Library & Information Services (LIS)

Several organisations, institutions and associations in India and abroad are working to promote and develop library and information services (LIS). Some of these are government-funded and others are professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

Here are some of the well-established ones:

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
• University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF)
• United Nations Information System in Science and Technology (UNISIST)
• International Nuclear Information System (INIS)
• Agricultural Information System (AGRIS)
• Chemical Abstract Service (CAS)
• Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)
• National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT)
• National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR)
• National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC)
• Defence Scientific Information and Documentation Centre (DESIDOC)
• Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
• Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET)
• Developing Library Network (DELNET)

Library and information networks such as INFLIBNET, DELNET, CALIBNET, INFONET, etc. have contributed in the development of library and information services.

Library vs Information Centers

The purpose of establishing a library is to serve society through the records of human thoughts, ideas and expressions by making them available to all. The functions of a library include collecting and providing books as well as other non-book materials to help the people to become aware of the thinking of others and to think and act independently, to foster and promote the spread of knowledge, education and culture.

In the modern information society, libraries and information centres have a new role to play. This is due to increasing use of web-based information sources and electronic services.

An Information centre, on the other hand, is defined as an organisation that

(1) selects, acquires, stores and retrieves information in response to requests,

(2) prepares abstracts, extracts, indexes of information, and

(3) disseminates information in anticipation and in response to requests.

Information centres are attached to highly specialised Research and Development (R&D) organisations. An Information Centre provides various services such as referral service, literature search, translations, bibliographies, abstracting, etc. to its users.

The progress of civilization and advancement in science and technology resulted in tremendous growth of literature. The explosion of knowledge in multidisciplinary subjects was recorded not only in books but also in latest research periodicals, research and technical reports, patents, standards and specifications, trade transactions, circulars, reprints, off-prints, etc. The specialists not only needed books but also information contained in periodical articles and other material. Information centres were set up to cater to their specialised information needs.

There are varied forms of information centres viz. (1) Information Analysis Centres (2) Clearing Houses (3) Data Centres and Data Banks.

Traditional Libraries are defined as institutions existing to provide reading materials and educational enlightenment. Public libraries offer free access to books, films, music, digital books, reference materials, study areas and other resources. Specialized libraries, such as law and medical libraries, cater to specific groups with concentrated materials. Modern libraries also include computer terminals for online research and use.

Independent Resource centers can exist independent of a library. For example, teacher resource centers provide multimedia tools such as computers, video equipment, laminating machines, copiers, and art supplies. Educators can craft visual displays, develop lesson plans and polish instructional designs in a teacher’s resource center.

Combined public library and resource centers intertwine traditional library offerings with enhanced public services. Books and printed materials are linked in the same buildings with resources for faxing, Internet connectivity, and even things such as notary public services.

Library Professionals and Information Professionals

Library professionals are generally involved in the process of acquisition, processing, organising and maintaining documents in a library and providing various types of information services based on these documents and their experience.

In a small library, all these activities may be performed by a single individual.

In certain cases, an individual may be involved only in a single activity, say cataloguing. Generally, these personnel are trained through certain institutions like universities and associations, and are paid for the jobs they perform.

In our country, many libraries are being run by untrained persons and not really library professional.

Similarly, accounts staff, clerical staff, class four staff like security guards, cleaners are not considered as library professional. Technical staff like binders, cameramen for microfilming, and photocopier operators are also not included in this category.

Categories of Library Professionals:

• Library Administrator
• Classifier
• Cataloguer
• Classificationist
• Indexer
• Reference Librarian
• Library and Information Science Teacher
• Thesaurus Designer
• Bibliographer
• Librametrician
• Bibliometrician
• Content Developer

Informational professionals

Informational professional include those who gather, record, process, organise, preserve, retrieve, disseminate and sometimes generate information. They also provide various information services.

They deal with documentary and non-documentary information and who have been trained in information science and are paid for their jobs.

Categories of Information Professionals:

• Information Generators
• Information Gatherers
• Information Processors
• Information Recorders
• Information Disseminators
• Information Translators
• Information Condensers
• Information Retrievers
• Information Quantifiers
• Information Preservers

Academic Questions

Q. Explain how information centers are different from libraries. Briefly describe the types of services provided by information centers.

Q. Explain the terms ‘library professionals’ and ‘information professionals. Enumerate their types. Describe the role of any one type of library professional.