Information & Communications Technologies (ICT) have revolutionized every sphere of life, from academia to industry and from lab to fields. Libraries these days are heading towards a new era of “e-library” where they provide useful services to their users in a more efficient manner.

Library & Information Services Division, hereafter referred as Library, is an internal division of National Informatics Centre with an objective to cater to information need of NIC officials. At present, Library is serving to the approximately 3000 users and providing a number of general and online services.

Library Collection

At present the NIC Library, in its collection, has over 20,000 books, 6000 journal (volumes), 200 current journals, 500 CDs, 200 manuals and 300 standard documents. With such a large number of publications in the collection, it is important to ensure convenience and efficiency in the service.

Library Computerization

During 1988, Library took the initiative to automate the Library activities by using a commercial library automation software i.e. LibSys (http://libsystech.libsys.co.in/). The complete library collection was fed in computer and Library Catalogue was made available online for users. Later during 1998, ‘Libsys’ was replaced with BASIS Plus / TECHLIB Plus software having more advance features for library automation.

As a result of library computerization, a number of bibliographic databases can be accessed by users. The Books Database contains more than 20,000 records of books, monographs, manuals, standards, etc and is available online as OPAC/web OPAC. The Articles Database consists of more than 5000 bibliographic records of Articles and theme issues published in more than 700 technical journals subscribed by Library during last 12 years. This database is also available online through web.

Library on Web

Since 1998 the NIC Library has a web presence (http://lib.nic.in) and the site is for internal usage of NIC staff. The website developed by the library staff provides links to OPAC (Books Catalog), Articles Database, Journals Database and other in-house designed databases.

NewsNIC

NewsNIC is a web-based newspapers clipping service of NIC Library (http://news.delhi.nic.in/newsnic) This service, started in 1998, provides latest news items on NIC, information technology and allied subjects from twenty three leading national dailies. The NewsNIC database has been designed in MS SQL Server and ASP technology/VB Scripts has been used to publish the news daily. A powerful search engine has been provided to search the news archives from database. The news items so indexed are also mailed to NIC officials regularly thus keeping them updated.

Journals Related Services

NIC Library provides various journals related services on web which include “Current Awareness Service/SDI”; “Current Journals with links to their respective web sites”; “Special Issues of Journals (1988-2001)”; “Internet Resources”, etc. Recently, complete “Journals Holdings” (approx. 6004 bound volumes) have been converted to web-enabled SQL Server database (http://news.delhi.nic.in/holdings)

Internet Resources

As a new trend, a lot of reading material is available free over Internet. NIC has designed a “Virtual Library” where such web sites and resources have been indexed for reference. These resources are available subject-wise and can be accessed at http://news.delhi.nic.in/niclibrary

Datapro Reports

Since 1998, Library has been subscribing a full-text commercial database from M/s. Gartner Group, Inc; USA. This database contains more than 6000 state-of-the-art reports in the field of IT and allied topics. (http://news.delhi.nic.in/niclibrary/datapro.htm)

E-Granthalaya

E-Granthalaya is a Library Management Software developed by Karnataka State Unit of NIC. NIC Library has been designated as distribution center for this software and the Library Team has been given the responsibilities to implement the software for Library Automation in Central and State Government libraries. Library Training & Consultancy. As an organizational objective, Library Team is also engaged in imparting and organizing training programs for library professionals in India. These programs are organized with the help of Training Division, to provide necessary technical and professional skill to the working librarians in order to help them for library automation.

Future Plans

Now is time to redefine the objectives of Library in an organization where it can play various important roles as an information provider & disseminating agency. The Division has plans to develop a portal for all Government Sector libraries in order to enhance their roles in Government Informatics program.