Indian National Bibliography: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

This article discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the bibliographic coverage of the Indian National Bibliography, with its multiplicity of languages and scripts, and compares INB with a number of prominent bibliographies around the world. The Indian National Bibliography is affected with the disease of sluggishness in publication and incomplete coverage. The author describes the application of ICT and the level of success that INB has achieved with regard to its timeliness and comprehensiveness. The publication's workflow uses a customized version of the library system Libsys, version IV, with transliteration using diacritical marks and GIST (Graphics and Intelligence based Script Technology) to overcome language problems. The Central Reference Library, Kolkata, which compiles the bibliography, is currently working towards implementation of UNICODE and discarding GIST to facilitate international cooperation and data exchange. The author examines a number of aspects of the bibliography's production, with special emphasis on remedial measures to be followed to improve currency and coverage.