SEMINAR ON CURRENT AWARENESS SERVICE AND

SELECTIVE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

Presented byDileep D S

INTRODUCTION Dissemination of information that will

keep it users well-informed and up-to-date in their fields of basic interest as well as in related subjects is called Current Awareness Service. It is a system of getting knowledge on recent developments which relate to the special interest of individual

Cont… CAS is a device of the information system

through which the users of information can be informed promptly, as soon as possible after publications but before absorption into the comprehensive secondary sources of current literature on a broad subject field or on a area in which a group of persons are interested, and presented in a manner, volume and rhythm intended to facilitate or cultivate current approach to information.

Meaning and Definition S.R. Ranganathan defines CAS as

"Documentation periodical listing the documents appearing during the period covered, and without being selected to suit the requirements of a particular reader or of a specific topic under investigation. It endeavors to keep the clientele informed promptly of all the nascent thought created in their fields of work and related fields.

Meaning Cont… B.C. Vickery define “CAS is more frequently

and more adequately met by circulation than by retrieval, current journals, newly received book and report, abstract bulletins and the like being fed to and scanned by users.

Basically, speaking, CAS is a device for alerting specialists towards latest developments and new publications acquired by the libraries/information center

TYPES OF CURRENT AWARENESS SERVICE

Two kinds of Current awareness services may be recognized

a. Those services, which are directed towards individuals or group of users. These may include communication of information to individuals or groups through informal conversation or via telephone, message sent on notification form, SDI, selective of dissemination of documents, routing of periodicals (or automatic loan ) and other documents. In this field, information supplied within the period of one week to one month -

Cont…. b. Those services, which are directed

towards all users of  the services, these may include accession list ( a list of recent acquisitions), bibliography, indexing and abstracting services, bibliographic surveys, literature surveys, table of contents of periodicals received in the library, Current Awareness bulletin, etc -

AIMS OF CAS i. To aware the scientists/users with

latest developments in there subject fields.

ii. To keep the clientele well-informed and up-to-date knowledge of latest development in their fields of research

iii. To fulfill the current demand of the users.

Charactersics of CAS i. Visual channel: There is visual channel for

user to know the current developments through:

a. Information obtained orally from colleagues.

b. Information received/gathered through the receipt of pre-prints, reprints.

c. Information gathered through attending meeting and conferences and getting information in both formal and informal way.

Character Cont… ii. Literature channel: a. Scanning of current issues of

periodicals. b. Regular perusal of abstracting and

indexing periodicals in one’s subject fields.

c. In some cases reviews and monographs are also consulted.

Cont… iii. Formal channel (Current channel): a. Regular perusal of current issues of

periodicals. b. Current issues of abstracting and

individuals periodicals. c. Maintaining profiles (personal files of

the users).

Cont… iv. A CAS is an announcement mechanism

usually in documentary form. vi. Record of answer of any specific query

as current approach to information like a panoramic view of current development.

vii. A CAS is mainly addressed to those workers who cannot depend entirely on their own informal channels.

Cont… viii. Speed and timeliness is the

essence of CAS. ix. Due to the very nature of current

approach, ease of scanning has to be ensured in a Current Awareness bulletin.

x. CAS is a perishable commodity.

Factors influencing on Current Awareness Service

1. Current Approach: It is necessary for every informator to keep himself known with the current literature or the latest development of subject. He must know all the important areas as soon as published or generated.

2. Continuous need: CAS is very much required where there is continuous need of current affairs and developments by the user. More continuous need, more Current Awareness service.

Cont… 3.  Direct demand: For many issues the

user may not be immediately interested but some of the reference may be demanded by him at any moment. For such needs some of the references are recorded in his diary or personal file kept with the library or informator, so that when to need arises they may be supplied with latest developments.

Steps in Current Awareness Service

i) Review or scan documents (some time records of documents) immediately upon receipt. ii) Select information and record individual documents pertinent to the programme of the individuals or groups of the organization being served. This may be done by comparing the documents/information with the needs of users being served. iii)  Send notification to the users about items or information of interest to them.

SELECTIVE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

SDI is a type of current awareness service meant to keep the user abreast with the latest developments in the field of his interest. It is a personalized service meant for the individual or a group of users having identical information needs. It is a quick service which provides the pinpointed and exhaustive information to the users. SDI involves the screening of the document and selecting the information according to the specific information needs of each user or group of users (homogeneous). The main objective is to keep the user well-informed and up-to-date in his area of interest.

Meaning and Definition Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI)

is defined as the system in which selectively and automatically compiled information about new documents is disseminated to researchers, scientists and others who need these documents/information or supplying each user or group of users with a reference of documents or abstracts relating to their predefined areas of interest. It involves notifying the material that matches the interests of the client.

Meaning and Definition Cont..

Selective Dissemination of Information was a concept first described by H.P. Luhn for the scientist /engineers of IBM. According to him, "The Selected Dissemination of Information is the service within an organization which concerns itself with the channeling of new items of information, from whatever sources, to those points within the organization where the probability of usefulness in connection with current work or interest in high. On the other hand, the service endeavors to withhold such information from the points where the probability is low."

Meaning Cont… Judith Holt Connor defines SDI service

as a manual and automated service which attempts for a personal service (CAS) selecting for each individual that are relevant to him.

"It is activity of supplying a clientele on a regular basis with requested, specific type of information the emphasis is on the specific." - Edmon Wearing

Objectives of SDI To provide current information on a

predefined area of interest. To receive, scan and provide the

literature / information to the right users at the right time.

All the current information which is relevant to the interest of the user must be brought to the notice of the user notification

Objectives Cont… All the relevant information which is

published elsewhere in the world (in English or other languages) should be located through various sources.

To achieve current requirements through the scan of current material such as journals, current awareness bulletins and other important resources.

To save the time of the user.

Objectives Cont… No irrelevant documents should be

brought to the notice of the user. Only the selective and relevant documents should be brought to the notice of the user.

Characterstics of SDI It is a computerised assisted service. SDI is concerned with current published

information. The source of current information may be

available both within the organization and outside it.

The new / current information should be disseminated to the users such as researchers, scientists, managers, etc. within the organization.

Character Cont… The channeling or directing of this

information depends upon the nature of this interest.

One of the important things in SDI service is that only current and selective information which is highly relevant to the user's interest is to be selected by the computer for dissemination.

Differences between CAS and SDI

SDI is a form of CAS. The objectives of both services is to keep the users well-informed and up-to-date in their field of research. CAS is the awareness service. It makes the user aware of the current developments that are taking place in his area of interest. Whereas SDI deals with providing the exact or pinpointed information. It is not possible to state the exact information in case of CAS, whereas it necessary to state the exact information need of the user in SDI. SDI is an advance type of current awareness service which is directed towards the individuals.

Differences Cont… Both the services are based on availability of current

literature. SDI is a personalized service and is directed towards the individuals or homogeneous group, whereas CAS is awareness service which is directed towards all the users who need it. CAS is provided by circulating the current list of periodicals among all the users, whereas SDI service is based on matching the user's profile with the document profile. SDI is a selective service based on the exact information need of the user, whereas in CAS all the information is circulated to the user on the given topic. CAS can be provided without computer, whereas SDI is a computerized service. Feedback is an important step is providing SDI service, whereas that is not required in CAS.

Conclusion CAS and SDI are the very important

information sources for researchers and other aspirants who want up-to-date information due to the emergence of Internet and other wed based applications these two services are provideable through fingertips.

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