Gunjal, Bhojaraju (2003). Intranet for library services, In Proceedings of 21st SIS Conference, IIT Roorkee. April 9-11, 2003.

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Bhojaraju Gunjal
Intranet for Library Services
Gunjal, Bhojaraju (2003). Intranet for library services, In Proceedings of 21st SIS
Conference, IIT Roorkee. April 9-11, 2003.

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Contents :
1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. History of Intranets
4. Why Intranets? (Need in an Organizations and Libraries)
5. Characteristics of Intranet
6. Current Trends in Internet Technology
7. Pros and Cons of an Intranet
8. Intranet for Library Services
9. Conclusion

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1. Introduction
Intranets
an internal version of the internet
miniature version of the web running on
an institutional network.
provide a single central information store
encourage communication flows
throughout the organizations
information can be easily be shared and
disseminated across national borders.
Contd…

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Contd…
A vast range of internal company information
can be held on the intranet
internal telephone lists
procedures
manuals
organizational charts
other personal documentation
the type of information which is almost
impossible to keep up-to-date using hardcopy
formats.
More advanced information handling
scenarios are also feasible. Contd…

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Contd…
In libraries also Intranet can facilitate so
many services
helps in dissemination of stored information
allows to access to remote information
libraries can discharge the required
information to its users

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Steve Gilliland :-
The intranet is a very powerful paradigm for
sharing information across the company . Its
server centric computing. There’s a lower cost
of application development, a lower cost of
software upgrades, and it gives you
ubiquitous access to information and
applications… There’s a browser deployed on
every desktop… it accesses everything and
there’s no need for training.”
2. Definition

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Dr.Steve Telleen at Amdahl was using the
term IntraNet as early as 1994 in a paper he
wrote on Intra Net methodology, which
resided on Amdahl’s internal intranet and
then was placed on Amdahl’s external
internet site.
The first commercially printed appearance
of the term is found in Stephen Lawton’s
article on intranets in Digital News and
Review in April 1995.
3. History of Intranets

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4. Why Intranets ?
Its need in an organizations and libraries
Intranets are necessary in an organization
because of the following reasons : -
1. Information Access.
2. Access Control
3. Transaction
4. Updation
5. Communication
6. Remote Access
7. Outline

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5. Characteristics of Intranet
Intranet inherits all the merits of internet:
1. Openness
2. Ease of use
3. Low Cost
4. Flexibility
5. Scalability
6. Innovation

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The latest trends in the Internet are: -
1. Intranet
2. Extranet
3. Web applications
4. E- Commerce
6. Current Trends in Internet Technology

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7. Pros And Cons Of An Intranet
7.1 Benefits / Advantages of an Intranet :-
Key benefits :
lowered network costs,
ease of learning,
goal-oriented,
self-development and
open standards that allow software to run
without relying on an operating system.
Contd…

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Contd…
Other key benefits are improved business
models, enhanced communication,
collaborative work group environment, with
continuous process improvement principles
underlying the intranet infrastructure.
• Inexpensive
• Increases Efficiency
• Flexibility and versatility
• Low Technological Implementation
• Ease of Use
Contd…

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Contd…
In addition some of the advantages of intranets are :
It is based on Internet protocols, which expands
accessibility worldwide.
It handles multimedia data effortlessly.
HTML documents facilitate higher level of
document exchanging scheme.
Ready to access the information worldwide.
Fully support open standards and architecture
for flexible expandability.
Low administration and maintenance costs.
Platform–independent systems configuration
features.

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7.2 Limitations / Disadvantages of
an Intranet
Limitations of the Intranet:
1. Maintenance
2. Lack of Training / Interest
3. Performance Limitations
4. Presentational Issues
Contd…

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Contd…
Other limitations of the Intranet:
Some limitations to be considered are:
Architecture and infrastructure of an
organization
Configuration of everyone’s system
Kind of search engine going to be
incorporate
Processes and policies for getting the
messages on the intranet site.
Determining the reliability and
currency of the content.

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Controversies of an Intranet
The most salient controversy is security.
Security is an issue for the intranet and the
internet.
Security issues have to be addressed fully.
Not all information can be put online;
payroll, personal employee information,
engineering prototypes, company secrets, and
so forth.
However, in order for the intranet to be fully
functional, this information needs to available
on-line. Information like this needs to be
secured behind fire bridges (security that allows
access only by authorized members).

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8. Intranet for Library Services
The role of the Information Officer / Librarian in the
facilitation of intranet and internet solutions is a key
one.
This role takes the librarian into a regular contact
and working relationships with the system staff
and information suppliers.
The librarian often remains the best judge of an
information source and knows the information
needs of the organization within which he works.
Thus, the librarian can provide an important liaison
in order to use the intranet as a platform to
disseminate the library’s own materials and
newsletters or as a conduct to bring external
information into the organization.

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Library Applications :-
As in other organizations, the primary
benefit of an intranet in a library is
The facilitation of information sharing.
Various kinds of documents can be
converted into HTML and made web-
accessible.
Policies, procedures, forms, annual reports,
manuals, schedules, calendar of events and
programs, and anything on paper can be
transferred onto an Intranet.
The intranet will then serve as a quick and
reliable source for organizational
information.

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An Intranet can also provide access to online
databases such as those of DIALOG’S. Here,
the ability of an intranet to restrict access is
important . Special interfaces will be needed
for Online Public Access Catalogues
(OPACs) and Z39.50 gateways to access
other databases. The intranet is certainly a
step forward a “Virtual Library”.
In this context Cary Girrifiths says –
“Think of an intranet as an organization’s
Virtual library”.

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Library can publicize its services to its user
community through a variety of pages,
• Static (opening hours, details of key staff etc) and
• Dynamic (new additions,journal alert listing service)
Document delivery services
Network fax and e-mail offers
SDI services can provide abstract and article
summaries by e-mail
Direct posting of the results of research on
electronic databases.
OPAC or other bibliographic database will be
connected directly to the network.
Other Library and Information Services

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Figure 1 : Library Services over Intranet at IRMRA

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Accessing Management Information
Improving Internal Communications
E-Mail
Intra Mail
Collaborative working
Communities of interests
Discussion groups
Electronic forms
Internal newsletters
Search facilities
Training materials
Library applications /access

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The Intranet can used for the library services
in the following ways also:
Books for approval
Recommendations to the library
Department–wise New Books Display
Overdue Notices
Renewal of Issued Books
Electronic SDI
Electronic Bulletin Board
Downloads

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9. Conclusion
Information Professionals are becoming
Webmaster and Intranet Coordinators,
combining technical expertise with
information management ability. With the
increasing emphasis on resource sharing not
only between libraries but between different
branches and departments of a library, the
Intranet offers the potential to be very
important tool in libraries’ effort to make the
most efficient use of their resources.

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The most impressive contribution an intranet will
make to your organization is its communication,
coordination and collaboration benefits.
The Intranet has certainly revolutionized the
information management processes in the libraries.
Intranet, which has distinct advantage over LAN,
has helped in faster data collection and
dissemination.
It is indeed an challenge to the library
professionals not only to accept and assimilate
this new technology, but also to spice it up with
the classical knowledge to further improve the
entire information management processes in the
libraries.

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Thank You