Page 110 - DLIS407_INFORMATION AND LITERATURE SURVEY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

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

created by individual libraries and also the union database access provides the bibliographic details Notes
of an item held by the libraries.
Bibliographic Information Service provides patrons with access to a variety of databases. This also
includes access to the database subscribed by the individual libraries in CD-ROM as well as the
databases subscribed at the network centre. One of the greatest developments in the information
technology in recent years is CD-ROM’s, digital storage media libraries. CD-ROM is one of the
best optical information storage systems of electronic publishing which has very much influenced
library and information science around the world because of its durability and capability to hold
large volumes of data, compatibility and its affordability. Several publishers are now making their
publications simultaneously available in CD-ROMs apart from the print version. Several reference
books, electronic journals backup resources are now available in CD-ROMs. With audio-video and
graphic facilities, the CD-ROM’s could become multimedia resources for libraries.

12.3.2 Full Text Access to Publications

The existing collections to many of our libraries are not enough to meet the actual requirements of
academicians and researchers. To supplement the collection, it is necessary to provide access to a large
number of journals and full text databases available in electronic form at an economical rate. A network
centre can play a major role in providing access to the full text of publications to the member libraries.
Full text resources are the most sought after commodity in an electronic library setting. For students,
scholars and everyday users alike, all they want is what they want, when they want it, where they
want it. Full text electronic resources offer access unrestricted by either location or library hours.

Notes Major issues involved in providing the bibliographic services
In providing the bibliographic information service and access to full text of
journals, a number of issues are involved as discussed below:
y Identification and selection of databases to be acquired in the network
environment.
y Negotiating, pricing, getting access rights from the publishers/
vendors.
y Financial support for subscribing to these databases.
y Licensing and copyright issues.
y Infrastructure facilities to ensure smooth and speedy delivery.
y Required documentation and training to the staff working in the library
for providing such service.

12.3.3 Organization of Internet Resources and Providing Access

Information on the Internet is growing everyday. A lot of it is not found useful for academic and
research work. Filtering the useful information, organizing it and providing easy access to the same
will be a Herculean task. In the network-based environment, it is possible to initiate the work of
organizing the Internet resources to build up a virtual library, particularly for Indian resources and
provide access to end users.
In today’s society, with skill, one can usually find much information on a particular topic. It is the
challenge then to sift through this mass to determine what is reliable and appropriate and what is

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