural communications faculty members, the center serves students, teachers, researchers, professional communicators, and others interested in communications related to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural affairs.

A Global Resource
The Center brings together diverse and relevant literature about agricultural-related communications and provides services that strengthen the university’s role as a leader in this discipline. Because of its scope and uniqueness, ACDC adds depth and distinction to the University Library’s vast resources.

Continued Growth
The Center continues to add about 100 documents each month, ensuring the collection remains up-to-date and responsive to the evolving needs of patrons worldwide. With its deep subject indexing, detailed bibliographic organization, and easily searchable database, ACDC helps researchers—from seasoned scholars to first-time users—locate the resources they need quickly and effectively.

For 45 years, ACDC has been quietly but powerfully shaping the global conversation about agricultural communications. This year’s milestone is not just about numbers—it’s a testament to decades of dedication, collaboration, and the ongoing value of preserving and sharing knowledge across borders.

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Read more about the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, located within the Funk ACES Library, at library.illinois.edu/funkaces/acdc.