Indian Libraries Research Articles

A functional approach to Digital Library in India

A functional approach to Digital Library in India

Implementation of TOPSIS Method to Compare the Libraries of Top-Ranking Universities Abroad and in India

This study was made for comparison of university libraries in India and abroad. Ten top-ranking universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) were considered for making a comparison from each category. The main objective of the study was to know whether the library plays any role to achieve top rank or not. Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method was used for analyzing and for the TOPSIS method, 5 important criteria were considered, viz., total collection, total library staff, total budget, total working hours, and major divisions of the library. Important criteria were selected from University Grant Commission (UGC) and American Library Association (ALA). Initially, TOPSIS method was applied to university libraries abroad; next, to Indian university libraries and finally, both Indian and foreign university libraries were considered. Results represented that the library played a role in helping the parent university achieve a rank but not entirely. The University of Cambridge got the highest rank as per the study but in QS ranking MIT stood first.

The Public Libraries in India: A Scenario

This paper discuss some of the problems of public libraries and their role in digital era with some possible solution for improving their states. In India majority of people live in rural areas and new technologies are not accessible from remote villages, therefore a wide-gapes has been evolved between the libraries of knowledge haves and knowledge have-notes. Today internet and web technologies open up new ways of interactive communication between public libraries and the civil societies. So we can say a proposal for ICT driven public libraries for Indian states with suitable library extension programmes to help the entire rural as well as urban community especially unprivileged masses.

Web based library Services in AIIMS Library in India: an overview

We are living in the virtual environment and the emerging growth and developments of internet has modified our society in every aspect. Libraries are more responsive in making users net-savvy. Not only have internet and technological developments affected the formats and sources of information, but also how and where libraries provide their services to the user. The World Wide Web (WWW) and Internet's emergence as a new medium for information storage and transmission have created an unrivalled medium for delivering information with higher speed and efficiency. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are autonomous, government-funded, public medical institutions established for the advancement of medical education in India. The paper examines what web-based services, why they are important, and why they are so popular among users , as well as their benefits and drawbacks in AIIMS library, and on the basis of their website details, the evaluation of four AIIMS libraries is also emphasized.

Changes in the Field of Library and Information Science from Ancient Time to the Present Time: A Study

If we throw light on the history of the libraries in India, and then one main fact comes to light that the history of the libraries in India is a thousand of years old. The development of libraries in India can be divided in to Ancient Period, Middle Period, Mughal Period and Modern Period. Libraries existed those days when education was concentrated in Gurukul. Those days Guru was like a moving Library and they had unlimited store of knowledge. Over time, writing and ink began to be used and texts were also produced. In ancient times, handwritten texts were wrapped in cloth and leaf blisters because the art of printing was not invented at that time, But with the time the art of printing was invented and texts started to be printed and libraries came in to existence. The demolition of ancient cities which have been obtained by excavation is a proof that libraries existed in ancient times as well. Nalanda University established in ancient time had a three story Library Building called Ratnodadhi, Ratnasagar and Ratnaranjak. Similarly, temples and monasteries also had their own libraries which used to support religious and educational institutions. Father of Library Science Dr. S.R.Ranganathan who was presented the five laws of Library Science, his untiring efforts resulted in unlimited growth/development in the field of Library Science and the Library received a new direction and helped to give scientific form to the Library Service.

Web-based Information Resources in IIT Libraries in India: User Survey

Web-based Information Resources in IIT Libraries in India: User Survey

Library Services Through Mobile Apps- Development and use by Indian Libraries

This paper aims to report on the adoption and use of mobile apps, including in-house and available in the app store by the Indian libraries for carrying out library services. An online survey was conducted to collect data from 229 LIS professionals from divergent types of libraries across the country. The study found that only 27 libraries developed their dedicated library mobile apps for catering services to the patron. The primary services offered were e-resources facility (92.60%), reference query (88.88%) and SMS alert (77.77%). The study also found the effective integration of social media apps by the libraries for sharing information regarding library services (74.67%) and upcoming events (68.12%), highlighting the library collection (62%), reference advisory (55.45%) and streaming videos lively (26.20%). The most used social media apps were WhatsApp (69.43%), Facebook (66.37%) and YouTube (65.93%). However, the unavailability of apps in offline mode and storage problems were the major hurdles cited by the professionals in using apps. The study results suggest opportunities for libraries to develop their library app to satisfy users’ information needs.

Focus IBBY

Focus IBBY Liz Page (bio) International Children’s Book Day 2022 The 2022 International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is sponsored by IBBY Canada. The theme is Stories are wings that help you soar every day. Julie Flett and Richard Van Camp have designed the poster to provide the message to the children of the world. Julie Flett is a Cree-Métis author, illustrator, and artist who has been honored with the Governor General’s Award, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence, and the American Indian Library Association Award. Richard Van Camp is a Dogrib a Tłıc ̨hǫ writer from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and the award-winning author of twenty-six books. Stories are wings that help you soar every day.Reading is Freedom. Reading is Breath.Reading lets you see our world in a new way and it invitesyou into worlds you never want to leave.Reading allows your spirit to dreamThey say books are friends for life and I agree.The perfect universe of you only grows when you read.Stories are wings that help you soar every day so find thebooks that speak to your spirit, to your heart, to your mind.Stories are medicine. They heal. They comfort. They inspire.They teach.Bless the storytellers and the readers and the listeners. Bless books.They are the medicine for a better, brighter world.Mahsi cho. Thank you very much. Richard Van Camp Click for larger view View full resolution More information about ICBD 2022 and how to order copies of the poster can be found at www.ibby-canda.org. Reflections from the 37th IBBY Congress Moscow, Russia, September 10–12, 2021 The decision to hold the 37th IBBY World Congress in Moscow was made by the IBBY Executive Committee in Bologna in 2015. From the start, it was not plain sailing due to the worries about border conflicts and then later by the government’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia. Nevertheless, the IBBY Executive Committee kept a close eye on the situation while supporting our IBBY Russia colleagues in their preparations. No one knew at that time what lay ahead! Russian literature has had a strong influence on children’s literature in the world, and IBBY wanted to emphasize the positive aspects of the country as well as follow our goal of promoting peace through children’s [End Page 110] books. IBBY Russia/Raising Readers Association also wanted to share their very rich heritage as well as showcase the latest trends in children’s literature in Russia. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020, travel became restricted, borders were closed, and in-person meetings were held online. It was with a heavy heart that the IBBY Executive Committee made the decision in April 2020 to postpone the 37th Congress to 2021. Our colleagues in Moscow had reached the same conclusion, and thus the Congress moved to September 2021. There was still a lot to accomplish, and a hybrid event was planned with in-person attendance as well as online participation. It was a huge challenge and we have learned much in the process. The program was developed and speakers were approached. Several of the original keynote speakers agreed to the new plan and many oral sessions were organized. The Scientific Committee worked hard to prepare an inclusive, interesting, and wide-reaching program. The Congress organizers worked with an IT company to build an online platform that could be universally used around the world in the many different time zones and languages. After all this hard work, the Congress opened in Moscow on Friday, September 10, at the State Museum of Alexander Pushkin. Finally, representatives from thirty countries could attend the Congress in person. The opening began with a very talented young pianist playing, followed by a short welcome by Vladimir Tolstoy, the cultural advisor to the president of the Russian Federation. IBBY President Mingzhou Zhang also welcomed the participants via a prerecorded message. He referred to the work being done by IBBY members across the world: As IBBY members, we work towards bringing children and books together. Even...

LIS Newsletters in India: An Analysis

Newsletters are a vital source of current news, events and the latest happenings in a given field. Even in the library field, LIS professionals relied on newsletters to keep up with the latest developments in their area. For years, LIS professionals have been using print and online newsletters to promote and market their library, activities, services, and products. The objective of a newsletter, whether internal or external, is to inform and keep in touch with users/clientele/patrons/members. It contains the latest news, updates, important information, highlights and curated insights that assist in branding and marketing the institution, library, its products and services, and library personnel. It is a cost-effective promotional tool for building trust and motivating members to take actions such as attending a conference or seminar, purchasing a product, etc. This article aims to explore how Indian library networks are successfully adopting and leveraging newsletters to provide timely and reliable trustworthy news before various social tools and technological tools have been introduced and how LIS professionals are utilizing them to update themselves. Newsletters from INFLIBNET, DELNET, and ADINET are studied and evaluated on various parameters, and the findings have been presented in this article.

Services offered by Indian libraries during COVID-19

This is a study of the services provided by Indian libraries during the COVID-19 lockdown and the problems faced by the libraries in providing their services. Using a Google Forms questionnaire survey, responses were sought from librarians through library groups covering schools, colleges and universities, mailing list forums and WhatsApp/Telegram groups. The findings show that libraries strived to stay connected with the users and provided remote services. Many libraries developed library/digital guides and e-content and responded to online reference queries. Librarians frequently participated in webinars.

Towards Academic Medical Library Standards in India: A Call for Action

With the rapidly growing healthcare information, medical librarians' roles and responsibilities in health care institutions are expanding, more so in the present context of Corona virus pandemic. Librarians in western countries are engaged in organizing, managing information resources, and offering seamless access to library materials to their users, supporting them with online consultation and research services. Medical libraries in India are slow to pick up the necessary momentum. They are underrepresented in medical education, their roles and responsibilities meagerly defined in institutions’ employment regulations and there is little in terms of medical library standards for India. Even the newly constituted National Medical Commission has not taken note of the role medical libraries can play going by its recently released 'Minimum Requirement for Annual MBBS Admissions Regulations 2020'. What should be minimum medical library standards, role of libraries in medical education in India? In order to answer these questions, the author reviewed: (i) higher education policy documents, inspection documents, UGC guidelines, and their coverage on libraries, (ii) standards developed by professional library associations, and (iii) publications on library standards in international journals. Medical education is a highly specialized area where serving librarians require a unique set of skills to meet the information needs of the diverse users of medical libraries. On reviewing these native documents, it was found that there is little content available for medical libraries to adopt in India. Therefore, to get a wider picture, library standards for higher education developed by professional library associations of the advanced countries were examined. Based on these, a model minimum standard for medical libraries in India is proposed. The right mix of resources, staff, funds, and infrastructure is important for the proper functioning of academic medical libraries in medical institutions. This will in turn enhance the quality of medical education, health care services, and research in the country.

Electronic information resources for medical college libraries available online with special reference to Uttar Pradesh

This study focuses on Electronic Information Resources for medical college Libraries of Uttar Pradesh, under the study. The studies aim to examine the factors like experience of Electronic information resources such as e-journals, standards, reports, patents, trade reports are available on the web which is widely used by students and researchers. This paper analyzes the use of such electronic resources by the medical college libraries students and researchers of medical college Libraries of Uttar Pradesh, India. Which is one of the premier Medical college libraries in India?. The study was done through survey method. The results of the study reveal that the Medical College Library possessed sufficient online journals and databases necessary for the student and researchers. Parameters such as use of library services, purpose of using web resource, frequency of usage place of using web resources, place of web resources, reliability of web resources, assistance for using web resources, barriers and preference of using web resources use of e-reference sources and e-journal database consulted by users are analyzed and results are presented in this paper. Keywords: Electronic Information Resources, Medical College Libraries web- resources, e- resources.

Developing a Model of Indian Women Library Association to Support Open Access Environment in Academic Libraries in India

Short article – no abstract.

Commercial Activity: Intera-Regional Trade & Commerce between Sind and Multan in Colonial period (1849-1901)

This research deals with the trade relations between two major towns of Karachi and Multan in the colonial period. The aim of this article is to develop a general narrative of the commercialization of crops that led to the growth of intra-regional trade and economy-addressing the issues of how these two centers contributed to the new economic development of South Asia as well as marinating their historical trade relations? Tracing the journey of agricultural production from the village mandis to the international markets, we examine the commercial network and the nature of the interaction. It will also saw the increasing and decreasing trends of trade in the following years. The research aims to draw a conclusion by using qualitative and quantitative methods for assessing its historical importance and analyze these towns as case studies. Karachi and Multan have been the two most populous and largest economies in South Asia. Being the prominent constituents of colonial India, both have a great potential for intra-regional commerce through three channels of rail, road and ports. This research is based on original, unpublished official administrative reports of British Indian Library London and Punjab Civil Secretariat Lahore.

Library Carpentry: Towards a New Professional Dimension (Part II – Automatic Authority Control to Enhance Retrieval)

Authority control for bibliographic data management in Indian libraries is generally a neglected area and thereby library OPACs of the country (including OPAC of the National Library) supports only the finding function of a catalogue and not the collocating function. In this context, the part II of the three part series on library carpentry (part I has been published in April issue) is an attempt to apply library carpentry methods in building authority datasets from scratch. It deals with the methodologies for developing authority datasets by applying data wrangling techniques and subsequent transformations of these datasets into ready-to-import MARC 21 format (for authority data). Like the previous part of the series, this research study is also represented through a case study. The case study narrates development of geographic name authority datasets for - states and union territories (level I), districts of India (level II), sub-districts (level III) and community development blocks of India (level IV). It also demonstrates that how the merged geographic name authority file for India can be implemented in an open source ILS and can become instrumental in enhancing retrieval efficiency through geodetic search feature in an open source library discovery system. It concludes that the proposed mechanisms and methodology (supported with proofs of the concept) may lead to a new era of authority-controlled cataloguing in Indian libraries.

Evolution of Public Libraries in West Bengal, India: Role of the Britishers, Library Associations and Contemporary Political Parties

This study traces the genesis of public libraries during the British period; the birth of National Library in India; the growth of public libraries in different districts of West Bengal; contributions of different movements in the evolution of West Bengal Public Library System and the role of Left Front government in the enactment of the West Bengal Public Library Act. The purpose of this paper is to review the significant contributions of the Britishers, European missionaries, social reformers and political parties particularly parties having left ideology in the development of public libraries in the West Bengal province of India. The paper investigates the evolution of public libraries for which authors have consulted literature published in different sources. Some of the important documents collected for this study are Annual Reports being published from the Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Services, Government of West Bengal; Census of India, etc. Apart from these sources, some other primary sources have also been used for this paper. This study contributes to have an insight knowledge in order to understand the gradual development of Public Library System in West Bengal.

Natural Resource Management and Nation Building in Pakistan: Agro-Commercialization in Tehsils of Colonial District Multan, Pakistan

Nation-building refers to the process of constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state. Natural resources and technologies associated with it and their use have been an integral part of human life, as old as civilization. The land formed the main ingredients of a natural resource. Pakistan is fortunate because its soils, topography and climate are generally suitable for farming, but its agriculture sectors face the problem of scarcity of water in regions like Multan. The development of irrigation resources was, therefore, one of the major concerns of the Governments who ruled the region. Like other Punjab districts, Multan witnessed the commercialization of agro products and the growth of market towns following the extension of irrigation and communication facilities. However, it was immensely transformed by the Sidhnai Canal Colony system. This paper also attempts to analyze the economics of conjunctive water management practices in Tehsils of Colonial Multan. This research is based on original non published official reports from Punjab Civil Secretariat Lahore and British Indian Library London. The paper is mainly based on archival documentation, settlement and assessment reports and gazetteers.

Service Quality of Special Libraries in Kerala, India

This study evaluates the service quality of special libraries in Kerala, India. A modified SERVQUAL questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 800 library users. The analysis revealed that the service quality of the libraries is not up to the expectations of their users. The users have high expectations but they perceived low. The libraries have to update their resources and services regularly in order to meet the changing needs of their users. Proper user orientation programs need to be conducted. The study results suggest the elements to be improved for enhancing the service quality of special libraries in India.

Mobile based library services

The application of mobile phone technology in all aspects of our everyday life cannot be ignored in institutions and establishments including libraries. Therefore libraries in developed economies have embraced the mobile phone revolution and are utilizing them for effective and efficient services. In contrast, however, mobile - based services are not pervasive among academic libraries in India. They are yet to be embraced by academic and research libraries. This paper reports findings of a survey on mobile - based library services in various libraries of India. The aim of the study was to seek the views of users regarding the use of mobile phones in library services. It sought to find whether they would be interested in using such service. Keywords: Mobile phones, Technology, Academic libraries, Library services, University.

Assessment of e-service quality performance of university libraries

PurposeThis empirical study aims to measure the performance of electronic service quality and related infrastructure in a state university library and suggests the strategies for further improvement based on this study.Design/methodology/approachThe data collection was done through a survey questionnaire based on the 22 attributes of four e-Service quality dimensions rated on five-point Likert scale. The sample population consisted of 239 respondents comprising of different categories of users of university library.FindingsThe results of this study indicated that all four dimensions rated by the users fell between mean score 3 to 4 (good), the highest score was received in dimension online public access catalogue (OPAC) and internet service with followed by Library website, Library electronic equipment’s and e-User education. Out of total 22 e-Service quality attributes, none of the attributes received score above 4 (excellent), which indicates that still university library need to improve the current performance of e-Service quality and to take remedial steps to enhance the existing e-services and infrastructure.Practical implicationsFindings from this study could assist university library authority to sustain and enhance performance of e-Services that could achieve the core journey of the modern university libraries.Originality/valueThis study was the first endeavour for measurement of the performance of e-Service quality and related infrastructure of federal university libraries in India.