Page 133 - DLIS408_INFORMATION_TECHNOLOGY-APPLICATIONSL SCIENCES

Information Technology and Application

Notes creation and maintenance of bibliographic databases
serials controls
user services
hardware and software requirements
union catalogue preparation
current awareness and SDI services
authority data compilation
subject profiles construction
abstracting services
inter-library loan and user services
document transfer/copying facilities
access to local, national and international databases.

II. Resource Sharing
This was mainly achieved in the fields of physical science, medical science and agricultural
sciences. It is hoped that in the years to come, DELNET would be able to save more foreign
exchange for India through sharing of periodical resources. In 1991, a courier service was
started on contract basis will a private agency for inter library lending among the participating
libraries but it was not very effective. Later, DELNET has introduced its own courier service
with the financial help of NIC. The service is well used.

Did u know? DELNET saved foreign exchange worth 10 million by rationalizing
subscriptions to foreign periodicals during 1991, 1992 and 1993 through
resource sharing.

III. Standardization

A standardization committee of DELNET has been meeting from time to time. The standardization
committee takes into account the following areas:
Communication format for interchanging bibliographic data
Input output format
Bibliographic description: Mandatory and optional data elements
Classification scheme and subject headings
Thesaurus
Authority files
Language scripts into roman script
Forms of heading
Identification numbers, codes and abbreviations
Data input for abstracting and indexing
Search/command language
It was noticed that colon classification, universal Decimal classification and Dewey Decimal classification
were mostly used in Indian libraries and therefore, it would be almost impossible to impose a
standard classification scheme on all libraries. It was decided to use Dewey Class Number. As
searching by class numbers was done by very few librarians, it was decided that the participating
libraries could search by the classification numbers or they could pass on such requests to DELNET
central office for necessary action. With regard to the standardization of subject headings and to
usage DELNET recommends the use of LCSM. Specialized libraries may use additional thesauri
that are available in each major discipline such as social sciences, humanities and science and
technology.

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