Library networks
- 1. Dr B T Sampath Kumar Professor Department of Library and Information Science Tumkur University, Tumakuru, INDIA www.sampathkumar.info Library Networks
- 2. Library network • It refers to an interconnected platform of some group of libraries with certain agreements aims to satisfy and fulfil their users' needs. • The objectives of a library network is to acquire and develop unique collection of the each library and avoiding the duplication of materials to resolve the budgetary problem.
- 3. Library networks in India Some of the important library networks are: • INFLIBNET • DELNET • CALIBNET
- 4. INFLIBNET • Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) Centre, Gandhinagar is an Autonomous Inter- University Centre (IUC) of University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. • It is a major National Programme initiated by UGC in March 1991.
- 5. Objectives of INFLIBNET The primary objectives of INFLIBNET are: • Linking libraries and information centres in: – Universities – Deemed to be universities – Colleges – UGC information centres – Institutions of national importance and – R & D institutions, etc. to avoid duplication of efforts.
- 6. Cont.. • To create databases of projects, institutions, specialists, etc., for providing on-line information services. • To train and develop human resources in the field of computerized library operations and networking to establish, manage and sustain INFLIBNET.
- 7. Activities • INFLIBNET centre, on behalf of the UGC, has taken-up a number of new initiatives for the benefit of the academic community. • These initiatives include: – Shodhganga: A reservoir of Indian Theses and Dissertations; – Shodhgangotri: A repository of approved synopsis submitted to the universities for registration under Ph.D. programme;
- 8. Cont.. – OJAS@INFLIBNET: An open access journal publishing platform; – Open source software R & D; – InfoPort: A comprehensive gateway to all Indian electronic scholarly content; – e-PG Pathshala: e-Content for PG Courses; and – Measuring Research Output of Indian Universities.
- 9. DELNET • DELNET was started at the India International Centre Library in January 1988 and was registered as a society in 1992. • It was initially supported by the National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India.
- 10. Objectives The main objectives of DELNET are: • To promote sharing of resources among the libraries by developing a network of libraries. • To coordinate efforts for suitable collection development and reduce unnecessary duplication wherever possible. • To facilitate and promote delivery of documents manually or mechanically.
- 11. Cont.. • To facilitate the establishment of referral and/ research centres. • To maintain a central online union catalogue of books, serials and non-book materials of all the participating libraries. • To develop specialised bibliographic database of books, serials and non-book materials. • To develop databases of projects, specialists and institutions.
- 12. Services Union catalogue of books • DELNET maintains an online union catalogue of books available in its member-libraries. • This union catalogue is continuously updated and is growing in size. • The information can be retrieved by author, title, subject, conference, series, etc. • It has 2,92,70,150 bibliographic records. • The request for inter-library loan can be placed through the online system.
- 13. Cont.. Union list of current periodicals • DELNET has created union lists of current periodicals in science and technology, social sciences and humanities. • This database is available online to DELNET users. • It now lists 38,184 periodicals and is regularly updated and new titles are added annually. • It is a major resource for Document Delivery Services.
- 14. Cont.. Union catalogue of periodicals • DELNET maintains a union catalogue of periodicals, which contains full holdings data of the libraries. • At present, the database contains 20,235 records.
- 15. Cont.. Database of periodical articles • The database has details of articles which can be searched under the title, author, compiler, name of the periodical and subject. • The database is being extensively utilised by the researchers and scholars. At present the database contains 11,06,228 records.
- 16. Cont.. CD-ROM database • A bibliographic database of CD-ROMs available with the member-libraries is being compiled. It has 61,750 records. Union list of video recordings • This is a database of video cassettes available in DELNET member-libraries and has about 6,000 listings.
- 17. Cont.. Database of Theses and Dissertations • A database of Theses and Dissertations submitted to Indian Universities has been started, which covers various subjects. • The database has 1,30,753 records Database of E-books • It has nearly 1613 records.
- 18. CALIBNET • Funded by the Government of India in 1993, CALIBNET provides online access to library and information resources in India. • Resources are grouped under "bibliographic information" and "factual information” and "intellectual assets” of West Bengal.
- 19. Cont.. • Bibliographic information includes external links to online newspapers, journals, databases, and library catalogues. • Factual information includes external links under topics.