Page 99 - DLIS105_REFERENCE_SOURCES_AND_SERVICES

Reference Sources and Services

Notes Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
• Define network development in India and types of networks
• Know about national institute of science communication and information resources
• Explain defense scientific information and documentation centre
• Elaborate national social science documentation centre
• Understand INFLIBNET Library.

Introduction

If all library administrators had mentors, they would be well-equipped to find “ ... computing solutions
aimed at bringing the user and content together, which is the essence of service within libraries of all
types and sizes.” The authors use the term “Library Information System (LIS)” to encompass both
mature and new developments, including Integrated Library Systems (ILS), online databases, Web
based resources, digital library collections, and electronic books and journals. The explosion in the
amount of literature that is available, increases among the number of users and their different needs,
and the application of electronic media are forcing libraries to construct and participate in networks.
Magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and CD-ROMs provide enough data storage capacity. Retrieval through
telecommunications networks and access to international databases are available for searching for
information on various subjects. With the advent of networks, remote transmission of texts and
graphics, video clips and animated clips are also possible.

10.1 Definitions

• A library network is broadly described as a group of libraries coming together with some
agreement of understanding to help each other with a view to satisfying the information
needs of their clientele.
• UNISIST II working document defines Information Network as a set of inter-related information
systems associated with communication facilities, which are co-operating through more or
less formal agreements in order to implement information handling operations to offer better
services to the users.
• The National Commission on Libraries & Information Science in its National Programme
Document (1975) defines a network as two or more libraries engaged in a common pattern of
information exchange, through communications for some functional purpose.
Objectives of a library network:
• To promote and support adoption of standards in library operations
• To create databases for projects, specialists and institutions to provide online information
services
• To improve the efficiency of housekeeping operations
• To coordinate with other regional, national and international network for exchange of
information and documents
• To generate new services and to improve the efficiency of existing ones.

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