Events

15th FID/CAO Congress and Assembly

The International Federation for Information and Documentation Congress for Asia and Oceania (FID/CAO) and the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC) will jointly organize 15th FID/CAO Congress and Assembly during October 26-28, 1999 at China Hall of Science and Technology in Beijing, People's Republic of China.

The theme for said Congress is "Information Resources for Networked Society". The sub-themes are:

" Building and Accessing Networked Information Resources
" Digital Library as Information Resources
" New Technology for Internet and Information Infrastructure
" Electronic and Network Publishing
" Network Entertainment or Infotainment
" Exploitation and Utilization of Networked Information Resources
" Information Services on Networks
" Standards for Networked Electronic Services and Products
" Function and Services of ISP/ICP.

Contact: Ms. Lin Jing, Secretariat of FID/CAO '99, ISTIC, No. 15, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100038, People's Republic of China at Linjing@istic.ac.cn.

Challenges Before the University Libraries in India in the 21st Century

The Indian Library Association is organizing a National Seminar on "Challenges Before the University Libraries in India in the 21st Century" at the Department of Library and Information Science, M S University of Baroda, Vadodara during August 9-12, 1999. A seminar covering such a comprehensive theme is being organized after a gap of 30 years. It has taken into account the developments in information and communication technologies.

The Association has called Papers on various issues such as

" External forces of change and their influence on University Libraries
" Organization and Management of University Libraries
" Collection Development
" Library and Information Services, and
" National Policy on University and College Libraries.

The 12th August being the Ranganathan's Day, the Association is also organizing half day event on the Contribution of Dr. SR Ranganathan in the Development of University Libraries at Vadodara.

Contact: The Secretary, Indian Library Association, Flat No. 201, A 40-41, Ansal Building, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009 for details of sub-themes of the National Seminar and Dr. KH Shukla, Organizing Secretary & Head, Department of Library and Information Science, M S University of Baroda, Station Road, Vadodara-380002 for details about registration and accommodation.

Ranganathan - IASLIC Study Circle Meeting

The second meeting of "Ranganathan - IASLIC Study Circle" was held at NBRI, Lucknow on July 15, 1999. The topic for the meeting was "Automation in Libraries" and sub-themes were:

" Pre-requisites for introducing automation in a library
" Procedure for automation process
" Areas to be covered in automation
" Assistance needed in introducing automation
" Advantages of automation in libraries
" Problems, difficulties and other matters.

Dr. BR Rao, Deputy Dirfector, NBRI and Head (Library) extended a hearty welcome to the participants of various local libraries. Prof. PN Kaula, retired Professor of Library and Information Science, BHU, Varanasi was the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, Prof. Kaula said, "Library Staff should undergo in service training in automation, networking before resorting to automation and co-ordination of Libraries and Staff in the process of automation." He further said, "quality of book collection should be put in to database and cataloguing record should be valid and cataloguing rules should be informed. The meeting ended with vote of thanks.

Automation of Libraries: Observations on Libraries visited

  1. Quality of book collection to be put in to database varied from libraries to libraries. Some were satisfactory in quality and many were below their level.
  2. Cataloguing record is not valid. No checking of catalogue in cards has been done with the books documents/journals, etc.
  3. Cataloguing rules were not uniform even though recognized catalogue codes were used. Modifications in old editions were still being used. Some collections were not catalogued properly.
  4. Quality control checks were not used to find out gaps in collection. Some books lost were nor reconciled nor replaced.
  5. Proper Shelf rectification had not taken place so that it could confirm to the shelf list. In some libraries, shelf list is in a chaotic condition, scattered due to the use being made by readers.
  6. Periodicals were not bound. There were many missing issues. Efforts to get the missing issues were not made and so the other issues could not be bound. Indexes were not obtained and bound with the issues.
  7. Classification process were slow, defective and not confirming to latest editions of scheme used. Class numbers in certain cases were wrongly assigned.
  8. Subject catalogue was ignored in several libraries. Libraries following classified catalogue had more problems than those following dictionary catalogue.
  9. Stock verification has not taken place in several libraries. There was no way to find out reliability of the book collection(s) including periodicals.
  10. Technical reports, reprints, pamphlets, etc. were not catalogued not to speak about putting them in classified or subject classified form.
  11. Other types of documents like manuscripts, theses, dissertations, microfilms, audio-visual material, mictofisch were hardly catalogued.
  12. For building a database of the collection, all possible steps have to be taken to improve the quality and authenticity of the database. This should be the first job undertaken.
  13. Where automation had taken place, following deficiencies had been noticed:
    1. Key fields in data are incomplete.
    2. Duplication of records for several copies of the same book could not be avoided.
    3. Cataloguing rules (AACR-2) were not standardised.
    4. Location codes used were nor standard.
    5. Many typographical mistakes in data entry.
    6. No uniformity in rendering the name of corporate authors, publishers, etc.
    7. INFLIBNET or other networks did not carry out any quality checking of the databases of libraries.
  1. Library staff should undergo in-service training in automation / networking before resorting to automation.
  2. Co-ordination of libraries and library staff was needed in the process of automation.
  3. Priorotisation of activities: The task of introducing automation in libraries has to be taken in hand as per a programme worked our or recommended on the following priorities:
    1. Database development.
    2. Software development (Suitable software available in the country) Software in DOS and Unix covering various activities of automation.

NISSAT-MPCST Training Course: Computer Application in Library Management

The MP Council of Science & Technology (MPCST), Bhopal have started short-term training programmes on CDS/ISIS with financial support by National Information System for Science & Technology (NISSAT), New Delhi in the year 1998-99 for manpower development of the Library & Information Science Professionals of the State of MP.

So far, MPCST has organised four training programmes of two week duration on 'Computer Application in Library Management' as below:

S.No. Duration No. of Participants
1. December 14-26, 1998 16
2. January 15-30, 1999 17
3. February 15-27, 1999 20
4. March 15-27, 1999 25

The course contents include:

Advanced Course on Micro ISIS and WINISIS

NISSAT in collaboration with Institute of Information Studies, Bangalore has organised first of the series on Advanced course on Micro ISIS and WINISIS by Department of Library & Information Science, Gauhati University at Gauhati University during February 15-26, 1999. The course contents include:

Prof. A Neelameghan, IIS, Bangalore was the main resource person and Mr. SR Kundu, INSDOC, New Delhi covered the pascal programming. The course was attended by 14 participants from different universities and colleges. Prof. HL Duorah, Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University distributed the certificate to the participants.

MLAI-99

The Annual Convention of the Medical Library Association of India (MLAI-99) will be held during December 2-4, 1999 at Mahatma Gandhi Mission Medical College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai.

The theme of the Convention is 'Biomedical Information in the New Millennium'. The various subthemes are Biomedical Information & Library Professional: Changing Scenario, Changing needs and approaches of users and role of Biomedical librarians, Multimedia based databases, Telemedicine, Role of Information Technologies, Role of Biomedical Associations.

Contact: Dr. RP Kumar, Secretary, Medical Library Association of India, K-43, Kailash Colony, New Delhi.

Training Course on Library Automation

Indian Institute of technology (IIT), Kharagpur will organize eight training courses on Library automation under NISSAT manpower development program in the financial year 1999-2000. The duration of each course is four weeks. The objective is to train manpower in library profession to adopt newer technologies available, to organize, retrieve and manipulate information. The medium in which information is being available, generated and assimilated has changed from print to digital. Consequently the library are undergoing a transformation and their exists a vacuum in the library in terms of a new type of manpower which should be able to adopt and handle such technologies for the benefit of the library users.

The first in the series was organised during June 06 to July 02, 1999. There were total 12 participants from different working librarians, documentalists, information scientists etc from different parts of the country. Professors of IIT, Kharagpur from Computer Science & engineering, Information Technology and Mathematics departments were the main resource persons. Some of the resource persons were from IIM, Calcutta and CALIBNET. The topics covered in the course are follows:

The opening ceremony took place with the chairmanship of Prof. SB Sinha. Prof. SK Sarangi, Dean and Prof. NP Rao former Deputy Director, IIT, Kharagpur presided over the function. The valedictory function took place on first July with colourful ceremony where Prof. BC Majumder, Director (acting) presided over the function. Ex. Dy. Director, Prof. RK Banerjee also attended the function and expressed his satisfaction.