Annals of Ubral)' Science and Documentation 1992, 39(3), 89-93

LIBRARIES IN 21st CENTURY IN INDIA

ASUBBARAOV RAJALAKSHMIINSDOCNew Delhi-11 0067

INTRODUCTION

The meaning of the word 'Library' has changedconsiderably in recent times. At present this wordis used for collection of books for readingpurposes, libraries which can act as deposito-ries as in the case of national libraries or a librarysystem of a country, i.e., British Library, etc. Someof the libraries have emerged as DocumentationCentres (not a very recent term) and others asInformation Centres or Informatics Centres withthe traditional Library as an integral part. Thecollection of libraries has also become diversefrom stone tablets and palm leaves to printedbooks, audio-visual materials and computer read-able files. The access of information of a lipraryuser has shifted from a collection at a location todatabases located at thousands of miles away.

Library - whether public, national, academic orspecial - its main objectives and functions are tocollect, organise and to disseminate the informa-tion to its users effectively and efficiently.Application of Information Technology in the or-ganisation and services of libraries has brought asea change in the functioning of libraries in thelast two decades through out the world. In Indiathe application of Information Technology (IT) inlibraries is in its infancy.

As day by day the use of InformationTechnology is dominating the libraries, thelibrarian's skill in the application of thistechnology is becoming the deciding factor forthe efficiency of services provided by a library.This is obvious from the point that the number ofjournals available in electronic media (CD-ROMS,floppies, etc.) are increasing day by day. Thelibraries are using computers, telecommunications,etc. for document delivery systems.

PRESENT STATE OF LIBRARIES IN INDIA

The tradition of libraries continue from ancienttimes in India. The ancient seats of learninglike Nalanda, Vikramshila,etc. were having welldeveloped libraries. During the medieval period

Vol 39 No 3 Sept. 1992

the libraries flourished under royal patronage. TheBritish Government had played a dominant role insetting up Calcutta Library which is now known asthe National Library. After independence, with theestablishment of several institutes of learning anda chain of R & 0 laboratories, the growth oflibraries picked up a momentum. The countrytoday has nearly 179 university libraries and 5500college libraries. Apart from these, there are1000 libraries attached to the scientific institu-tions and organisations, 550 social science librar-ies and 600 government department libraries.Added to these, there are archival and orientallibraries containing oriental manuscripts and alarge number of documentation and informationcentres. In all, there are more than 60,000 librariesof all types in India [1].

Of the various library and information centres onlyfew had started using IT for modernisation for theirservices and house keeping functions. As most ofthese are located in major cities of India, theycould use the facilities available in these cities likemodern telecom networks, computers, softwarehouses, etc. These centres are far ahead ofother librarieS/information centres as far asresources (both financial and human) areconcerned. Prominent among these are the infor-mation centres of national importance likeINSDOC, DESIDOC, NASSDOC, etc., librariesattached to R & 0 Organisations and havingsizable collection like the library of IARI, NDC ofNIHFW, etc .. the libraries of BARC, liSe, TIFR andthe libraries of IITs and IIMs. Apart from these,some information/informatics centres are provid-ing state-of-art information services. Some ofthese centres are discussed below:

INDIAN NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC DOCUMENTA-TION CENTRE (INSDOC)

INSDOC. setup in 1952 by the CSIR with theassistance of UNESCO to provide documentationservices on a national scale has completed 40years of its existence. During this period it hadundergone 3 major phases of development.

89

SUBBARAO AND RAIALAKSHMI

During phase I (1952-1963) its activities includedthe services of document procurement, transla-tion, reprography, printing and publications.

During phase II (1963-89), while continuing theearlier activities, a number of new activities likecompilation of bibliographies, publication of ISA,compilation of NUCSSI and a number of otherdirectories, and computerised informationprocessing' including the and SDI were under-taken.

During phase III (1989- ) INSDOC has startedthe application of modern information technologyin providing its services in a big way.

The current activities of INSDOC includecreation of indigenous S & T databases,providing online database host services to thescientists in India, consultancy projects in thefield of information handling, advanced training toinformation scientists and the bibliographic serv-ices based on online & CD-ROMs; the creation ofSIRNET and the facility of E-Mail.

In the 8th Five Year Plan period the thrust areas ofINSDOC would be:

1) Creation of 100 S & T databases of use toS & T community;

2) Setting up of a computer network of R & Dorganisations and providing online search-ing facility at 5 places;

3) Developing the trained manpower forhandling S & T information.

INSDOC also proposes to strengthen R & Dinfrastructure to enable experimental work onnetworking, CD-ROM technology, electronicimaging, etc.[2].

INSDOC in collaboration with NISSAT is conduct-ing several short term courses on the applicationof IT for library & information activities therebyleading the information community in India to the21 st century.

DESIDOC

Desidoc was established under the DefenceResearch and Development Organisation (DRDO)for providing information services to variousagencies under the Ministry of Defence, Govt. ofIndia. Desidoc provides a wide range of informa-tion services like document supply, translation,on-line and CD-ROM search, current awareness

90

services, etc. Apart from these services it con-ducts short term courses from time to time for theapplication of IT for information activities.

BIO·INFORMATION CENTRE, JNU

To take full advantage ofthe Information Technol-ogy for biotechnology purposes, the Biotechnol-ogy Information Service (BTIS) was set up by theDepartment of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. TheBTIS network constitutes about nine Bio-Infor-matics Centres (BICs) distributed all over India.

JNU houses one of the BICs specializing ingenetic engineering. Which is providing the follow-ing functions:

Bulletin Board,Database Search,Current Awareness & SDI Services,Email,Collection Development,Development of specialised databases, etc.

Biotechnologists all over India are making use ofthe services provided by the nine BICs.

Efforts are being made to interlink libraries andinformation centres through computer communi-cation technology in India because networkingis one of the most effective ways of sharing theresources among libraries to meet the needs ofinformation users. A number of information net-works like INFLIBNET, CALIBNET, DELNET, SIR-NET, BTNET, etc. are in the process of establish-ing by inter linking libraries and informationcentres in different regions and the universitylibraries, colleges, R & D institutions, etc.

INFLIBNET is a cooperative networking effortinitiated by the University Grants Commissionlinking universities, colleges and documentationcentres in India through the computer andcommunication technologies. National organisa-tions like CSIR, ICAR, DRDO, ICMR, DOE etc.and academic institutions and universities will beparticipating in this network.

CALIBNET which is a Metropolitan Area Network(MAN), is supposed to cover 38 science andtechnology libraries in Calcutta MetropolitanArea.

DELNET once under operation offers sharing ofresources in about 35 libraries in Delhi region.

SIRNET offer services like E-Mail, file transfer,document transfer, Information retrieval, etc.

Ann Lib Sci Doc

LIBRARIES IN 21st CENTUR Y

I-NET, a network of the Department of Telecom-munications, Government of India, besides pro-viding access to international data networks throughGPSS ofVSNL, at Bombay offers facilities for inter-linking terminals and computers located in impor-tant cities of the country through packet switch-ing.

FUTURE OF THE LIBRARIES IN INDIA

It is indeed very difficult to forecast about the futureof any institution, since future is not predictableor pre determined. Only the choices of individu-als can influence the future outcome to someextent. To escape from this situation one maychart a number of alternative possible as well asprobable futures. Consequently uncertainity comesto the forefront of planning. Scenarios provide acontext for planning.

In order to forecast alternative futures for thelibraries, Shuman [3] has chosen three principalareas from which elements for the expected sce-narios can be selected:

1) Sociopolitical trends which affect the envi-ronment in which libraries find themselves;

2) Technological trends in which innovationand modern, automated systems and pro-cedures have direct impact on the librar-ies;

3) Economic trends which concern themselveswith the funds available within the environ-ment and within the library so that it cancarry out its mission and goals.

Some of the writers like Vannevar BUSh, J.C.R.Licklider, Tom Childers, Marilyn Gell Mason etc.had expressed their views of what the library orinformation facility of the future might consist of.Bush [3a] visualised a new world of informationstorage and retrieval which would be convenient,rapid, and comprehensive with information needsof varied types of users considered. Today, withthe availablity of IT tools like the micro-comput-ers, the modem, the optical or laser disk, the highspeed printer, the mouse, telephone connection,etc., what Bush envisioned as possible about fivedecades ago is not only a reality but has becomecommon in developed countries and is becomingcommon in developing countries.

Shuman(4] portrayed nine quite different scenar-ios of future public library which can be catego-rised as Utopian, Dystopian and Incrementalist.They are:

Utopian

It is a stage where

The library becomes fully automated androbotized, handling request for books, in-formation, data, or answers in conversa-tional mode.

The library becomes a place where won-derous and exotic adventures may be ex-perienced while relaxing in an easy chairwith an electronic helmet on one's head.

Dystopian

This is a stage when

The library disappears, unlamented and un-mourned.

Very little happens in the library as itbecomes a vast, empty monument.

Due to a nuclear explosion, a place verymuch like it was prior to the discovery ofelectricity.

A place where the state controls not only thecontents of the library but also access tothose contents.

Incrementalist

This is a stage where

A library is a place where only the poorersectors of the community may enter free ofcharge. Others pay admission charges.

A library becomes a place where only acertain type of information or a certain typeof service is available.

A library is replaced by home access to in-formation and entertainment.

None of these scenarios are inevitable but all ofthem are plausible.

Information technology has its impact on thelibraries and information centres in India thoughit was not very significant. Library networking,on-line services, E-Mail, etc. are already opera-tional or in the process of becoming functional inmajor cities of India.

Compact disk has added a new dimension to the

91

SUHBAH.AO AND H.AJALAKSt-lMI

information business. The declining cost of CD-ROMs, its high storagecapacity (600Mbytes),easyand fast replication capability,etc. are makingoptical disk a popular medium for publishing anddata distribution. A glance at the data of CD-ROMmarket titles from 1987 to 1990 (1987-150, 1988-450,1989-900, 1990-1500)[5] clearly indicates theincreasing demand for this storage medium. Thelibraries are acquiring more of CD-ROMbecause:

1) It saves the shelf space and reduces themaintenance cost;

2} It is easy to handle and at the same timeless expensive compared to other machinereadable databases.

In-house use of the databases on compact discsis comparatively cheaper than providing on-linehost service because it eliminatesconnect charges.

With the growing global awareness for affores-tation and environmental protection, some of theindustries like paper industry may have either tocurtail their production or close down. Tliis willmake the paper a costlier product andconsequently the publishers will have to lookfor some alternative media like CD-ROMs forpublishing.

Since more and more publishers will be opting tobring out their publications on compact discs,the libraries in future will have no other option butto go for CD-ROM products. The huge, bulkyvolumes will be replaced by these small discs ofsize 4.75 inch diameter in future.

To sum up, the libraries of future will be havingless of printed materials.

Already some libraries in India like NSL,DESIDOCLibrary, NAL Library, etc. are using CD-ROMprod-ucts. In future more and more libraries will followsuit.

On-line access to databases enables the user toretrieve relevant and latest information in thedisciplines of his/her interest with minimum time.There are more than 5000 international data-bases available through out the world pertainingto different subjects. These databases can beaccessed for on-line bibliographic searchthrough different host systems. INSDOC has es-tablished access to about 1000 international data-bases through DIALOG and EASYNET andprovides information services to its clients [6].Besides INSDOC,other institutions like NIT, New

92

Delhi; CCMB, Hyderabad; Madurai Kamaraj Uni-versity, Madurai, etc. have also established on-line access to DIALOGdatabases.

INSDOChas created afewon-line databases suchas National Union Catalogue of Scientific Serialsin India (NUCSSI), Polymer Science Database,Current Contents of Indian Journals, MaterialScience Bibliographic Database and Scientificand Technical Conference Proceedings (UnionCatalogue, Bangalore). INSDOC is planning tocreate more databases in future.

Resource sharing among libraries will becomeindispensible in the future. The proliferation ofpublications, price escalation of library materialsand financial constraints will necessitate thelibraries to acquire only necessary and selectedmaterials. In other words, libraries may not be ina position to purchase all the required 'publica-tions comprehensively. Joint efforts among librar-ies, like networking, creation of databases ofcommon use will be inevitable to render effectiveinformation service. Regional networks among thelibraries likeMALIBNET may be a common featurein the coming years.

CONCLUSION

It is clear from the present scenario that ITcontinues to dominate the information world.Electronic Communications will substitute otherforms of communications to certain extent.Electronic Publishing will mostly replace print-on-paper publishing. Paperless communicationsystems will substantially be in vogue by the year2000. The growing familiarity with new technolo-gies among the users will affect the reading/browsing habits of the users of the libraries infuture. As a result of resource crunch, libraries inthe 21st century in India have to pool theirresources for sharing and procure the informa-tion sources which are cost-effective.

Sloat's [7] prediction about the information sce-nario in UK 2000 is true in Indian context too:

"Sophisticated systems will undoubtedly becentred to the development of the informationindustry in the 21st century, but only those sys-terns will succeed which respons to the needs ofthe users and are perceived to be cost effective.Skilled, expert and understanding staff will be asimportant as the systems. In two decades wehave moved from documentation to informationsin two more, will we have moved from informationto knowledge?"

Ann Lib Sci Doc

LIBRARIES IN 21st CENTIJRY IN INDIA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4.

The authors are extremely thankful to Mrs. J. KAhluwatia for the inspiration and guidance ren-dered in writing this paper. 5.

REFERENCES

1. ILA. 58th Annual Report on the working of 6.the Association p.19

2. INSOOC: 40 Years: 1952-1992 [InformationL.eaflet).

3. Shuman B A: The library of the future: alternative scenarios for the profession. Engle 7.wood, Ubraries Unlimited, 1989, p. 40.

3a Bush V : As we may think, Atlantic monthly,1945.

Vol 3') No 3 Sept. 1992

Shuman B ArThe library of the future: alternative scenarios for the profession. Englewood, Libraries Unlimited, 1989, p. 117.

Pahwa A: CD-ROM Technology and implementation. Irwing, CA., CD-ROM Strategies. p.15.

JAYASRI T and VISWANATHAN T: Role ofinformation technology in information services. [Paper presented at one day seminaron Trends and Impact of Informatics, August 23, 1991 Madras] p.z,

SLOAT P : Information UK 2000: the worldwe will be living in [paper presented at theInformation UK 2000 Seminar held at Aslib,the 13th Sept. 1991] Aslib Proc, 44 (6) Jun1992: 261-262.

93