Library, Information and Society

SUNDAR B. N. Assistant Professor
Paper I LIBRARY, INFORMATION AND SOCIETY
Karnataka State Open University
2019 August QP Solved
1) What is National Library?
TYPES OF LIBRARIES
From their historical beginnings as places to keep the business, legal, historical, and religious
records of a civilisation, libraries have emerged since the middle of the 20th century as far
reaching bodies of information resources and services that do not even require a building.
The terms digital library and virtual library have begun to be used to refer to the vast collection
of information to which people gain access over the internet.
Different types of libraries
NATIONAL LIBRARIES
The concept of national library is a recent development dating back to a few centuries. This
development has been a feature of socio-economic, cultural and scientific advancements in the
Western industrially advanced nations.
Definition of National Libraries
“A national library is a library specially established by the government of a country to serve as
the pre-eminent repository of information for that country” (Wikipedia). Unlike public libraries,
national libraries rarely allow citizens to borrow books. Often, they include numerous rare,
valuable, or significant works.
The 6th edition of Harold’s Librarians Glossary (1987) defines a National Library as:
 A library maintained out of government funds;
 Serving the nation as a whole;
 Books in it being for reference only;
 Usually copyright libraries;
 The function of such a library is to collect and preserve for posterity, the books,
periodicals, newspapers and other documents published in the country;
 This is best done by a law requiring the publishers to deposit copies of all publications
issued by them; and
 Books purchased being published in other countries

Functions of a National Library:
 to provide leadership among libraries;
 to serve as permanent depository for all publications issued in the country;
 to acquire other types of materials;
 to provide bibliographical services;
 to serve as coordinating centre for cooperative activities; and

 to provide service to government.
Objectives of National Library:
A National Library works with the following objectives:
 1. It procures nation’s all literary output under legal provision as well the foreign
literature about that nation;
 2. It works as a depository house for the said heritage by preserving it;
 3. It disseminates information about the stored and procured literary wealth through
different publications and services;
 4. It works as a national referral and bibliographic center;
 5. It coordinates with the other libraries in a country to develop a national library system.
The National Library of India
A) Collection - It may be emphasized here that the National Library of India located in Kolkata
has more than 2.2 million books and other materials. The collection is built through the
following means:
 Books received through Delivery of Books and Newspapers Act 1956;
 Purchase;
 Gifts;
 Exchange; and
 Other depository privileges.
The majority of collection is in English and Indian languages, though there are some books in
few foreign languages. The broad categories of publications acquired through purchase are:
 Books and journals on India in any language, published anywhere in the world;
 Indian publications published before 1954, and not available in the library;
 Books by Indian authors published abroad;
 Standard reference works; and
 Books on library, documentation, and information science, science and technology,
education, planning and development and standard works on history, sociology, and
biographies of eminent people, rare and out of print books on microfilms and other
standard works within the limits of budget provision.
B) Services - The National Library of India provides the following services:
 Lending service including inter - library loan;
 Reading facilities;
 Bibliography and reference services; and
 Reprography services
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
Use of libraries for reading and reference is an integral part of learning, teaching and research.
Libraries in schools and colleges provide facilities for students and teachers to read books or
consult them for reference, thus widening the scope of class room learning and teaching.
University libraries provide additional facilities for higher learning, research and dissemination
of knowledge.

At this point in time, the role that academic libraries will play in future is far from clear. They
remain institutional expertise in information organisation even if the recognition of this expertise
is rather patchy. Their legacy collections are important and recognised as such. The integration
of their services into learning, teaching and research provides the greatest challenge, with the
possible loss of large numbers of researchers as direct users as alternative patterns of scholarly
communication emerge. Also their remains the question as to what physical academic library
should look like in an age of e-learning and e-research.
The academic libraries comprise: school libraries, college libraries and the university libraries.
Performance of each of these types of libraries is important in promoting the objectives of their
parent organisations to which they are attached.
Functions of the academic library
 to ensure the necessary quiet environment for reading, studying and researching;
 to provide all the students with the essential research and reference materials like
bibliographies, biographies, glossaries, abstracts, dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals,
atlases, gazetteers, monographs, etc.;
 to inform the university community of the latest scientific and technological
developments;
 to help new students to orientate in how to source and find the necessary materials
quickly and correctly;
 to maintain all the handbooks, including textbooks and fiction, which are specific to this
or that one educational institution, especially those written by its founders and professors,
and relating to its history, educational program, and so on;
 to ensure the students and faculty with the bibliographic instruction, Interlibrary Loan
services, and research assistance as well;
 to help the professors writing research papers, dissertations and scientific publications;
 and last but not least is to maintain those books that are thousands of years old to be
possible to use and study
A) School Libraries - The librarian of the school library has responsibilities of not only
maintaining the library but also getting involved in activities that would compliment and
supplement classroom teaching. It is necessary for her/him to possess teaching skills. Story-
telling, book talks, demonstrating the lives of birds and animals through audio-visual aids, etc.
are some of other desirable skills that a school librarian should possess.
A school library should offer some of these services to its clientele:
 Lending,
 Information and reference services,
 Guidance and advisory services,
 Preparation of reading lists both on anticipatory and responsive basis,
 Service on current events, activities, personalities, etc. and
 Other routine services.

B) College Libraries
College education provides a completely different environment to students. Here, the teachers
will not be in a position to provide individual attention to students. Students have to depend more
on self-learning. Therefore, college library plays important role in supplementing class room
teaching.
The major functions of a college library may be summed as under:
 Giving the young minds (boys and girls) a wider and deeper understanding of
different disciplines;
 Preparing the students for advanced studies in various disciplines;
 Preparing the girls and boys for shouldering higher responsibilities in life;
 Providing adequate reading facilities; and
 Introducing special materials to faculty necessary for their research.
The important services to be provided by a college library comprise the following:
 Textbook Services;
 Lending and interlibrary loan service;
 Reading room services;
 Information and reference services;
 Documentation services on a specific request;
 Display of current journals and new acquisitions to the library;
 Assistance in the use of the library;
 Audio-visual services – such as tape slide demonstrations; and
 Reprographic facilities (on liberal basis).
C) University Libraries - An enduring metaphor for the university library is that it is the heart
of the university.
The metaphor implies that the academic library is of unparalleled importance. The objectives and
functions of a university library are derived from the functions of a university which are:
 Learning and teaching;
 Research and generation of new knowledge;
 Dissemination and publication of research results;
 Conservation of knowledge and ideas; and
 Extension and services.
Functions - As stated above the major functions of a university library are derived from the
objectives of the university. They comprise:
 Development of a collection in a wide range of subjects for learning,
teaching, research, publication, etc.;
 Getting the stock of knowledge materials organised and maintained for
use;
 Organising and providing a variety of library, documentation and
information services, both responsive and anticipatory.

The user community of university library generally falls under the following categories:
 Students at different levels of study in different subjects;
 Teachers imparting instructions and guiding students at different levels and in
different subjects;
 Research students working for M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees;
 Post-doctoral research scholars working on specific projects;
 Professors and experts guiding research projects and managing research activities
of the university;
 Members of various academic and executive bodies of the university;
 Scholars in general, who get special privileges of using the university library; and
others
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Public libraries have a proud heritage. They are now acknowledged to be an integral part of
community life as promoters of literacy, providers of a wide range of reading for all ages, and
centres for community information services.
Functions of Public library:
Libraries are fulfilling the reading requirements of the each and every citizen to the fullest extent
without making any discrimination on the basis of membership and thus it is considered as
peoples University. It focuses on providing knowledge on all matters including academic and
non — academic. Now —a-days Public Libraries are functioning as mobile – channels in
providing knowledge to the people of rural and urban areas
A modern public library performs different functions in the society to achieve its objectives and
works as:
a. Information Dissemination Center
b. Life Long Learning Center
c. Community’s Intellectual Center
d. Recreation Center
e. Community’s Culture Preservation Center
f. Instrument of Social Change
g. Representative of Democracy
Objectives of public library:
The objectives of a public library are associated with its parent body i.e. community and its duty
is to cater to the information and recreational needs of its users i.e. community members. The
main objectives of a public library are as follows:
1. To provide up-to-date and authentic information on all subjects;
2. To provide services free of cost or at nominal rates to each member of the society without any
discrimination;
3. To provide a harmless and elevating use of leisure;
4. To be responsible for preservation and development of cultural and antiquarian heritage of the
community

Important Aspects of Public Libraries/ Facets of public library services
 The public library which being the local gateway to knowledge, provides a basic
condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and cultural
development of the individual and social groups;
 A living force for education, culture and information, and essential agent for the
fostering of peace and spiritual welfare through the minds of men and women;
 The local centre of information, making all kinds of knowledge and information
readily and freely available to its users;
 Accessible for all, regardless of age, sex, religion, nationality, language or social
status;
 And lastly, the libraries which have collections and services, all types of
appropriate media and modern technologies, as well as materials with high quality
and have relevance to local needs and conditions. Materials must reflect current
trends and the evolution of the society, as well as the memory of human
endeavour and imagination.
Special role of Public Libraries in Knowledge Society:
 Education – especially self-education where public libraries have a long and
successful history, also in life-long learning which is an irreplaceable way of
personal growth in today’s world;
 Information – ensuring access to information for all, has become an obligation in
the realisation of human rights;
 Cultural enrichment – access to different sources of information and knowledge
for all. This also includes literacy advancement, which today also means
information literacy, as well as awareness of the need to read as a main process to
acquiring knowledge, which means not only to see something, but to be informed
and acquire knowledge;
 Economic development – public libraries must act as a form of local economic
information service, in accordance with the main economic aspects of the areas
tourism, agriculture, manufacture, technologies etc. Public libraries are also the
most appropriate places to obtain all needed information and statistics concerning
all the above
The National Knowledge Commission (NKC) of India has recently decided to give priority to the
development of public libraries in India as one of the steps to be taken towards transforming
Indian society into knowledge society and converting Indian economy into a Knowledge-based
Economy (KBE).
SPECIAL LIBRARIES
The national, university and public libraries form the network of general libraries more or less
accessible to the general public. There are a large number of libraries beyond this network. They
are established by special groups of users to meet their own needs. Many of these originated with
learned societies and especially with the great scientific and engineering societies founded during

the 19th century to provide specialist material for their members. Thus some special libraries
were founded. With the coming of Industrial Revolution arose the need for working class
educated in technology, and industrialists and philanthropists provided facilities and books
necessary for technical instruction. Special libraries are attached to official institutions, such as
government departments, hospitals and the like.
Definition and Meaning
In the expression special libraries the word special has to be interpreted to mean specialist to get
closer to the concept. As a matter of fact, these are libraries that serve a particular institution that
has a specific role to play, and they will therefore tend to be one subject oriented libraries. For
example, they could serve a hospital, or an industrial organisation or a scientific institution, etc.
They also vary in size depending in part of the size of the institution they serve whose
information needs are defined. Special libraries, sometimes referred to as information centres,
are located in multitude of settings including international organisations.
Functions and Services
 Special libraries organise the resources they collect in ways that best suit
local needs;
 Analyse, synthesise and evaluate information and data;
 Provide critical reviews, reports and compilations;
 Provide abstracts, indexes and extracts;
 Perform literature searches and compile bibliographies;
 Disseminate current information and SDI which stimulate research; and
 Establish a monitoring system for the evaluation of performance.
Services
Special librarians have become adept at reading the runes (to try to guess what is going to
happen in the future by examining what is happening now) of the environment in which their
parent organisations operate. Therefore, they scan information sources to find material that they
know will interest their clientele. They master the ways and means of presenting information that
will save the time of their busy customers. Special libraries generally provide the following
services to their user community:
 Reference Service;
 Awareness Services such as Current Awareness and routing, news letters and
other bulletin services;
 Personalised and customised information services such as SDI;
 Specialised services like consolidation and repackaging of information; and
 Analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information and data and preparation of
critical reports as and when required.
2) Mention any two sections of Library
Sections of the libraries in general are :

 Acquisition/Technical Processing Section (where all the documents are acquired
and process accordingly)
 Circulation Section (From where one can issue and return documents).
 Periodical Section (from where one can get journals, magazines, newspapers).
Point to be noted that in some libraries are having different section for newspapers.
 Reference Section (where we get all reference documents such as Encyclopedia,
Dictionary, Almanac, Handbooks, Directories, Reports, Conference Proceedings,
Bibliography, Indexes, Biographies, Atlases and maps, Thesis and Dissertations).
 Stack Section (where all the books are kept)
 Study Room Section (generally attach to stack room section from where users
easily search the books of his/her interest and can read in study room)
 IT Section (from where users can access the internet as well as library’s e-
collections such as e-databases, e-journals, e-books etc.)
 Back Volume Sections (Where all the previous volumes of Newspapers, Periodicals
and Magazines are Kept.)
 Special Collection Section (like Children Section, Eminent Personality Section,
Donated Books Sections etc.)
 Recreation Section (almost a new concept where after continuous reading one can
become bore so in that section user can talk, laugh, enjoy with their friends or use
mobiles.)
 Braille sections (Some libraries are having Braille machines and books for blind
users)
3) Expand NASSDOC.
National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC), was established in 1970 as
a Division of the ICSSR with the objective to provide library and information support
services to researchers in social sciences; those working in academic institutions,
autonomous research organisations, policy making, planning and research units of
government departments, business and industry etc. NASSDOC also provides guidance
to libraries of ICSSR Regional Centres and ICSSR supported Research Institutes.
Meeting the challenges posed by technology driven world, it exemplifies the use of
digital environment for creating, applying and utilizing information with its automated
library collection, WEBOPAC, online databases/e-resources etc. It has effectively
attained itself to the web enabled information and is marching ahead.
Facilities Available at NASSDOC
 Documentation, Library and Reference Service;
 Collection of unpublished doctoral dissertations, research project reports, current and old
volumes of social science journals of Indian and foreign origin;
 Literature Search Service from digital databases, Online database and offline databases;
 Bibliography on Demand;
 E-resources for ICSSR Research Institutes and Regional Centres;
 Continuing Education Programme;

 Professional Skill Development & Networking;
 Current Awareness Service;
 Document Delivery Service is provided by procuring books and journals on Inter-library
loan or by photocopying selected portions of the documents;
 Internet facility to access e-resources in social sciences;
 ICSSR Publications Sales and Distribution.
4) Name any two Publication of ILA.
Publications of ILA
 Library Bulleting (1942-46)
 Journal of Indian Library Association ( 1955-64)
 ILA Bulletin
 ILA Newsletter
5) Expand NISCAIR.
The National Institute of Science Communication and Information
Resources (NISCAIR), located at New Delhi, India, is an information science institute in
India founded in 2002. It operates under the umbrella of the Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR) that comprise 38 other labs and institutes in India. The
institute provides the Associateship in Information Science (AIS) Degree, and also
publishes several academic journals and magazines.
General Services
 E-Publishing
 Editing
 Indexing
 Print & Production
 Herbarium Techniques
 Taxonomical Identification of Plants
 Identification of crude Plants-based products
 Contents, Abstracts and Photocopy Service (CAPS)
List of publications
 Annals of Library and Information Studies (ALIS)
 Applied Innovative Research (AIR)
 Bharatiya Vaigyanik evam Audyogik Anusandhan Patrika (BVAAP)
 Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IJBB)
 Indian Journal of Biotechnology (IJBT)
 Indian Journal of Chemistry, Section A (IJCA)

 Indian Journal of Chemistry, Section B (IJCB)
 Indian Journal of Chemical Technology (IJCT)
 Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (IJEB)
 Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences (IJEMS)
6) What is College Library?
College education provides a completely different environment to students. Here, the
teachers will not be in a position to provide individual attention to students. Students have to
depend more on self-learning. Therefore, college library plays important role in
supplementing class room teaching.
7) What is Union Catalogue?
A union catalog is a combined library catalog describing the collections of a number of
libraries. Union catalogs have been created in a range of media, including book format,
microform, cards and more recently, networked electronic databases. Print union catalogs
are typically arranged by title, author or subject (often employing a controlled
vocabulary); electronic versions typically support keyword and Boolean queries.
8) Define Library Association.
Library associations are learned societies. They promote development of the library
movement in a country. They strive for better provision of library and information services.
In this process, library associations also strive for advancement of the profession and the
professionals. Professional associations are made up of, by and for the professionals in the
fields concerned. e.g. librarians, library staff members, library science teachers, users of
libraries and library associations
Aims and objectives of library associations
 to herald the library movement in a country to spread knowledge and information
and
 ultimately contribute to human resource development;
 to work for the enactment of public library legislation, drafting of the bills along
progressive lines and based on sound principles;
 make the people library conscious so that they demand the right of access to
public library services; mobilize social pressure for the healthy development of
library services;
 to strive for the evolution of an integrated national library and information system
based on a national policy; bring to the attention of the authorities the
deficiencies, defects, etc., in the existing library infrastructure;
 to provide a common forum for library professionals for exchange of information,
ideas; experiences and expertise;

 work for the betterment of salaries, grades, service conditions; status, etc. of
library professionals;
 to hold the image of the library profession high in society; promote cooperation
among libraries and library professionals;
 to share resources and avoid duplication of efforts;
 to contribute towards manpower development for library and information work
which includes education and training, research, incentives, awards and rewards,
etc.
9) Name any two objectives of National Library of India
The Association aims at establishing high standards of librarianship and library services
in the country. It has the following objectives:
i) promotion of library movement in the country and enactment of library
legislation;
ii) improvement of library services;
iii) development of library science education and training and accreditation of
library schools towards maintaining proper standards of education;
iv) betterment of salary, service conditions and status of library personnel;
v) promotion of cooperation among libraries and library professionals;
vi) promotion of research and bibliographical studies;
vii) affiliation with state and other library associations;
viii) cooperation with international and other national associations with similar
objectives;
ix) publication of serial and other publications for dissemination of information;
x) providing a common forum by organising conferences, seminars and
meetings;
xi) promotion and formulation of standards, norms, guidelines, etc., for
management of library and information systems and their services.
10) Mention any two Publication of IASLIC.
The Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres (IASLIC) was founded in
1955. It is a registered society with headquarters located in Calcutta. It was formed with the aim
of having an association in India similar to the Association for Information Management in the
UK and the Special Libraries Association in the USA.
IASLIC has the following major objectives :
i) To encourage and promote the systematic acquisition, organization and dissemination
of knowledge;
ii) to improve the quality of library and information services and dissemination work ;
iii) to coordinate the activities and foster mutual cooperation and assistance among
special libraries; information centres, etc;

iv) to serve as a field of active contact for libraries, information bureause, documentation
centres, etc;
v) to improve the technical efficiency of workers in special libraries, information
centres, etc., and look after their professional welfare ;
vi) to act as a centre for research special library and documentation techniques; vii) to act
as a centre for information in scientific, technical and other fields ;
vii) to take such action as may be incidental and conducive to the attainment of the
objects of the Association.
Publication of IASLIC
 IASLIC Bulletin
 IASLIC NewsLetter
 ILSA
 Digitization of IASLIC Publications
 Information Service Division along with Library Service Division initiated a project to
digitize some rare IASLIC publications those are out of print aiming to disseminate the
hidden treasures among the learned community.
11) State the five Laws of library science and explain the implication of third law of library
science.
Answered in 2015 QP, Q No. 13. Find it.
12) Write a detailed note on role of UNESCO in the development of library services.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) UNESCO,
founded in 1946, is an inter-governmental agency belonging to the United Nations
system. Among many subjects implied in the title, it deals with Library, Documentation,
Information, Archives, Book Production, Copyright and similar other things. These
subjects are handled at the UNESGO headquarters by different units, However, in I976,
two main divisions, namely that of Documentation and Information which has been
responsible for carrying out the UNISIST programme were combined to establish ; a
new division known as the General Information Programme (PGI). The operational
information services within UNESCO such as Documentation Systems Division
including Computerised Documentation services, UNESCO, Library and UNESCO
Archives are administratively separate from the PGI. It is learnt that very recently the
PGI and the operational services divisions have been grouped together as General
Information Service under a unified command.
From its inception, UNESCO has been active in promotion, coordination and
development of library, documentation and information services. Its role has been one of
promotional, advisory, catalytic and sensitizing in nature: The involvement is in the
nature of carrying out projects under a Technical Assistance Programme on its own

behalf and on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), by
holding seminars, conferences and meetings, by providing experts, equipment,
fellowships and consultancies, by publishing manuals, and preparing standards and
guidelines, by supporting bibliographic al projects and by rendering advisory services. It
has been carrying out numerous programmes, projects and activities, particularly to
benefit developing countries. 39 Organisations and Institutions involved in Development
of Library and Information Services UNESCO has taken some concrete steps in areas
such as development of public libraries, setting up ,and strengthening of national
libraries, improving university libraries, development of bibliographical services and
tools, compilation of union catalogues; production of reading materials, promoting
international exchange of publications, undertaking translations of classics, supporting
copyright laws, introduction of UNESCO book coupons, securing postal concessions for
books, removal of customs barriers and similar others. The contribution of UNESCO in
the field of documentation, particularly in establishing national documentation centres in
many developing countries is noteworthy. To sum up UNESCO's record of performance
in all these areas has been impressive.
UNESCO activities in developing library, documentation and information activities are
grouped into five directions:
a) Principles and Structure of Documentation, Library and Archives services
UNESCO through its various principles has contributed a lot to documentation, library
and archival services. The UNESCO Public Library Manifesto gave a new image and
wide scope to public libraries. UNESCO influenced the development of public libraries
in many member states and underdeveloped countries and recognised the role of libraries
in educating communities. UNESCO also concerned itself with school libraries and
educational documentation services both as an essential aid to education and an ideal
means of establishing the learning and reading habit among different groups of people.
Concerning the university the special libraries, UNESCO initiated several activities like
seminars, technical assistance missions, grants, publications, etc. to improve the services
of libraries in member states. UNESCO's contribution to the development of scientific
and technical documentation centers helped member countries to overcome problems of
information explosion and paved the way for the increase of S&T research. UNESCO
also recommended to member countries the setting up of a National System (NATIS)
which helped to lay the foundation of national, regional and international cooperation in
information services.
b) Internationalization of Documentation; Library and Archival Services UNESCO
has contributed to a great extent in the internationalization of documentation, library and

archival services at national, regional and international levels. It helped in the free flow
of information and documentation embodying the product of the human intellect. Its
periodic associations with international non-governmental organisations like FID, IFLA,
and ICA have enabled it to extend its programme of activities. Many international
seminars, workshops, conferences, courses, have been organised throughout the world.
UNESCO sponsored or funded many publication programmes.
c) Professional Training Lack of qualified professional staff has been a serious problem
in developing and underdeveloped countries. UNESCO gave high priority to this
problem and as a result several specialiized courses, meetings of experts; courses for
teachers in schools of librarianship were organised, scholarships were granted, and
regional training centers and library schools were set up.
d) Book Promotion A familiar problem in most of the developing countries is lack of
books in their vernacular languages. UNESCO has organised a number of regional
meetings to study this problem and as a result regional book promotion centers have
come up with the participation, of member states.
e) The Future The efforts of LJNESCO have increased considerably in promoting
international cooperation and more stress is also given in the application of computer
and communication technologies in the development of information systems. The other
activities of UNESCO aim at improving national and regional programmes such as
training, seminars, refresher courses, in service training to managers, etc.
13) Describe the Purpose and Functions of a Public Library. Answered in Q. No. 1
14) Explain the objectives and functions of FID.
International Federation for Information and Documentation (FID). The Internati6nal
Federation for Information and Documentation (the word Information was added to the
name in 1986, but the acronym FID is continued) was founded by Paul Otlet and Henri
La Fontaine in Belgium in 1895 as the International Institute of Bibliography (IIB). At
that time, the main objective was the creation and maintenance of a Classification
(UDC) from the Dewey Decimal Classification for Providing order and access to the
bibliographical entries in the world repertory.
The objectives of FID are:
 Promote the study and application of information science, documentation and information
management

 Provide a forum for the dissemination and exchange of ideas, information, knowledge and
skills among information and documentation professionals
 Promote the professional development of information and documentation specialists
 Promote and protect the interest of information users
 Promote international cooperation in the fields of information science, documentation and
information science
Functions of FID are
FID functions through a series of Technical Committees and Task forces devoted to areas, such
as, research on the Theoretical Basis of information, Informatics, Terminology, Linguistics in
documentation, Classification Research, central Classification Committee which coordinates
revision of UDC, Board System of Ordering (BSO), information systems and Network Design,
Education and Training, Study of user needs, Social Sciences Documentation and Information.
New Plan of FID covers the general fields of sources on information, storing, retrieving,
repackaging and conveying information, properties of information. Supply of information to
match users needs and personnel development. The special fields of concern include education
and training aids to translation, classification and indexing.
15) What is Special Library? Discuss the Objectives and functions of a academic library?
Answered in Q No. !
16) National Libraries. Answered in Q No. 1
17) ILA.
The Indian Library Association was founded in 1933 at Calcutta. It is a registered society, with
headquarters now located at Delhi. It is the premier national association representing the entire
library profession in the country. The birth of the Association can be traced to the holding of an
All India Library Conference at Calcutta in September 1933. All leading librarians of that period
were instrumental in organising the conference, whose main aim was to form the Indian Library
Association.
Organization - The membership of the Association comprises patrons, life and ordinary
members, and institutional and associate members. The general body elects, for a two-year term,
a President, Six Vice Presidents, a General Secretary and Council Members up to 20 at the rate
of one representative for every 100 personal members, and one representative for every 40
institutional members. 'There are 11 Sectional Committees, one representative of each member
state library association and ex-Presidents of the Association are also members of the Council.
An Executive Committee consisting of the President, one Vice-President, the General Secretary,
the Treasurer, two Secretaries, P.R.O. and three Council members look after routine
management. While the general body meets once a year, usually at the time of All India Library
Conference, the council meets at least once in a quarter and the Executive Committee meets as
often as necessary. The Annual Report and Accounts of the Association are passed at the General
Body Meeting. Members, Subscription Rates are: Ordinary Rs. 100/-, Library Associations Rs.
750/-, Institutions Rs. 300%, Life Rs. 750/-, Patron Rs. 10,000/-. Address Indian Library
Association (ILA), A 40-441, Flat No. 201, Ansa1 Building, Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110 009.

The Association has a duly approved written Constitution. It has also framed some byelaws to
codify procedures.
Objectives of ILA Mentioned in Q No. 9
18) Library Cooperation.
Simply defined, library cooperation refers to a reciprocally beneficial sharing of resources
developed or pre-existing by two or more libraries . An interchange is usually between two or
more institutions involving a temporary exchange of resources, while an exchange will
involve cooperation on a wider scale, to include exchange of all kinds of materials, exchange
of information, user access to participating libraries, sharing of bibliographic Catalogs, union
lists, and other bibliographic utilities, and cooperative training Programs of personnel of
participating libraries.
Need for library cooperation
 Budget constraint.
 Space constraint;
 Demand for expertise and rare documents;
 Increase in Quantity/Cost;
 Access to existing information and services at less cost;
 Increased access to information and services at existing cost;
 Demand of pinpointed, expeditious information services;
 Diversity of user groups and their information needs;
 Increase of reading community and information seekers;
 Development of new subjects and subject specialization;
 Multiplicity of documents in different subjects,
Advantages of Library Cooperation
 Flow of information among special information centers
 Improving the mobility of data
 Implementation of staff skills development programmers.
 Promotion of best practices
 Facilitation of the use of common library system
 Quality of services is enhanced
 Reduction in the cost of information services
 Avoidance of duplication of non core collection development among the participating
libraries.
 A comprehensive collection is possible
19) INFLIBNET.
INFLIBNET (Information and Library Network) started as a project in 1991. In 1996, it
became a UGC centre. The mission of INFLIBNET is to create a virtual network of people

and resources. INFLIBNET provides seamless, reliable and ubiquitous access to scholarly,
peer reviewed electronic resources. It builds and strengthens ICT infrastructure in
educational institutions and develop systems for secure and convenient access management
enabling users to access information from anywhere. The main activities of INFLIBNET are
Connectivity and Content. UGC Infonet Internet Connectivity provides 10Mbps to 182
universities. Now NME-ICT and NKN is giving 1Gbps connectivity to universities and
10Mbps connectivity to colleges.
Content
Through UGC Infonet Digital consortium, 7500 journals and 11 bibliographic databases can be
accessed by 320+ universities and members. 200 colleges subscribe to each subscription from
Infonet. N-LIST by NME-ICT provides access to 5000 journals and 80,000 books to about 2400
colleges.
Open Access
INFLIBNET also provides open access to various scholarly resources.
 “ShodhGanga” is a repository of Indian PhD theses.
 “ShodhGangotri” is a repository of Indian Research in progress.
 “ShodhSagar” is a unified index of research articles.
 “OJAS”, built on open source, lets scholars start their own open access journals
 “Info Portal” lets open access of Indian E-Resources.
 Access Management by a Shibboleth based Federated Access provides off –campus
access to e-resources from anywhere on any internet enabled device.
 “SOUL” is a state of the art library management software.
20) British Library.
This is a program of 20 development protects, initiated in 1993, to investigate hardware
and services software platforms for the digitization and subsequent networking of a range
of library materials. The patent Express juke box is one o f the major projects providing
in house access to over one million o f the current U.K. US, and European patents held on
16 linked CD-ROM jukeboxes, each holding 100 discs containing 800patents. The
software searches andprints high quality patent copies for users in under to minutes.

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