December 2003 - LIS-Forum - ncsi.iisc.ernet.in

Archives set up by funding agencies!
by Mailing List Manager 03 Dec '03

03 Dec '03

Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 17:58:44 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> Here is some model DST, DBT, UGC, CSIR, ICMR and other funding agencies can follow! I think this will be the best way for promoting open access in India. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam] "Funding agencies should appreciate that they can host their own archives. Last month, for example, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its own archive, Science Inventory, to hold EPA-funded data and research papers. Even if all these files could be archived in various institutional and disciplinary repositories outside the EPA, using its own archive lets EPA monitor compliance with its OA requirement, facilitate discovery and retrieval, assure long-term preservation, and of course guarantee the sufficiency of the infrastructure."

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Digital Libraries Program at IIM Kozhikode (January 19-21, 2004)
by Sree Kumar 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

Dear Colleagues: I am happy to inform you that IIM Kozhikode is organizing a three-day programme on <big>Digital Libraries</big> at IIM Kozhikode during January 19-21, 2004. The details of the programme is available at "http://www.iimk.ac.in/programs/diglib.htm". Programme brochures are available on request from the MDP office of IIMK. The programme will impart the latest trends in digital library technologies. Eminent faculty from the fields of information science and information technology are handling the sessions. Hands on labs will be conducted at IIMK. For any further information please feel free to contact me or our MDP Office (E-Mail : mdp(a)iimk.ac.in). With regards, M.G. Sreekumar Co-ordinator, MDP on Digital Libraries M G Sreekumar Librarian & Head, Center for Development of Digital Libraries (CDDL) Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode Kunnamangalam P.O Kozhikode, Kerala, India-673 571 ----------------------------------------- Phone : +91 495 2803001/2 Ext. 140 Fax : +91 495 2803010/11 Email : mgsree(a)iimk.ac.in Web : www.iimk.ac.in =========================================

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Need Information regarding RFID
by Mailing List Manager 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 09:54:31 +0530 From: VYASAMOORTHY /IKP/HYD <Vyasamoorthy(a)icicikp.com> Dear Mr Babu Further to your enquiry there were some responses/answers. can you kindly send me those replies? I am unable to locate them in NCSI LIs-Forum archives. Another friend of mine is interested in the same topic. Is there anyone using RFID labels in India right now? Implemented? Thanks. Vyasamoorthy, P

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Special lecture at DRTC
by DRTC General 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE Documentation Research and Training Centre 8th Mile, Mysore Road, Bangalore 560059 CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE Special Lecture on Architecture for Dynamic Aggregation and Reuse of Learning Objects By Professor. Michael Shepherd Director of Health Informatics Faculty of Computer Science Dalhousie University, Canada B3H 1W5 On 3rd December, 2003, 2.30 PM At DRTC Class Room Indian Statistical Institute Bangalore 560059 I.K RAVICHANDRA RAO Professor and Head, DRTC

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UGC-Net Question
by Neetu Bharti 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

Dear Professionals We are unable to find out answers for these questions. If anyone of u know please help us. Thanks in advance Questions 1. If a new library wants to provide 10,000 books . How many double sided standard size racks are required? 2. If a library wants to provide 10,000 books , how many catalogue trays should it plan Regards Pandian.B

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Some interesting articles
by Mailing List Manager 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 08:54:38 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> Friends: You may find these three articles useful. Arun [Subbiah Arunachalam] Execs Agree that Customers Are Key By Dick Kaser Dick Kaser returned to his roots in September and interviewed the CEOs of three industry companies based in Ohio: CAS's Bob Massie, LexisNexis' Bill Pardue, and OCLC's Jay Jordan. --> <http://www.infotoday.com/IT/dec03/kaser1.shtml> ONLINE Magazine The Information Industry Revolution: Implications for Librarians By George R. Plosker Does the word "library" adequately convey the utility and value of what librarians contribute to their organizations? George R. Plosker discusses the key factors influencing the work of the information content profession today. --> <http://www.infotoday.com/online/nov03/plosker.shtml> COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES Building a Home for Library News with a Blog By Doug Goans and Teri M. Vogel Have you decided to join the blogging craze? You can buy software packages to start Web logs, or rent server space, but you can also build your own if you want something customized. Like choosing a new house, you'll want to explore all your options-renting, buying, or building-before you decide. If you prefer the latter, as these authors did, use their experience to guide your building plan. --> <http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/nov03/goans_vogel.shtml>

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AICTE-ISTE STTP ON IT APPLICATIONS IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (March,
by Mailing List Manager 02 Dec '03

02 Dec '03

1-10, 2004) Date: Sat, 29 Nov 2003 03:14:41 -0800 (PST) From: Kishor Satpathy <kishor_satpathy(a)yahoo.com> Dear Sir/Madam, We are pleased to inform you that an AICTE-ISTE Short Term Training Program on ^Information Technology Applications in Information Management^ is being organized by Central Library, NIT Silchar from 01.03.04 to 10.03.04. A brochure containing details of the program is enclosed herewith. Applications for attending the programme are invited from person interested in the related field from AICTE recognized institutions/ R&D organizations/Industry. You are requested kindly to give it wide publicity and encourage interested persons to attend the course. Dear Sir/Madam, Thanking you and with warm regards, Yours sincerely Sri Kishor Chandra Satpathy Coordinator, STTP on IT Applications in Information Management National Institute of Technology, Silchar- 788010 Phone No : (03842) 233841/42*5123-24 (O) 240906 (R) Fax: 03842-233797 E-mail: kishor_satpathy(a)yahoo.com http//: geocities.com/kishor_satpathy

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How much information? 2003
by Shyam Prasad pujar 01 Dec '03

01 Dec '03

Dear Members, A report of the study undertaken by the researchers of University of California at Berkeley is available at the following URL address. http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/research/projects/how-much-info-2003/ It attempts to estimate how much new information is created each year. Newly created information is distributed in four storage media print, film, magnetic, and optical and seen or heard in four information flows telephone, radio and TV, and the Internet. Regards, S.M. Pujar ********************************************************************** Shamprasad M. Pujar Assistant Librarian Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research Gen. Vaidya Marg, Film City Road Goregaon (East) MUMBAI-400 065 India %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% * Phone: (022) 28400919-21 Extn: 514 * * Fax: (022) 28402752 * * E-mail: pujar(a)igidr.ac.in * * URL: http://www.igidr.ac.in * %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

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Reminder for INTERNATIONAL CALIBER-2004
by JK Vijayakumar 01 Dec '03

01 Dec '03

Sorry for cross postings....... Dear All, Here is a Reminder for INTERNATIONAL CALIBER-2004 to be held at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India during February 11-13, 2004. We solicit international and national level participation in terms of technical papers and delegates. Welcome to New Delhi, INDIA. IMPORTANT DATES Receipt of full papers December 15, 2003 Intimation to Author(s) January 1, 2004 Last date for Registration January 15, 2004 Convention Dates February 11-13, 2004 ----------------------------------- DETAILS INFLIBNET Centre has been organizing CALIBER [Convention on Automation of Libraries in Education and Research Institutions] every year in different parts of the country in collaboration with different universities, since 1993. This is the premier convention in India which provides a unique forum to the library and information professionals, teachers, IT professionals, consultants and users involved in automation and networking of libraries as well as information providers to come together and interact on the subjects of mutual interest. The eleventh CALIBER in the series, for the year 2004, has been themed as �Road Map to New Generation of Libraries using Emerging Technologies� and will be hosted by Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi during February 11-13, 2004. The official language of the convention will be English. DELIBERATIONS � Visions/Policies for Strategic Planning and Catalysts (Social Issues, User Requirements) for New Generation of Libraries. � Infrastructure, Standards, Archiving for Digital/Virtual/E-Libraries. � Emerging Technologies like Wireless LAN, Digital Services, Distributed databases, E-education and WBT. � Web content mapping, classification, management, Data warehousing, security aspects. CALL FOR PAPERS Programme committee solicits high quality technical papers related to the themes and sub-themes listed below. Main Theme: Road Map to New Generation of Libraries using Emerging Technologies Sub theme 1 Strategic Planning and Catalysts for New Generation of Libraries Visions/Policies, Social Issues, Intellectual Property Rights, User Requirements and Satisfaction, Models and framework for change management, Consortia: Success and Reality, Free and equal access to digital information Sub theme 2 Digital/Virtual/E-Libraries Infrastructure, Standards and Protocols, E-Publishing, Digital Archiving, Personalization, New Type Resources, Open Digital Libraries and Interoperability Sub theme 3 Emerging Technologies Networking (including WLAN), Digital Services, E-Education / WBT: Reality and Myths, Distributed database access and management � mirror sites, Online Reference Sub theme 4 Web content Management Cataloguing and Classification, Metadata / XML, Searching and Retrieval, Web content mapping, Data warehousing/hosting, Managing access to Web Content, Security Issues, Reliability and QA of Web content, Reference Linking, Ontology and Semantic Web Papers typed in MS-Word can be sent as attachment to INFLIBNET directly through E-Mail or in a floppy by post. The length of the paper should normally be within 5000 words. Papers should contain full name and affiliations with e-mail of author(s), an abstract, author biography and references properly cited in the text of article. The paper should neither be published anywhere nor should have been kept under consideration for publication elsewhere and the author should agree to transfer the copyright to the conference organisers. A passport size photograph(s) of author(s) has to be submitted with the paper. Detailed Guidelines and Editorial Policy for CALIBER 2004 is available in the conference website at http://www.inflibnet.ac.in IMPORTANT DATES Receipt of full papers December 15, 2003 Intimation to Author(s) January 1, 2004 Last date for Registration January 15, 2004 Convention Dates February 11-13, 2004 About INFLIBNET Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) is a major mission of the UGC initiated in 1991 with an objective to automate and network libraries in Academic and R & D system to facilitate resource sharing at different levels and promote scholarly communication among academicians and researchers in the country. Till now, 142 universities have been funded by the UGC under this programme for automation and networking. Creation of national union databases, development of an integrated library management software, human resource development, on-site training, providing bibliographic information services, extending technical help and guidance from time to time to academic libraries in automation and networking are some of the major activities of the INFLIBNET Centre. Very soon centre is going to play major role in E-learning. A number of modules are under development on different subjects, which will be mounted on centre�s web site for facilitating distance education through e-learning. UGC has signed on MOU with ERNET India for establishing UGC Network linking about 170 universities, UGC Regional Centres and IUC�s. This network will also have connectivity to Internet. INFLIBNET will play a major role in content creation for this network. It is trying to create awareness about library automation and spread IT culture among library professionals. About Jamia Millia Islamia Jamia Millia Islamia, an institution originally established at Aligarh in United Provinces, India in 1920, was declared as a deemed to be University in 1962 and became a Central University by an act of the Indian Parliament in 1988. In Urdu language, Jamia means �University� and Millia means �National�. In 1936,all institutions of Jamia, except Jamia Press, the Maktaba and the library, were shifted to the new campus. The history of Dr. Zakir Husain Library is closely linked with the history of Jamia Millia Islamia. It was established during 1920-23 in Aligarh and was named as Jamia Millia Islamia Library. In 1925, Jamia Millia moved from Aligarh to Delhi, the Library also shifted.In 1972, Library moved to its new building and it was rechristened as �Dr. Zakir Husain Library� in the memory of late President of India Dr. Zakir Husain. This library is the Central Library of the University Library System, which includes the faculty and Central libraries,It is having collection of about 3.00 lac books & bound volumes of periodicals, about 3000 manuscripts, 200 microforms, 17 special collections and subscribes to 440 journals.The library has fully computerized its most actively used collections, which is searchded through OPAC.Circulation Counter is computerized, using barcode scanners.The library is providing range of databases available in electronic form on the Campus Network and from remote hosts via WWW. The library provides Internet and electronic database services for the registered users. Contact Details Paper Submission Dr T A V Murthy Editor-in-Chief Director INFLIBNET Centre[An IUC of UGC] Gujarat University Campus PB 4116, Navrangpura Ahmedabad � 380 009, India Phone: +91-79-6304695/5971/8528/0002 Fax:+91-79-6300990 E-Mail: tav(a)inflibnet.ac.in copied to salgar(a)inflibnet.ac.in Registration Dr. Gayas Makhdumi Organising Secretary CALIBER-2004 University Librarian Jamia Millia Islamia, Maulana Mohammad Ali Johar Marg, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi � 110 025, India Phone:+91-11-26984910/26981717(Ext. 472) Fax:+91-11-26982360 E-mail:zhl@jmi.ernet.in Queries can also be sent to Mr S M Salgar Chairman, CALIBER-2004 Scientist-G INFLIBNET Centre[An IUC of UGC] Gujarat University Campus PB 4116, Navrangpura Ahmedabad � 380 009, India Phone: +91-79-6304695/5971/8528/0002 (Ext 33) Fax:+91-79-6300990 E-Mail: salgar(a)inflibnet.ac.in More details is available in the conference website http://caliber2004.inflibnet.ac.in/ *********************************** Posted by J K VIJAYAKUMAR STO, INFLIBNET Centre and Joint-Convenor Internatrional CALIBER-2004 vijayakumarjk(a)yahoo.com / vijay(a)inflibnet.ac.in ****************************** __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/

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C. R. Reddy on Free Software (The Hindu 22/11/2003)
by Mailing List Manager 01 Dec '03

01 Dec '03

Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2003 09:16:17 +0530 From: Subbiah Arunachalam <arun(a)mssrf.res.in> Friends: Here is an article from The Hindu, one of India's leading English language dailies, that must be of interest to all of us working in the area of ICT enabled development. Best wishes. Arun Reddy, C. Rammanohar. "The free software option." The Hindu (22 Nov 2003). <http://www.hindu.com/2003/11/22/stories/2003112200721000.htm> The UNCTAD report suggests that there are many advantages to be had if the developing countries seriously explore the use of free or open source software as against the proprietary licence-to-use software. INDIA AS the back office capital of the world is the new mantra that is being chanted for the country's entry into the league of developed countries. The rapid growth of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) contracts to India is behind this mantra. The more perceptive observers point out that while there are many high-profile BPO activities that have moved to India, only a very small proportion of the businesses that can be out-sourced have been contracted out, and, of that, an even smaller fraction has come to India. The larger question, however, is if India can really ignore manufacturing altogether and pin its future hopes so much on servicing the rest of the world. The answer is "no"; services like BPO can make an important contribution to India's GDP but they cannot replace the potential of manufacturing. The obsession with software exports in general and increasingly with the BPO segment, has had an unfortunate side-effect. "Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for development," which was much talked about in the late 1990s, has now been reduced to an empty slogan. There are no doubt a number of e-governance initiatives in the States, but if we are talking about a serious attempt at using IT for development, then that effort is largely absent. Of course, the fundamental problem is that the basic infrastructure necessary for this purpose is not yet in place. In spite of a rapid increase in tele-density over the past 18 months, the telecom infrastructure is woefully inadequate. And while internet use keeps growing rapidly, the population of internet users (estimated at 7 million in 2001) in India is far too small to speak about using phones, computers and the Net for development. Any serious attempt at harnessing the power of the new technologies must begin with expanding the infrastructure. Here, while there is at least an awareness of the gaps in telecom and the cost of computer hardware, there is very little acknowledgement of the demands that software in its various forms can make on users. A new United Nations publication, "E-commerce and Development Report 2003" of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development offers important insights into the kind of software that developing countries can use if they are serious about bridging the "digital divide". The UNCTAD report suggests that there are many advantages to be had if the developing countries seriously explore the use of free or open source software (FOSS, also referred to as FLOSS, or Free Libre or Open Source Software) as against the proprietary licence-to-use software that now dominates the IT sector in the developing countries. Free software, as a popular slogan of the FOSS community describes it, is "`free' as in `free' speech and not as in `free' beer". What marks out FOSS is that because the code - the hundreds of thousands of lines of instructions that make up the software - is available to the larger computer programmer community, it is constantly improved upon, modified, tested and the problems removed. This is not possible in the use of proprietary software, where users are dependent on the licensors of the product. Users have no choice but to turn to the software "proprietors" for correcting the smallest flaws. Worldwide, the growth of open source software has been remarkable in recent years. But in spite of the fact that India is home to perhaps thousands of programmers who have contributed to the development of FOSS, whose best-known product is the Linux/GNU operating system, it is yet to be taken very seriously by either the Government or the corporates. Universities do use FOSS on a fairly widespread basis and the odd State Government has explored the possibility of using open source software, but this software is still not considered a reliable mainstream product. But reliable and mainstream FOSS already is. UNCTAD reports some statistics, which establish how deeply entrenched FOSS products have become in many areas. One, Apache, the open source software which runs on web servers, now has a market share of 63 per cent, more than twice that of Microsoft products. Two, GNU/Linux has a 30 per cent share in the operating system used on web servers, while the proprietary Windows has a 50 per cent market share. Three, 40 per cent of large U.S. corporations and 65 per cent of comparable Japanese firms are reported to use GNU/Linux in some form or the other. FOSS products have also proved themselves in the market. In a survey last August, the 20 web servers which had the longest uninterrupted uptime (without a breakdown) in the world were, in all but one case, running on FOSS operating systems. Since FOSS is non-proprietary software, the initial cost of acquisition is considerably less than proprietary software. However, while the saving on upfront costs can be a major incentive in developing countries, this is not the only cost to be taken into account. What is relevant is the total cost of ownership (TCO), which consists of the cost of acquisition, training, deployment, maintenance, repair and upgradation. UNCTAD's cautious assessment is that the "jury is out" on where FOSS stands on the total cost of ownership for, while the upfront costs are considerably less the training and deployment outlays can be as high as in proprietary software. Yet with FOSS suffering from fewer bugs and less downtime, the savings on maintenance costs will be considerable. For governments in developing countries with limited IT budgets, savings on costs - even just on upfront costs - can be a significant factor in aiding the spread of ICT. However, as the UNCTAD report points out there are a number of other advantages of special relevance in developing countries. The availability of the source code of FOSS facilitates involvement of a large domestic programmer community in repair and maintenance activity. This contributes to skill development at home. Overall, to quote the UNCTAD report, "The availability of source code makes it possible to use in-house expertise to fix bugs or change configurations, as well as to hire external support from a competitive market that anyone can enter. What seems clear is that FOSS can help a business or a public institution avoid getting into a vicious circle of hardware and software upgrades, and changes in data formats that require investing in new licence fees and significant retraining and can provoke major down time." And "the use of free software means that installation, training, support, and maintenance can be flexibly contracted out to a range of local suppliers competing on quality and price." Governments of a number of developing countries have already decided in greater or lesser degree to turn to FOSS. China, Brazil and South Africa are the most well-known examples. In addition to the advantages of cost and reliability, the increased security provided by the use of FOSS is a factor that has prompted a growing number of developing countries to turn to this software. No Government has as yet decided to make a 100 per cent shift, but the explicit policy directions given in national and regional governments to use open source software is a pointer to which way the wind is blowing. Governments in the advanced countries - including the U.S. - are also increasingly using FOSS because of its advantages in costs, reliability and security. In the developed countries, FOSS is close to replacing proprietary software in the "back offices", but on the desktop it is still the latter which has almost a complete dominance. The non-availability of a wide range of applications for the individual user and a perceived difficulty in initial installation of the FOSS operating system have held back the spread of open source software in homes. However, it is just a question of time before the spreading use in offices leads to adoption at home. A new problem that has emerged is that a few U.S.-based companies selling FOSS operating system software have been slapped with suits for alleged infringement of intellectual property rights. This has created some uncertainty about the future of the core operating system. With commercial interests having a strong stake in arresting the development of FOSS, it is inevitable that every possible attempt will be made to halt the spreading use of open source software. This, however, need not come in the way of developing country governments switching to FOSS. Next month, the U.N.-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society will discuss the many options possible to use ICT for development. The use of FOSS as an option to save costs, develop IT skills and facilitate the adoption of open standards will hopefully figure prominently on the WSIS agenda.

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