REE SMART Center

The Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Self Motivated and Administered Reading and Training (SMART) Center is a lending resource library available to all REE employees. It offers a wide variety of self-development materials for loan to include audio and video cassettes, books, and computer/video based training.

The SMART Center was established in 1992 through the effort of the Human Resources Division, Administrative and Financial Management. The Center contains over a thousand resources that can help employees improve their current skills or acquire new ones.

The SMART Center provides employees with:

An informal and easily accessible source which they can use for a variety of self-development learning activities.
The convenience of an on-site learning environment with materials in various formats to use as the training need arises.
Several training alternatives when preparing and implementing Individual Development Plans (IDPs).

Resource Topics:

Communication
Customer Service
Diversity
EEO
Employee Wellness
Ethics
Human Resources
Information Technology
Labor Management
Listening
Management and Organization
Meetings
Negotiation
Presentation Skills
Self-Awareness
Sign Language
Supervision and Leadership
Team Building
Writing

SMART Center Catalog. The SMART Center Catalog lists the resources available for loan. Each item has a reference number, a brief description of the resource, and the media format. The catalog may be viewed on web site: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/smartcenter. A paper copy of the catalog is available upon request.

How to borrow items from the SMART Center:

Employees can submit a request by one of the following methods: call 301-504-1428; fax 301-504-4422; or e-mail the smartcen@ars.usda.gov or akopman@ars.usda.gov. All requests will be processed within five working days.

If the requested material is out on loan, the employee will be notified and placed on a waiting list for the resource.

Employees are responsible for the safe and timely return of all borrowed materials.

Field locations will receive and return SMART Center materials by Federal Express so all requests must include a complete mailing address. Overnight mail expense will be the responsibility of the requesting location.

Checkout period for material:

The lending period for SMART Center resources is 21 calendar days. Items may be renewed if a waiting list does not exist. Please call 301-504-1428 to request an extension.

Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM

SMART Center
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Room 4-1171
Beltsville, MD 20705-5107
Phone: (301) 504-1428
FAX: (301) 504-4422

For additional information about training and development visit our web site:
http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/empdev/

(03-11-03)