Objectives of Library Networks:
Several objectives of library networks are
mentioned below-
i) To encourage cooperative efforts and resource
sharing among libraries by offering dependable and effective methods of
resource sharing.
ii) By offering automation tools, to raise service
standards and optimize resource usage at each library.
iii) To coordinate initiatives for the
establishment of an appropriate collection and, whenever feasible, eliminate
needless duplication.
iv) To set up reference centers to oversee and
assist with catalogue searches and to keep an online union catalogue of all the
member libraries' books, serials, and non-book materials centrally located.
v) To create a specialized bibliographic database
that will allow users to search and access books, serials, and non-book
resources.
vi) Arranging for the sharing of information for
library use among other regional, national, and worldwide networks. (Library
networks)
Planning Commission Efforts:
The Indian government's Planning Commission has
been very interested in library networks and resource sharing. Its efforts
throughout the 1985–1990, Seventh Five Year Plan have increased in several
areas. In November 1983, the Commission established a working group to
modernize informatics and library services. The working committee turned in
their report in July of 1984. Among other things, it suggested connecting
library systems via library networks. The Seventh Plan was to take this report
into consideration. Another Working Group was created by the Commission, and it
turned in its findings in May 1989. It again recommended among others
interlinking of library systems in the country.A Core Task Group was
established by the Planning Commission in February 1995 to draft a paper
outlining a strategy for increasing the contributions of science and technology
to the sharing of library resources. A working group on libraries and
informatics was once more established by the Commission and placed under the
Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of
India. The group's report was to be taken into consideration for the Ninth
Plan, which ran from 1997 to 2002. Many significant proposals for the nation's
libraries' modernization and networking are included in the report of the
Commission Working Group. The implementation of NISSAT, UGC, Planning
Commission, and other government agencies in India has resulted in heightened
endeavors towards the creation of library networks and automation. (Library networks: Indian scenario)
Components:
Different components of library networks are
discussed below:
i. Human Network: The most crucial element of a
library network is its workforce, and that workforce's readiness to engage with
the network and pool resources from their individual libraries. Although the
availability and delivery of information are the main concerns of a library
network. Human resources are what enable this.
ii. Online Databases: A library network's
foundation is made up of databases and databanks. Information sharing is the
root notion behind the concept of online databases. A database is a collection
of all the entire data about a subject that is non-redundant, multiuse,
independent, and physically accessible. The data is organized and structured to
enable interactive searches by users. A library network may create some
databases on its own and purchase or license databases from other database
creators.
iii. Computer Hardware and Software Infrastructure:
In order to host databases and databanks that it creates and maintains, a
library or information network needs computer hardware and software
infrastructure. The purpose of the servers is to enable member institutions'
access to databases, digital assets, browse, and search interfaces.
Communication equipment such as switches, routers, hubs, repeaters, modems, and
other devices needed to set up a Local Area Network (LAN) would also be needed
for a library network. A multitude of software packages are also needed for a
library network in order to manage its highly specialized and diverse
resources, activities, and services. Many software packages are needed to
manage the many parts and functions of a library network.
iv. Data Networks: In order to a library network's
servers to be reachable by its members, they must be connected to the Internet.
The infrastructure of other data networks and Internet service providers is
used by the majority of library networks.
v. Members: The membership of a library network
serves of its effectiveness. A larger membership base lends greater
significance and efficacy to a library network. The expenses incurred in
keeping a library network operational and running, such as licensing and
hosting databases belonging to third parties, are divided among subscribers and
network members. (Library and information networks and consortia)
Types of Network:
Network may be
divided according to their scope of area. They are as
follows:
i. Local Area
Networks (LAN)
ii.
Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)
iii. Wide Area
Networks (WAN)
i. Local Area Networks (LAN): A LAN is
a computer network that consists of access points, cables, routers, and
switches that enable devices to connect to web servers and internal servers
within a single building, campus, or home network, and to other LANs via WAN or
MAN. A single internet connection can be used to access and exchange data
between devices on a Local Area Network (LAN), which are mostly workstations
and personal PCs. (Local area network)
ii. Metropolitan Area Networks
(MAN): A MAN is a type of computer network that links users to computer
resources within an area roughly equivalent to a metropolitan area. When Local
Area Network (LANs) in a city are connected to form a single, bigger network
that can potentially provide an efficient connection to a wide area network,
this is referred to as a Metropolitan Area Network, or MAN. The phrase is also
used to refer to the process of connecting multiple Local Area Network (LAN) in
a city by means of point-to-point connections. (Metropolitan area network)
iii.
Wide Area Networks (WAN): The technology that links offices, data centers,
cloud storage and applications is called a WAN. Because it extends beyond a
single structure or sizable campus to encompass numerous locations dispersed
throughout a particular region, or possibly the entire globe, it is known as a
Wide Area Network. For instance, WANs are used to link office networks in
companies with numerous foreign branch offices. The internet is the greatest
Wide Area Network (WAN) in the world since it is made up of numerous
interconnected worldwide networks. (What is WAN?)
Network Topology:
A network topology is the
arrangement with which computer systems or network devices are connected to
each other. Topologies may define both physical and logical aspect of the
network. Both logical and physical topologies could be same or different in a
same network. The various network topologies are:
i.
Point-to-Point: It is a type of topology
that works on the functionality of the sender and receiver. It is the most
basic form of communication between two nodes, where the sender and the
recipient are the two nodes. High bandwidth is provided by point-to-point. (Types of
network topology)
ii. Bus
Topology: In a bus topology, a single communication
line or cable is shared by all devices. Bus topology may encounter issues when
several hosts are sending data simultaneously. In order to resolve the problem,
bus topology either employs CSMA/CD technology or designates a single host as
the bus master. It's a basic kind of networking where the failure of one device
doesn't impact the others.
iii. Star
Topology: All hosts in Star topology are connected to a
central device, known as hub device, using a point-to-point connection. That
is, there exists a point to point connection between hosts and hub. The hub
device can be any of the following:
a. Layer-1 device such as hub or repeater.
b. Layer-2 device such as switch or bridge.
c. Layer-3 device such as router or gateway.
iv. Ring Topology: This form
of network architecture creates a circular network structure by connecting each
host system to precisely two other machines. Data passes via all intermediate
hosts when a host tries to connect or send a message to a host that is not
nearby. An additional cable may be all that the administrator needs to connect
one more host to the current configuration.
v. Mesh Topology: A host
connects to one or more hosts in this topology type. In this topology, all
hosts are connected point-to-point to each other, or some hosts may only be
connected point-to-point to a small number of other hosts.
vi. Tree Topology: Another
name for tree topology is hierarchical topology. At the moment, this is the
most often used type of network topology. This topology borrows characteristics
from bus topology and mimics an extended star topology. The network is divided
into several tiers or layers by this topology. A network is divided into three
categories of network devices, mostly in LANs. The access layer, to which
computers are connected, is the lowest. Serving as a mediator between the top
and lower layers, the middle layer is also referred to as the distribution
layer. The topmost layer, referred to as the core layer, serves as the
network's center hub, or the root of the tree from which all nodes branch out.
(Computer network topologies)
Library
Networks:
Few library
networks are discussed below-
i. Developing
Library Network (DELNET): Founded in 1988 and incorporated as a society in 1991, DELNET was
formerly known as Delhi Library Network till 2001. It was first supported by
NISSAT, DSIR, and is currently being jointly promoted by the Department of
Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology,
Government of India, and the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Apart from
accomplishing the goals of the library network, DELNET also conducts research
in the fields of information science and technology, develops new systems,
implements research findings, and disseminates them.(Library networks: national
and international)
Activities and
Services: a) Union
Catalogue of Books, Periodicals.
b) Database of
Periodical Articles.
c) Database of
Theses and Dissertations.
d) Database of
E-books. .
e) Online Inter
Library Loan.
f) Document
Delivery Services. (DELNET)
ii. INFLIBNET: Information and Library Network is
referred to by the term INFLIBNET and located at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is a
major national programme of the University Grants Commission (UGC) initiated in
the year 1991. INFLIBNET is an Autonomous Inter University Center run by UGC.
In 1996, it became a stand-alone inter-university center. Additionally,
INFLIBNET is making a significant effort to provide efficient file transfers,
computer/audio/video conferencing, bulletin board postings, email, and other
forms of communication amongst researchers and academicians in India.(Library
networks: national and international)
Activities and
Services: a) Library
Automation (INDCAT, SOUL 3.0 etc.)
b) E-Consortium
(E-SODHSINDHU, N-LIST, SHODHSHUDDHI etc.)
c) Open Access
Initiative (SHODHGANGA, SHODHGANGOTRI, SHODH-CHAKRA, INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY
etc.)
d) Scholarly
Network (VIDWAN: EXPERT DATABASE, IRINS etc.)
e) E-content
Development and Services (E-PG PATHSHALA, UGC MOOCS etc.)
f) Rankings and
Accreditation (NIRF, NAAC etc.) (INFLIBNET Centre)
iii. CALIBNET
(Calcutta Library Network): Established in 1986 in accordance with the Societies Registration Act,
1961 of the West Bengal Government. CALIBNET is a project funded by NISSAT,
DSIR and managed by the Calcutta Society. During its initial phase, CALIBNET
connected 38 scientific and technological computerized libraries in the
Calcutta metropolitan area. It then connected to additional regional
metropolitan area networks.
Activities and
Services: a) Database
services.
b) Full-text
Document Delivery Services.
c) On-line CD ROM
based global Information search and retrieval services.
iv. MYLIBNET
(Mysore Library Network): It was situated on the Central Food Technological Research Institute
(CFTR) Campus in Mysore. MYLIBNET was established by NISSAT, DSIR in 1995. For
LIS workers, MYLIBNET arranges a variety of training courses.
Activities and
Services: a) Union Catalogue
of Periodicals.
b) To enable
quicker communication between all libraries using the Electronic Mail service.
v. MALIBNET
(Madras Library Network): The MALIBNET started in the year 1991and aims to offer efficient information
services to those residing in and around Madras. In 1993, MALIBNET registered
as a society. For the MALIBNET project, the executing agency was INSDOC, which
is now known as NISCAIR. MALIBNET welcomes universities, colleges, R&D
centers and individuals as members.
Activities and
Services: a)
E-mail Service.
b) Photocopy
Service.
c) Document
Delivery Service.
d) Training
Courses.
vi. BONET
(Bombay Library Network): BONET started in the year 1994. BONET is backed by NISSAT and DSIR. More
than 25 libraries have signed up to become members. It offers professional
development training programs and seminars in addition to providing access to
databases, CD-ROMs, and other media.
Activities and
Services: a) Online
Catalogue of Periodicals, Books etc.
b) Online Document
Delivery of Items.
vii. PUNENET
(Pune Library Network): PUNENET is an
initiative including the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), the University of
Pune, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). This
project, funded by NISSAT was started in the year 1992. PUNENET is housed in
Bio Informatrics Centre, Pune.
Activities and
Services: a) Union Catalogue
of Periodicals.
b) Databases of
Booksellers and LIS Professionals.
c) Current
Awareness Service (CAS).
d) Online
Search Facility.(Library networks: national and international)
viii. ADINET: ADINET is a Advance Information Network of Libraries in Gujarat. It was
established in 1994 with an initial grant for a few years from National
Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT), Department of Science
and Industrial Research, Government of India, New Delhi. It caters to all types
of Libraries: school, college, universities, institutional libraries and even
public libraries. Hence, access is provided to hundreds of libraries,
librarians and organizations through the ADINET Network.
Activities and
Services: a) Inter
Library Loan.
b) Database of
Current Periodicals.
c) Document Delivery
Services.
d) Published
Newsletter.
e) Librarians' Day Celebration. (Advance Information Network of Libraries in Gujarat)
