Page 108 - DLIS407_INFORMATION AND LITERATURE SURVEY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Unit 12: Database: Networked and Distributed Database in Social Science

Organizational Network Notes

The public library system of a state may be recognized as an organizational network.

Specialized Network

The sectoral information systems planned under the NISSAT scheme are specialized networks, as
they deal with a specific subject area.

Functional Network

The National Information Center’s plan of having a large computer configuration with a direct access,
secondary memory and connected to a number of institutions through communication channel and
having a terminal is a functional network.

Other Types of Network
Other types of network besides the above are:-

y Library Networks
y Information Retrieval Networks
1. Library Networks: The library networks have the following features:
y Similar type of data (bibliographic data)
y Committed user base (librarians/public/researchers)
y High professional needs (telecommunication network/private network/hard wired
network)
y Low end –users needs (librarians/public/researchers)
2. Information Retrieval Network: Information retrieval networks include more bibliographic records,
but as textual or numeric information based databases are increasing, retrieval is based largely on
Boolean searching. Thus, information retrieval consists of varying types of data, unstable user base
and a mix of professional/non-professional needs.
The important characteristics of information networks are:
y Data : Bibliographic records (textual/numeric)
y Retrieval : Subject based (Boolean/Key)
y Access: Telecommunication networks/private networks/hard wired networks)
y Users : Intermediaries (End-users)
Networks may further be of the following types:-
y LAN (Local Area Network)
y MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
y WAN (Wide Area Network)

LAN

Local Area Network is a facility data communication, video or voice, within a single building or over
a small area of space. It constitutes the following features:

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