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Vol. 13 No. 2

Editorial Committee

NISSATNEWSLETTER

April-June 1994

Dr A. LahiriJt. Adviser (NISSAT)Department of Scientific & Industrial ResearchNew Delhi-110016.

(Smt)S. RavindranDept. of Scientific & Industrial ResearchNew Delhi-110016.

ShriB.G. Sunder SinghDept. ol Scientific & Industrial ResearchNew Delhi-110016.Prof. R.G. GuptaDean, School of Computer and Systems SciencesJNU, President, Society for Information ScienceNew Delhi-110067.

Dr S. Mallick, SecretarySociety lor Information ScienceEMR Division, HRD Group CSIR, CSIR ComplexNew Delhi-110012.

Shri H.C. Jain, TreasurerSociety for Information ScienceHead, Technical Information ServicesPID, New Delhi-110012.

Editor: Ram D. TanejaEditorial Office: S-371, Greater Kailash-INew Delhi-110048.

© 1994 DSIR, New Delhi.

Published by the Society for Information Science onbehalf of National Information System for Science &Technology (NISSAT)DSIR, Government of IndiaTechnology BhawanNew Delhi-110016.

NISSAT Newsletter, published quarterly, is the officialorgan of NISSAT, and is aimed at disseminating infor-mation concerning programmes, activities andachievements of NISSAT as also of the variouscentres functioning under it. Additionally, it attempts toproject major developments in the field of informationscience at national and intemafional levels.

Communications concerning the Newsletter may beaddressed to Dr A. Lahiri, Jt. Adviser (NISSAT), De-partment of Scientific & Industrial Research, Govern-ment of India, Technology Bhawan, New MehrauliRoad, New Delhi-110016. Material published in theNewsletter can be reproduced with due acknowledge-ment to the source.

Whose Profession Is ItAnyway?

While talking about libraries and librarians, we invariablyrefer to those working in research laboratories, universities andcolleges. They are the members and office bearers of severalprofessional bodies. The/ attend seminars and conferences inlarge numbers, they present papers, hold animated discussions,make profound statements, write copious recommendations, andresolve to carry them through. Their display of enthusiasmhowever, should not be misconstrued as an indication of thesuccess at their own work bench (In fact, it may be just the otherway round).

Such professionals are usually backed up in their publicescapades by academics many of whom neither have practicalexperience nor research experience, and hordes of retiredprofessionals who continue to live on their past glory (if any),scoff at modem technologies and tend to form groups instead ofproviding wise guidance to the community per se. They sit invarious committees and interview boards, and ask searchingquestions for which they themselves may not have the answers.(They behave in such manner because they do not have to fielddemonstrate what they teach or breach)

In contrast, there are a few from information units of smalland medium enterprises. They prefer to sit at the rear and getentertained by the antics of their (scholarly!!) brethren. Usuallythese people work on a shoestring budget and tightenvironmental conditions. They suffer from inferiority complex,yet they deliver the goods for unless they do, they may be shownthe door!

There is another set of people who represent cash flushedenterprises. They adorn the front rows while maintaining acautious distance from those dancing on the dais and also thecurious onlookers sitting at the rear. For running the centres,their dependence on outside institutions is minimal. Perhaps theyare apprehensive that familiarity with the rest of the populationwill bring in a deluge of requests for services and make othersdependent on them (rich and poor relative syndrome!)

Although the narration may sound apocryphal, it is well toadmit that the information scientists community today isfragmented arid incoherent. The boost from modem technologieswhich the profession received, has been frittered away. Peoplewith language proficiency and public relations capabilitiesmasquerade as experts. The recent financial crunch haswidened the differential between haves and have-nots. Pettymindedness prevails, as everyone tries to guard whatever littleone has and reluctant to share with others (dog in the mangerpolicy?).

While people from subject disciplines are trying to find theirniche here and young ones from related subjects like computerscience have already invaded the field, trie brighter lot trained inUS look for greener pastures elsewhere. Right or wrong, the topspots are also now going to non-US professionals, relegating thefield professionals to supporting roles.

There is hardly another functional area which is solelyguided by decisions taken by elements exogenous to the system.

It is hard to accept the unsavoury fact that the LIScommunity is now endangered but how long do we continue tobehave like the proverbial hare, close eyes and conclude that thedanger is not real after all!

— A. Lahiri

NISSAT NEWSLETTER NO. 2,1994

NISSAT

NEWSLETTER

Vol. 13 No. 2 April-Juna 1994

CONTENTS

Whose Profession is it Anyway? 1

Concepts and Methodologies in Computer Communication Networks —UNESCO-NISSAT Workshop 3

CDS/ISIS : Fifth National Meet, Hyderabad 9

Use of Medline CD-ROM Database in Delhi Libraries — NISSAT Study 13

Automation of Libraries in Higher Education and Research Institutes — First National Convention 17

Research & Development in Industry — Highlights 1992-93 19

2 R & D Statistics 1992-93 — Highlights 25

Information Systems in Japan 27

News and Events 31

NISSAT NEWSLETTER NO. 2, 1994

Concepts andMethodologies in

Computer CommunicationNetworks — UNESCO-

NISSAT Workshop

The workshop was organized during 23-25March 1994 at Suraj Kund, New Delhi in res-ponse to an action plan suggested at the 9thUNESCO/ASTINFO Consultative Meeting heldin New Delhi in September 1993 at the samevenue. The workshop was supported byUNESCO under Participation Programme.

Telecommunications with the wider oppor-tunities it provides, has a prominent role inthe country — especially, with the develop-ment of networks such as NICNET, ERNET,INDONET, ICNET and so on. It is time that thelibrary and information professionals also catchup with the technology, find applications andstrengthen their capabilities. The workshopwas aimed at design and development of ateaching package on the concepts, methodo-logies and protocols in computer communi-cations and testing of the material in this pilotworkshop.

For the purpose, curriculum design, pre-paration of materials and presentations werehandled by a set of resource persons with richfield experience in telecommunications.

The presentation package provided therequired background and practical tips, forlibrary and information personnel, to gain abasic knowledge of telecommunications,concepts, media and gadgets to help themparticipate in network activities and interactwith global utilities like INTERNET. During the3-day instructional programme the'followingtopics were covered:

Prof. Guha welcoming on behalf of the organizersProf. S.K. Josh) DGSIR and Secretary DS1R In

the Valedictory Session

— An overview of Computer Communica-tion Networks

— Basics of Data Communications— Networking Software/Hardware: An

Overview— Media Considerations— Wide Area Network (WAN)— Services and Applications—— Value Added Services— Local Area Network (LAN)

Or Mukul Sinha makes a point at the workshop


— Practical Guide to Networking

— Applications & Network Concepts inLibrary and Information Services

— Review of Computer Networks in India

— Global Internet Services (INTERNET)

— Relative Network Cost/Economic Con-siderations.

Overview of Telecommunications

In the first session, Mr. S. Ramakrishnan(Department of Electronics) said that the basicoperation of a computer-communicationnetwork is to function as an information flownetwork. He touched upon several basic terms/concepts and presented on

— Nitty-gritty of computer-communication— Hardware specifications

— Taxonomy of telecommunication net-works and the basic design networks.

He emphasized on the progress towardsintegrated usage between computer com-munications and telecommunication techno-logy in the country.

He further dealt with— Integrated Services Data Network

(ISDN)— OSI model.

and on the INTERNET as an effort towards thedevelopment of global information network.

During the feedback, it was pointed outthat the Overview Session is to be structuredinto several layers — starting with library ascommunication medium and computer as aninformation resource centre and then begin onvarious aspects of telecom as an internalcommunicator, external communicator and abase for generating large scale services. He


also touched upon multimedia communi-cations.

Basics of Networking

In the second session, Mr. D.P. Bobde(NIC, New Delhi) touched upon various con-cepts relevant to data communication andnetworks like:

— Weiner and Shannon models— Analog and digital communication— Concepts like bits, bytes, bands etc.— Asynchronous and synchronous modes— Simplex, duplex, half duplex— Serial and Parallel modes of communi-

cation— Modulation— Coding, error detection and correction

and— Band width.

In the next session Mr Bobde, consideredNetwork hardware and software and explainedconcepts behind

— Switching — circuit switching, messageswitching, packet switching

— Network design — backbone and accessnetworking

Prof. S.K. Joshi flanked by Dr. S.S. Murthy (DESIDOC) andOr. S.M.. Salgar (INFLIBNET)

Message traffic, nodes and links. Value Added Services

He also touched upon layered approachesto networking, functions and services ofdifferent layers and standards such as X. 28and others.

Mr Bobde helped the participants getfamiliarized with the following:

— Media considerations— Taxonomy of communications— Dial up, leased lone, satellite based

Networks — VSAT— Radio, microwaves, Coaxial, Fiber optics— Relative merits of media— Modems, Multiplexer, and communica-

tion software.

The audience felt that the modules wereheavy for lay persons and the examples ofapplication areas should be drawn from LISenvironment.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

Dr. S. Ramakrishnan dwelt on the variousaspects of Wide Area Networks like thearchitecture of WAN with analog and digitallinks. X.25, Inter-networking, ISDN, high speednetworking, gateways and network manage-ment.

The presentation evoked an interestingdiscussion of WAN and called for a new way oflinking for greater library access, possiblenetwork configuration, cost variations andstandard messages.

Dr. Ramakrishnan gave a detailed accounton E-mail architecture and actual mail process,and also touched on FAX and gateways.

Dr. Abhijit Lahiri (NISSAT) dwelt on net-work applications to library services. Hetouched upon the general services, E-mail,Library networks, online search services, anddatabase gateways such as EASYNET. Hefurther reviewed the technologies of audiotex,teletext and videotex and noted that theemergence of videotex was still awaited. Hediscussed value added communication, dataorganization, and access in terms of tele-phones, TV, interactive, and broadcast andvarious other means. He felt that ElectronicData Interchange (EDI) could help in libraryacquisition, interlibrary lending, cataloguingservices and similar other activities. He alsotouched upon information flows throughGateways which may help penetrating themarket and increase business. Facilitiesavailable with Gateways should encourage layor occasional users who may also be end-users. Otherwise, this market segment mightcontinue using hard-copies or switch to stand-alone databases on CD-ROM, gateways mighthelp retaining the share of online market —particularly the segment of unskilled users.

Local Area Networks

Dr. Surinder Pal (ERNET, Department ofElectronics), handled the following concepts indetail:

— Taxonomy of LAN— Configuration of LAN— LAN Topology— LAN Components— LAN Applications— LAN Operating Systems, and— LAN Standards.

The feedback suggested that a com-


parative analysis of various parameters likeLAN media, LAN and Operating Systems,should be prepared so as to help in makingchoices in different situations.

Practical Guide to Networking

Dr. Ramakrishnan, provided a few practicaltips on Networking; how to configure a networkto meet a need, components of network,specifications & standards, VSAT and alsosharing. This was to be followed up through acase study; however this could not be donedue to paucity of time.

INTERNET

Dr. Neerja Atri (ERNET Department ofElectronics), touched on the INTERNETServices and the user population of the worldaround. She said that the INTERNET spreadover a large number of sites alt over the world,is steadily improving its services. Severalinformation retrieval tools, now available havemade navigating through the INTERNET aneasy task.

The three basic INTERNET applications ofelectronic mail, remote login, and file transferare the building blocks of more sophisticatedapplications. Services such as mailing lists,directory, enquiry, Usernet news and toolssuch as Archie, Gopher, WAIS, and WorldwideNet go beyond the three basic INTERNETfunctions to bring people closer on theINTERNET and make information on thenetwork easier to locate and use. In thefeedback, several questions were asked aboutthe availability of the library materials on theINTERNET.

Network Cost and Economic Considera-6 tions

Dr. Mukul Sinha (Expert Software Con-sultants, New Delhi), gave an exposition of

various network systems. He said that in thelast few years, many organizations in Indiahave set up data networks either for closedgroups of clients, or for general use. The typesof network services also vary, Networks suchas l-Net. RABMN, and GPSS provide onlyconnectivity {i.e. subscribers can connectthemselves through the network); whereasnetworks like SIRNET, provide only E-mail,and database access services to theirsubscribers. On the other hand, networks likeERNET, INDONET and NICNET provideconnectivity as well as other network serviceslike the E-mail, database access, file transferfacilities, remote logging, etc. In addition, therea few large multi-site organization such as ITC,and the Times of India which have set up datanetwork for their own internal use, using off theshelf hardware and software. He also gave adetailed cost-analysis of various networks.

Valedictory Address

The session was addressed by Prof. S.K.Joshi, Secretary DSIR and Director GeneralCSIR. On behalf of the organizers, Prof. B.Guha (Alliance India, New Delhi) welcomedProf. Joshi.

In his address Prof. Joshi said that thedevelopments in communications havefacilitated rapid transfer of information fromplace to place. According to him information isreal power and information flow is a commonthread binding computer specialists, com-munication specialists and library andinformation specialists. Book and journalpublication patterns were changing and onefaces a continuous disharmony betweenavailable financial resources and demandedinformation resources dwelt upon theautomation process and felt that lot of workwas needed to be done. Even in the commonapplication area tike financial accounting agreat deal of decision making is required at allthe stages and this appears to be an endless


process. It is therefore, difficult to look atlibrary automation project which is a muchmore complicated. Prof. Joshi called upon thelibrary and information professionals to takeadvantage of communication networksemerging in India and abroad, while acknow-ledging that there would be difficulties inadaptation but efforts such as CALIBNET andDEI-NET definitely hold hope for the future forserious minded readers. He lauded the initiat-ives of NISSAT in promoting library and infor-mation networks.

Panel Discussion

The session was moderated by Mr. Y.S.Rajan (Adviser, Department of Science andTechnology and Executive Director TIFAC).The other Panelists included — Dr. S.S.Murthy, Director, DESIDOC, and Prof. T. Vis-wanathan, Director, INSDOC. The other twopanelists namely, Dr. N. Vijayaditya (NIC) andMr. Md. Yasin (INET) could not be present.

Initiating the deliberations Prof. T. Viswa-nathan, said that the issue should be looked atfrom three angles.

1. Connectivity. We are fortunate enoughto have several communication networks inoperation. However, users of one network,cannot get into another network. This leads toa situation wherein a subscriber would need tosubscribe to several networks. While speciali-zation in networking is good, there should be aconsortium of networks such as the INTER-NET so that the end users of a network couldconnect to their counter-part on anothernetwork without difficulty and pay once only.

2. Reliability. The services provided by thenetworks in India today are primitive. ForIndian users, even the E-mail Services arerudimentary and it would not take one very far.

What is needed is value added, easy-to-usedata communication networks.

3. Standards: It is necessary to developstandards in creating databases or adopt theexisting ones. Too much variations in networkpractice will cost more and will not help eitherthe users or the network operators.

Dr. S.S. Murthy, raised certain issues inNetworking from the library angle. Hementioned that the libraries in India in mostcases, do not have a telephone or a computer;such basic facilities would have to be put inplace if the concept of computer communi-cation and networks is to be seriously persued.

Summing up, Mr. Rajan said that thecourse material on networking may bedeveloped preferably on floppies. Teachers oflibrary and information science, may be trainedon the concept so that they could teach thesubject to the university students. The networkuse culture may be promoted aggressivelyamong the end users and intermediaries.However, the commercial viability of networktechnology vis-a-vis the basic infrastructuralneeds of libraries may be studied in depth.Divergence in the use of standards may becontrolled.

The Chairperson felt that we should adoptmodern technologies, computer communica-tion being one which can help development ofthe society. He felt that the first workshop hadbeen useful and now the message should bespread wider sections of the population.

On behalf of the participants, Dr. AshokeRaj (Bioinformatics Centre IARI) complimentedthe organisers for their efforts. The workshopended with the vote of thanks by Mr. B.G.Sunder Singh. 7

— Prof. M.A. Gopinath


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CDS/ISIS : Fifth NationalMeet, Hyderabad

The Fifth National CDS/ISIS User GroupMeet was organized jointly by the NationalAcademy of Agricultural Research Manage-ment (NAARM) and National InformationSystem for Science and Technology (NISSAT)at NAARM, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad duringFebruary 10-13 , 1994. The programme wascoordinated by Mr R.B. Gaddagimath, NAARMand Mr B.N. Sarkar, NISSAT.

The major objectives of the Meet were:• to assess the status of the use of the

CDS/ISIS package in India• to provide solutions to technical prob-

lems encountered by the users• to facilitate exchange of experiences on

various applications of the package• to make recommendations for further

improvement/development of the pack-age.

Seventy three delegates participated in themeet. In the inaugural function Mr. R.B. Gad-dagimath, Organising Secretary, welcomed thedelegates. Mrs. S. Ravindran (NISSAT) spoke

A View ol the Audience


Dr James W. Estes, Head of Computer Centre, ICRISATdelivering the Keynote Address

on the recent developments on the CDS/ISISfront and related distribution policy. She alsoinformed participants about the statisticalpackage IDAMS now being distributed byNISSAT. The programme was inaugurated byDr. N.V. Koteswara Rao, Sr. Technical Direc-tor, NIC, Southern Region, Hyderabad. Hebriefly described the importance of informationscience and the role that librarians and infor-mation scientists are expected to play. He alsostressed the need for automating the libraries.Dr. James W. Esles, Head Computer Centre,ICRISAT, Hyderabad delivered the keynoteaddress. He explained the importance of theCDS/ISIS software in information handling androle it has played in developing countries. Inhis presidential remarks Dr. C. Prasad,Director, NAARM urged the librarians andinformation scientists to explore the fullcapabilities of this unique package.

Technical SessionsThe programme consisted of six technical

sessions. The first session chaired by Dr. L.J.Haravu reviewed the progress in promotionand application of the package. In his statuspresentation, Mr B.N. Sarkar, NISSAT interalia reported the following:

— There are over 960 installations (as inDecember 1993) in India. The off-takehas not reduced even after the packagewas priced in April 1993. Delhi hasthe maximum number of users (222)

followed by Maharashtra (162), TamilNadu (81), Kamataka (74) and AndhraPradesh (64). The maximum number ofusers who paid for the package belongto Maharashra (24).

• In the beginning, educational institutionsand non-profit organizations were themain takers. Now private organizationsare showing more interest.

• The application is still largely to biblio-graphic problems, cataloguing being themajor area. The slowly Non bibliogra-phic applications are growing.

Table

— The database of 98,500 records atAmerican College, Madurai is the largestdatabase so far developed on thepackage in India.

Mr Chander Prakash (DST) presented thesoftware package — SANJAY developed byDESIDOC in collaboration with NISSAT. It hasa module on acquisition system, cataloguing,circulation control and serial control. He saidthat it will be distributed by NISSAT in the nearfuture at a reasonable cost. Other presenta-tions made In various sessions are given inTable-l.

Name/Organisation Topic/Application area Remarks

10

Mr YV SivaprasadNAARM, HyderabadMr N. NarayanaktittyVSSC, TrivandrumMr Mohan KumarVSSC, Trivandrum

Mr Subrata DattaINSDOC, Calcutta

Mr P. DivakarCCMB, HyderabadMrT. ShanmuganathanNAARM, Hyderabad

Mr Debal C KarTERI, New DelhiProf. M.M. KashyapUniv of DelhiMr G.K. ManjunathIRM, AnandMs Mona Dhamankar0AIF, PuneMr C SugumaranLPSC, TrivandrumMrQ.P. ReubenAmerican College, MaduraiMr T. DamodaranDOR., Hyderabad

Mr S. Puradkar,YUVA. BombayDr. Chandrashekhar RaoAmbedkar Open Univ., Hyderabad

Downfoading of Data from CD-ROMto ISISLibrary Acquisition ManagementSystem using CDS/ISISIndexing System using CDS/ISIS

Implementation of CCF in 'UnionCatalogue of S & T ConferenceProceedings' DatabaseA Textual Database in the area ofProductive Physiology using CDS/ISISThesaurus Generation and use inCDS/ISIS

Duplicate Record Checking —A Pascal ProgramCreation of IntegratedDatabase for Library SystemIntegrated Book Acquisitionand Circulation SystemRegional Language Databaseusing CDS/ISISCDS/ISIS Package for RussianDrawing ManagementDemo of a Database on CDS/ISIS

Generation of Permuted KeywordIndex to Oilseeds DocumentationBulletin using CDS/ISIS

Demo of a Database on CDS/ISISDemo of a Database on CDS/ISIS

FANGORN is used

Developed for in-house Library

helps in faster data entry,output generation, avoidsduplicate checking, etc.

Stresses the need of a thesaurusin bibliographic informationstorage and retrieval system

LAN is used

INBACSYS is an integrated programfor acquisition & circulation systemBAIF created a database inMarathi language

Contains more than 98000 records


Demonstration

Dr. L.J. Haravu, ICRISAT explained thenew features of CDS/ISIS version 3.07. Hedemonstrated HEUR1SCO — a user friendlyinformation retrieval interface software, CCF —UNIMARC conversion program, conversion ofASCII file into ISO 2709 format and vice-versa.The CDS/ISIS LAN application was thereafterdemonstrated by DELL product of M/s PCL,Hyderabad.

Recommendations

A. Future of CDS/ISIS development inIndia and suggestions for NISSAT/UNESCO.

1. Suggestions to NISSAT

• NISSAT should immediatelycomplete the bench marking ofsoftware packages like SANJAY,TRISHNA, etc. and release them inthe market.

• NISSAT should provide standard(uniform) database definition whiledistributing the CDS/ISIS package.

• NISSAT should take the responsi-bility of evolving a mechanism forthe exchange of application pro-grams developed by different users.

2. Suggestions to UNESCO

The following features may be incorpo-rated:• Facility for database backup in

batches.• Duplicate record creation facility to

ease data entry operation.• Provision of Macro substitution faci-

lity in CDS/ISIS.• Facility to open two more data-

bases simultaneously and to linkthese.


* Higher PASCAL compilerfl Training

• Training calendar should be circulatedwell in advance.

• Only licensed users may be admitted inNISSAT course on payment of reason-able fees.

• NISSAT should develop a mechanismto evaluate course curricula, coursematerials and the quality of training.

C. Clearinghouse

NISSAT should create a Clearinghousewith the following activities

• Flow of Information on CDS/ISISthrough the NISSAT Newsletter

• Compilation of a Catalogue of Appli-cations, using CDS/IStS

• Setting up an Electronic Bulletin Board

Open House Session

In this session, the problems related toCDS/ISIS and their solutions were discussed.The deliberations were moderated by Ms S.Ravindran and Mr. B.N. Sarkar.

Concluding Session

Mr. R.B. Gaddagimath, Organising Secretarythanked all delegates for their active partici-pation. He emphasized the need for greatercooperation among the users of CDS/ISIS.

Mr. B.N. Sarkar presented the summary ofevaluation made by the participants. On thewhole, the participants observed that theobjectives of the meet had by and large beenachieved. The application program developedby Mr. Manjunath, IRM, Anand was consideredmost outstanding.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanksby Mrs. S. Ravindran particularly to NAARMand the delegates.

— B.N. Sarkar, NISSATY.V. Sivaprasad, NAARM

11

Government of India, Department of Electronics offers networkservices to all academic and research institutions in the country

through the

arid Research Network(ERNET) • • . •

Department of Electronics (DoE) is proud to have the capacity to link the entire academicand research community in India through ERNET - the Education and Research Network. ProjectERNET has been implemented by the Government of India with the assistance of United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP) and the initial participation of eight premier institutions - fiveMTs,HSc Bangalore, NCST Bombay and DoE, Delhi. The major aim of the project was to build capabilityin the country in the area of computer networking and set-up a country wide computer network forthe academic and research community to facilitate informal and frequent interactions, sharing ofcomputing resources, and more co-operation in research activities.

As a result of sustained efforts, ERNET provides the most extensive co-operative computernetwork for the academic and research community. Over 300 institutions in the country representinga cross-section of universities, government societies, R & D organisations, research laboratoriesare already using it extensively serving over 20000 users throughout the country, The followingservices are available on the network :

• Electronic mail • File transfer• Remote log-in • Mailing lists, news groups and bulletin boards• Data-base access * Information retrieval tools (Gopher, WAIS,

WWW)and in addition to the above, access to computing resources and users across 120 countries throughGlobal Internet.

In line with similar efforts in advanced countries, ERNET has simultaneously addressed thekey R & D issues of networking technology in order to provide benefits of the state-of-the-arttechnology and cost-effective services to the user community. Some of the future areas of workinclude test-bed for high speed networking and support of applications like, multi-site videoconferencing, and other integrated applications, like multimedia mail and multimedia documentretrieval.

*

ERNET programme has its current focus on expanding its reach to the entire academic andresearch community in the country. Progressively, the infrastructure, range of services and acces-sible resources are being upgraded in close co-operation with academic and research community.ERNET community will be happy to extend all possible help and advise you on setting up necessaryfacilities at your premises.

For further infofrrjation,_pLease_contact_:

•|2 S. RamakrishnanDirector - ERNET Project Telephone : (Oil) 436 1251Government of India Telefax : (Oil) 436 2924Department of Electronics Telex:31-65103,66536,665906, C.G.O. Complex E-mail : [email protected] Delhi 110 003

Use of Medline CD-ROMDatabase in Delhi

Libraries — NISSAT Study

The study was conducted by the Insti-tute of Social Analysis and Communicationunder the sponsorship of the Departmentof Scientific Industrial Research in 1994. Asummary of the report is presented here.

The availability of comprehensive biblio-graphical databases in compact disc form (CD-ROM) and also of CD-ROM drives has broughtabout considerable changes in informationstorage and retrieval scenario in the country.To take stock of the present status of the useof CD-ROM databases, the present study wassponsored by the Department of Scientific andIndustrial Research under its NISSATProgramme. The study is, however, limited tolibraries/institutions located in Delhi and also tothe use of mainly one database only, namely,MEDLINE.

Medline Compact DISC Search Facilities inDelhi

The following libraries/institutions in Delhiwere acquiring MEDLINE database in CD-ROM discs and had started search servicesalso:

1. Institute of Nuclear Medicine and AlliedSciences (INMAS)

2. National Medical Library (NML)

3. National Documentation Centre,National Institute of Health and FamilyWelfare (NIHFW)

4. Bioinformatics Centre, JawaharlalNehru University (JNU)

5. Indian Medlars Centre, National Infor-matics Centre (NIC) and,

6. B.B. Dixit Library, All India Institute ofMedical Sciences (AIIMS)

Of the above centres, the NIHFW is gettingonly the POPLINE database, while NIC isgetting as many as 17 biomedical databasesapart from the MEDLINE. The NIC and AIIMShave been able to instal multi-user, multi-disc,CD-NET environment where users ar encoura-ged to conduct their own search. In othercentres, requests for search are accepted inthe prescribed form and actual searches areconducted by the staff of the centres.

The Sample and Its Composition

Responses from a sample of 91 users ofCD-ROM MEDLINE database were obtainedfrom 4 search centres. The distribution of thesample was as follows: NML-42; JNU-27;NIHFW-8; and INMAS-14. Since the NML is acommon facility, more responses wereobtained from this centre. In fact the 42 res-pondents of this centre came from as many 20institutions, but 14 of them were from a singleinstitutions, namely, AIIMS. Five respondentswere from institutions located outside Delhi.

Composition of the sample populationaccording to the level or designation wasas follows: Research scholars/fellows-35;Resident doctors-14; Scientists-11; ResearchAssistants/Associates-7; Professors/AssociateProfessors/Assistant Professors/Lecturers-13;Others (Research scientists, Medical officer,Pool officer, etc.)-13. 13

On the basis of the highest qualification thedistribution of the sample population was found


to be as follows: MBBS-15; MS/MDS/M.Ch./M.Pharm.-12; M.D.-U; Ph.D.-12; M.Phil-4;M.Sc.-32. Most of the respondents withmedical degrees were in the NML sample andmost of the respondents with non-medicaldegrees were in the JNU sample.

Analysis of the sample population on thebasis of age revealed that about 65 per cent ofthe respondents were in the lowest age groupof 20-30 years and about 23 per cent in thenext higher group of 31-40 years.

Areas of Study

The respondents were found engaged ina variety of research areas/topics which wereas varied as Cytogenetic damage by radiation;MR spectroscopy; several aspects of biocyber-netics; Environmental stress; Moleculargenetics; Developmental neurobiology; Crossinfection in ICU patients; Computer modelling;Iodine deficiency disorder; Diagnostic andinterventional imaging; Disaster management,and so on.

Use of Different Search Centres

Although samples were taken from fourcentres, an attempt was made to find out as towhat extent the respondents were using othercentres apart from the one which each of themwas found using. It was observed that of the14 respondents from AIIMS, who were foundusing the NML facility, at least 3 were usingthe NIC facility also. Similarly, 17 respondentsfrom the entire sample were using the NICfacility also along with NML. At least fourrespondents were found using 3 facilities.

Information Use Habit of Respondents

14 To get a general picture of the informationuse habit of the respondents the followingaspects were taken note of: It was observedthat 56 or 61.5 per cent of them were

continuing with the use of the printed IndexMedicus. 28 or 50 per cent of this group wereusing this only occasionally and 14 or 25 percent used it regularly. Further, 6 respondentsmentioned that they were using IM to locatevery recent literature and an equal number ofrespondents said that they consulted the IM toensure that no relevant item was missed. Suchresponses can come from very discerninginformation users only.

It was also revealed that a slightly higherpercentage of respondents (59 or 65.5 percent) were using other abstracting/indexingperiodicals also. This higher percentageresulted mainly from the responses of the JNUsample, where there were less number ofusers of IM and more users of other abstract-ing/indexing periodicals. The most prominentof these titles were: Current Contents (23);Biological Abstracts (6); Excerpta Medica (5);and Chemical Abstracts (4).

Preference for Computerised Search

When asked why the respondents pre-ferred computerised search (compact disc)over mutual search through Index Medicus, theresponses were as follows: (a) It is quicker (74or 81.3 per cent); it provides abstracts also (60or 65.9 per cent); literature search work can beeasily delegated to information workers/others(30 or 32.9 per cent); provides better retrievaldue to in-depth indexing/free term searchfacility (40 or 45.3 per cent); and other reasons(10 or 10.9).

Familiarity with MeSH

The MeSH being an important tool foranalysis and retrieval in the context ofMEDLARS, an attempt was made to find outthe extent of familiarity of this tool amongst theusers. It was observed that 58 persons (64.4per cent) were not familiar and only 32 persons(35.5 per cent) indicated some degree of


familiarity. Of them 20 respondents (22.2 percent) believed that MeSH was helpful inrephrasing one's requirements in a bettermanner, 16 (17.7 per cent) thought that it leadsto a number of related subject headings whichone would miss otherwise; 9 respondents wereof the opinion that in some cases MeSH didnot provide the required subject or conceptheadings. The non-familiarity of a majority ofthe respondents with the MeSH was a majorrevelation.

Awareness About CD-ROM Technology

Since the information users were utilisingthe product of a new technology it was thoughtworthwhile to find out the awareness about thisby asking whether they knew that MEDLINEdatabase they were using was in compact discform and whether they had any familiarity withthe CD-ROM technology. Responses revealedthat 51.6 per cent of the sample populationwere aware of the fact that they were beingserved by compact disc MEDLINE but only36.6 per cent of them had some familiarity withthe new technology. Respondents from JNU,however, had better awareness on bothcounts.

User's View of Retrieval Efficiency

There were as many as 23 cases of non-response to this question. The experience ofthose who responded revealed that on theaverage they could retrieve only 47.9 per centrelevant items, 34.3 per cent not so relevantitems, 22.4 per cent irrelevant items, and 13.4per cent uncertain items. However, conside-rable variations were observed among the foursegments of the sample. As for example, in theJNU sample the average relevant items ratewas 32 per cent only and irrelevant items ratewas 37.3 per cent, while the correspondingrates for the NML were 55.8 per cent and 20.8per cent respectively.

How Much One is Willing to Pay

As the usefulness of a service is oftenmeasured by the price one is willing to pay, therespondents were asked to state what theythought would be a reasonable charge persearch. Data revealed that 25.6 per cent of therespondents maintained that the serviceshould be available free of any charge, while62.1 per cent were willing to pay upto Rs. 50per search, but some of them specified theproposed fee at Rs. 5, Rs. 10, and Rs. 15 persearch. Further, only 5 persons were willing topay a charge of Rs 51 to Rs, 100. Somerespondents also commented on the need toimprove the quality of the search servicebefore introducing any charge.

Availability of Relevant Documents

Since location of relevant documents isonly one aspect of the information seeking act,a close look was taken at the other aspectalso, i.e, getting access to the actual docu-ments or procuring copies of them. It wasobserved that out of the 68 persons whoresponded, 64 had mentioned that they weredepending on the NML, of course along withtheir own institutional or other libraries.Dependence on one single source to such anextent is rare in any discipline. The position ofINSDOC was found very low in this respect.

On the question of timeliness of thedocument delivery services the views of therespondents were almost evenly poised — 35persons thought that copies of documentswere available within acceptable time-lag and33 thought that the service was usuallydelayed.

Some Relevant Comments From Users

Forty respondents made some generalcomments on the search services. Analysis

15


revealed that these mainly related to the needfor user education or orientation, greaterpublicity, sharing of facilities and betteraccessibility, improving the competence andchanging the attitude of staff in the conduct ofsearches, and retrieval efficiency.

Responses From Search Centres

NML reported that there was a shift fromthe use of the printed Index Medicus toMEDLINE discs search. This trend was visibleas both the printed and the disc versions wereavailable there. IN MAS also indicated such atrend. When asked to state In what way theavailability of the compact discs had helpedthe search centres in extending their services,the response of the NML was positive andmaintained that "it is now in a position to servemore number of users, within a short span oftime with the help of CD-ROM diskettes".

As is well known for conducting asuccessful search in any automated systemsome consultation or dialogue between theuser and-provider of information is necessary.

Responses obtained on this aspect clearlyindicated that such dialogues were absent inmost cases. The request forms used by thesearch centres also did not suggest the usersto consult the MeSH.

Similarly on the question of getting user'sresponse or feedback, most of the centrescould not report anything very positive.

Recommendations

On the basis of the findings and trends, tenrecommendations have been made for theextension of the search services, includingprivate practitioners, conduct of user educationprogrammes, closer interaction among pro-viders of information, for uniform policy ofcharging, for networking, etc. Finally, it hasbeen recommended to pass on some of thework to a suitable NGO.

The study team had Prof. B. Guha as thePrincipal Investigator. Ravi Walia and RashmiBarka worked as the Investigators.

16


Automation of Libraries inHigher Education andResearch Institutes —

First National Convention

The First National Convention (CALIBER-94) on the above topic was held at Ahmeda-bad during 19-20 February 1994. Organized byINFLIBNET, the Convention discussed at greatlength issues regarding inability of our librariesto cope with the present situation of informa-tion explosion due to severe budgetaryconstraints and the fast changing economic,social, cultural and scientific scenario and theways and means to offer better services to theusers employing the state-of-the-art informa-tion technology. The convention was attendedby 172 library professionals from all over thecountry including 95 persons from variousuniversities and educational institutions. Theneed for automation of libraries, the methodo-logies for using computers, adopting uniformityin standards and formats and various otherrelated issues were debated in seven technicalsessions spread over two days. The followingresolutions were discussed and adopted at theconvention.

Resolutions

(i) Resolved that to enable scholars,researchers, teachers and students,especially those located in far offplaces, to have access to informationand documents available in libraries,INFLIBNET Programme is very essen-tial for R&D institutions and institutionsof higher learning.

(ii) Resolved that INFLIBNET Programmeshould provide an opportunity touniversities and colleges to modernisetheir library operations, and as such

be given top priority and provided withadequate funds by the UGC and otherauthorities.

(iii) Resolved that keeping in view theimportance of the Programme, all thelibraries of the universities anddeemed universities be providedfunds for developing infrastructuralfacilities in the first phase.

(iv) Resolved that the INFLIBNET shoulddevelop universities as nodes fornation-wide information sharing struc-ture in a phased manner so as tocover all the university libraries within4 to 5 years.

<v) Resolved that INFLIBNET establish atleast five Regional Centres and atleast fifty Resource and DocumentDelivery Centres within next fiveyears.

(vi) Resolved that INFLIBNET shouldinitiate and encourage development ofbibliographic databases on differentspecialisation at regional and nationallevels.

(vii) Resolved that the INFLIBNET shouldprovide guidelines for hardware andsoftware requirements, standards forcreation of bibliographic databases,formats for data capturing and proto-cols for data communication andnetworking. 17

(viii) Resolved that the INFLIBNET shouldpromote development of tools and


techniques for Indian languages forlibrary services and networking.

(ix) Resolved that INFLIBNET shouldcontinue programme for training thelibrary and other professionals In aphased manner.

(x) Resolved that INFLIBNET shouldprovide user manuals and othereducational tools for use of libraryoperational staff. It should alsodevelop user-education programmesand other means of user sensltisation.

(xi) Resolved that INFLIBNET shouldspecify types of display and outputformats for different services that areuseful to end users for networking,bulletin boards, etc.

(xii) Resolved that INFLIBNET shouldsupport and establish an R & D unitfor improving bibliographic, documentand information handling and accesstechniques. It should also encourageinstitutions involved in library andinformation science work in carrying

out research and development activi-ties in the areas of library automation,networking, etc.

(xiii) Resolved that the INFLIBNET shouldmove with greater momentum toharness human and technologyresources to develop an educationand research information network incollaboration with other organisationsin India and abroad.

(xiv) It should publish 'Newsletter' to pro-vide upto date status on development.

(xv) It should periodically assess theservices offered by the Programmeand discuss issues involved in libraryautomation, networking, user needs,etc. by continuing to hold annualconventions like the present one.

(xvi) Resolved that the above mentionedrecommendations be forwarded tothe University Grants Commission,AICTE, C.S.I.R., I.C.A.R., I.C.M.R.,D.R.D.O., etc. and other CentralGovernment agencies for necessaryaction.

Marketing Information : Present Status andFuture Prospects

The XIV Annual Convention and Conference of the Society for Information Science will beheld at Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow during 24-25 January1995. The Convention will deliberate on the theme "Marketing Information: Present Statusand Future Prospects".

For scope and other programme details write to Dr S. Mallick, Secretary SIS, CSIRComplex Building, New Delhi-110 012.

18


Research & Developmentin Industry: Highlights

1992-93

Industrial Sector

• Industrial sector accounted (or 26.4%of the total national expenditure onR&D activities during the year 1992-93.

• The total R&D investment by industrialsector attained a level of Rs. 1358.48crores at current prices during 1992-93and out of this 56.8% was invested byprivate sector and the rest 43.2% bypublic sector.

• Industry spent 0.22% of GNP on R&Dduring 1992-93.

• The industrial units spent about 0.57%of their sales turnover on R&D in 1992-93. For private and public sector sepa-rately these figures were 0.64% and0.51% respectively.

• 18.4% of total industrial sector R&Dunils which belonged to Defence andElectricals & Electronics groups acco-unted for 29% of the total industrialsector investment on R&D during 1992-93.

• Per unit R&D expenditure for industrialsector, private sector and public sectorindustries was Rs. 1.00 crores, Rs.0.65 crores and Rs. 3.31 crores res-pectively during 1992-93.

• 41.3% of total industrial sector R&Dexpenditure was spent on the objectivePromotion of Industrial Developmentduring 1992-93.

• As on 1st April, 1992, 64824 personnelwere employed in 1305 industrialsector R&D units which was 22.1% of

national total. Out of the total 37182R&D personnel directly engaged inR&D activities in industry, 62% wereemployed in private sector and rest38% were employed in public sector.For every 1000 R&D employees inindustrial sector, 76 were female R&Demployees.Of every 100 personnel employed inindustrial sector R&D units, 57 wereprimarily engaged in R&D, 25 extendedtechnical support and 18 providedadministrative support.By level of qualification of industrialsector R&D personnel, 7.8% wereDoctorates, 22.9% Postgraduates,39.8% Graduates and 29.5% Diplomaand other qualifications by taking alldisciplines of Science and Technology.

Private Sector

As on September 1992, 86% of in-house R&D units of private sectorcame into existence during and subse-quent to Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74).Investment on research and develop-ment by private sector R&D unitsattained a level of Rs. 771.77 crores in1992-93 which was 21.2% more thanthe investment on R&D of previousyear.Private sector R&D expenditure 19

constitutes 15% of total investment inR&D at national level and it was 0.13%of GNP during 1992-93.


20

• Percentage share of R&D expenditure,advertising expenditure and new plantand machinery expenditure in salesturnover was 0.64%, 0.60% and 6.06%respectively in 1992-93 of privatesector.

• The Industry Groups Transportation,Electricals & Electronics, Drugs &Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals (otherthan Fertilizers), Industrial Machineryand Metallurgical Industries accountedfor 65.3% of total private sector R&Dexpenditure during 1992-93.

• 43.7% of total R&D expenditure wasutilised for the objective promotion ofIndustrial Development.

• By field of science, 56.1% of privatesector R&D investment was for engi-neering and technology during 1992-93.

• 63% of total R&D expenditure wasaccounted for revenue expenditure andrest 37% was accounted for capitalexpenditure.

• 76.6% of total R&D units were locatedin the States of Maharashtra, TamilNadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, WestBengal, and Andhra Pradeshaccounting for 83.4% of total R&Dexpenditure in 1992-93. 34% of thetotal R&D units were located in theState of Maharashtra alone and theseunits accounted for 47.2% of total R&Dexpenditure of private sector.

• 27.4% of private sector in-house R&Dunits were of the small scale industriesand shared 7.3% of R&D expenditureof private sector in-house R&D unitsduring 1992-93.

• 86% of total private sector in-houseR&D units were each spending lessthan or equal to Rs. 100 lakhs on R&Dduring 1992-93. The rest 14% of these

private sector in-house R&D units eachspending more than one crore on R&Dshared 70% of total private sector R&Dinvestment.

• Per unit R&D expenditure was showinga consistent increase with the increasein the employment size of thecompanies.

• As on 1st April, 1992, 42442 personnelwere employed in private sector R&Dunits. Out of these, 54.3% wereengaged primarily on R&D activities.The share of private sector R&Dpersonnel in the total R&D personnel atthe national level worked out to beabout 24%.

• For every 1000 R&D employees inprivate sector, 86 were females.

• About 18% of total personnel engagedprimarily in R&D activities in privatesector in-house R&D units were fromindustry group Electricals and Electro-nics Equipment.

• Out of 21809 R&D personnel employedin private sector, 9.2% were Ph.Ds,25.9% were Post Graduates, 38.9%were Graduates and 26% wereDiploma or other qualifications.

• 55% of total R&D personnel hadEngineering & Technology as theirdiscipline.

• 14% of R&D personnel in privatesector were in the range of aboveRs. 10,00,000 annual gross emolu-ments during 1992-93.

Public Sector

• Public sector R&D expenditure attaineda level of Rs. 586.71 crores at currentprices in 1992-93 which was 21 .1%more than the R&D expenditure of1991-92.


• The ratio of R&D expenditure to salesturnover was estimated at 0.51% in1992-93.

• 28.8% of total public sector R&D unitsunder Defence, Electricals and Electro-nics Equipment and MetallurgicalIndustry groups have spent 56.1% oftotal public R&D expenditure during1992-93.

• 86.8% of the total public sector R&Dexpenditure was shared by publicsector industries under eight Ministries/Departments viz., Defence Productionand Supplies, Heavy industry,Petroleum and Natural Gas, Steel,Telecommunications, Chemicals andPetrochemicals, Atomic Energy andElectronics during 1992-93.

• More than two-third (69.5%) of totalpublic sector R&D expenditure wasutilised for the objective — Promotionof Industrial Development and Defenceduring 1992-93.

• 36.8% of total public sector R&D unitslocated in the States of Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh andBihar accounted for 72.9% of totalpublic sector R&D expenditure during1992-93.

• As on 1st April, 1992, 22,382 personnelwere employed in Public sector R&D

units. Out of this 63% were engagedprimarily on R&D, 25% were employedon auxiliary activities and 12% wereproviding administrative support.

• Out of every 1000 R&D employees inpublic sector, 59 were female R&Demployees.

• 68.5% of total R&D personnel wereemployed in Electricals and Electro-nics, Defence, Metallurgical and Tele-communications Industries.

• 5.5% of total R&D personnel employedin public sector had Ph.D qualification,17.9% were Post Graduates, 41.4%were graduates and 35.3% werehaving Diploma or Other qualifications.

• 75.8% of the R&D personnel publicsector had Engineering & Technologyas their field of specialisation.

• .1% of female R&D personnel employ-ed in public sector industries werePh.D. qualified.

• 72.8% of female R&D personnelemployed in public sector industrieshad Engineering & Technology as theirfield of specialisation.

• 56.6% of R&D personnel employed inpublic sector received Rs. 50000 toRs. 100000 as their annual grossemoluments as on 1.4.1992.

21

NISSAT NEWSLETTER NO. 2. 1994

P I S - PersonalisedInformation Servicesfrom INSDOC

With more and more internationalisation ofbusiness and global competition, there is a suddenincrease in the international transbordarinformation flow. Information has become asaleable commodity with high inflationary trendson account of the sudden demand. The presentinformation products and services are expensiveto obtain and most often do not meet the specificneeds of the end user, There is a need to searchfor new paradigms for information products andservices so that the end users can easily affordthem and get 100 per cent satisfaction out of them.In this context, Personalised Information Services(PIS) offer an alternative, viable, cost effectiveand economic paradigm for future informationservices.

This article describes three of the PersonalisedInformation Services (PIS) recently introducedby INSDOC:

1. Contents, Abstracts and PhotocopiesService (CAPS)

2. Standing Order Abstracts Service(SOAS)

3. Chemical Abstracts Keyword IndexService (CAKIS)

Contents, Abstracts and PhotocopiesService (CAPS)

Under CAPS, for an yearly subscription, onecan get the contents information of 30 selectedjournals from about 5000 core Indian and foreignperiodicals pertaining to different disciplines.The information is provided on different mediasuch as paper, diskette, email or fax. On browsing

22 through the contents information, one may orderfor abstracts or photocopies of full text of articlesat an extra cost. An institution, corporate entityor individual can take more than one subscriptionin order to get access to more than 30 journals.

Contents information being the starting point

for any information seeker, individualacademicians and scientists will be encouraged tobuild their own collection or database ofreferences. Hence this service is being offered toindividuals at a concessional price.

Subscription Rates:

MediumDiskettePaperE-mail

IndividualRs.600 per yearRs.400 per yearRs.500 per year

InstitutionalRs. 1,800 per yearRs.1,200 per yearRs.1,500 per year

Information in floppy is supplied in a databaseform which can be accessed using a retrievalsoftware that runs under MS-DOS. The retrievalsoftware can search the database by keyword,author .name or journal name. The price of theretrieval software is Rs.1,000/-. Informationthrough E-mail is supplied as an ASCII file.

For the purposes of photocopies services, thejournals are placed in two categories :

Category A : High value and high frequency orelectronic journals.

Category B : Low value and low frequencyjournals.

For subscribers in Delhi, door delivery is beingorganised for the supply of photocopies. Allphotocopy requests will be executed within 48hours excluding holidays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Charges for door delivery

Category A :

Rs.50/- for first 10 pages or part thereof plusRs.10/- for every additional five pages or partthereof.

Category B :

Rs.40/-for first 10 pages or part thereof plusRs;10/- for every additional five pages or partthereof.

For subscribers outside Delhi, the photocopieswill be despatched within 48 hours of the receiptof the order excluding Saturdays, Sundays andother holidays.

Charges for despatch by ordinary post

Category A :

Rs.40/- for first 10 pages or part thereof plusRs.10/- for every additional 5 pages or partthereof.

Category B :

Rs.30/- for first 10 pages or part thereof plusRs.10/- for every additional 5 pages or partthereof.

Photocopies can be sent by speed post or fax onrequest at extra charges.

For demand based abstracts and articlephotocopy services, subscribers must open adeposit account with INSDOC with a suitableamount based on their estimated demandssubject to a minimum of Rs.500/- as initialdeposit. No supply will be effected if adequatefund is not available in the deposit account.Regular statements on deposit accounts will besent to customers.

Standing Order Abstracts Service(SOAS)

Under Standing Order Abstracts Service aninstitution or an individual may choose one ormore number of journals for which the abstractsof all the articles appearing in the journals for aperiod of one year will be sent on an yearlysubscription basis.

A sample copy of the output of the service canbe obtained by writing to Deputy Head, NationalScience Library, INSDOC. A list of journalscovered under this service can also be obtainedfrom the same source.

Subscription rates for Standing OrderAbstracts

For Category A - High Value and HighFrequency or electronic Journals. - Rs. 1200/-per year

For Category B - Low Value and LowFrequency Journals - Rs. 60G/-per year

Some libraries are already subscribing to thisservice for journals which they have discontinuedin their libraries for want of fund. They seem tobe placing the standing order abstracts outputfrom INSDOC in the respective journals displayposition in the library. The feedback indicatesthat the readers are very happy to browse throughthese abstracts and get a feeling of having gonethrough the journal itself.

Chemical Abstracts Keyword IndexService (CAKIS)

Another service in the class of PIS introducedrecently is Chemical Abstracts Keyword IndexService (CAKIS) . You may be aware thatchemical abstracts is an expensive publicationwith an annual subscription value of about Rs.5.5lakhs. A large number of libraries have beenforced to stop subscription for this publicationbecause of the high cost. You may know thatchemical abstracts contains 80 sub-sections.Normally an institution or an individual user doesnot consult more than a few sub-sections forhis/her work. The normal mode of obtaininginformation from chemical abstracts is to scanthrough the index and reach the correspondingabstracts. Chemical abstract does not givesub-section wise index. INSDOC is creating itsown index sub-section wise and making itavailable under CAKIS. Keyword index of oneor more sub-sections can be obtained for anannual subscription. On going through thekeyword index, the user may order for a particularabstract at an extra cost.

Subscription rates for CAKIS

on disketteon paperon Email

- Rs.500/- per subsection per annum.- Rs.300/- per subsection per annum.- Rs.400/- per subsection per annum.

Photocopies of abstracts are priced Rs.5/- perabstract. A retrieval software package providingdifferent modes of search under MS DOS forsearching the data from the diskette is available. 23The package is priced at Rs.1000/-.

INSDOC is hopeful that the scientists andengineers of this country would benefitsignificantly from these services.

I N S D O C

Indian Science Abstracts (ISA)is now available onlinethrough dialup lines or I-net.Other on-line databases:Current Contents of Indian JournalsNational Union Catalogue of Scientific Serials in IndiaPolymer Science AbstractsIndian PatentsMedicinal and Aromatic Plants AbstractsIndian StandardsMetallurgy IndexAH the databases are also available on floppiessearchable through a special INSDOC retrieval softwarerunning under MS-DOS.Some of the above databases are being made availableon CD-ROM shortly.For price and other detailsplease get in touch with :Marketing and Customer Services DivisionIndian National Scientific Documentation Centre(INSDOC)14, Satsang Vihar Marg, New Delhi 110 067Phone : 686 3617, 66 0143; Telex: 031-73099Fax: 91-11-686 2228; E-mail: [email protected]

INSDOC Regional Centre INSDOC Regional Centre INSDOC Regional Centre1.1. Sc. Campus 1.1. C. B. Campus CSIR Madras ComplexBangalore 560 012 4, Raja S. C. Mullick Road TaramaniPhone : 334 3554 Calcutta 473 3583 Madras 600 115E-mail: [email protected] Phone : 473 3583 Phone: 235 1453

E-mail: rnot%slrntlc@sirr,(ld.crnft!n E-mail; [email protected],111

INSDOC-WRIC Infoi .nation Services INSDOC-CRC Information ServicesWestern Regional Instrumentation Centre Communication Research ConsultantsUniversity of Bomltay, Vidyanagari Post Box 7873,309 B. B. Ganguly StreetBombay 400 098 Calcutta 700 012Phone 612 2630,612 2618,612 8758 Phone: 26 3597,42 2621,244 6471, 350 7206E-mail: root%sirnclw.crnet.in E-mail: cre% [email protected]

R&D Statistics 1992-93— Highlights

• The national investment in R&Dactivities attained a level of Rs.5141.64 crores in 1992-93. For theyear 1993-94 the figure has beenestimated to be Rs. 5733.43 crores.

• 0.83% of Gross National Product wasdevoted to R&D activities in the countryduring 1992-93.

• Sectorwise percentage share ofnational expenditure for 1992-93 wasCentral Government institutions 64.3%,State Governments 9.3%, public sectorindustries 11.4%, and private sectorindustries 15.0%.

• In the Institutional sector, about 21% ofthe total expenditure was spent onbasic research, 39% on applied re-search, 29% on experimental develop-ment and rest 11 % on other supportingactivities.

• R&D expenditure by institutional sectorwas 73.6% of the total national R&Dexpenditure and the rest 26.4% wasincurred by industrial sector comprisingof both public and private sectorindustry during 1992-93.

• About 89% of the expenditure incurredfrom government sources came fromCentral Government and rest 11% fromthe State Governments.

• 71.6% of the R&D expenditure incurredby Central Government came from 12major scientific agencies-DAE, DOS,CSIR, ICAR, DRDO, DBT, DOE,ONES, DOD, DST, ICMR, MOEn andthe rest came from other centralministries/departments/public sector

industries. Amongst the major scientificagencies, Defence Research andDevelopment Orgnisation accountedfor 28.4% of the expenditure.

• State sector spent Rs. 478.78 croreson R&D activities during 1992-93.About 90.4% of the total investment onR &D activities by States sector was ondevelopment of agriculture and alliedareas. More than one fourth of totalState sector R&D expenditure wasincurred by R&D institutions located inthe State of Maharashtra and UttarPradesh.

• A sum of Rs. 1358.48 crores was spenton R&D by industrial sector in 1992-93.The number of R&D units involved was1052 in the private sector and 177 inthe public/joint sector besides 148SIRO units. The share of industrialsector R&D in total national R&D was26.4%.

• Industry spent 0.57% of their salesturnover on R&D in 1992-93. Rs.182.42 crores of R&D expenditure byindustrial sector was in the group ofdefence industries, followed byelectricals and electronics group withRs. 175.72 crores.

• As on 1st April, 1992, nearly 2.93 lakhpersonnel were employed in the R&Destablishments in the country includingin-house R&D units of public andprivate sector industries. Out of this,32.5% were performing R&D activities, 2533.5% were performing auxiliaryactivities and the rest 34.0% wereproviding administrative and other non-


26

technical support. There were 8490women directly engaged in R&Dactivities.

• There were 183 universities/deemeduniversities, 10 institutions of nationalimportance and 7513 colleges during1991-92 to impart higher education inthe country.

• Pure science doctorates had a share of64.4% of the total 4579 S&T doctoratesproduced by the educational system inthe country during 1990-91.

• Patents sealed in the year 1991 -92 were1676 out of which 551 were sealedby Indian citizens. This is a mere32.9% of the total patents sealed inIndia. Maximum number of applicationsfiled by Indian were from State of Delhiwith a percentage share of 30%. UnitedStates of America topped the list ofapplications for patents filed in India byforeign countries with a percentageshare of 44.8%.

• In relation to population, the stock ofS&T personnel for India is not high ascompared to that observed for deve-loped countries. India has only 3.76%scientists, engineers and technicians(SET) per thousand population during1990, Only 0.22% SET per thousandpopulation were employed in R&Dduring 1992.

In the year 1990, developed countriesaccounted for 96% of the total expen-diture for research and development inthe world. This figure was 95% in 1985and 94% in 1980. Most of the deve-loped countries spent 2 to 3 per cent oftheir GNP on R&D while India hasspent 0.83% of its GNP On R&D during1992-93. India's per capita R&Dexpenditure was a mere US($) 2.60whereas this was between US($) 100and US($) 800 for most of thedeveloped countries and more thanUS{$) 50 for a few developingcountries.

Plan allocation for S&T increased fromRs. 142 crores in fourth pjan to Rs.9180 crores during the eighth plan.During the eighth plan, the share ofS&T plan outlay in the total publicsector plan outlay was 2.1%.

The extramural R&D support increasedfrom Rs. 99.47 crores in 1990-91 to Rs.104.51 crores in 1992-93. Departmentof Biotechnology (DBT) and Depart-ment of Science and Technology (DST)were the two agencies playing a majorrole in extramural R&D funding.

Academic sector received 56% of thetotal extramural R&D support during1992-93.


Information Systems inJapan

Japan information Centre of Science andTechnology (JICST)

Created in 1957, under the authority of theAgency for Science and Technology, theJICST's role is to collect and index the worldscientific and technical information.

National Centre for Science InformationSystems (NACSIS)

Founded in 1986, and placed under theauthority of the Ministry of Education, Scienceand Culture, NACSIS is at the hub of theJapanese inter-university scientific andtechnical information system.

The discussions covered the possibility ofmaking NACSIS databases accessible to theFrench scientific community. The NACSISdatabases constitute a tool for identifying notonly publications (NACSIS-CAT) but also themajor research centers in Japan (NACSIS-IR).

National Diet Library

Established in 1948, the National DietLibrary is the national library of Japan. Assuch, it constitutes a huge national informationreservoir. Through its scientific and technical

document division, users of the Library haveaccess to over three million scientific andtechnical documents.

National Institute of Science andTechnology Policy (NISTEP)

Founded in 1988, NISTEP is one of the sixinstitutes under the authority of the Scienceand Technology Agency (STA). NISTEPanalyzes the complex environment of scienceand technology, and carries out, often with aprospective approach, empirical and theore-tical studies on a variety of subjects.

Small and Medium Enterprise InformationResearch System (SMIRS)

SMIRS is the acronym given to theinformation system of the Japan SmallBusiness Corporation, created in 1980 topromote, under the Ministry of InternationalTrade and Industry (MITI) authority, thedevelopment of small businesses in Japan.SMIRS experience in supplying information tothe small business sector (access todatabases, document delivery, individualconsultancy services, etc) is quite significant.

Source: La Lettr& de L' INIST N°1 Jan. 1994

27


CALIBNET Training Course

Course Topic

Duration

Participation Fee

No. of Seats

Target Group

Objectives

Course Content

Course Methodology

Library Automation : Microcomputer for Library andInformation Systems

19 to 30 September 1994(Two weeks, Monday to Friday, 10.00 am to 5.15 pm

Rs. 1000

15

Practising librarians, information personnel, managers oflibrary and information systems

Exposure to modem information technology (IT) options,equipping for library automation (LA) Planning, hands-onexperience on IT applications

Overview of LA. Computer Hardware. Computer Soft-ware. Operating Systems. Library & Information Applica-tion Software and Special Purpose packages. LibraryHouse-Keeping : Functional Modules. InformationStorage & Retrieval. Communication Technology. Net-working. Guidelines for Selection of Computer Hardwareand Software. Essentials of Planning and Design Consi-derations for LA.

Lecture, demonstration, tutorial, and comprehensivehands-on training.

Applications for admission to the training course are invited on plain paper with completebio-data so as to reach the address noted below on or before 31.8.94, alongwith Demand Draft of Rs. 1100/- drawn in favour of Director, CALIBNET, NetworkServices Centre, Regional Computer Centre Building, Jadavpur University Campus,Calcutta - 700 032.

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The Department of Science and Technology, since 1973-74, is undertaking National Survey to collect informationon resources devoted lo scientific and technological activities. Based on the data thus collected, a number of analyticalreports are being published by the Depar tment . The National Science and Technology Management InformationSystem (NSTMIS) division of DST has brought out the main report titled 'Research and Development Statistics1992-93"in April 1994 and a sectoral report on "ResearchandDevelopmentinIndustryl992-93" in June, 1994.

R & D Statistics 1992-93 #Total national R & D expenditure was Rs.5141.64 crores(0.83%) of GNP.Sectorwise percentage share, of National Expenditure wasfor Central Government institutions 64.3%, State Govern-ments 9.3%, Public Sector Industries 11.4% and PrivateSector Industries 15%.Major share of R&D expenditure was met from governmentsources including public seel or industrial inhouse R&Dunits (85%) and rest was met from private industry (15%).Twelve major scientific agencies - DAE,DOS,CSIR,ICAR,DRDO,DBT,DOE,DNES,DOD,DST, ICMR.MOEn ac-counted for 54.2% of national R&D expenditure.Plan allocation for S&T increased from Rs.142 crores infourth plan to Rs.9180 crores in eighth plan.As on 1st April, 1992, 2,93,348 persennel were employed inR&D establishments out of which 95,486 were directlyengaged in R&D activities.India has only 3.76% scientists, engineers and technicians

(SET) per thousand populalion as compared to 112.77 inJapan. Only 0.22% SET per thousand population wereemployed in R&D activities in India as compared to 6.01 inJapan.Patents sealed in the year 1991-92 was 1676 and out of (his551 (32.9%) were sealed by Indian citizens. „ p_jce . |(Si 79

NATIONAL R&D EXPENDITUREBY SECTOR, 1992-93

Totil • fU.SMl.O4 Cnm*

R&D in Industry 1992-93TREND OF INDUSTRIAL RftD EXPENDITURE

RID Eipcmlltin ffta. Cnm)

IB PRIWTE secrofl I PUBLIC SECTOR

* The industrial sector accounted for 26.4% of the totalnational expenditure on R&D activities during 1992-93.In absolute terms it amounted to Rs.1358.48 crores atcurrent prices and out of which 56.8% was invested byprivate sector industry and the rest 43.2% by public sectorindustry.

* The industry spent 0.22% of GNP on R&D.* As on 1st April, 1992, 64824 personnel were employed in

1305 industrial sector R&D units which was 22.1% ofnational total.

* For every 1000 R&D employees in industrial sector, 76were female R&D employees.

* By level of qualification of industrial sector R&D personnel, 7.8% were Doctorates, 22.9% Post Graduates, 39.8%Graduates and 29.5% Diploma and Other Qualificationsby taking all disciplines of Science and Technology.

*# Price : Rs. 70

29

These publications are available from Kitab Mahal, Baba Kharag Singh Marg, New Delhi or Publications Department,Civil Lines, Delhi. Material published in can be reproduced with due acknowledgement to the source.

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News and EventsBibliographic Database: Workshop on Production andDevelopment, Mysore

Sponsored by NISSAT (DSIR), the workshop is beingorganized by the University of Mysore from July 25 to Aug 6,1994 at the Deptt of Library and Information Science.

Objective — Promoting knowledge and skills needed fordatabase development

The workshop is designed:

• to sensitise and familiarise the informationprofessionals with the principles and technology ofdatabase development

• to enable the participants to be conversant with theCDS-ISIS Micro version software package and itsapplication in the creation and development ofbibliographic databases.

• to introduce the participants to the CCF Format, itsstructure and its use in the development ofdatabases.

• to provide training to the participants in the creation,development and searching of databases using theCDS-ISIS package and CCF format.

• to provide take home projects/exercises to reinforcethe knowledge and skills learned during theworkshop.

Course Content:

• Application of Information technology to informationservices: an overview.

• Introduction to computerised databases: Fields,records, files and databases.

• Databases and their types. Bibliographic databases,their peculiarities, unique features and requrements.

e File Organisation: Methods and techniques;Sequential files: Indexed sequential files; Relativefiles; and Inverted file structure.

• Retrieval techniques; Boolean retrieval. Use of logicaloperators.

• Bibliographic description. Developments inbibliographic description, Rationale of standardformate; cataloguing codes; ISBD; UNIMARC;ISO-2709; CCF.

• Introduction to CDS-ISIS: Creation of databases;Data entry; updation; indexing and creation ofinverted files.

• Introduction to CCF: Rationale and structure; Dataelements and their use; Codes used in the dataelements.

Registration fee is Rs. 1000. This includes coursematerial, computer time and also lunch and refreshmentsduring the workshop.

For further communication write to Dr Shalini R. Urs,Workshop Director, Deptt of Library and Information Science,University of Mysore, Mysore 570 006.

ILA—NISSAT Course on CDS/ISIS at T1ET

A five day training course on application of CDS/ISIS (alibrary package of UNESCO) in library and informationactivities sponsored by the Department of Scientific andIndustrial Research {NISSAT) organised by the Indian LibraryAssociation in collaboration with Ihe Thapar Institute of Engg.& Technology, Patela was inaugurated by Dr. M,P. Kapoor,Director, TIET. Professor C.P. Vashishth, President, IndianLibrary Association presided over the function on March 29,1994.

Dr. Kapoor in his inaugural address said thatcomputerised operations and networking of the libraries is theorder of the day. In this information age when the cost ofbooks and journals is increasing at a phenomenal rate andwith the quantum of money shrinking at alt levels, it hadbecome absolutely imperative to automate and network ourlibraries so that the users can scan and monitor theinformation they require without loss of time.

Professor Vashishth said that the Indian LibraryAssociation which attaches great importance to libraryautomation has already organised 16 Workshops of one ortwo weeks duration in different parts of India. He talked aboutseveral library networks, namely, CALIBNET, DELNET,BONET, MALIBNET, PUNET and INFLIBNET of the UGCcoming up. In order to take advantage of them theparticipating libraries will have to convert their card catalogueinto machine readable form. It is imperative that all librariesadhere to a common code of cataloguing.

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32

Application ol CDS/ISIS in Library and InformationActivities ILA — NISSAT Course in Progress at TIET

Dr. Janak Raj, Librarian, TIET, the Course Director saidthat the flood of information can be controlled only with thehelp of computers for quick retrieval and proper utilization.Skilled personnel for making the computers work, is a veryessential component which all library authorities must takecare of.

Professor V.V. Sastry, Deputy Director, TIET welcomedthe guests and Shri P.N. Sharma, Head, Library & InformationDivision, TCRDC thanked the guests. Smt. Rama Verma, JointCoordinator compared the programme of the function.

Twenty two participants from various libraries, namely,TTTI, Chandigarh, MD University, Rohtak, KurukshetraUniversity, G.N.D. University, Amritsar, N.I.S., PunjabiUniversity, Khalsa College, and TIET, Patiala attended thetraining course.

Shri S.N. Sur, was the main faculty member. He wasassisted in Practical Classes by Shri Himanshu Aggarwal andAjay Gupta from TIET.

Dr. M.P. Kapoor, Director gave the certificates to theparticipants at the Valedictory function held on April 2, 1994.Dr. 8.M. Nayar, Dean Student Affairs proposed a vote ofthanks.

IASLIC Award for S.K. Muslb

The Indian Association of Special Libraries andInformation Centres (IASLIC), Calcutta, has honouredMr. S.K. Musib, Librarian, Nistanni College, Purulia as theauthor of the Best article for 1991 for his article "InformationSeeking Pattern in Rural Areas of West Bengal; a surveyreport on Cottage Industries" published in IASLIC Bulletin36(4) 1991. The award consisting of a medal and a certificatewas presented to him recently at the 19th Annual conferenceof IASLIC held at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra,Ranchi.

International Conference on Computer Systems andEducation

The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore is hosting aConference on International Computer Systems and Educationduring June 22-25, 1944. Being held in honour of Prof. V.Rajaraman. the Conference is sponsored by IEEE (BangaloreChapter), CSI (Bangalore Chapter), Control Data Corp. USA,and IBM, USA.

Theme: High performance parallel and distributedcomputing, knowledge based systems, Information systems,computer aided design for VLSI, supercomputing and scientificVisualisation and computer science education.

Felicitation An important event of the conference is thefelicitation of Prof. V. Rajaraman, The felicitation address willbe delivered.by Prof. S. Sampath, Sri Sathya Sai BabaUniversity.

Following the technical programme (June 22-24) therewill be four Post-Conference Tutorials on topics such asDistributed computing, Distributed information retrieval system,Image processing architectures and Software engineeringtrends. The Registration fee is Rs. 1000 (Regular) andRs. 500 for students. Registration deadline: 7 June1994.

For further details contact ICCSE '94, SupercomputerEducation Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore 500 012, India.

Marketing ol Information Services and Products—Workshops

Two workshops on the above subject were organizedrecently to underline the importance of the vital issuesinvolved. The first one was a two-week workshop sponsoredunder the. NISSAT Manpower Development Programmeheld at Calcutta and organized by IASLIC from 28 Februaryto 11 March 1994. Twelve participants pined the workshopwhich was inaugurated by Mr. G.C. Talukdar, ChiefCommercial Manager, Hindustan Cables Ltd., Calcutta.

The participants were given an extensive exposure in thetheoretical and practical aspects of marketing of information.The contents included:

1. Marketing — an essential toot for information resourcemanagement, Marketing programme & components, Marketingresearch. Marketing mix, Pricing of library & informationservice, Application of marketing in academic/Special & publiclibrary system, Marketing audit. Marketing of national levelservices & products, and Marketing & information industry.


Prof. T. Vlswanathan spoke on the present status ofInformation Services and Products available In India

The valedictory session was attended by about70 eminent librarians. Mr. D J Sloan, 1st Secretary,Cultural Affairs, British Deputy High Commisaion, Calcuttadelivered the address. A lively address was delivered byProf T. Vtewanathan, Director, INSOOC, New Delhi.Prof. Viswanathan spoke on the present status of informationservices and products available in India and importance of itsmarketing. He also emphasized the need of trainingopportunities for library professionals to acquire trie skill ofmarketing. Dr P K Hay, Director, Bose Institute, Calcutta andPresident, IASLIC urged in his presidential addressdevelopment of information products according to the needs ofthe users. Dr Ray also distributed certificates. The sessionended with a vote of thanks by Mr J N Satpathi, Secretary,IASLIC.

IIM-IDRC

Th« second workshop on the subject was jointlyorganized by Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, andInternational Development Research Centre, Ottawa, fromFebruary 14 to 17,1994, at IIMA.

Several projects supported by IDRC have a componentof marketing of information products and services, but only afew deal with the issue of marketing systematically. It was,therefore, felt necessary to provide guidance to informationpersonnel for developing marketing and promotion strategies.

In this context, IDRC decided to bring together projectleaders of IDRC supported projects which have a component

of marketing, to: 1) Identify the key issues of marketingstrategies 2) Identify the problems faced by projects in dealingwith these issues 3) Identify solutions or potential solutions4) Produce a manual or guideline for the information staff.In addition to the leaders of IDRC supported projects,institutions in India which have done significant work in thisarea were invited.

The presentations could be grouped in the followingcategones:

a) Principles and practical steps in marketing ofinformation products and services

b) Case histories

c) Network technology for information services

Opening the discussion on the subject, Dr. ArthurH Vespry. IDRC Consultant highlighted the need forunderstanding of marketing and its significance and relevancefor information products and services. Mr. Chin Saik Yoon,IDRC Consultant, and a publisher, spoke about developmentof marketing strategies from a practitioner's perspective. Hediscussed the studies on project planning undertaken by himwith the support of the IDRC. Dr. A Lahiri, Joint Adviser,NISSAT, New Delhi, emphasized the need for libraries toadopt the marketing approach. A case of industrial informationand information for industries was presented by Mr.Dominique Beaulieu, CRIQ, Quebec, Canada. His presentationfocussed on marketing strategies adopted by CRIO andCARIRI and the measurement of impact. Mr. Paul McConnel.IDRC, Canada, spoke about the impact of information serviceson different stakeholders.

The case of Development Information Network for SouthAsia was presented by Dr. N.K. Gopalakrishnan of MARGAInstitute, Colombo. A private entrepreneur's experience ininformation repackaging was presented by Mr. AshokVijayavergiya, INFUSE Inc., New Delhi. Mr. L.J. Haravu,Manager Tl, tCRISAI, Hyderabad, discussed the overallmarketing approach adopted by the Library andDocumentation Scientists Division at ICRISAT. Ms. MonaWhyte, Project Coordinator, CEIS, Jamaica, reviewed variousforms of need assessments undertaken at the CarribeanEnergy Information System and how the assessments havebeen translated into the marketing of information products.

Prof. T.P. Rama Rao described the results of researchstudy on "Utilization of Management Information in India'conducted at the IIMA and the planning of research onproduct design and test marketing.

Prof. T. Viswanathan,, Director, INSDOC, New Delhi,explained the service entitled CAPS {Contents, Abstracts, and

33


34

Photocopy Service) and the innovations introduced at INSDOCfor generating resources.

Supply of information and exchange of informationthrough networks was discussed by Dr. Ramakrishnan,Department of Electronics. He spoke about the servicesthat are available on educational research network(ERNET).

The participants discussed a design for guide/manualon marketing for information personnel and came up witha tentative checklist of topics to be included In it. IIMAwas offered the assignment of preparing theguide/manual.

Environmental Information System (ENVIS)

The ENVIS Network with the Focal Point in the Ministryof Environment and Forests and 17 Subject Specific ENVIScentres located in different parts of the country continued itsactivities in information collection, storage, retrieval anddissemination. The focal point and their ENVIS centrescontinued to pay special attention to developing theinformation base by creating the relevant databases in theirconcerned subject areas. The highlights of the activities of theENVIS Focal Point and its various centres during the year1993-94 are given b«low:

Focal Point

— The focal point of ENVIS located in the Ministrycontinued to strengthen its information base throughthe acquisition of relevant publications, reports,bibliographies, journals, monographs, state-of-artreports etc. on various aspects of environment. Theinformation base was also enriched by thedocumentation support provided by the NetworkPartners in the subject areas allotted to them.

— The Library of the Ministry which functions underENVIS, acts as a potential documentary repository ofinformation in the field of environment, forest, wildlifeand other related areas. During the year, the Libraryenriched its collection through the procurement ofsubstantive information resources in (he relevantfields. Presently, it has a collection of over 19,000books, scientific and technical reports, and receivesover 200 rational/international scientific journals.The Library thus provides back up support to theENVIS in providing exhaustive information to itsclients. Personalised information/reference serviceis also provided to the users/scholars visiting theLibrary.

As trie National Focal Point (NFP) and RegionalService Centre (RSC) of the UNEP's INFOTERRA,ENVIS responded to several queries from the usersof INFOTERRA from different countries especiallyfrom countries of the South-Asian Sub-Region.

The Focal Point continued its publication of thequarterly abstracting journal 'Paryavaran Abstracts'containing information about environmental researchin the Indian context. About 600 environment relatedjournals are referred to in the compilation of thevarious abstracts for inclusion in the publication andthese abstracts are arranged under 12 majorcategories.

The Focal Point continued its activities relating tosetting up of new ENVIS Centres on subject areasnot covered so far in order to mak« the ENVISnetwork comprehensive. A few such subject areasand potential institutes for setting up ENVIS Centreshave been identified during the year and otherdetails are being worked out.

With a view to enhancing the scope of ENVIS byaccessing the information available at variousscientific and research institution, CSIR laboratories,educational and other academic institutions of thecountry and abroad, and to link up all the ENVISCentres with the focal point and with each other, acomputer network interconnecting all theseinstitutions is being developed.

ENVIS also continued its close liaison with variousother National Information Systems like NationalInformation System tor Science and Technology(NISSAT), Bio-Technological Information System(BUS), National Oceanographic Information System(NOIS) for exchange of environmental informationand to avoid duplication of efforts in the concernedfields.

ENVIS has also been designated as the focal pointfor the global Sustainable Development Network(SON) Project of UNDP, in India.. A task force oflocal as well as UNDP experts and the Ministry'sofficial etc. has since been constituted by theMinistry to prepare a feasibility report for establishingSON in India.

Information on more than. 250 Indian sourcesengaged in the environmental activities was updatedby ENVIS for inclusion in the InternationalINFOTERRA Directory of environmental sourcespublished by UNEP.


Activities of ENVIS Centres—All the ENVIS Centrescontinued their activities in information collection, collation,retrieval, storage and dissemination in the subject areasallotted to them during the year. Apart from strengthening theinformation base and responding to various national andinternational queries in their respective subject areas, theENVIS Centres undertook vanous activities aimed at providinginformation to a wide range ot users. Highlights of theactivities of some of the ENVIS Centres are given below:

— The ENVIS Centre at Development Alternatives hasbeen instrumental in collecting and disseminatinginformation related to Environmentally SoundAppropriate Technology and EnvironmentalManagement and continued to offer severalinformation services,such as reference, referral,reprographic query/response, literature search, currentawareness, press clipping, scientific and technicaldata search etc. to a wide range of users. Itcontinued to publish the Development alternativesNewsletter.

— A computerised database on the books, reports,monographs and thesis available in the field of 'Bio-degradation of Wastes' and 'Environmental ImpactAssessment1 has been created by the ENVIS Centreat Anna University, Madras and is updated regularly.It includes a listing of over 3400 papers under thetwo subject areas mentioned above.

— The Centre continued to publish the ENVISNewsletters, a listing of current literature, journalabstracts and thesis abstracts in the two subjectareas allotted to it.

The ENVIS Centre at the G.B. Pant Institute forHimalayan Ecology and Development, which has startedfunctioning from 1993-94, is in the process of setting up aninformation archival and retrieval system employing opticaldisc based storage. During the year, the Centre brought out2 issues of an ENVIS Bulletin on Himalayan Ecology andDevelopment. The Centre is also in the process of building upa database of work completed by the scientists of the Instituteand 600 maps, continued to cater to the informationrequirements of a large number of students, research workers,teachers etc. during the year. The centre has also acquired acomputer exclusively for the use of the ENVIS Centre.

— Besides publishing the ENVIS Newsletter, the ENVISCentre at the Centre of Advanced Study in MarineBiology, Annamalai University, published amonograph on "Marine Animals for Culture" duringthe year. The Centre has collected about 10,000

titles of information on estuaries, mangroves, coralreefs and lagoons and is also preparing a faunal listof various groups of marine and estuarine animals.This centre also participated in an exhibition on"Shrimp Farming" at Madras which highlighted theenvironmental aspects of Coastal Aquaculture.

The ENVIS Centre at the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) continued to publish its ENVIS Newsletter, the CPCBNewsletter and the CPCB Annual Report. Besides participatingin exhibitions, the Centre also extended help to Schools andNGOs in organising lectures, audio visual programmes,exhibitions etc. during the year.

— Since inception, the ENVIS Centre at CEE,Ahmedabad, has been collecting EnvironmentalEducation (EE) material from around the world andthe same has been computerised. Nodes of the EEbank are proposed to be set up in various places ofthe country to make them accessible to a largenumber of users.

— The ENVIS Centre on Environmental Problems inMining set up at the Centre for Mining Environmentbrought out its first newsletter on the subject andcirculated it to various organisations, institutions andindividuals throughout the country.

SENDOC Course on Abstracting and Indexing

An intensive short term training programme onabstracting & Indexing is being organised by the SmallEnterprises National Documentation Centre (SENDOC) locatedat NISIET in Hyderabad, from July 18-29, 1994.

Objectives

— The Course covers information processing, retrievaland dissemination techniques such as Abstracting &Indexing, thesaurus, current awareness services etc.

— Provides hands-on experience in creating databasesusing latest information retrieval software packages.

— Prepares participants for effective use of existinginformation technologies to enable them to providespeedy access to information.

Participants should be graduates/post-graduates workingin information centres and libraries.

The Course fee is Rs. 6000 per participant. For furtherinformation contact Ms K. Subhashini Programme Director(A & I), National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training,Yousufguda, Hyderabad 500 045.

35


NISSAT-UPLA-IASLIC Training Course on CDS/ISIS

The U.P. Library Association organised a two weekTraining Course on CDS/ISIS during November 30 toDecember 10, 1993 at the Indian Institute of Management,Luckfiow. The training course was co-sponsored by the IndianInstitute of Management, Lucknow, Indian Association ofSpecial Libraries & Information Centres, Calcutta and NationalBotanical Research Institute, Lucknow and was financiallysupported by the NISSAT/DSIR, Govt. of India.

The coursa was inaugurated by Prof. J.L. Batra. Director,IIM, Lucknow and the resource persons included Mr, S.N. Sur,ex-Scientist, INSDOC, New Delhi, Prof. Sushil Kumar ofComputer Centre, IIM, Lucknow, Mr. Roshan Raina, Librarian,IIM Lucknow, Mr. Deepak Wahal, Scientist, and Sri YogendraMisra of NBRI, Lucknow.

The feedback results indicated that the Course was verywell received and all the participants said they have reallypicked up sufficient knowledge and they will start using thepackage after their return to their respective institutions.

In the concluding session on 10 December 1993certificates were distributed to the participants by Prof. J.L.Batra, Director, IIM, Lucknow. Prof. Batra suggested thatregular feedback be obtained from the participants about theactual utilisation of the training received by the participants.

Shri S.N. Agarwal, General Secretary of the U.P. LibraryAssociation while acknowledging the support extended by theabove institutions, assured that the Course will be repeatedafter some time keeping in view the suggestions givsn by theparticipants and also mentioned that "CDS/ISIS user's meetwill also be arranged at the state level.

Dr. S.R. Ranganathan Birth Centenary Travel Fellowship

The Dr. S.R. Ranganathan Birth Centenary CelebrationCommittee Bombay has recently concluded ifs year longactivities wherein as many as 16 programmes were arranged.

After meeting all expenses required for the aboveprogrammes the Committee is left with a small surplus. In thefinal meeting of the Celebration Committee held on 29 April94 at Asiatic Society it was decided to donate this amount tothe Organising Committee of the XVt National IASLIC Seminarto be held in December 1994 at NT Bombay with a view toutilizing it as "Dr. S.R. Ranganathan Birth Centenary Travel

36 Fellowship" to be given to retired as well as young librariansand the students of Library Science as travel grant to attendthe seminar.

The fellowship includes second class railway fare (to and

fro) by the shortest way from any place to Bombay forattending the Seminar plus some allowance.

Retired librarians, young librarians and library sciencestudents contributing papers in the seminar, who are notgetting any financial assistance from anywhere and wish toattend the seminar are entitled to get this travel grant. Thefellowship would be granted on first come first served basis.Other seminar expenses have to be bom by the recipient ofthe travel fellowship.

Interested persons may apply to the General Secretaryon the following address: Dr. S.R. Ganpule, Gen. Secretary,Local Organising Committee, XVI National IASLIC Seminar,C/o Central Library, I.IT., Powai,, Bombay 400 076.

Applications received by 31st August 1994 would beconsidered. The recipient will be informed by 15 September1994. Working librarians, professionals and the students haveto forward their applications duty certified by their Principals/Heads of departments respectively.

Electronic Dewvy System on CD-ROM

This database contains Dewey Decimal Classification20th edition (DDC 20) Schedules, tables, index and manual aswell as the updates and corrections from the first threenumbers of DC with frequently used LC subject headingsassociated with a class number and a sample cataloguingrecord for most frequently occurring subject headings on oneCD-ROM. The purchase price of Electronic Dewey is US $400 plus US $ 50 for shipping and handling.

Petroleum Abstracts Available on CD-ROM

DIALOG has announced the addition of PetroleumAbstracts, a key resource for information on all aspects of thepetroleum industry to its range of CD-ROM databases.

Dialog Ondisc Petroleum Abstracts, produced by theUniversity of Tulsa, is a complete research tool for informationon petroleum exploration, production, and development, plusrelated environmental, health, safety, and transportationsubjects. The database provides comprehensive coverage ofthe world's significant literature from papers, books, journalarticles, government reports, conference proceedings, andpatent filings.

Petroleum Abstracts is a valuable resource for technicalprofessionals and managers in the petroleum industry,including geologists, geophysicists and petroleum engineers.Dialog On Disc Petroleum Abstracts also has applications inuniversities, government agencies, and research facilities.Contact Navneeth, Dialog OnDisc Division, for further details.


Ideal CD-ROM Workstation

The following is the ideal configuration for a PC basedCD-ROM Workstation.

A. MICROCOMPUTER-PC486/SX or/DX with IBMCompatible PC

Memory : 4 MB RAMHard Disk : 300 MB HDDMonitor : SVGA Colour MonitorSpeed : 33 MHz clock spaedFloppy Drive : 1.24 1.44 FDD

B. CD-ROM DRIVE

ISO 9660 OR 680 MB Compatible DOUBLE SPEEDCD-ROM DRIVE.

For better performance, look for a CD-ROM Drivewith an average access time of 300 milliseconds orless and buffer memory of 256KB and data-transferrate of 300 KB/Sec or higher with SCSI Interface.

B1. INTERFACE CARD

— Adaptec 1542B 16-bit SCSI Interface

C. OPERATING SYSTEM

— MSDOS/PC DOS Version 5.0 or higher— Microsoft Windows Version 3.1 or higher

D. PRINTER

— 132 Column, 24 pin, 240/300 CPS Dot MatrixPrinter

— Hewlett Packard User Printer with 'J' Laser Card

E. Often

— 16 Bit MPC Sound Card and Speakers— Microsoft Mouse

European Space Agency—Information Retrieval Service(ESA-IRS)

The European Space Agency (ESA) runs an onlineinformation retrieval service with more than 200 databanks orfiles in a broad range of subjects and a powerful searchfacility.

The databases encompass a wide variety o) technology

areas like aerospace, agriculture, aquatic sciences,biotechnology, telecommunications, electrical and electronicsengineering, environmental sciences, materials and packaging.Global databases such as CHEMABS, INSPEC, PASCAL,COMPENDEX, METADEX, etc. and also trade, business andfinance related databases e.g. FT PROFILE, PREDICASTS1

PROMPT, MlNTEL Market Research Reports etc. can beaccessed online from ESA-IRS.

The search process is extremely user-friendly with simplesyntax and commands. The tariffs for using ESA-IRSdatabases are highly competitive. Most significantly, ESA-IRSdoes not generally charge for connect-time. This facilitates anot-so-experienced user in carrying out a long search withoutstress; the user is charged only when he/she decides todisplay or download the search results. Online connectivitycan be established by dialup to VSNL PAD or l-Net.

TIFAC has now established the National Point of Contact(NPOC) and CMC Ltd. is functioning as the Executing agencyfor ESA-IRS in India. The formal agreement for NPOC wassigned by the three component organisations in August, 1993.After the initial formalities and documentation needs, marketingdrive has already yielded encouraging results and twentyusers have signed the contract for online access from (heirpremises.

For queries on ESA-IRS databases, their informationcontents, modalities of online access, charging pattern,assignment of password for online searches etc., please get intouch with: Executive Director, TIFAC, Department of Scienceand Technology, Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road,New Delhi 1 1 0 0 1 6 , India.

The International Society of Sclentometric* andInforrtMtric*

The International Society of Scientometrics andInformetrics has sponsored the Fifth International Conferencean Scientometrics and Informetrics to be held at RosaryCollege, River Frost, Illinois 60305, U.S.A (Suburban Chicago)during June 7-10, 1995.

This is the fifth in a series of increasingly successfulbiennial conferences. The previous conferences ware held atLim burgs Universitair Centrum, Diepenbeek, Belgium, at theUniversity of Western Ontario, Canada; at the Indian StatisticalInstitute, Bangalore, India; and at the Association for ScienceStudies, Berlin, Germany.

Scope — The scope can be broadly defined as thosetopics which treat in quantitative fashion the creation, flow,dissemination, and use of scholarly or substantive information.

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38

Representative, but by no means inclusive, topics are:intormetric laws" and distributions; mathematical models ofcommunication; citation analyses; theory of document, text,and information retrieval; information and productivity; thequantitative sociology and psychology of science and of othersubstantive information based activities; application ofinforms tics—file design, data compression, etc., informetricapplications to policy analysis, R & 0 management, etc.

Please direct intentions to submit a paper or requests forfurther information to the conference organizer:

Michael Koenig, Dean, Graduate School of Library andInformation Science, Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois60305, USA.Tim aline;

Title and Substantive abstract: 31 July 1994Complete Paper: 25 Nov. 1994

Note: The Abstracts and two copies of the papers maybe directly sent to:

Dr. I. K. Ravichandra Rao, Chairman, Committee forAustralasia Region, lnformetrics-95 (ISIS' 95) andDocumentation Research and Training Centre, IndianStatistical Institute, 8th Mile, Mysore Road, R.V. College Post,Bangalore 560 059.

MALA 1993-94

The Madras Library Association organized a number ofinteresting programmes in the field of library and informationscience during the year 1993-94, maintaining a high profile inits professional activities. The programmes included lecturesby well-known professionals, participation in the WORLDNETDialogue on the change and challenge in library scienceeducation and release of Hindu Index, the first computerisedprinted index in India. In carrying out these activities MALAclosely collaborated with a number of organizations such asINSDOC, (SIS, British Council Division, the CommunicationDivision of UNESCO etc. Noteworthy among the programmeswas a panel discussion on MARC and Networking organizedin collaboration with the USIS (Dr Rosalind Miller, Professorof Library Media Education at the Georgia State University,Atlanta, (USA). The Madras Panelists were Dr. K. S.Raghavan, Dr. S. Amba and Ms T. Jaisree.

A half-a-day seminar on Necessity of InformationTechnology Standards—implementation, maintenance andcoordination was organized by USIS, Madras in collaborationwith MALA.

In fact the MALA calendar during the year was pretty full

with about 20 events billed during the year. The MALANewsletter which reflected the Association's activities providedan effective link with the membership.

The opportunities for greater interaction with informationprofessionals from other parts of the world, which theinternational conferences recently held in India provided, alsostressed the need for a centre to keep pace with the rapidgrowth of information technology to create better awareness ofthese,-co-ordinate the use of information resources andchannelise expertise where necessary. The RanganathanCentre for Information Studies was therefore set up in July1993 to fulfill this need. The first annual lecture by the centreon 20 July 1994. The topic: Harnessing information for HumanSettlements Development. The speaker: Dr A. Ramachandran,former Executive Director, UN Centre for Human Settlements(Habitat).

Ranganathan R«*«arch Circle

The monthly meetings of Ranganathan Research Cirde(RRC) will be held on second Saturday of every month, atGandhi Peace Foundation Library, 221-223, DrndayalUpadhyay Marg, I.T.O. New Delhi 110 002, from 10.00 a.m to1.00 p.m. According to Mr. R.C. Gaur,- Convenor, from July1994 RRC will meet regularly at the above premises.

For further details contact:

Mr R.C. Gaur (Telephone 4617403)

Chemical Abstracts Services

CAS is organizing present workshops in India designedto provide librarians and scientists with the know-how forsearching online databases produced by CAS, using STNInternational.

Course: Introduction to Online Searching forChemists (Scientists)

Format. One-day lecture with practice ordemonstration

Location: Bombay (weeks of July 18 and 25)Ahmedabad (week of August 8)Hyderabad (week of August 8)

Time: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm

Fes: Rs.1000 (includes workshop materials andlunch)

To ragister. Dr. S. Krishan or V. Deodhar, NICHEMNational Chemical Laboratory,Pune411 008 (India).


Public Library Development tn U.P. — Problems andProspects

A State level seminar on "Public Library Development inU.P. — Problems & Prospects* was organised by the U.P.Library Association during June 1 1 - 1 2 , 1994 at the NationalBotanical Research Institute, Lucknow. The seminar wasinaugurated by Sri Shardanand Anchal, State Minister ofHigher Secondary and Basic Education, Prof. P.N. Kaulapresented the keynote address.

While inaugurating the seminar, the Minister assured thathe will do his best to remove the problems of Libraries andLibrarians as the libraries ara social institutions which providereading and learning facilities and should be allowed toflourish. He also mentioned that he was not aware of thedemand for enactment of library legislation in the Slate butassured the librarians that he will look into important issuealso.

Shri Hirdaya Narain, M.L.A. while presiding over theinaugural function expressed concern as to how thisimportant social legislation has not been enacted so far. Heassured the audience that ha will see that this importantlegislation was soon brought to the statue book of U.P.

Prof. P.N. Kaula in his keynote address traced the historyof the efforts made in U.P. for the enactment of librarylegislation and sirongfy appealed to the Minister and the rulingparty M.L.A, to get the library law passed soon. Prof. Kaulaalso informed the Minister that already ten States in theCountry had passed this law and the Goa was the tenth Stateto have Public Library Law recently.

About 100 delegates mostly drawn from district librariesparticipated in the seminar. Fifteen papers including themepaper were presented.

Shri Ashok Bajpai former Education Minister and aSamajwadi Party M.L.A. was the Chief Guest in theValedictory Session of the seminar. Shri Bajpai said thatlibraries are very important social institutions of learning andGovt. should extend all support to open libraries andinformation Centres in smallest rural areas of the State tospread literacy and provide reading facilities to rural masses.He assured the UP Library Association that he will influencethe U.P. Govt. and the Chief Minister to pass the PublicLibrary Law in the State soon.

The Seminar made 12 recommendations regardingcreation of a Directorate of Public Libraries to replace theexisting Library Cell, Upgrading of District Libraries, Scalesof pay, staffing etc.

Sri S,N. Agarwal, General Secretary of the U.P. LibraryAssociation and President of the Lucknow Branch was alsofelicitated for having been adjudged "Librarian of the year1992° by IASLIC, for his contributions in the field of libraryservices. On this occasion the Association presented to him amemento, and a 'Maan Patra' listing his contributions in thefield of library services.

Refresher Course In Library and Information Science.1994-95

The University Grants Commission has again selectedAligarh Muslim University to conduct Subject-OrientedRefresher Courses which will be organised by the Departmentof Library & Information Science under the auspices ofAcademic Staff College during the session 1994-95. Thecourses as detailed below will be conducted.

Course I: 12.09.94 to 08.10.94 Information Technologyand Management

Course II: 02.01.95 to 31.01.95 Academic librariesManagement and Operations

The closing date for Course I is 15.07.1994 and forCourse II 15.11.94.

Lectures in Library Science and the Librarians/Asstt.Librarians, etc. in the pay-scale of Rs, 2200-4000 working inUniversity and College Libraries with a minimum of 5 yearsexperience are eligible to participate in the Refresher Course.85-90% of the seats are reserved for the catchment area and10-15% of the seats will be filled in on all India basis.

The Application form obtainable either from the Director.ASC Or the Chairman, Department of Library & InformationScience, may be sent duly completed to the Director,Academic Staff College, Aligarh Muslim University,Aligarh 202 002 By the closing date of the concerned course."

Medical Informatics: Special Interest Group Set up by CSI

The Computer Society of India has decided to set up aSpecial Interest Group for Medical Informatics. This SpecialInterest Group (SIG) would be a part of the existing DivisionIII of the Society which deals with Scientific Applications.

The Special Interest Group on Medical Informatics wouldinitially be responsible for the following functions:

a) Identification of members who are interested in theactivities of this SIG.

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40

b) Publication of papers in the CSI Journal pertaining tonew advances connected with the subject of MedicalInformatics.

c) Organisation of a Workshop Conference, as andwhen necessary, to discuss various issues connectedwith the subject of Medical Informatics.

Dr. A Indrayan, Professor of Biostatistics, UniversityCollege of Medical Sciences, Dilshad Garden, Delhi has beenappointed as Convenor of the Group on Medical InformaticsfSIGMl).

Dr. Indrayan invites all those interested in any aspect ofmedical informatics health information system, hospitalinformation system, databases on medical measurements andhealth indicators, literature bases, bioslatistical computation,expert systems networking for consultation, computerizedequipments etc—and willing to contribute to the activities ofthe Group to join the Group.

For this purpose they are requested to write a brief ontheir past and current medical informatics activities and futureplans and mail to the Convenor SIGMI (Dr. A. Indrayan),University College of Medical Sciences, Dilshad Garden,Delhi 110095.

IATLIS National Seminar

The 1 1 t h National Seminar and Convention of the IndianAssociation of Teachers in Library and Information Sciencewill be held at the College of Library and Information Science,Sanjaya Memorial Institute of Technology Ankushpur, Orissaduring 3-6 June 1994. The theme of the Seminar is Researchin Library and Information Science in India. Professor P.S.Panda, Principal of the College is the local OrganizingSecretary.

IASLIC Seminar 1994

The Indian Institute of Technology (NT) Bombay, will behosting the XVI National Seminar of Indian Association ofSpecial Libraries and Information Centres (IASLIC) to be heldduring 19-22 December 1994.

The topic of this year's seminar is "Networking ofLibraries: Problems and Prospects". Several supportingactivities are also planned along with the main seminar. Theseinclude: Exhibition of Library Software, Computer Products andrelated Hardware, CD-ROM products, Xerox and Faxmachines, Poster session by Research students of IIT, Guestlectures, and Panel discussion on the experiences of existingnetworks, Publication of Souvenir.

For further details contact Dr. S.R. Ganpule, GeneralSecretary, of the local organising committee at the followingaddress.

Central LibraryIndian Institute of TechnologyPowai, Bombay 400 076.

Honda Informatics Centre

This Centre at MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, inTaramani, Madras is an electronic library complementing theconventional library of over 4000 holdings, covering referencematerial ranging from books and journals to 35 mmtransparencies. The electronic library has a collection of CDspublished by the Commonwealth Agricultural BureauIntematJonaL (CABI) U.K. which are the most well known andwidely used CDs containing over 3 million records covering allfields relating to agriculture, plant and animal sciences. Thecentre also provides access to the DIALOG database,SIRNET, ERNET and MCI. An unique information servicedeveloped by the centre is the Mangrove EcosystemInformation Sen/ice (MEIS) designed to serve researchers,experts and policy makers concerned with the conservationand sustainable utilisation of Mangrove forests.

International Legumes Database and Information Service—NBRl workshop

A seven-day work shop on design and establishment of acomputerized database of legumes of South Asia under theaegis of International Legumes Database and InformationService (I ID IS) was organized at National Botanical ResearchInstitute, Lucknow during 7-13 March 1994.

Sponsored by CSIR, Commonwealth Science Council(CSC) (UK), UNESCO Botany 2000 Asia, British Council,D8T, and OST, the workshop was attended by delegates fromSouth Asian countries, viz. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,Bangladesh together with scientists from various parts ofIndia.

Dr P.V. Sane while emphasizing the information of theworkshop said that it would help in procuring and storingthe fragmentary technical botanical information covering allwild and cultivated plant resources in the plant familyLegurninosas, and making available data through computernetwork on plants useful to researchers, pharmaceuticals,industry, etc. As a Regional Centre, NBRl is providing accessto similar data from China, Europe, Africa, North and SouthAmerica and erstwhile Soviet Union.

Professor H.Y. Mohan Ram, Department of Botany,


University of Delhi, was the Chief Quest at the meeting. Haemphasized the importance of legumes as a potential sourceof human survival, and supported the database developmenton south Asian Legumes. Dr F.A. Bisby, ILDIS Coordinator,University of Southampton, UK, delivered an elaborate lectureon the Global Species Diversity Information System forLegumes.

The participants were given training on the methods andparameters of data collection, and procedures for co-ordinationof data exchange. A detailed demonstration of ALICEsoftware, which is used to generate world ILDIS database,was arranged with a view to explaining the mechanism ofdatabase organization, and individual's responsibilities/contributions to the development of regional database. ILDISworld database was loaded on the computer at NBRI. tor theuse of scientists of South Asia. Specialists from Pakistan,Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka worked with Indian (NBRI)specialists to create a computerized database that cataloguesall legumes in the region.

The availability of this database has helped in bringingout a separate data file on legume species for South Asianregion, popularly called a 'South Asian Slice'. The meeting ledto achieving an agreed and effective work plan lorimplementation of a regional project to develop a database onleguminous plants which include 18,000 plant species andform 1/12th of all vascular plant species diversity on thisplanet.

The workshop also helped in finalization of the format ofthe score sheet for exchange of data edits, and an agreementamong the ILDIS co-ordinators on the introduction of twocommon names (one each in Hindi and English) for eachlegume species of the region in the world database. Thecodes for differentiating the common names in as many as 40regional languages were finalized. It also helped in loading ofthe world database on about 16,000 species of world legumesand beginning of an online enquiry service at internationallevel, from NBRI.

A preliminary South Asian legumes' database wasgenerated with world database as baseline information, whichwould be expanded in future. Country-wise checklists ofNepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India weredistributed to the participants.

The training imparted on the methods of survey,collection and documentation of legume species during theworkshop would help in the study of population dynamics andconservation status of endangered legumes.

ORTC Annual Seminar 1994 Teaching and Research InClassification and Indexing Language*

The Documentation Research and Training Centre, IndianStatistical Institute, Bangalore, is organizing its AnnualSeminar for 1994 during 9th to 11 th August 1994, at(he Indian Statistical Institute, 8th Mile, Mysore Road,Bangalore.

The DRTC invites the participants to present papers andparticipate in the 'discussion on this topic as delineated in theissues.

The papers written in English should not exceed 6000words. They should present new approaches to teaching andresearch in classification and indexing languages. Last datefor registration is Aug. 1, 1994.

Theses on Computer Diskette: M K U's Bibliography

Dr. T.P.M Library, M.K. University has compiled all thePh.D. Theses of the University in the form of a bibliography inComputer diskette. It is now released for sale. It works or)Microsoft Disk Operating System and it is available both in theconventional 5.25° Roppy Diskette and in mini diskette of 3.5"size. For further information contact the Librarian, MaduraiKamaraj University, Madurai 625 021.

IFLA Scholarships for AIT Course

Scholarships are available under the IFLA/ALP(Advancement of Ubrarianship in th* Third World) Programmefor citizens in Asia and Oceania to participate in the NewInformation Technologies and Computerized Library Servicescourse at AIT (Asian Institute of Technology, in Bangkok).Candidates should have worked for at least three years in alibrary or information centre, have at least an undergraduatedegree, be computer literate, be able to understand English,and be under 45 years old.

Contact: Ms. Pensri Guaysuwan, Regional Manager, IFLARegional Office for Asia and Oceania, c/o ThammasatUniversity Libraries, Thanon 16th August, Bangkok 10200,Thailand. Tel: +66-2-222 9639. Fax: +66-2-224 8108.

The ALP Programme also provide four-week trainingattachments.

Contact: Ms. A.K, Anand, IFLA/ALP AttachmentsProgramme Coordinator, Chief Librarian, The Tribune, Sector29, Chandigarh 160020.

41


Cunnlngham Memorial International Fellowship

Fellowships for foreign health science librarians to workin US or Canadian libraries for four months are being offeredby the Medical Library Association in the US. The annualCunnigham Memorial International fellowship includes astipend of USD 3,000 for living expenses and USD 1.000 forapproved travel within the US and Canada. Applicants musthave .a Master's degree or its equivalent and be worthing in amedial library in their country of origin.

Contact: The Professional Development Dept. MedicalLibrary Association. Suite 300, 6 North Michigan Avenue,Chicago IL 60602-4805, USA. Ref. No. 136.

Commonwealth Awards

The Association of Commonwealth Universitiesadministers a number of awards which are open to academicstaff, librarians and others for academic study and training invarious fields. They include: Commonwealth Scholarships andCommonwealth Academic Staff Scholarships; DevelopmentFellowships (incorporating the Travelling Fellowshipsprogramme); the ODA (Overseas Development Administration)Shared Scholarships Scheme; Third World AcademicExchange Fellowships; and Ihe Times Higher EducationSupplement Third World Fellowship.

Contact: Deputy .Secretary General, Association ofCommonwealth Universities, John Foster House. 36 GordonSquare, London WCI OFF, U.K.

Workshop on Bibliographic Communication Formats

The Bombay Science Librarians' Association (BOSLA)organised a one day Workshop on BibliographicCommunication Formats in Collaboration with HaffkinaInstitute, Bombay, on 9 March 1994 at Haffkina Institute ofTraining, Research and Testing, Bombay. The objective of theworkshop was to acquaint librarians with the bibliographiccommunication formats for database creation. As many as32 libranans, library professionals and library softwaremanufacturers from Bombay and Pune attended theworkshop.

The Workshop was formally inaugurated by Dr. V.L.Yemul, Director of Haffine institute. He stressed the need forclose interface between the users of information and thelibrarians.

The workshop was conducted by Ms Harsha Parekh,Head, SHPT School of Library Science. SNDT Women'sUniversity. The participants were acquainted with details ofMARC and CCF formats. A-comparative analysis waspresented along with one worked example. In the later halfthey were trained in preparing worksheets in both the formatsfollowed by detailed discussions.

The workshop concluded with a valedictory functionwhich was chaired by Dr. Yemul. Dr. S.R. Ganpule gave avaledictory address and Shri D.N. Phadke proposed a vote ofthanks.

Punjab Ubrary Association

The General Body Meeting of Punjab Library Associationelected the following office-bearers at their meeting held in theSenate Hall of Punjabi University for the period June 1994 toDecember 1995: President, Shri S.P. Narang; GeneralSecretary Dr Jagtar Singh; Treasurer, Shri N.C. Varma.

TIFAC-CSIO Directory of Scientific Instruments &Component* — New Edition Released

The Directory earlier brought out by CSIO in 1985 hasbeen updated and is being released for sale. The contents ofthe new Directory are:

An overview of the instrument industry in India.

A classified list of instruments and components with SITCand CCCN numbers.

Detailed information about instrument and componentmanufacturers with alphabetical index of manufacturing firms.Chief Executives, Agents, etc.

The Directory ispriced at Rs. 200/- only within India andis available against advance payment through DD/MO payableto Director CSIO, Sector 30, Chandigarh 160020.

With the development of IT, many prophets of doom proclaim that libraries are no longer needed. But well-equippedlibraries with trained and information personnel will continue to be ideal centres tor ensuring for the population at large,

42 access to different forms and range of information they need.—Dr Suseela Kumar, President MALA.

NISSAT NEWSLETTER NO. 2.1994

Calender of Events for the F.Y.1994 -1995 (as on July, 94 )

Regional Computer CentreJadavpur University CampusCalcutta-700032

Attn : Dr. Purnendu DasPhone : 033-4733549,4725682,4731081

*IDAMS* -do-

Calculta-do-

07-ll-94lol9-ll-94Feb/Mar, 95

The Course Coordinator033-4735064033-4720905

CALIBNET AttnRegional Computer Centre Building PhoneJadavpur University FaxCalcutta-700032* Library Automation : Micro-computer for Library Information System CALIBNET, Calcutta* Advanced Application of Micro CDS/ISIS - do -* Bibliographic databases, CD-ROM & Online Services + CD-ROM - do -

Databases : Technology, Products & Usage* UNIX in Information Processing - do -

14-11-94 to 25-11-9412-12-94 to 23-12-9413-02-95to-24-02-95

06-03-95 to 17-03-95

DRTC Attn : Prof. MA GopinathIndian Statistical Institute Phone : 080-604648,6044858th Mile, Mysore Road, RV College POBangalore-560059* Computer Application in Library & Information Science DRTC, Bangalore 07-11-94 to 23-12-94* - d o - -do- Jan/Feb,95

•______• _* «... ...*______• .__-*

Academy of Information Science Attn : Mr. SVSangameswaranC/o CFTRI LibraryMysore-570013* Visual Communication Technology Mysore 2 Weeks (Oct/Nov, 94)* CDS/ISIS - do - 2 Weeks (Feb/Mar, 95)

•______.9_____ * • *_ *______"

University of Mysore Attn : Dr. Shalini R UrsDeptt of Studies in Lib & Info Science Phone : 0821-22525ManasagangotriMysore - 570006"Bibliographic Database Production & Development Univ. of Mysore 11-07-94 to 23-07-94

UP Library AssociationPost Box No. 446Lucknow-226001* Marketing of Information Services & Products* CDS/ISIS Application in Library Automation

Attn ; Mr. SN Agarwal

NainilalLucknow

43

07-ll-94to 18-11-9408-01-95 to 19-01-95

(conid.)

Pune University AttnC/o Jaykar Library PhoneDeptt of Library & Information Science Fax

Dr. MB Konnur0212-3360610212-333899

Pune-411007Topic Venue Date* AACR - II & CCF Pune Univ., Pune 29-08-94 to 03-09-94* Computer Applications in Libraries & Information Centres - do - 08-11-94 to 21-11-94* Management techniques as applied to Libraries & Information Cenlres - do - 09-01-94 to 14-01-94

IASLIC Attn : Mr. JN SatpathiP-291, CIT Scheme No. 6MKankurgachiCalcutta - 700054* Computer Aided Library & Information System and Use of CDS/ISIS Aimamalai Univ. 2 Weeks (Oct, 94)* - do - TTTI, Calcutta 2 Weeks (Dec, 94)* - d o - VidyasagarUniv., 2 Weeks (Feb, 95)

Midnapore* UDC Jadavpur Univ. Calcutta 2 Weeks (Sep, 94)* AACR - II & CCF-ISBD IASLIC, Calcutta 2 Weeks (Sep, 94)* Computer Aided Library & Information System and Use of CDSASIS HAS, Shimla 2 Weeks (Mar, 95)

Bengal Library Association Attn : Mr. SN GangulyP-134, CIT Scheme 52Calcutta-700014* Application of Computers in Library Services 18-05-94 to 02-06-94* - d o - 14-06-94 to 29-06-94

Indian Library Association Attn : The General SecretaryA/40-41, Flat No. 20 Phone: 011-7117743Res.011-6493138Ansal Building, Mukherjee NagarDelhi-110009* Application of CDS/ISIS in Library & Information Activiliesa Paliala 28-03-94 to 12-04-94* - do - Gwalior 04-04-94 to 08-04-94* - d o - Trichi 18-04-94 to 25-04-94* - do - Akola 26-04-94 to 30-04-94* - do - Anantpur 17-05-94 to 26-05-94* - d o - Bhopal 10-05-94 to 14-05-94* - d o - Rewa 06-06-94 to 10-06-94* - do - Orissa 05-06-94 to 09-06-94* -do- Guwahati 20-06-94 to 24-06-94* -do- . Delhi 04-07-94 to 15-07-94

44

Meet

Promoter

RescheduledFor your convenience

During IT Asia '94December 7-8, 1994

# / 5 5 AT /Tecfinofoay 'S/w.-u'an

5 /

Petti - 110 016

Tel : +91-11-666078 667405Fax : +91-11-664567, 661682email : [email protected]