Page 65 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Library Automation

Notes who want the information in the multi-disciplinary and multi-lingual nature. The library
is fulfilling the aims and objectives of Punjabi University, its parent institution, by
purchasing two copies of any book published in Punjabi language. The acquisition section
of the library is not directly involved in the selection of multilingual books as it mainly
procures the books which are recommended by the respective departments. On purchase,
the discount rate for Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit titles is 20%, for Punjabi titles 10–30% and
for Hindi titles 10– 25%. There is a library professional in the library, who is well conversant
in Urdu language and he records all the Urdu titles, accessions, classifies and catalogues
them. He is going to retire soon and the library is not having any replacement but the
Librarian informed the author during interview that a requisition has been sent for having
a library professional proficient in Urdu language. English, Punjabi and Hindi languages
are taught at school and college level hence it is easy to process documents in these
languages. The accession registers in the library are maintained subject wise.
For classifying the documents the library is following Colon Classification 6th edition.
Authority file is also maintained by the library whereby numbers which are not available
in the Colon Classification are recorded for further usage. Cataloguing is done using the
Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Ed.2 code. English, Hindi and Punjabi titles are
recorded in the respective language but Urdu and Sanskrit titles are transliterated and
recorded in English. While classifying the translated documents, the Call number comprises
of the Class number to which it belongs and the Book number which further specifies the
medium of the document.

Library is using LIBSYS software which has multilingual support. English, Punjabi and
Hindi titles are entered in their respective languages whereas Urdu and Sanskrit are
transliterated in English. Languages of these titles are specified in the notes area. Shelving
of the books is done according to the class numbers assigned using Colon Classification.
The spine indicates the language of the book for facilitating identification by the users and
shelf guides are also written in languages pertaining to the collection.
In the Periodical section library is presently subscribing to periodicals in English, Punjabi
and Hindi language. The library staff of this section is not facing any problem in providing
service to users. Reference section of the library takes the help of faculty of Urdu department
for any assistance required by the users in accessing literature in this language. Manuscripts
were also processed by the assistance and guidance of faculty of Urdu department. There
is no provision of translation service as a result of which documents in Greek, Russian,
Japanese and Chinese language are not being used. The Publication Bureau of Punjabi
University is getting important books translated in Punjabi language. Library staff is
trained to assist the users in accessing web-based resources in different languages. The
Librarian justified the use of multilingual collection as users and researchers from adjoining
states visited the library for using the rich collection. The library staff was not aware of
any standards and guidelines of developing multilingual collection, as they felt every
state in India was trying to promote its own language.

Bhai Ganda Singh Library
Bhai Ganda Singh was a famous historian and the former Punjabi Reference Library is
named after him. It forms an integral part of the library housed in an interlinked building
with the main building for the convenience of the staff and the users. Punjabi Reference
Library was established in 1981 with the objective of promoting Punjabi language and to
cater to the needs of the researchers and scholars of Punjabi language and culture. The
library has taken a historic step for the growth and development of Punjabi language and
act as a bibliographic centre for Punjabi publications. Total Collection of the library is
54,850.
Contd...

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