Shifting Contours Of Knowledge Organizationa Case Study Of The Nehru Memorial Museum And Library

摘要

The merger of traditional tools with modern technologies has made the beginning where libraries are no longer considered being the dark rooms filled with book shelves. Collaborative efforts of library professionals, management personnel, and computer and ICT experts have converted traditional libraries into electronic libraries to digital and virtual libraries. In order to meet the challenges set by the ever changing technology-oriented environment the research libraries must adhere to changes. This will help in rendering efficient and specialized library services to its patrons facilitating resource sharing. For this the librarians have to use the latest technology and upgrade their professional skills by undergoing technology-oriented training periodically. Concepts like metadata, Internet cataloguing, knowledge management, knowledge organization, Z39.50, digital library, virtual library have become very common in the profession. Library professionals should not only understand these concepts but also take steps to implement them. The Libraries in India are far behind due to resource paucity, lack of knowledge or skilled labour, but surely a beginning has been made and much has to be accomplished. In India millions of records are available in the varied traditional forms; if they became accessible online to the users community they will definitely prove to be of immense value for research. Retrospective conversion process of the NMML is a right step in this direction. However, the National Library of India, which is one of the depository libraries, should take the lead by converting all bibliographical records of its holdings into machine readable ones. The database created of all these records should be made accessible to all types of libraries in India to match and download the records. This can reduce the time, money and man hours spent individually by the libraries in going for online catalogues in India.