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Unit 10: Library Information Systems and Networks

10.4 Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) Notes

Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC) is a division of the Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) located in Delhi. Its main function is the collection,
processing and dissemination of relevant technical information for DRDO scientists. The present
director of DESIDOC is Dr. Aragonda Lakshmana Moorthy.

History

DESIDOC started functioning in 1958, as the Scientific Information Bureau (SIB) and was a division
of the Defence Science Laboratory (DSL) (now called the Defence Science Centre). The DRDO library
became a division of SIB in 1959. In 1967, SIB was expanded and renamed DESIDOC. DESIDOC
became a DRDO laboratory on 29 July, 1970. Originally functioning from the main building of Metcalfe
House (a national monument), DESIDOC moved to new five-storeyed building in the same Metcalfe
House complex in August, 1988.
The objectives of DESIDOC are:
• ‘‘To function as a central source for providing scientific information, documentation, library,
reprographic, translation services to DRDO headquarters, laboratories, establishments and to
coordinate their scientific information programmes,

• To develop an information system for Defence Science and Technology,
• To provide training and user education programmes in the field of scientific information,
• To provide consultancy and referral services, and

• To publish scientific and technical journal, books and monographs of DRDO’’.
The various activities of the Centre include the following:

(a) Library Services. DESIDOC maintains the Defence Science Library which is the central
library of DRDO. It gives access to Online Public Access Catalogue, CD-Rom Search
Service, Document Supply Service and Resource Sharing Service.

(b) Information Processing and Dissemination. The Library collects scientific and technical
information of interest to DRDO and provides current awareness services and selective
dissemination of information to users of DRDO.
(c) Database Development. It develops and maintains bibliographic databases which includes
OPAC, bibliographic database of books, reports, conference proceedings in DSL. The
full-text databases, include newspaper clippings, Defence Science Journal, IEE/IEEE
contents.

(d) DRDO Publications. DESIDOC functions as the publication wing of DRDO and brings out
a number of journals, monographs, newsletters, etc.

(e) Training. It provides training in information collection, processing and dissemination,
library automation, database development, online searching, Internet use, and many areas
concerned with it.
(f ) Technical Services. It provides reprography (photography, audio, video presentation
materials), translation, communication (e-mail, Internet) and printing services.

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