Organisation factors in local library network development in India
| Pages | 31-37 |
| Date | 01 February 2001 |
| Published date | 01 February 2001 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005396 |
| Author | Sanjaya Mishra |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Organisation factors in
local library network
development in India
Sanjaya Mishra
Introduction
Networking libraries is useful especially in
facilitating resource sharing and improving
library services. India has a national library
and information network (INFLIBNET) and
seven local library networks (Mishra and
Vahishth, 1999). Many more library networks
have been proposed. Library networks are
systems whose difficulties include
incompatibility of hardware and software,
telecommunications problems, differences in
management and staff factors that threaten
financial stability, political climate,
professional attitude and library origin
(Kilgour, 1983). Because of the complexities
of library networks, the issues involved in
their organisation become very important. In
a comprehensive review of the literature,
Turock (1984, 1985/86, 1986) identified the
following eight factors of organisation:
(1) Planning. The act of preparing a detailed
formulation for a programme of action.
(2) Governance. The political function of
policy making within a formally organised
structure, as well as the exercise of power
or control by the governing body to derive
order.
(3) Funding. The financial function of
obtaining sums of money or other
resources set apart for specific objectives
and the mechanisms established to obtain
those sums.
(4) Communication and delivery. The activity
or instance of transmitting information
and sending a response to an intended
destination, as well as the interconnection
created for these purposes.
(5) Configuration. The structure created by
the relative arrangement of the parts over
which communication and delivery
occur.
(6) Administration. The function of policy
design and operational decision making
to achieve goals and objectives.
(7) Evaluation. The process of deliberating,
obtaining, and providing information to
judge the extent to which objectives are
being reached.
(8) Success. The attainment of a favourable
outcome, based on articulated goals and
objectives.
However, Turock explains that success is not
a variable in the organisation, but as success is
the ultimate objective of any organisation, it
can be included as a variable. Moreover, her
The author
Sanjaya Mishra is a Lecturer, at the Indira Gandhi
National Open University, New Delhi, India.
E-mail: sanjayamishra@hotmail.com
Keywords
Libraries, Networks, Organizational processes
Abstract
India has seven local library networks and a national
library network (INFLIBNET). However, these networks
are in differing stages of development. Most are at a
preliminary stage although the earliest efforts in this
area took place in 1989. This paper presents the results
of a survey on factors affecting the development of
local library networks. Participating libraries in four
networks were administered a structured
questionnaire. The study reveals that organisational
factors such as planning, governance, funding
communication and delivery, and administration are
related to each other. Moreover, many factors are
highly dependent on each other. Therefore, the library
networks should try to raise the levels of awareness
among participating libraries to develop the local
library networks successfully.
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The Electronic Library
Volume 19 .Number 1 .2001 .pp. 31±36
#MCB University Press .ISSN 0264-0473
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