Networking SAARC Libraries

for Cooperation and Development

Dr. H. K. Kaul Director, DELNET, New Delhi

Email: hkkaul@gmail.com

Introduction

Knowledge as the Agent of Transformation

Development and Change

Sources of Knowledge

• Printed sources

• Newspapers• Books• Journals• Gray literature etc

• Digital resources

• CD’s• Internet• Databases• Metadata etc

Sources of Knowledge(contd.)

• MSS

• Objects

• Human Experts

• Identification of Knowledge Resources

• Knowledge Databases

Knowledge about Products, Technologies

Important to Know:

a. What is already available in libraries and information centres in SAARC countries?

b. How access to this information can be made problem-free among all users in SAARC? and

c. What additional information resources could be collected from global centres and made available to people in SAARC?

SAARC Libraries

Regular inflow of new knowledge into libraries

Mechanisms for storing, processing and distribution

Networking of Libraries: A Necessity

Barrier-free access to digital resources

Why Should We Network Knowledge?

Access to maximum of the available resourcesComplex interactions between tacit and explicit

sources of knowledgeLimitations of ICT ICT cannot map all these complex operationsCharles Savage describes this phenomenon as

“the process of combining and recombining one another’s knowledge, experiences, talents, skills, capabilities, and aspirations in ever-changing profitable patterns”

We have to be able to cater to new information and knowledge requirements of people in SAARC

Bridging the Digital DivideInformation revolution resulting in:

a. Increasing growth of digitally born publications;b. Increasing number of printed books getting digitised;c. Increasing number of printed journals becoming available in digital form;d. Increasing number of journals which exist only in the digital form;e. The growth of institutional repositories and other documents in the digital form; and f. Sophistication of technologies that hold the promise that it would be possible to provide fast selected resources to users on their desktops with the use of ICT applications.

Web-based information sources

Genuineness of the ContentCompetition from the Web-based

information providersThe price tagPublishers of e-resourcesLibrary services

• Role of DELNET• A Major Library Network• The objectives• What Does DELNET Do?• In bridging the digital divide, DELNET plays a major role. It:• 1 Networks Information and Knowledge Resources;• 2 Promotes the Use of Appropriate Infrastructure; • 3 Promotes the Use of International Standards;• 4 Improves Communication Among Resources and Users;• 5 Improves Access to Resources;• 1 Gives Online Access;• 2 Offers Delivery of Documents;• 6 Offers Consultancy Services;• 7 Provides Information Support for Research and Development;• 8 Contributes to National and Regional Development;• 9 Promotes International Cooperation;• 10 Contributes to the Security and Preservation of Digital Resources; • 11 Contributes to the Growth of Training Manpower; and• 12 Promotes a Network Culture Among

• DELNET considers that specialised content should become available to the general public in the following areas in various South Asian languages:

• i. Health and welfare including information on sanitation, water, environment, etc.

• ii. Agriculture including information on seeds, herbs, crops, seasons, etc.

• iii. Education including language and literature, teaching, aids,general science, geographic information, general history,

current affairs, etc.

• iv. General information on a range of subjects including:information on marketing of agricultural produce, government policies within the State, transportation, employment development programmes, finance and credit, legal issues, etc. and

• v. Small-Scale Industries: Information on establishing small-scale industries and units for making every individual and family financially self-sufficient.

Appropriate Infrastructure

International Standards

Communication Among Resources and Users

Access to Resources

Online Access to Resources

Delivery of Documents

Consultancy Service

Information Support for Research and Development

National and Regional Development

International Cooperation

This task is not so easy, because:

• All information is not available in the digital form.

• Digitisation of all non-digitised printed documents.

• Research in crossing the language barriers.

• Paying for information.

Security of Digital Resources

Training of Manpower

Developing a Network Culture Among Libraries

Financial Implications

Recommendations