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Archives are the important information centre along with libraries and museums in respect to preservation of historical documents. And similar to libraries archives also exist in different categories like academic, special, governmental, newspaper and private archives. This article is dealing with one of this category and that is Special Archives. The research area that has been chosen for the data collection is central part of Kolkata. These archives are being studied to know how they are organising the documents and preserving them for future posterity. Finally, the paper tries to highlight the problems these traditional archives are facing in this digital era, especially handling of documents for digitising the archival materials. The problems are mainly related to skills and financial support for digitising the archival documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the concept of public-private partnership (PPP) and examines how it is different from 'privatisation' concept. It examines the present status of public libraries in India and the need for mobilising support for their improvement. The authors stress the need for implementing the National Knowledge Commission recommendation for PPP. The paper highlights the role of the public sector and private firms in developing public libraries through the PPP model. At the end suggestions were made on how to implementation the model for the development of public libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the awareness and use of library makerspaces. A well-structured questionnaire was used for collection of data. Around 700 questionnaires were distributed among the Indian library professionals. A total of 500 filled in questionnaires were received, out of which, only 470 questionnaires were selected for analysis of the data. The overall response rate was 67.14%. The result of the study demonstrates that among all users, 70% male and 30% female are aware of library's makerspaces. Majority of users utilising library makerspaces are pursuing master's degree. It has been found that nearly all of the academic libraries employees are using makerspaces facilities. Maximum number of respondents' (68.09%) using makerspaces facilities for academic and research purposes and reported them as a tool to educate students for the local and global economy (42.55%). When asked respondents about the state-of-the-art tools, technologies or forms for creating makerspaces, 44.68% of respondents claimed that their makerspaces have computer workstations. Approximately, 51.06% respondents indicated that their library's makerspaces offer students workshops/seminars/conferences. Furthermore, the study reflects that maximum number of respondents, i.e., 36% understand the significance of library makerspaces and evaluated them as "valuable". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research paper is to investigate the knowledge management strategies adopted by the libraries of central universities in India. Review of literature, reveals that codification and personalisation have been considered knowledge management strategies for sharing explicit and tacit knowledge within the library system. To determine the most used knowledge management strategies in libraries, 14 tools (seven each for codification and personalisation) were recognised from the literature review and taken for examination. A total of 116 library and information science professionals of 23 central universities spread across India were surveyed through a web-based questionnaire to explore the knowledge management strategies followed and data analyses were conducted by using SPSS version 22.0. The findings of the research show that both codification and personalisation have been used in libraries, though the balance of codification and personalisation was not in 80-20 ratio. Between codification and personalisation, codification was found to be the most useful strategy with collective mean difference, i.e., 0.312. This study has practical implications for those who are not fully aware of the prominence of knowledge management and how knowledge management strategies can be used to gain a competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Availability of various information and communication technology (ICT) tools and accessibility of electronic information resources have fuelled the growth of e-learning all over the world. Present paper focuses on the use and awareness of various e-resources available in Punjab Agricultural University Library. The use of consortia and e-databases is also analysed. The findings of the study revealed that electronic resources have become an integral part of the information for various features such as easy download and fast searching capability. Despite the fact that e-resources have eased the task of research, respondents still prefer information in both print as well as electronic formats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in India, since ancient times, is the most crucial sector for ensuring food and nutritional security, sustainable development and for the alleviation of poverty. It is the key sector in India for generating employment opportunities for the vast majority of the population particularly in rural areas. The paper aims to explore the many facets related to agricultural education, research, training, and libraries in India in order to provide a historical account on these aspects. The paper discusses in detail the various committees and commissions and their salient recommendations leading to the expansive growth and development of agricultural education, research, and libraries in India. Further, the paper also highlights the critical role of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in the growth and development of agricultural education, research, extension, and libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-learning is a nebulous term; meaning teaching-learning facilitated through the modern media like web, satellite, cable networks, etc. Though it is successful in spreading its wings on today's higher education sector, it's linkages with the libraries are stilt feeble. The academic and other types of libraries, especially from the developing countries such as India, are struggling to cater to the increasingly heterogeneous requirements of the e-learners and associated community, This paper presents the key role of LIS professionals in the e-learning paradigm. After a thorough analysis of the e-learning scenario, authors have realised that libraries and librarians have an important role to play possibly through the digital libraries-a contemporary movement growing along-with the e-learning. The aspirations of e-learner community from the LIS professionals in this new era of e-learning are propagation of the movement itself, course content development, technical facilitation, technical trouble shooting, fuelling open-archives, improving user interfaces, identifying and training the usage of free and open source software tools to the user community to ensure maximum participation in teaching-learning process. The paper also discusses e-learning-library linkages and the innovations implemented in the top ranking off-shore public libraries that the Indian LIS community can follow. It reveals an emanating strongly bonded model of e-learning-library linkage required for the sustainance and mutual growth of the duo. This will also lend a hand in emerging an open knowledge culture and ultimately beneficial for the evolving knowledge society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on a study conducted in seven Indian Institute of Management (IIM) libraries, viz., IIM-Ahmadabad, IIM-Bombay, IIM-Calcutta, IIM-Indore, IIM-Kozhikode, IIM-Lucknow, and IIM-Shilong. It discusses in detail the comparative status of the resources, implementation of IT, viz., software being used to automate library functions and provide remote access to library. Decreasing reliance on local collections is transforming the library as a physical destination. It also discusses about different information products and services provided by the libraries to their users to convert them as a learning centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the user's awareness and satisfaction level with the available assistive technology (AT) facilities for the people with disabilities in National Capital Region (NCR) libraries of India. Survey method and questionnaire has been used as the basic tool for data collection along with personal interviews of the experts. A total of 375 users in all the 15 libraries were selected randomly on the basis of willingness of the users to participate in the survey with the experience of working in digital environment. The survey results were tabulated and analysed with descriptive statistics methods using Excel software and 'Stata version 11'. People with disabilities have a good to fair understanding of the AT concepts and products. The users 'Strongly agree' towards the need of the AT to work in the digital environment. The study depicts lack of AT facilities in NCR libraries of India. Majority of users are 'Not satisfied' with available AT facilities and face various barriers in the use of AT in NCR libraries. This study will prove useful for the LIS professionals and the research community to provide an insight into the current status of the AT available in NCR libraries, India. This study is first to explore the viewpoint of people with disabilities regarding the ATs available in NCR libraries of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the decades, there has been a remarkable transformation in the information globe. Everyone has to adapt to these changes. Changes in society and demands for information utilisation have forced the information professionals to look for more effective and efficient methods for processing, storing, and retrieving information to cope up with the application of modern information technology. This paper highlights knowledge of information communication technology (ICT) in engineering institutional library and information science (LIS) professionals working engineering institutions of Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the use of collections and services at Dr B.R. Ambedkar NIT Central Library, Jalandhar. Well-structured 196 questionnaires were distributed among NIT Central Library users during the academic session 2010-11, to find out information seeking behaviour of the users. Out of them, 178 filled questionnaires were received, and 170 (95.51 %) were found fit for analysis. This study demonstrates and elaborates various aspects of the use of collections and services, purpose of visit to the library by the user, adequacy of library hours, infrastructure facilities and use of internet information resources. The paper also identifies the levels of use of various services provided, access of online database services, database search techniques, and users' awareness about different types of library network. It highlights satisfaction with overall functioning of the library. Suggestions have been given to make the collections and services more beneficial for the academic community of the technical institutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Indian libraries have taken up the challenge of modernisation to develop the machine readable catalogues, and machine readable full-text databases to provide greater accessibility to full text documents of different nature in order to provide seamless information to their users. The paper examines the status of the digitisation of agricultural libraries in India and the role of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in developing new digital initiatives in content creation and agricultural digital library management. It elaborates upon the tools and technologies required for agricultural digital libraries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic is one of the oldest and basic scientific work on living organisms. This basic research is the foundation for all modern fields of research. Taxonomic research has generated huge amount of knowledge in India which unfortunately is scattered and unorganised largely due to lack of coordination between different scientific government and non-government organisations. This paper highlights the value of taxonomic information, problems faced in accessing the information and proposes the need for the development of an Integrated Plant Taxonomic Information System (IPTIS) at national level to meet the growing needs of taxonomic information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer infrastructure plays a critical role in the academic system for meeting teaching, learning and research needs. Libraries are an integral part of academic system. Adequate infrastructure facilities support academic libraries share their resources and services in an effective way. National Institute of Technology, erstwhile regional engineering college, are prime institutions and benchmark for technical education in India in the field of engineering, science and technology. This paper discusses the computer infrastructure facilities available at National Institutes of Technology across India and current status of computer-based library services offered by these institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern tool like computer has replaced traditional methods of storing and retrieving knowledge. Retrospective conversion of manual bibliographical records on online mode is considered to be the first step in the direction of computerisation process in the library. This paper attempts to analyse the retrospective conversion process undertaken by the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), New Delhi, a premier social science research library in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information Literacy (IL) is an area of interest to librarians and Information professionals and it is pivotal to the pursuit of lifelong learning process. The paper explains the concept of IL and brings out its standards and performance indicators enunciated by IFLA and UNESCO in the context of school libraries and higher education. The importance of IL for school libraries and public libraries are highlighted. It also discusses the IL scenario at international level and in India and enumerates the UNESCOs declaration at Prague towards the Information Literate Society. Finally, it stresses for the development of IL policy in the Indian education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries have long been involved in training their users in library use, its services and resources. Terms such as library instruction, library orientation, user education and bibliographic instruction have all been used at various times to indicate the process of helping users how to use the library, how to access information and teaching the various bibliographic tools. These methods are facility specific instruction, i.e., help users in knowing the physical location of different sections, staff, collections and services of library. In the digital age, fencing around "library resources" is a daunting task. Moreover, the instructional needs of users have changed dramatically as new methods for teaching and learning have emerged. Information literacy has become an important concept since the arrival of the information age. Research in this area in Asian countries such as India is still in its preliminary stages, as these countries have only recently become fully immersed in the information culture. The paper is a case study of selected library and information centres of higher learning and research at Bangalore City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]