Annals of Library Science and Documentation 1993. 40(1). 32-40

UBRARY AUTOMATION AND NEnNOR~NGIN INDIA - AN OVERVIEW OF RECENTDEVELOPMENTS

INTRODUCTION

This paper presents an overview of recent devel-opments in library automation and networking inIndia and raises issues believed to be of basicnature as a contribution to the on-going debateand discussion on the subject in the country.

UBRARY AUTOMATION IN INDIA - mE LAST10YEARS

The main players in the area of library automationin recent years have been special libraries of thecountry. These libraries/documentation centresare in the R&D institutions under the Council of Sci-entific and Industrial Research (CSIR), IndianCouncil of Medical Research (ICMR), IndianCouncil of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and theDefence Research and Development Organiza-tion (DRDO). Notably, libraries belonging to theprivate sector and public sector industrial R&D or-ganizations such as BHEL and Steel Authority ofIndia Limited (SAIL) and international organiza-tions such as International Crops Research Insti-tute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (lCRISAT) havealso made useful contributions. In fact suchlibraries have provided the leadership and havebecome training grounds for other libraries.

Considerable impetus to the use of new informa-tion technologies in special libraries has beenprovided by the support that the Department ofScientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) hasextended to the Sectoral Information Centres es-tablished in some of the CSIR laboratories underthe auspices of the National Information Systemfor Science and Technology (NISSAT). NISSAThas also funded several training programmesand software development projects which haveplayed an important role in improving awarenessof new technologies and their potential, and intransfer of skills and software to different special

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libraries in the country. Understandably, theemphasis in most of the special libraries hasbeen on database development and informationretrieval services.

With the exception of a few university librariessuch as those of liT Kanpur and Hyderabad Uni-versity, the university sector has not been veryactive. Unlike the UK or US, academic libraries inIndia are not in the forefront of developments andinnovations in the application of new informationtechnologies.

Furthermore, there is no evidence of any activity,nor of any planning for the introduction of newtechnologies in the Indian public library system.

Several factors have favoured the adoption of newtechnologies in special libraries. Most of them arein publicly funded organizations and they func-tion relatively autonomously and so decisionmaking is easier. Secondly, special libraries areunder pressure to deliver more efficient servicesand to provide better and wider access toinformation. Thirdly, The wide availability of per-sonal computers has undoubtedly contributedto special libraries being able to automate theirfunctions and to build specialized databases.One factor that has probably made the greatestcontribution to automation in special libraries inIndia is the free availability of Unesco's MicroCDS/ISIS and the relative ease with which aspecialized databases can be developed.

Unlike special libraries, academic libraries in Indiafunction in a relatively less autonomous environ-ment; They have to compete for scarce resources;They are by comparison small units within a largeorganization; Undergraduate students outnum-ber the graduate students and the faculty and re-search staff; and as a pressure group, under-graduate students do not have a great stake in

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improved library services. In general, these librar-ies do not seem to be under pressure to improvetheir services as much as are the special libraries.

However, the University Grants Commission (UGC)in 1989 took the initiative to plan for a country-wide academic library and information networkcalled INFLIBNET, and this is referred to later inthis paper. This initiative has the potential to makea significant impact on operational efficienciesand user services in libraries in general and aca-demic libraries in particular.

UBRARYAUTOMATIONSOFnNARE

In the last few years, there have been someimportant and useful initiatives in the develop-ment of library automation software. Some spe-cial libraries notably at BHEL R&D [4], SAIL,ICRISAT [2), INSDOC, NIC, Defence ScientificInformation and Documentation Centre (DE-SIDOC), liT Kanpur, etc. have successfully devel-oped software for library automation. Understanda-bly these centres have concentrated on develop-. ing applications which are important in theirspecific environments, and where they payoff interms of better control, new services, or moreefficient operations. Book and serial acquisition,computer assisted cataloguing, union catalogueproduction, SDI, and current-awareness aresome of the areas where applications aredeveloped.

In addition to the efforts at the above mentionedcentres, CMC Ltd., a public sector computercompany has built an integrated software pack-age called MAITRAYEE suitable for a library net-work [4). This package will be applied in CALlB-NET, a network of libraries in Calcutta. It is yet tobe observed how the package will be receivedand used.

More recently, DESIDOC [3) has built an inte-grated application using Micro CDS/ISIS which isa major contribution in enabling small libraries inthe country to realise the benefits of automation.More over, the use of public-domain software likeCDS/ISIS and common standards for databasecreation, bibliographic description, indexing andclassification, etc. act as a catalyst to improvesharing of resources among libraries in India.This requirement is becoming more and moreimportant in view of the erosion in the purchasingpower of libraries and fall inthevalueofthe rupee

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vis-a-vis hard currencies.

CDS/ISIS is also used for the development ofother utilities. One such example is the develop-ment at ICRISAT [5] of a general purpose programfor the production of SDI outputs based on stored

Commercial Software

Significantly, in the last few years there has beentremendous development of commercially avail-able software for library automation. L1BSYS [7],and TULIPS - among the better known commer-cial packages - are available for use on micro-computers, minicomputers and mainframes, andin LAN environments. One measure of thematurity of these packages is that they are writtenas applications under well known DatabaseManagement System (DBMS) packaqes, e.g.,Oracle, Ingres, etc. Most of them are offered asintegrated library management packages. Thereis now considerable experience in their use,which has enabled developers to enhance theirfirst offerings.

There are some differences between the featuresofthese packages and those ofthe GEAC orVTLSwhich are developed in the west. Firstly, none ofthe Indian packages, with the exception of theMAITRAYEE, fully support machine-readable cata-log (MARC) records. It may not, currently, besignificant in India, but it will definitely be ofsignificant importance when the large libraries,such as universities libraries, begin to retrospec-tively convert their catalogues into machine-read-able form. The need to access MARC records onCD-ROM or other media and to restructure suchrecords for use in local systems will undoubtedlybecome apparent. Similarly, the need to preparefor co-operative and shared cataloguing of Indianpublications and for accessing current catalogu-ing information on external networks will make itessential for locally or commercially developedsoftware to be capable of using MARC records.Secondly, Indian packages have attempted to offermore than library automation. For instance, theyhave attempted also to be information retrievalsystems. Some of the systems also allow entry ofinformation on serial articles, chapters from booksand other analytics. They also provide SDI capa-bilities. Such a facility on the face of it is good butthe packages in question may not always adhereto the internationally accepted standards for suchtypes of documents. also, it is naive to think that

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libraries, however large they may be, will, on theirown, be ble to provide comprehensive informationretrieval and dissemination services relating toworld-wide periodical and specialized literature.Access to external databases and information re-trieval systems would still be required. It would beinteresting to find out to what extent the informa-tion retrieval capabilities of commercially availablelndian packages are in fact being used.

Thirdly, the packages in the west are increasinglyemphasizing the incorporation d end-user friendlyinterfaces, and the provision of on-line publicaccess catalogues (OPACs). Indian packages,however, are still oriented mainly to be used bylibrarians and information specialists and not bythe occasional end-user student, teacher, re-searcher, etc. However, the question of OPACs inIndia at the moment is an academic one since thecomputing power and telecommunications facili-ties required to provide OPACs is considerableand not yet available to the libraries in India.

Considerable research is continuing in the US andUK on the design of friendly interfaces includingthe use of artificial intelligence and graphicaluser interfaces (GUI). Developers of library auto-mation software in India will hopefully take note ofsuch developments in their software developmentwork.

Relevance of Integrated Library Systems in India

Integrated systems in the west recognize thecentrality of the cataloguing record in libraryoperations. Automation of acquisition, catalogu-ing, circulation, reference and information retrievalfunctions are dependent on the capture of cata-loguing records and access to them. The informa-tion infrastructure of the west is built to ensurethat the libraries of all types have wide and easyaccess to the cataloguing data.

Data networks ensure that access to such data isreliable and cheap. The MARC record producednot only by the national library but also coopera-tively by several others is the kingpin in the wholeprocess. Libraries in the west have a long historyand tradition of centralized, cooperative and sharedcataloguing, and adherence to common standardsin classification, cataloguing and indexing. Pro-fessional manpower is expensive and the largerlibraries in the west have dedicated minicomput-ers or mainframes for library automation. Smaller

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libraries including special libraries have accessto computing power and the auxiliary speciallibraries have access to computing power as wellas to auxiliary storage capacity either on main-frames of their parent bodies, or on their own PC-based local area network (LAN).

Integrated library management software in thewest is designed to take full advantage of thisinfrastructure, and the emphasis in a library thatacquires and uses an integrated software pack-age is firstly, on the cost-effectiveness with whicha publication can be acquired, processed andmade accessible to users including access on anOPAC, and secondly, on the speed with whichboth the bibliographic record and document canbe shared by other libraries.

In India, on the other hand, key elements of theinfrastructure that make for the effective applica-tion of an integrated library management softwarepackage are missing. For instance the library utili-ties like an Indian MARC which the libraries cansubscribe to or access on-line to obtain cata-loguing data on Indian publications includingthose in Indian languages, are not available.Thirdly, unlike in the west few libraries can affordto own mainframes or minicomputers dedicatedto library automation. Libraries in Indi9 simply donot have a culture of shared and cooperativecataloguing. In short, the objectives of using inte-grated library management software packages inIndia at the moment are not the same as those inthe west. Within-the-library also, integration offunctions is not often possible because the differ-ent functional units of a library - acquisition,cataloguing, reference, circulation - normally donot have concurrent on-line access to the data-bases and authority files that constitute an inte-grated application. Such access is possible onlyif a library has several terminals to a mainframe orminicomputer or has a dedicated LAN of its own.Even where a library has access to a mainframeor minicomputer (e.g. in the universities' R&DInstitution), the disk space that is available forlibrary applications is simply inadequate for aproper integrated application. This is becausethe library has to compete with other depart-ments for limited computing and related resources.Only when libraries improve the quality and effi-ciency of their services will their bargaining powerfor more resources improve. it appears that librar-ies in India will do well to concentrate on tasks thathave a direct bearing on user services rather than

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on increased operational efficiency. If this be so,should libraries invest in costly integrated librarymanagement software? Is there a role for specialpurpose software with a clear perspective forintegration at a later date when other elementsthat make for effective integration become avail-able? For instance, is it an accident that university~ibraries in the west automated their circulationsystems before they thought of automating theircataloguing or acquisition systems?

As in the manufacturing industry, so in the informa-tion industry, the capital expenditure on buildingthe appropriate infrastructure in a developingcountry generally falls to the government of thecountry. This infrastructure in the form of bettercommunication networks, facilities for databasedevelopment, easier access to hardware and soft-ware, etc., is now slowly being built in India.

The recent liberalization of India's investmentand economic policies will no doubt provide afurther impetus for private sector investment ininformation technology andits applications.

Effective utilization of this infrastructure is theresponsibility of individual libraries of all types.This means that libraries in India should give thehighest priority to improving their services andensuring easier and wider access to documentsand information for their users. The only way librar-ies in India can cope up with the rising costs ofinformational material and increased demandsfrom users is by better coordination, coopera-tion and sharing of resources with libraries havingsimilar interests. The networkinq of libraries andthe application of new technologies for this mustget high priority. A vital pre-requisite for network-ing is agreement and conformity to commonstandards for library processes. Furthermore, thereis need for a greater cornrnm nent to the sharing ofbibliographic records as well as the documentsand their copies. India has not been very good insharing of resources. This is partly due to the lackof initiatives on the part of librarians and partly duetothe lack of policy support to encourage librariesto share their resources with others. Technologyalone cannot help bring about the requiredchanges. Attitudes, practices and policies needto change if libraries in India are to truly benefitthemselves and their community of users by theapplication of new technologies.

The questions arise now : Is the western model of

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library automation and networking relevant to Indiain its present state of development?, If so, towhat extent?, What are Indian professionalsdoing to make the benefits of automation and theapplication of new technologies flow not only tolibraries but also to the users of all kinds?, Howcan other technologies (e.g. optical disks) beused to further the goals of better service? Whatroles should the national libraries, professionalbodies and the schools of library science play inensuring effective use of new teChnologies?, Howare the decisions on building of the informationinfrastructure being influenced and implemented?Is there a role for the publishing industry and thebook selling trade?, etc.

UBRARY AND INFORMATION NETWORKING ININDIA

A distinction is made here between infrastructuralnetworks and application networks. The formerare those that provide the hardware, software,protocols, and freeways for the free flow of infor-mation. Application networks are those which areset up by or for a specific community (librarians,bankers, etc.) or for a specific community usingthe infrastructure to serve well defined end-users. In the last few years, there has beenconsiderable thinking and investment in thedevelopment of infrastructural netwoi ~s.

INFRASTRUClURAL NETWORKS

Public Packet-Switched Data Network

The Department of Telecommunications has es-tablished this year (1992), a nation-wide publicpacket-switched data network (PSDN) called 1-NET which will have nodes in 8 cities connectedthrouqh high speed (9600 and 64000 bits persecond) links. I-NET supports CCITT standardprotocols/interfaces : X.3, X.28, X.29, X.2S andX.75. It is accessible using dedicated or leasedlines for asynchronous (X.28) or synchronous(X.2S) connection with standard modems/drivers. I-NET is ideal for users whose data trafficdoes not justify a dedicated network. Databaseswhen mounted on I-NET hosts are of greatinterest to the library community. Electronic mailis also possible on I-NET. Further, it also providesinternational connectivity to important datanetworks outside the country through the GPSS(Gateway Packet Switched Services) of the VideshSanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), India's overseas

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communication services at Bombay, Madras andDelhi. PADS (Packet Assemblers/Dis-assemblers)at these cities ensure access at 300-2400 bps tothe gateway' and to external networks.

I-NET and the GPSS have ushered in an era ofrelatively inexpensive and reliable computer com-munications in India and it is now up to the libraryand academic community to take advantage ofthese facilities. Library networks using a combi-nation of dedicated lines and dial-up accessconnections using the infrastructure of I-NET area distinct possibility and one can look to the futureof library networking in India with hope.

NICNET : A unique infrastructural network with ahistory that goes back to 1970's is the NationalInformatics Center's (NIC) network called NICNET.It is unique in the sense that it uses almostexclusively, satellite-based communications us-ing low cost roof-top micro-earth stations toconnect 450 district headquarters and 32 stateand union territory capitals with a central hub atDelhi. Another unique feature of NICNET is that ituses 500 very small aperture terminals (VSATs),each of which is connected to a specific out-bound and inbound channel on the satellite'stransponder. Data transmitted by a VSAT is re-ceived and relayed via the satellite (INSAT 1D) toanotherVSAT, all of which are addressable. Bothindividual and group addressing of VSAT~ ispossible. VSATs have been used to connect com-puters, terminals, telexes or other devices toeach other via the satellite. With this technology,it is possible even for remote corners of thecountry to be connected without recourse totelephone lines, multiplexers, modems, etc.

NICNET has large mainframes at four cities in thecountry with supermini computers at the statecapitals and union territories, all linked via theVSATs and satellite.

NICNET is designed primarily to be a govern-ment inforThation network. Its objectives are topromote the collection, storage, analysis, trans-mission, and exchange of data at districts, stateheadquarters and central ministries and depart-ments at New Delhi for use in planning, manage-ment, and monitoring of projects and governmentsponsored programmes. It has been used exten-sively during the emergencies caused by naturalcalamities and to obtain help and information inhealth and agriculture related areas.

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Although NICNET is principally meant for use bythe Government departments, it does have thepotential for use by the library and informationcommunity. It is possible to mount databases onone or more of the mainframes of NICNET for on-line access by users in government departments,research institutions supported by the state orcentral government etc. The Indian MEDLARSCentre (IMC) of the NIC has mounted the MED-LINE database on one of NIC's minicomputers atDelhi and this is remotely searchable using dial-up access from NICNET terminals throughoutIndia. In addition to the MEDLINE database, IMCprovides dial-up access to CD-ROM databases ofthe US National Library of Medicine, and to Bio-logical Abstracts and the Science Citation Index.

An example of how NICNET has been used tomount an application network is seen in theBiotechnology Information System (BITS) of thecountry. This network initiated in 1986 under theauspices of the Department of Biotechnology ofthe Government of India, operates through ninecentres known as Distributed Information Centres(DICs), affiliated to University Departments orresearch centres under the CSIR or ICMR andspecializing in an area of biotechnology. TheDICs are charged with the responsibility of devel-oping bibliographic and nonbibliographic data-bases in their areas of specialization and toprovide computer-based access to users of suchinformation in the country. Further, the DICs areexpected to provide access to biotechnology in-formation elsewhere in the world through collabo-rative and cooperative programmes including theexchange of data, databases, and mutual accessto such information. Each of the DICs is a NICNETnode and hence all the DICs are interconnectedfor mutual access to databases and have thefacility of E-Mail. Further, each of the DICs maypossess specialized databases on CD-ROM whichcan be remotely searched throughout the coun-try. The DICs also provide access to specializedsoftware useful in biotechnology research anddevelopment. Since NICNET was designed pri-marily for government use, the extent to whichit will be available for library networking and foraccess to public databases is not yet clear. Oncetraffic on NICNET becomes heavy, it may not beable to service the library community and infor-mation users among the general public aseffectively as one would desire. NICNET will,however, keep abreast of new technologies insatellite-based communication and therefore the

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library community in the governmental sectorshould stake its claim to use NICNET whereverpossible.

INDONET : INDONET is a commercial distributedcomputer network to provide access to theconsiderable computing and software resourcesof CMC Ltd., a public sector company in India.The Objective is to provide computing power andsoftware to users who cannot afford or fully justifyinvestment in dedicated hardware and expen-sive, specialized business and scientific soft-ware. INDONET has three IBM mainframes atCalcutta, Bombay and Madras and smaller com-puters at Delhi and Hyderabad. The network usesdedicated lines operating at 2400 to 4800 bps. Ithas plans to use roof-top antennas and packet-switching for data routing within the nodes of thenetwork. Intra-city access to INDONET comput-ers via line-of-sight pocket radio is also beinginvestigated. The Bombay node of INOONET isconnected to VSNL's GPSS enabling computer-to-computer communications via networks abroad.INDONET also has plans to mount public data-bases on one or more of its computers. However,the costs of using INDONET will probablypreclude its use by the library and informationcommunity to any appreciable degree, especiallysince cheaper alternatives have become avail-able.

APPUCA1l0N NETWORKS

In the last three or four years there have beenconsiderable activity for planning and building oflibrary and information networks. Three majorefforts to network libraries in the country are brieflydescribed below. An attempt has also been madeto raise questions believed to be important forthe future of library networking in India.

INFUBNET : INFUBNET [8J is envisaged as acomputer-communications network linking librar-ies in universities and colleges in the country andlibraries in institutions affiliated to the CSIR, ICMR,ICAR, DRDO, and Government departments. Whenfull fledged, it is envisaged that INFLIBNET willnetwork 184 universities and 23 institutions deemedto be universities, 6100 colleges and over 200libraries affiliated to other organizations.

INFLIBNET is being planned as a multi-servicenetwork and will provide catalogue-based serv-ices, access to databases and document supply

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services, and facilities for computer mediatedcommunications such as E-Mail, conferencing,bulletin board, etc.

INFUBNET is designed to operate at four differentlevels, viz., national, regional, sectoral and local.The National centre will coordinate the activitiesand services of the network and provide the policyframe. Regional centres in the north, east, westand south of the country will be established indesignated university libraries in different re-gions. These will maintain regional union cata-logues. Sectoral centres will be at specializedinstitutions, e.g. CSIR laboratories. The sectoralcentres will create and maintain databases inspecific disciplines or missions. End-users willbe serviced at the local level, i.e. colleges, R&Dcentres, university libraries, etc. About 400 localnodes are proposed to be set-up initially. In addi-tion, INFLIBNET proposes the establishment of100 document resource centres in different uni-versities and R&D centres. These centres will bethe focal points in a country-wide document deliv-ery service.

The network will use both satellite-based andterrestrial communication channels for connectiv-ity. The system will have 400 ground terminals at150 university libraries, 50 autonomous collegesand 200 other centres. Intra-city links will beprovided via local area networks.

INFLIBNET is expected to evolve standards basedon national and international practices for uni-form adoption throughout the network.

INFLIBNET as conceived is undoubtedly a boldinitiative that the UGC has taken. The magnitudeof the effort envisaged can be seen by the expen-ditures that are estimated. A capital expenditure ofRS.1030 million and a recurring annual expendi-ture of Rs. 477 million is the estimated need.Further, it is envisaged that the whole expenditureon capital goods and services required andworking capital will be provided by the CentralGovernment.

It is vitally important for the future of library andinformation networking in India that INFUBNETsucceeds in its mission to improve interactionsamong academic and research libraries in thecountry for the efficient and effective sharing ofresources, databases, information, documentdelivery and other services for the benefit of the

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library, student, teaching, and research commu-nities in the country as a whole.

However, there has not been enough debate anddiscussion about the conceptual and physicaldesign features of INFLIBNET among its impor-tant stake holders, viz., the library community ofthe country. The following comments and obser-vations are offered as a contribution to the discus-sion from the perspective of this author.

INFLIBNET has followed a typically top-downapproach to network planning. A few specialistscomprising senior librarians, systems analysts,administrators and telematics professionals metin Delhi over a period of three months in 1988 toformulate the INFLIBNET plan. Such an ap-proach could not have taken into detailedaccount the ground realities in a large countrysuch as India. However, given the need to makea quick headway into networking, a top-downapproach was probably the best way to make aninitial plan, which at best can be thought of as amacro-plan. Refinement of the plan and its im-plementation, however, would need to take intoaccount the realities of the situation in differentparts of the country. More importantly, commit-ment to the plan not only from the librarians butalso from the top managements of the differentinstitutions to be involved in the network needs tobe obtained. Unfortunately, there does not seemto have been any attempt at micro-planningrequired at the different institutions so that theycould in turn take up suitable activities withintheir own organizations. Also, although the planis more than three years old, not much has beendone to build awareness among librarians and toget their input into ways of implementing differentcomponents of the network. As of now, universityand other librarians do not seem to be clear abouttheir roles and the kinds of investments in equip-ment and software, training and staff skills theywould need in order to become full-fledged partici-pants of the network.

Another problem with INFLIBNET is its ambitious-ness. The investments envisaged seem to be farmore than what the University Grants Commis-sion (UGC) or Government of India can provideduring the Eighth five-year plan. This has appar-ently necessitated rethinking on the outlined activ-ity plans. The sheer size of the plan and the ability /willingness ct the Government to commit resourcesneeded, lead one to ask if it would not have been

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wiser to start on a smaller scale and build incre-mentally in the interest of the sustainability of thewhole project and providing proof of the workabil-ity of ideas and methods envisaged in the plan.

It is probably pertinent at this stage to look at theexperience of the United States in library network-ing. Butler [10) writing as far back as 1975 on thestate of networking in the US identified threefactors that aid or hinder library network develop-ment. The factors listed below were seen to be pre-dominant in the success of the networks in the US.

a. A Network's development time in plann-ing is inversely proportional to the num-ber of skilled, experienced library plan-ners involved the minimum number whichis two.

b. Network development is inversely propor-tional to the time required to produce thefirst network product, i.e., the longer thenetwork group is required to support de-velopment without production of a valu-able output, the less likely it is that the net-work will survive.

c. Network development is directly propor-tional to the level of funding and central-ized administrative management. That is,money is significant, and there must bea strong central administration - whichmeans decision making power and mana-gement which includes planning, develop-ment, and marketing the network's func-tions.

As it is presently conceived, INFLIBNET combinesin itself both the functions of a library utility (e.g.Online Computer Library Center) and that of aconsortium of libraries (e.g. Southern LibrariesNetwork). Some members of the network willprobably have to provide utility services (e.g.production of catalogue cards for members) inaddition to serving their local clientele. This couldlead to inefficiencies on both fronts due toequipment, staff or managerial difficulties. An al-ternative would have been to set up a commercialor quasi-commercial agency which would special-ize in providing utility-based services. This wouldleave libraries to concentrate on their main func-tions, viz., acquiring and processing documents,servicing the users and more importantly toengage in cooperative acquisitions, resource

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sharing within the consortium. Such an ap-proach would help strengthen links that alreadyexist between libraries of a region or sub-region ordiscipline, and the more successful of thesewould be models for other consortia. Coordinatinga well defined group of libraries with sharedinterests is probably more feasible and manage-able than coordinating a heterogeneous group oflibraries.

INFLIBNET envisages a hierarchical modelforthecomputer-based communication paths in thenetwork. For instance, a college library wiiJbelinked to the university library which in turn will belinked to the Regional Centre and Sectoral Infor-mation Centres. The possibility of multilateralcommunication, the essence of computer-basednetworks, is possible but only via the central hubinNewDelhi, since the whole network is envisagedas a star configuration, except in the large citieswhere libraries are to be linked by a terrestriallocal area network. As it is presently conceived,it appears that multilateral communication in mostcases will be only for message transfer and notfor database access. Such an approach wouldprobably be adequate to begin with but as moreand more libraries become computer-proficient,libraries will begin to look for more autonomy incomputer use, database development andaccess to external databases. Such a phenome-non in fact has occurred inthe west and this iswelldescribed by Hildreth [10, 11]. It is important toconsider how we might cope with such a situation.

DELNET : DELNET is one of the two experimentsthat is now on-going in the country to networklibraries in big metropolitan cities. These experi-ments may provide guidelines for the city-widesub-networks envisaged in the INFLIBNET proj-ect.

DELNET will network 35 fibraries in Delhiarea [12].A packet-switched network is envisaged witheach cluster of libraries being serviced by apacket-switching exchange. Participating librar-ies have begun creating databases of theirmonograph and serials holdings using CDS/ISIS.Records are in conformity with the CommonCommunications Format (CCF). A union cata-logue of serials has been created and is availableat one of the libraries in the network. All databasescreated co-operatively are expected to reside on acentral computer system and dial-up access willbe provided to all participating libraries. In addi-

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tion, the network will have E-Mail, file transfer andbulletin board facilities.

CALIBNET : CAUBNET will network 38 scienceand technology libraries in the Calcutta Metropoli-tan area. The plan is for the introduction of auto-mated systems in the participating libraries beforenetworking them. Each of the libraries is ex-pected to automate their book acquisitions, cata-loguing, serials control, fund accounting, andcirculation control. It is not clear, however, if allthe libraries will use the same software packaqe,viz. MAITRAYEE. The network centre will provideon-line access to the network's union cataloguesand current-awareness services including SOl.Aswith DELNET, each cluster of libraries will beserviced by a packet-switching exchange.

Libraries participating in CALIBNET will useAACR-2 for bibliographic description. The soft-ware, MAITRAYEE supports MARC records andwill also enable records to be imported/exportedvia the CCF format. CALIBNETwill be linked toDELNET via dial-Up access and to external net-works via the GPSS.

Both DELNET and CALIBNET are in the initialstages of development and the experiencegained by the libraries and software developersin these two networks will undoubtedly be veryvaluable in similar work that will be taken upelsewhere in the country.

CONCLUSION

A review of the kind attempted here cannot cap-ture the buoyancy and enthusiasm that isevidenttoday among librarians in the country. There is adistinct sense of urgency and an eagerness to getthings done. There have been impressive gains inthe skill-base of the library profession. More andmore professionals today, compared to eventhreeor five years ago, are becoming not only com-puter-literate but quite proficient in systemsanalysis, programming, and the application ofnew tools and techniques for library manage-ment, and information retrieval. There is today agreater appreciation among library protessionalsof what the new technologies can and cannot do.Librarians who were once extremely wary ofcomputers are today willing to burn their fingers.All this can or.ly augur well, and give hope ofsteady progress in the challenge of utilizing newtechnologies for better access to knowledge and

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information in the country's thrust towards greateracademic, economic and social progress.

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Haravu L J, Jadhav P Sand SreeramanaR: A microcomputer-based book acquisi-tion system in India using dBase II. Pro-gram 1987, 21 (1),37-48. 9.

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