Page 252 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Unit 12: Bibliographical Sources

Notes
National Library its status is sometimes very much shaky. There is need for INB since
India is a multilingual country and comprehensive databases of the book published in
various languages are to be prepared. In some countries, the national bibliography no
longer is issued in paper form at all, but is published as a DVD. Many countries have
online versions of their national bibliographies. All of these new formats are giving a
new significance to the national bibliography as a cultural heritage of the literary output
of the country. It is concluded that the current format used in INB is at par with the
international standard and it is very much apt for publishing the language bibliographies
and roman bibliography at a time. 22 languages are included in the 8th schedule of the
Indian constitution and all languages are having the same status in INB. Thus INB reflects
the culture of Indian community – multilingualism.
Question:

What necessary steps are taken for making INB available online?
Source: http://library.ifla.org/119/1/143-ahas-en.pdf
12.7 Summary

A bibliography acts as a key to the large mass of information that exists today. The
libraries can bring to the attention of their users the relevant information and knowledge
with the help of bibliographies. Bibliographies are thus a useful tool for study and research.
The present day information organizations cannot function without effective
bibliographical tools. Before we actually discuss formally the concept and types of
bibliographies, let us understand what we are focusing at in this part.
In this Unit we have focused on various aspects of bibliographies, such as its types, need,
control, etc. The bibliography is the chief class or form of reference and information access
tools.

While defining the term Bibliography, it is stated that a bibliography is the art or science
of correctly describing books (their literary contents, physical make up). The reference
source that comprises bibliography of any type is called a bibliographical source.

While focusing on the utility aspect of the bibliographical sources, it is pointed that the
chief function of a bibliography is to help the users in locating the required information
source in the fastest possible manner.
The Unit discusses in detail the types of bibliographies. There are several types of
bibliographies. Most bibliographies are subject bibliographies but there cannot be effective
subject bibliographies unless there are wide-ranging and efficient general bibliographies.

Besides the subject bibliographies, the national bibliographies, also referred to as current
bibliographies, are very popular as they can be used for searching current and retrospective
information.

The other types of known bibliographies are the trade bibliographies and the universal
bibliographies.
The aim of INB is to publish accurate and comprehensive bibliographical records of current
Indian publications in major fourteen Indian languages of India received at the National
Library, Kolkata under the provisions of the Delivery of Book [Public Libraries] Act, 1954.

The BNB was established in 1949 in response to the recommendations of Lionel McColvin
who had undertaken a survey of the UK’s public library service in 1942 which resulted in
the McColvin Report.

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