Unit – 3 Information Technology

Presented ByAnand Y Kenchakkanavar

LibrarianUSM-KLE-IMP Belgaum

Information Technology (IT) is a generic term that covers the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of information. IT is the boon for mankind. It gives accessibility to information at fingertips. IT has reduced the space and time between the people, country and continent and ultimately has led to the emerging concept of “global society” and “global village”.

1.1 Information Technology Components

Information Technology consists of the following components-

a)Computer: A computer is a device that solves problems by applying prescribed operation on data entered into it. It is a set of interacting elements, responding to input so as to produce desire output.

b) Telecommunication: The communication channel is the medium which carries the message / information / etc. send by the sender and takes it to receiver ends. In computer network the communication channel is the connecting cables.

c) Modem: It can be defined as “a device attached to computer that can convert digital signals to analog signals.” The data signal generated by computer (digital signal) is different from the signal from that can be carried by telephone lines (analog signal).

d) Database: A database is a self describing collection of integrated records. It is self describing because it contains as part of itself, a directory or dictionary of its contents.

New Technologies in Information Technology: The new technologies that are emerging as part of Information Technology includes E-Commerce, Hyper Media, Data warehouses and Data Marts, Data Mining, Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), Geographical Information System (GIS), Video Conferencing / Net Meeting, etc

Impact of IT on LIS: The impact of new technologies is seen in almost every human activity. The computers are also transforming the libraries into a paperless atmosphere. Again, it is the use of IT that gives librarians a wide scope, wide audience, and raise the status.

a) Collection: Information is collected as mash up, tag, bookmark, hyper text. b) Transportation: Information is transmitted through optical fiber cables. c) Storage: The computer storage reduces the bulk of the printed materials in the library. The optical disk, hard disc are very commonly used in all types of libraries. d) Processing: Different types of computer software and other equipments are used for information processing. e) Retrieval: The use of computer for information retrieval gives precise result in fraction of a second.

1.2 Areas of Computer Application in Library

A modern library cannot be imagined without the application of computers. In the library and information centres computers can be used for performing efficiently all sorts of jobs from the procurement of the reading materials to their organization and use. So, it can serve as a remedy for all the existing problems of libraries and information centers. But, till now computers have been used successfully in the following areas of library activities.

A) Library House Keeping Operation:

In case of library house keeping operation, the computer is used for acquisition of books and other reading materials, there are…

Acquisition

Classification

Cataloguing

Serial Control

Circulation

B) Library Administrations: In case of library administration, the library automation helps in

Providing Access Right to Staff Members Providing Access Right to Library Students or Users Exception Reporting Generation of Library Statistics / Report

C) Information Retrieval: Today, Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) or sometimes Web OPAC facility provided by the library and information centres helps in easy retrieval of information. Computers are also used for searching Library Database.

D) Building Digital / Virtual Libraries Collection: Computers can also be used to build digital or virtual collection or for institutional repository of the library.

E) Resource Sharing: In order to facilitate the provision of material request on inter library loan basis, the use of computers and other latest telecommunication devices is being put to use in almost all the countries of the world. The Online Union catalogue is also a product of computer application in library.

F) Library Network: INFLIBNET

Developing Library Network (DELNET) is the example of taking library automation as its first step or base structure. G) Information System:World Science Information System (UNISIST), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (MEDLARS), illustrate the advanced stage of library automation. H) User Services: The library automation also helps to provide Current Awareness Service (CAS), Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) Services, Indexing and Abstracting Service, Web Based Translation Services, Computer Based Indexing and Abstracting Services, and so on.

1.3 Networking

A network is a physical connection between / among the devices (autonomous computer) that are distributed widely in different geographical location. It is the computer and communication link that permits computer to communicate with each other and to share program, facilities, data and knowledge base.

a) Private Network: These networks are usually owned by some corporation or other entity that control access and use of network to its staff. b) Public Networks: These networks provide services to any individual or organization who becomes the member or subscriber. Eg. Telephone system. c) Cooperative Networks: These networks are managed and supported by their user.

Topology refers to the way in which the end points or station of the network are interconnected. It is the structure or the arrangement of nodes for a network. It is the physical layout of the LAN. Topologies are named for the figure created by the web of wiring called data path used for data transfer. Based on the topology network can be of the following types-

Bus Network

Ring Topology

Star Topology

Tree Topology

Mesh Network

Hybrid Network

Bus Network:- In a bus network each computer is connected to a single

communication cable via an interface and every computer can directly

communicate with each other.

Ring Topology: In a ring network each unit serves as a controller. All messages travel in only one direction so when one unit is down the system could be down. So, it becomes necessary to consider fault tolerance techniques such as dual ring or folded ring.

Star Topology: In the star topology single controller is there in the middle of

the system. All communication takes place through the controller. All other

devices are connected to the centralized device called hub / switches. In the

star topology, the controller is responsible for managing the network.

Tree Topology : In a tree network several devices or computer are linked in a

hierarchical fashion. This type of distribution system is commonly used in the

organization where headquarters communicates with regional offices and regional

offices communicate with district offices and so on.

Mesh Network: Completely connected network has a separate physical link

for connecting each node to any other node. This type of network is very

reliable as any line breakdown will affect only communication between the

connected computers. Again, each node of the network needs not to have

individual routing capacity and communication is very fast between any two

nodes.

Hybrid Network: The basic network topologies can be linked together to form hybrid

Network of considerable complexity. For example, the star and bus topologies can be

combined to form a hybrid network.

Again, based on utility criteria, network can be of the following types- a) Resource Sharing Network: This type of network are intended to share the resources which includes specialized computer, software or other devices that are expensive and are not affordable by an individual user. Eg. A super computer in an institution is accessed by several station located in different department / section of the institution. b) Data Sharing Network: This network provides access to various databases from workstation situated at distance apart. Eg. Remote access to stock exchange data or hotel and airline reservation system. c) Communication and Data Exchange Network: This type of network allows users to exchange data graphs and document with each other using such devices as e-mail, bulletin board, etc..

Classification of network based on the concept of “area” made good sense at this time because a key distinction between a

LAN

WAN

MAN involves the physical distances that the network spread.

As technology improves the new types of network appeared on the sense. These too become known as various types of area network for consistency’s sake (eg. Storage area network, system area network, campus area network, etc)

The overall impact of IT on library and information science is broadly subdivided into three major divisions, such as

a) Impact on Technical Services: Automation, in the form of bibliographic utilities and MARC format has revolutionized the practice of cataloguing. Today’s librarians rely on MARC format to provide proper cataloguing services to their users. Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) can substantially reduce the cost of maintaining a catalogue. If the OPAC is integrated with technical service files in a full function automated system, work throughout the department can be streamlined and reorganized.

The impact on staff responsibility and assignment can be significant. The co-operative collection development and management have become increasingly important in libraries due to tight budgets, rising prices and the information explosion. Bibliographic utilities facilitate these efforts through shared holdings, information and automated inter-library loan sub-systems to speed resource sharing.

b) Impact on Public Services: OPACs which provide speedy online access to the entire library's holding by means of computer terminals are affecting library operations.

c) Impact on Library Organization Structure: The right type of planning is vital for the efficient working of a library. Planning of a library organizational structure requires a thorough understanding of need of the users, objectives and functions of a library or information center. The emergence of information technology provided greater impetus for information transfer at both inter and intra-organizational level. Organization of all types become involved with IT and have implemented, IT based system.

Libraries and information centers has very important role in advancement of

education, scientific research and socio-economic development of any society. These are the service centers, where very personalized service is extended to the users. As a result of recent expansion in communication infrastructure, expanding computer culture, advance in printing technology etc. has created more awareness about information use. It has resulted in increasing library services. The future libraries may not be recognized by their size; these will be perhaps recognized by variety of services and approaches, where information search areas will be outlined.