Seminar on Library Networking: with special reference to INFLIBNET and DELNET Submitted by Jagjit Singh Doaba College Jalandhar

Introduction We are living in the age of digital information. Knowledge and information increasing with fast speed especially in the field of Science and technology. The cost of books and formulas or other documents published in India and abroad are increasing day by day. No library is self sufficient to provide all information to their clientele. Keeping in mind these problems resources sharing concepts is taken place and for the Co-operation networks are established. So it is resources sharing and had given birth to networks by transmission channels. In the context of library networking has different meaning and scope. It is a system which provide the facilities to connections among libraries to share their resources.

What is Networking Networking is a series of inter connected points which are linked by communication facilities. So inter connection of two or more computers to exchange data or share resource is called networking.

Need for Networking To fulfill the information requirements To improve quality and quantity of library services To improve resource sharing To cater the technological developments

Objectives of Library Networking To promote resource sharing by inter-library loan among the participating libraries through computerized networking. To facilitate and promote delivery of documents electronically co- ordinate efforts for suitable collection development and reduce un- necessary duplication of costly books, journals etc. To establish referral centres to facilitate catalogue search and maintain a central online union catalogue of books, serials and non- book materials of all the participating libraries. Create database for projects, specialist and institutions to provide online information service. Implement computerization services in all the libraries for fast communication of information. Co-ordinate with other regional, national and international networks for exchange of information and documents.

Type of Networks Networks can be grouped to three categories follows: 1.Local Area Network (LAN) 2. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) 3. Wide Area Network (WAN)

INFLIBNET The programme Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) was stared by the UGC and stared function in April 1991 with the aim to provide a channel to the academicians and researchers for exchange of information from source within the countries and abroad.

Aims and Objectives To establish a national network programme To give online services To provide document delivery service To promote cooperative cataloguing, inter-library loan etc. To encourage for cooperation among libraries To promote efficiency and expertise among libraries

Activities To promote database To develop Software To create union catalogue To coordinate UGC-INFONET Project

DELNET Developing Library Network operational from January 1988 and is registered as a society in it was initially sponsored by NISSAT and is currently being promoted by NIC and India International Centre, New Delhi

Aims and Objectives To promote resource sharing through computerized networking To consist member libraries in cataloguing of books, non-book materials To establish referral centres To provide document delivery service To develop bibliographic database To coordinate with other regional, national and international networks

Services Online service Training Programme CD-ROM Database Inter-library loan Retro conversion

Conclusion So we can say that library networking has changed enormously over the past three decades. Library networking have become the indispensable tool for sharing of physical facilities of computer hardware transmission media etc.

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