Information Sources, Systems and Services

  Nature and Characteristics: Investigating the fundamental nature and defining characteristics of information sources, including their diversity, reliability, and accessibility.

Types and Formats: Exploring the various types and formats of information sources available, ranging from traditional print materials to digital resources, and considering their suitability for different research needs.

Documentary vs. Non-Documentary Sources: Distinguishing between documentary sources, such as books, articles, and reports, and non-documentary sources, including oral histories, artifacts, and multimedia materials.

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources: Understanding the distinctions between primary sources, which offer firsthand accounts or original data, secondary sources, which interpret or analyze primary sources, and tertiary sources, which provide summaries or compilations of information.

Human and Institutional Sources: Examining the role of human sources, such as experts, and scholars,, as providers of information, as well as institutional sources, including libraries, archives, and databases, as repositories of organized knowledge.

Reference Sources: Understanding the defining characteristics and various types of reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and directories, and assessing their utility in providing quick and authoritative information.

Electronic Sources: Exploring the realm of electronic sources, including e-books, e-journals, and electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), and considering their advantages and challenges compared to traditional print materials.

Web Resources: Investigating subject gateways, web portals, bulletin boards, discussion groups/forums, and their role in facilitating access to information on the internet, as well as their reliability and credibility.

Multimedia Resources: Analyzing multimedia resources, including audio, video, and interactive content, and their significance in conveying information effectively across different formats.

Databases and Institutional Repositories: Examining the functions and features of online databases and institutional repositories, including their role in organizing and preserving scholarly works and research outputs.

Evaluation of Sources: Discussing methods and criteria for evaluating reference sources and electronic information sources, including authority, accuracy, currency, relevance, and objectivity.

 Reference and Information Service: Exploring the concept, purpose, and various types of reference and information services, including their role in facilitating access to information resources and supporting users' information needs.

Documentation Services: Investigating specialized documentation services such as Current Awareness Service (CAS), Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI), Translation Services, Indexing and Abstracting Services, and Bibliographical Services, and understanding their significance in organizing and disseminating information.

Document Delivery Services: Analyzing document delivery services, including Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service, and examining their role in facilitating access to materials not available locally through cooperative networks.

User Studies and User Orientation: Discussing the importance of user studies in understanding information needs and behavior, and exploring strategies for user orientation and education to enhance information literacy skills and promote effective use of library resources.

Information Systems: Exploring the characteristics and functions of information systems, including their role in managing and disseminating information efficiently and effectively.

National Information Systems and Networks: Investigating key national information systems and networks such as NISCAIR, NASSDOC, DESIDOC, NICNET, and the National Knowledge Network (NKN), and understanding their contributions to information dissemination and knowledge sharing at the national level.

Global Information Systems and Networks: Examining global information systems and networks such as MEDLARS, AGRIS, INIS, Patent Information System (PIS), and Biotechnology Information, and assessing their significance in facilitating international collaboration and access to specialized information.

Library Resource Sharing and Consortia: Analyzing initiatives for library resource sharing and consortia such as DELNET and INFLIBNET, and understanding their role in maximizing access to library collections and enhancing resource utilization.

National Digital Library: Exploring the National Digital Library initiative and its objectives in digitizing and preserving India's cultural and scholarly heritage, and promoting universal access to digital resources for education and research.

  Introduction to IKS: Exploring the foundational concepts and principles of Indian knowledge systems, including their historical significance and cultural context.

Sources of IKS Knowledge: Investigating the diverse sources of knowledge within IKS, including traditional texts, oral traditions, and experiential wisdom.

Fourteen Vidyasthanas and Tantra Yukti: Understanding the classification system of IKS known as the Fourteen Vidyasthanas and exploring the principles of tantra yukti, or methodologies of knowledge transmission.

Classification of IKS Texts: Examining the categorization and organization of IKS texts based on subject matter, thematic content, and disciplinary frameworks.

Smriti and Shruti Literature: Differentiating between Smriti (remembered) and Shruti (heard) literature within the Indian textual tradition, and understanding their respective roles and significance in shaping Indian knowledge systems and cultural practices.