ICML 2009: Meeting Room 1 Session 18

Theme: Spotlight on Indian Health Librarianship

Time: 16.00-17.15
Date: Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Chair: Jill Griffin

An Overview of Health Science Information System in India: Librarian’s Point of View
Mr Satish S Munnolli, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, India

Satish S Munnolli is heading the library of Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), which is the new research and clinical centre of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC). He started his career in Library profession since 1991 after completing his Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Karnataka University, Dharwad, India. His research project during post graduation was Use of University Library (User study) with respect to M Phil Students. He has been in this profession since last 17 years. Recently he has initiated Institutional repository for enhancing the visibility, impact and reach of research output of the institute. His research interests include identifying and exploring internet information resources, open access initiatives, scientific contents in websites and free online resources. Study of publication activity of individual scientists, institutions and specific domains are his other areas of interest. He has been associated with many library projects starting from establishing a new library (design and planning) to tailor made information services to end users of different tiers in the automated library systems. Academically he is a recipient of Dr. S R Ranganathan Memorial Gold Medal Award and Rank Award from Department of Youth Services and Sports, Government of Karnataka for scoring highest in Bachelor of Library and Information Science during 1990. He is in association with many libraries and life member of IASLIC, MLAI and BOSLA. He has several publications in national and international journals and and is keen in fostering open access movement.

Abstract:
The advent of Computer and Communication Technologies, particularly with regards biomedical and health science information have opened up exciting possibilities to intervene and influence the control of several diseases. New publishing models, Open access concepts, and Institutional repositories have revolutionized the delivery of biological and health science information. The resulting explosion of this scientific information is this mass media has evolved many more challenges for information providers. Access to quality health information for clinicians and scientists has become more strenuous because of enormous growth and robust nature of information gateways. The usage trend is inclining more towards electronic information formats but, the clinicians and scientists are not well-informed about the developments and the existing infrastructure in India is not really geared up to address the situation. The intermediary of this scientific knowledge and end user the so-called, Librarian find it difficult to cope up with the situation in this area of specialization right from finding an article to identify a journal of high impact factor for a scientist in his focused discipline. Library and Information science schools in India are not well equipped to take up the challenges of Medical Librarians. An attempt has been made in this paper to identify various challenges of Medical librarians and the organizations that are specialized in training individuals for Medical Librarianship. It also summarizes on few resources those are providing health science information and overall scenario of health science librarianship in India.

QMed Knowledge Foundation - Empowering the Medical Information User
Vasumathi Sriganesh, QMed Knowledge Foundation, India

Vasumathi Sriganesh has B.Sc degree in Home-Science and a Bachelors and Masters degree in Library and Information Sciences. She worked in two medical libraries.In 1999, she set up her own company – QMed, which is now a Not-for-profit Trust –QMed Knowledge Foundation. She is the Vice President, of the Indian Association for Medical Informatics. She is a member of the Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Medical Informatics and the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Andrology & Gender. Through QMed Knowledge Foundation, her vision is to create a sea change in the way electronic information is utilized by health professionals in India and developing countries. The activities of the Foundation include Training programs, literature search services, document delivery, development of medical websites, and medical library development. QMed has also created a Directory of Indian Medical Sites at www.indianmedicalsites.in, which aims to be an authentic resource for Indian medical information

Abstract:
"Positioning the Profession" has become an issue important enough to be the theme of the 10th ICML. Medical librarianship has grown rapidly with the growth of technology. Paradoxically the "other side of the coin" is that the role of libraries and librarians is being questioned. Erroneously, increased access to information is considered as a replacement for libraries and librarians. India too is facing these issues. Moreover, information literacy training is not given enough importance and librarianship is not a first career choice for youngsters. The LIS curriculum has not exactly managed to keep up to the current needs. As a result, medical libraries and healthcare professionals have not been able to reap the complete benefits of IT. QMed Knowledge Foundation is a 'first of its kind' venture; it is an independent Not-for-profit Trust started by a medical librarian with a team of librarians. The Foundation’s vision is to “empower the medical information user” - the "user" being a healthcare professional or librarian. Through its activities it seeks to take to the highest levels - the synergy between medical libraries, librarians and end users. Since inception, QMed has conducted training programs that have changed the way users search literature, helped libraries offer value added services, provided document delivery services to a large audience, contributed to professional copy editing for several medical journals and has had dialogs with the country’s apex medical education bodies for revamping the medical information scenario. QMed is also sensitizing youngsters in the advances of medical librarianship.

Virtual Private Network for Knowledge Management in Homoeopathic Research Organizations in India
Om P Verma, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India

Having 22 years experience as a Librarian in a National Homoeopathic Research Organization in India, three months fellowship in the field of Health Informatics has been awarded by WHO , Represented his country to attend Inter-country meeting at Bagkok organised by WHO-SEARO, Scholarship reciepient for presenting his paper in 8th ICML at London,and presented his paper in 9th ICML at Salvador, Brazil , also pursuing his Ph.D. in Library Science from Delhi University, New Delhi. Apart of these he has attended many traings, workshop and seminar in the foeld of Library & Information Science.

Abstract:
Today more and more people are working away from the ordinary workplace while still requiring access to the server located at the workplace. New technology is meeting this demand allowing for safe and secure transmission of the data over the Internet. The author proposes to develop Virtual Private Network ( VPN) in his organization to analyze the impact of information technology and need for maintaining knowledge management in the field of homoeopathy in research protocols being developed in Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy ( CCRH), which has a network of 24 branches in India. These protocols would be used within the VPN structure focussing on installation, transmission speed on both Local Area Networks (LAN) and via telephone line and their security aspects. This project will help in cutting down the huge expenses on postal correspondence, telephones by establishing linkages though the VPN in the organizations. The research scientists of the CCRH who need remote access from an Internet connection point to the private CCRH computer network would use the VPN connection. In this, the end user appears (virtually) to be directly connected to the CCRH computer network.The present paper attempts to explore as to how the VPN can play a major role in ensuring that risk factors of poor performance and lack of security are mitigated. Understanding the VPN solutions can help organizations build infrastructures that will support the explosion of knowledge management within the network of the CCRH in India.

Management of Preserving Resources in Digital Library in Indian Scenario: Challenges and Perspectives
Dr S K Pandey, Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences, India

Dr Pandey is the head of library & Information centre of a multi disciplinary Institute i.e. Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi (India).It deals in teaching, Reasearch, traning & Patient care services. He has established a Library & Information Center having primary & secondary sources of information and set right prevalent practices with a planned to provide support services & disseminating information to cater the needs of Faculty membars, Doctors, Researchers and students.

Abstract:
Describes the importance and need of preservation of digital resources in health science libraries. Information explosion and application of ICT for proper handling, retrieval and dissemination of information necessitates the need for digital preservation. With the growing emphasis on technology, libraries have undergone major structural changes in terms of their collection, organization and services. Digital library do have many advantages over print materials, but require higher skills and hardware for creating, organizing and disseminating information to the users on their desktops. Creation of digital library involves selection of materials, scanning of documents and WWW for providing access to the information on the internet. Creation and management of digital library is similar to traditional library collection building activity but the medium of information, method of acquition and storage are different. Copyright licensing and other legal issues become very crucial while creating digital library. New strategies may have to adopt for collection, delivery of information and manpower development.
Preservation is one of the most serious concerns for the libraries with electronic contents whether purchased or converted in-house. Preserving collections for the long term is a primary concern in the digital era. The lack of standardization, formats, hardware, network interfaces and storage devices are constant threat of techno-obsolescence and transitory standards. Another challenge is to make collections more easily and widely accessible via electronic devices. Mentions the guidelines for the data preservation, model for establishment of digital library in terms of principles, selections and challenges. Concludes with some strategies for digital data preservation.