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Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes the merger of INSDOC and NISCOM) is developing a consortium for CSIR labs for accessing
e-journals.
Consortia in India are still a new concept that requires proper guidelines and methodologies. In
a survey by UGC in 2001, it was noted that although 142 university libraries had computer and
Internet facilities and were interlinked to INFLIBNET, they were subscribing to printed journals
only. In order to solve this problem, UGC launched a major initiative called UGC-INFONET
that provides high speed Internet connections so as to have electronic access to professional
literature including research journals, abstracts, review publications, and databases from all
areas in science and technology, as well as in social sciences and humanities. Today, a number of
professional journals are available over UGC-INFONET to all universities. The e-subscription
initiative under UGC-INFONET is an important portal for sharing print as well as electronic
resources amongst university libraries. INFLIBNET functions as a resource centre with an aim to
cater to the needs of its members for resources not accessible to them in electronic media or are
available in print media.

INDEST Consortium

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has set up the “Indian National Digital
Library in Science and Technology (INDEST) Consortium”. The ministry provides funds required
for the subscription to electronic resources for 38 academic institutions, including the Indian
Institute of Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Regional Engineering Colleges, Indian
Institute of Managements, and about 60 centrally-funded/aided government institutions through
the consortium. The INDEST consortium is the most ambitious initiative so far in the area of
engineering and technology disciplines.
The primary objective of libraries is to organize and provide access to information, and it
remains the same although the format and methods have changed drastically. Under the present
scenario of declining budgets and higher subscription costs of journals in India, it is becoming
very difficult to meet the demands of library/information users. The only solution to the problem
is the pooling and sharing of resources—print as well as electronic—by way of consortia. New
technology has provided great opportunities for delivery of services within consortia. More
and more libraries must unite, which of course requires a change in the attitudes, practices, and
policies to get the maximum benefit.

Task Critically analyse the current scenario of growth rate of educational institutions in
India.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:

1. Education aims to impart knowledge and makes good citizens.
2. Academic libraries may not answer the questions from users directly.
3. The e-subscription initiative under UGC-Infonet is an important portal for sharing print
as well as electronic resources amongst university libraries.
4. The INDEST consortium is the most ambitious initiative so far in the area of Biology
disciplines.

122 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY