The paper seeks to reflect the information environment with emphasis on indigenous science and technology knowledge requirement in developing countries, particularly India.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper seeks to reflect the information environment with emphasis on indigenous science and technology knowledge requirement in developing countries, particularly India.
Design/methodology/approach
Indigenous scientific/technical knowledge functions as a critical national resource for any developing country. Literature reflects need and provision of database services that can cater to indigenous knowledge.
Findings
The paper discusses nationally developed databases, various aspects related to initiation and creation of these databases in India. The objectives behind development of such databases and some factors such as indigenous knowledge need, strategic culture, managerial capability, technological thrust and organizational interest responsible for developing databases in India are highlighted. Other features such as quality assessment control and network‐based indigenous knowledge database access and information delivery are discussed. Current indigenous knowledge database activities, efforts of NISCAIR and NISSAT, are highlighted along with promotion and marketing of indigenous knowledge databases. Constraints to indigenous knowledge development in India are discussed. Some guidelines are given to keep balance in the collection and distribution of indigenous knowledge in the developing countries. The paper concludes with the idea of pacing in the right direction for developing balanced and information service‐oriented indigenous knowledge system.
Originality/value
The paper gives an overview of indigenous knowledge database development in India and is useful for librarians to discern the gradual change towards indigenous knowledge storage and to find out the information centers on a national level which can be helpful in indigenous knowledge database development in India.
Details
Keywords
The present paper reflects the gradual change in the need and use of the marketing concepts in libraries and information centres (LICs) and its fruitful effects in the service to…
Abstract
The present paper reflects the gradual change in the need and use of the marketing concepts in libraries and information centres (LICs) and its fruitful effects in the service to the library users, and studies marketing of information products/services in LICs of R&D institutions of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) of India. The paper discusses the role of these LICs including marketing approach, need and application of a marketing program with the help of a survey. For the survey, data were collected through a detailed mailed questionnaire along with interviews. The findings reveal that librarians have a positive attitude towards the different aspects of marketing of a library's information products/services. The study recommends that currently efforts for increasing user‐awareness and separate financial support are requisite for efficient marketing. Instead of scattered approaches and different styles, a coherent view must be taken.
Details
Keywords
The present paper aims to study the development of indigenous databases and their benefits for library users in libraries and information centers in the research and development…
Abstract
Purpose
The present paper aims to study the development of indigenous databases and their benefits for library users in libraries and information centers in the research and development institutions of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research of North India and to discuss the role of indigenous databases, their development and impact.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a survey methodology. Data were collected through a detailed questionnaire, together with interviews, and analyzed by dividing the concepts into themes, such as: factors responsible for developing indigenous databases; perceptions and attitude of librarians regarding indigenous databases; database forms and formats; database development from a national perspective; database maintenance, services and marketing.
Findings
The findings reveal that indigenous database development is currently taking place and it has future potential. Librarians have positive attitudes towards the different aspects of indigenous databases, as library information products/services. The study recommends that efforts be made to increase user‐awareness and to create a broader knowledge resource. Instead of scattered approaches and different styles, a coherent approach needs to be taken.
Research limitations/implications
Only North Indian laboratories have been surveyed, so the study does not provide a complete picture of indigenous science and technology (S&T) databases.
Practical implications
The study is a useful source of information about the development of indigenous databases in the Indian S&T environment.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an identified information/resource need and provides information about the current development of indigenous databases in India.