Page 263 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Library Automation

Notes

Notes The earlier concept of ‘SDI’ by Peter Luhn now has undergone a significant change
due to the latest innovation of computer and telecommunication technologies coupling
with the present library services.

SDI is a service that can be regarded as a by-product of CAS which not only serves current
information but also totally is user-oriented. When CAS is rendered or offered to individual
user on his specific demand, it involves in the working of Selective Dissemination of Information
System. SDI is an idea to make the current awareness service a user oriented one by offering it
at individual level of selected items and is restricted to every user’s area of interest.
Figure 14.1: Conversion Process of CAS into SDI

USER ORIENTATION
(1) Submission of
individual subject
interests (2) Scanning of
incoming information
by comparing to those
subject interest
a. Current b. User
c. Selective
awareness orientation dissemination of
service functions information
(3) Necessary
system
information is selected
and supplied to the
(4) User’s
satisfaction and clients and there will be
received a feedback on
changes in the users’
interest or profile usefulness of supplied
information
modification
Source: http://www.academia.edu/888349/Selective_Dissemination_of_Information_SDI_
service_a_conceptual_paradigm
However, to understand the meaning of SDI service, it is desirable to observe few definitions.
Luhn defines SDI as a service within an organization which concerns itself with the channelling
of new item of information, from whatever sources, to those clients within the organization
where the probability of usefulness in connection with current work or interest is high. On the
other hand, the service endeavours to withhold such information from clients where this
probability is low. An attended objective is to present clients from being swamped by
indiscriminate distribution of new information and to avert the resulting danger of not
communicating at all.
Suseela Kumar defines SDI as the practice in some libraries such as special libraries whose users
are small in number to maintain reader profiles which indicate the subjects of interest to them;
advanced or elementary level in which they are and the form in which information is required.
Whenever information is related to the subjects of a reader’s interest received in the library, he
is at once informed. UNESCO defines SDI as the regular provision of scientific information to
individuals or corporate users on predetermined subjects (interest profiles).
Dr. S. R. Ranganathan defines SDI as documentation list on a specific topic anticipated to engage
the attention of the member of the parent body. Fidoten defines SDI as a method of providing
personal current awareness information to individuals or groups. However, it can be defined in

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