IASLIC Bulletin 48 (4), 2003. p.231-238

\. Growth of LIS Literature Published between1996-2000 : A case Study of two Maior LIS

Periodicals of IndiaNeena Singh

Asstt. Librarian. CB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology,Hill Campus, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttranclial

K C PandaSenior Lecturer; PC Dept of Lib & Inf Sc., Satnbalpur University.

Sambalpur; Jyoti Vihw; Bur/a, Orissa

Discusses the growth of literature in LIS as published ill two major Librarv and lnjorniation Scienceperiodicals ill lndia ie ILA and IASLIC Bulletin. Reviews the literature publisliedjrom 1996-2()()() andgives findings based Oil this study. The study discloses WI uneven distribution ojpublislied literatureamong various topics of L & IS. IT base papers received less space ill both thejournals. the SIi{(iI' assets.

1. Introduction professionals are to look at the functioning of thelibraries in terms of innovations mid applicationof new technologies in library management;effective services to the users and society; tofind solution to the problems faced by theprofessionals; and to obtain recognition of theirofficial positions etc. These have also inspiredthem to initiate research and publication of LISliterature of India.

India had rich tradition ofleaming knowledgesince the Vedic times. Infact, the intellectualtradition of Indian education can be traced backto the Guru Shishya Parampara of Vedic agewhen education was mainly teacher-oriented whoused to be the only source of knowledge. ThoughIndia had libraries in the ancient and medievaltimes, the concept of library germinated underthe British rule. The enactment of library laws inUK and USA in the second half of 19th centuryhad their impact on India.' The library scienceeducation in India started as early as 1911 but itwas only after the second world war that it wasgradually recognised as a ~ull fledged disciplineand separate departments were set up in differentuniversities offering courses leading to Bachelorsand Masters degree.'

As most of the research output and originalfindings or new application of existing knowledgeare reported in periodicals, a number of periodicalsin LIS were started in India and these arepublished by various library associations, universitydepartments, learned bodies, and individuals. Thefirst Indian periodicalwas Librarv Miscellanywhich was started in 1912 by Baroda StateDepartment of Libraries. However. it's publicationceased in 1919. The Granthalava Sarvaswami,a monthly journal in Telegu language was startedin 1915 from Vijaywada by Andhra Pradesh

Realising that library is an importantcomponent for furthering research the LIS

Vol. 48 No. 4 December 2003

232 GROWTH OF LIS

Library Association. The Journal Pustakalayastarted in 1924 is perhaps, the oldest continuingperiodical published by Gujarat PustakalayaSahkari MandaI, followed by Grandhalokanstarted in 1948 by Kerala State Library Council,Trivanthpuram, Southern India.'

The Annals of Library Science andD,ocumentation was started in 1954 by INSDOC,New Delhi, under the editorship of Dr. S RRanganaghan. Another important periodical,IASLIC Bulletin, a quarterly organ of IndianAssociation of Special Libraries and InformationCentres, was started in 1956. A large number ofperiodicals in India started their publicationsbetween 1960's and 1980's. Some of the importantjournals that deserve mention are, DRTCRefresher Seminar by Indian StatisticalInstitute (Bangalore). Herald of LibraryScience by PN Kaula Endowment for LibraryScience; Libra by Department of Library andInformation Science, Rajasthan University;Library Science with a Slant to Documentationand Information Studies; (now SRELS Journalof Information Management) LucknowLibrarian from UP Library Association, IndianLibrary Association Bulletin (ILA Bulletin) etc.Thus, the growth is continuing, the increase in thegrowth of Library Science Departments, thegrowth of libraries and information centres andthe emerging changing role of librarians - allthese have contributed to the substantial increasein LIS literature.

2. Scope and Limitation of the Study

The present study has been taken to analysethe periodical literature published in ILA Bulletinof Indian Library Association (Delhi) andIASLlCBulletin of Indian Association of Special Librariesand Information Centres. The ILA and IASLIC

laslic Bulletin

are the two important apex bodies involvedactively in promoting the development of librariesand information services in India and in providinga platform to the librarians to share theirprofessional experience and news. IASLICBulletin and ILA Bulletin both are published inEnglish and mostly edited by university teachers.For the purpose of this study, these two periodicalsof last five years from 1996-2000 have beenanalysed to examine the trend and growth ofliterature in the field of LIS.

3. Objectives of the Study

The present study is taken with the followingobjectives:

3.1 to evaluate the pattern of literature growthwith reference to various areas/subject breakdown of literature in the field of LIS and itsvarious sub fields as reported in ILA andIASLIC Bulletins.

3.2 to identify the trends in growth of periodicalliterature in relation to LIS in general andliterature with slant to information technologyin particular.

3.3 to analyse the extent to which national andinternational contributions to LIS literature inIASLIC and ILA Bulletins; and

3.4 to identify the periodical literature accordingto type of papers contributed by authors.

4. Methodology

In order to elicit the data required for thepresent study, details of research papers andarticles published both in ILA and IASLICBulletins such as the title of the contributed papers,numbers of authors, subjects of papers etc. werecollected, classified and analysed to find thevarious aspects of the study including the influenceor position by each branch or sub field on the

SINGH & PANDA

total output during the given period.

5. Observations and Discussions

Periodicals, the primary source of informationare important media for disseminating currentinformation with regard to the result of currentresearch, new developments, events and other

233

investigative activities in any subject field. Thenresent study has been under taken to analysethe various dimensions of the growth of literaturein LIS as reflected in two important bulletins ofIndian Library Association (New Delhi) andIndian Association of Special Libraries andInformation Centres (Kolkata).

Table 1Detail Subject, Break down of Literature Reported in ILA and IASLIC Bulletin

Number of Papers Grand Total %Subject Areas ILA Bulletin IASLIC Bulletin ILA& IASLIC Total

l. Accountability & LIS Profession I 02 1.48%2. Artificial Intelligence 2 02 1.48%3. Bibliographical Control 3 03 2.22%4. Cataloguing 1 1 02 1.48%5. Citation Bibliometric study 1 10 11 8.15%6. Classification I 01 0.74%7. College libraries 1 02 1.48%8. Collection Development 2 02 1.48%9. Cost Benefit Analysis 2 03 2.22%

10. Database Management 3 04 2.96%1l. Delivery of Books Act 0 01 0.74%12. Electronic Information 1 01 0.74%13. Expert System I 01 0.74%14. Human Resource Manpower 4 5 09 6.67%15. Indexing & Abstracting 1 8 09 6.67%16. Information Agencies I 01 0.74%17. Information Dissemination 4 04 2.96%18. Information Storage Retrieval 1 3 04 2.96%19. Information Technology 2 3 05; 3.71%20. Internet and www ..1 4 05 3.71%21. Job Satisfaction I 01 0.74%22. Knowledge'Management 1 1 02 2.22%23. Library Automation 2 6 08 5.93%24. Library Services 2 4 06 '4:44%25. Library Use 3 7 10 7.41%26. Library & Inf. Centre 2 1 03 2.22%

\101. -18 No. -I f)"("('III!Jer 2003

234 GROWTH OF LIS

Subject AreasGrand TotalILA& IASLIC

%Total

Number of PapersILA Bulletin IASLIC Bulletin

27. Library & Inf. Sc. Education 4 04 2.96%28, LIS in Electronic Inf. Era I 02 1.48%29. Library Inf. Policy 1 02 1.48%30. Marketing Lib. Resources 1 02 1.48%31. . Public Library 1 01 0.74%32. Quality Management 3 03 2.22%33. Reading Habits 2 1 03 2.22%34. Research in LIS 1 01 0.74%35. Resource sharing in Network Environment - 1 0] 0.74%36. Retrospective Conversion of Document 1 01 0.74%37. School Libraries 1 1 02 1.48%38. Special Libraries 3 03 2.22%39. Status of Library Professionals 2 1 03 2.22%40. Use of Computer CD Rom Databases 1 ] 02 1.48%41. User Education Programme 2 I 03 2.22%

Total 43 92 135 99.97%

Table 1 indicates the total number of papersin different aspects of L & IS in ILA and IASLICBulletins. It is noted that the highest 92 papershave been published by IASLIC Bulletin against43 appeared in ILA Bulletin. The board subjectbreak down of literature represented by thesepapers shows that Bibliometrics is the mostpopular topic of writing by the library professionalswhich constitute 11 (8.15%) of the total output;followed by papers on "library use" having 10papers (7.40%) indexing and abstracting with 9and, 8 papers on Library Automation.

The Indian Library Association Bulletin (ILA)during the period of study has published in all 43papers only, which is comparatively less than halfof those published in the IASLIC Bulletin. Thedetail distribution of literature reported in this

laslic Bulletin

journal shows that library and information scienceeducation and human resource development/manpower has received the major portion of theliterature, followed by library use. Other areaslike, library automation, library services. readinghabit, user education programmes, etc. havereceived two papers each. Unlike the IASLICBulletin, [LA Bulletin had scant attraction to thesubjects: bibliometrics, library automation andnetworking, library services internet and wwwetc. The said table further reveals that IASLICBulletin has attracted literature on some finerand modern aspects of the subject in accordancewith their current importance viz., artificialintelligence, expert system, quality management,electronic information, resource sharing in networkenvironment etc.

SINGH & PANDA 235

Table 2Distribution of Periodical Literature in Relation to Information Technology (IT)

ILA Bulletin IASLIC Bulletin Grand Total PercentageLiterature No. % No. % of Papers %

1. IT Based Papers 12 27.91 % 25 27.18% 37 27.41%

2. Non IT Based Papers 31 72.09% 67 72.82% 98 72.59%

Total 43 100.00% 92 100.00% 135 100.00%

Table NO.2 indicates the growth ofperiodicals in Library Science in general andliterature with slant" to Information Technologyin particular. It is observed that, ILA Bulletinhas published in all only 12 papers related toInformation Technology. IASLIC Bulletin haspublished fairly 25 number of IT related papers

viz., Networking System, Automation, Librarydatabases, CD ROMs etc. Although there hasbeen a marked increase in the growth andoutput of literature in LIS with slant to IT duringthe last 5 years, non IT related papers are stillconsuming more space in both [LA and IASLICBulletins. .

Table 3. Distribution of Papers According to Contributors

ILA Bulletin IASLIC Bulletin Grand % of TotalAuthors No. % No. % Total Output

1. Single Author 22 51.17% 54 58.69% 76 56.29%2. Joint Paper by 2 Authors 16 37.20% 32 34.79% 48 35.56%3. Joint Paper by 3 Authors 04 9.30% 05 5.44% 09 06.67%4. Joint Paper by 4 Authors 01 02.32% 01 01.08% 02 01.48%

Total 43 99.99% 92 100.00% 135 100.00%

Table 3 shows the distribution of literaturepublished in the above cited journals accordingto ntimber of authors/contributors. It is significantto note that, a large number of papers both inILA Bulletin and the IASLIC Bulletin 'havebeen written by single authors, which constitute56.29% of the total out put. It further showsthat 16 (37.20%) of papers in ILA Bulletin

and 32 (34.79%) of papers in lASLIC Bulletinhave been contributed: jointed by two authorswhich contribute together 35.56% of the totaloutput. Only one paper in both the bulletinshave been contributed by four authors. Thisshows that spirit of collaborative contributionsis not popular in US research.

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236 GROWTH OF LIS

Table 4National and International Contribution of Literature to IASLIC and ILA Bulletin

Total % ofNATIONAL (State wise) ILA Bulletin IASLIC Bulletin Authors Representation

1. Andhra Pradesh 06 05 II 08.15%2. Assam 01 08 09 06.67%3. Delhi 05 lO 15 11.11%4. Gujarat 01 04 05 03.71%.5. Himachal Pradesh 01 00 01 00. 74(Yc;6. Jammu & Kashmir 01 01 02 01.48%7. Karnataka 02 03 05 m.7F';i8. Kerela 02 01 03 02.22Cfr,9. Madhya Pradesh 02 01 03 02.22%

10. Maharashtra 03 08 II 08.15%11. Meghalaya 01 01 02 01.48%12. Mumbai 01 01 02 01.48%13. Orissa 01 02 03 02.22%14. Punjab 07 03 lO 07.41 %15. Rajasthan 01 01 02 01.48%16. Tamil Naidu 01 02 03 02.22%17. Uttar Pradesh 03 07 lO 07.40%18. Uttaranchal 01 01 00.74%19. West Bengal 03 28 31 22.96%

INTERNATIONAL1. Bangladesh 01 01 00.74%2. Ethiopia 02 02 o 1.489C3. Malaysia 01 01 00.74%4. Pakistan 01 01 00.74%5. UK 01 01 00.74%

Total 43 92 135 99.99%

Table No. 4 indicates the contribution of Bangladesh. State wise analysis of contributorsliterature to IASLIC and lLA Bulletins by national to lLA Bulletin shows that. the highest 7 No. ofand international authors. It is observed that most papers have been contributed by authors basedof the contributors are national. However, few in Punjab; followed by 6 papers from Andhrapapers in IASLIC Bulletin have been contributed Pradesh and 3 papers each from Delhi,by authors based in UK, Malaysia, Ethiopia and Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

laslic Bulletin

SINGH & PANDA 237

The IASLIC Bulletin has published majority 29 country were invited or motivated to write onpapers by authors based in West Bengal followed emerging topics of LIS or about their local officalby 10 papers contributed by authors belonging to problems etc. Unlike the ILA Bulletin. IASLICDelhi Maharastra by 8 Authors, Assam 8, and Bulletin has published 5 papers from internationalUttar Pradesh 7, respectively. It would be worth authors and has maintained an internationalwhile if the authors from different parts of the standard.

Table 5Distribution of Literature According to Type of Papers

'JYpeof ILA Bulletin IASLIC Bulletin Grand Total PercentagePapers No. % No. % of Papers %

1. Article Based Papers 28 65.11% 59 64.13% 87 64.45

2. Research Papers 15 34.89% 33 35.87% 48 35.35

Total 43 100% 92 99.99% 135 100%

Table No.5 indicates the type of contributionsby the authors in ILA Bulletin and IASLICBulletin. The whole spectrum of contributors aregrouped under two broad categories, namely,article based and research based. It is significantto note that majority of the papers both in ILA28(65.11 %) and IASLIC Bulletin 59(64.13%) arearticle based which together constitute 87(64.45)contributions out of 135. Only 15(34.89%) papersin ILA Bulletin and 33 (35.87%) papers in IASLICBulletin are research papers most of which arecase studies or surveys results. It is worthmentioning here that more number of researchpapers be invited and motivated from authorsacross the country. It is noted that publicationoutput on basic research in LIS has beendecreased considerably.

6. Findings and Discussions

On the basis of what has been discussedabove, the following findings can be formulated.

i) The literature reviewed shows that there isan uneven distribution of published literature

among various topics of library andinformation science. Some of the topics havereceived considerable attention while othershave just been touched, for instance, the mostpopular topics of writing by the LISprofessionals is Biblimetrics/Citation studiesAbstracting/Indexing, Library Use/UserStudies, LIS Education, Library Automationetc. Topics like expert system, qualitymanagement, marketing 01" library resources.electronic information, information agenciesetc. have just been touched.

ii) IASLIC Bulletin has published more numberof papers (92) in comparison with ILABulletin (43). Also the IASLIC Bulletin hasbeen quite regular in brining out its quarterlybulletin, where as the ILA Bulletin has beenpractising the system of combining two issuesinto one hence, accommodating fewernumber of papers.

iii) Although IT revolution has gained importancein libraries, IT-based papers have found less

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238 GROWTH OF LIS

space in both ILA and IASLIC Bulletins incomparison with the LIS literature in general..

iv) Majority of the papers are contributed bysingle authors, as the study shows that thehighest number of 22(51.17%) papers in ILABulletin and 54(58.69%) of papers in IASLICBulletin have been written by single authors.This shows that, team work received lowprofile among the contributors made to ILAbulletin.

v) Contribution of literature by authors showsthat a majority of authors writing for IASLICBulletin are from the state of West bengaland Delhi. The contributors for ILA Bulletinare from Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.IASLIC Bulletin has maintained aninternational standard by including morepapers from foreign authors, while ILABulletin has accommodated only onecontribution from abroad during the periodunder investigation.

vi) From the standard of large number of paperspublished it is noted that the IASLIC Bulletinhas maintained better practice of publication.It has given space to some of the finer andmodern aspects of the subject in accordancewith the current importance, viz artificialintelligence, expert system, electronicinformation etc.

laslic Bulletin

vii) A large number of papers are article basedwhich are mere repetition of the ideas already,written about and they hardly offer any new.knowledge. It has been observed further that.only 15(34.88%) papers in ILA and33(35.87%) papers in IASLIC Bulletins areresearch papers in the form of case studies,surveys results etc.

viii) There are few papers which offer solutionto the problems faced by the professionalsof library and information science in India.The practice of publishing invited papers onthe emerging trends in LIS is absent in bothILA and the IASLIC Bulletins.

References

I. RAMAIAH (L S). Public Library Legislation. In.Mangla (PB) and Kalin (DR). ed. 50 Years ojLihrarvand lnformation Services ill India. 199H. ShipraPublications; New Delhi, 36-3g.

2. CHATTERJEE (A). et. al Research Trend in Libraryand Information Sciences in India: AI/II. or Lib. Sc.Doc, 42: 1995, 54-60.

3. PRASHER (R G) and RAI (G Pl. Trend in theGrowth of LIS Literature as Reported in IndianPeriodicals from 1976-1986 A,III. Lib. Sc. Doc: 35(2),1988,93.

4. SUSHEEL (K) and SAPRA (P). Ed. Directory ofPeriodicals Published in India, Supra & Suprapublications 2000, 355-360.

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