Information Sources and Services

Explore the multifaceted world of information sources and services, where you can learn about the categorization of information, the importance of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, and the role of humans and institutions as information providers. Understand the dynamics of media influence and the critical evaluation of information. Dive into literature search techniques, user education, and the marketing of information services to enhance your research skills and information literacy. This knowledge is crucial for navigating the digital age, empowering you to effectively access, evaluate, and utilize information in various contexts.

Information Sources and Services

1 Categorisation of Sources

  1. Information Sources: Categories
  2. Categorisation of Sources by Grogan
  3. Categorisation of Sources by Bonn and Smith
  4. Categorisation of Sources by Giljarevskij
  5. Categorisation of Sources by Subramanyam
  6. Categorisation by Ranganathan
  7. Lack of Unanimity in Categorisation
  8. Usefulness of Categorisation

2 Primary Sources

  1. Primary Periodicals
  2. Reports
  3. Anthologies of Papers
  4. Conference Documents
  5. Monographs
  6. Official Publications
  7. Patents
  8. Standards
  9. Trade Literature
  10. Theses and Dissertations
  11. Project Reports
  12. Reprints
  13. Preprints and Manuscripts
  14. Laboratory Notebooks
  15. Diaries
  16. Minutes of Meetings
  17. Medical Records
  18. Audio and Video Tapes
  19. Computer Programs
  20. Data Files

3 Secondary and Tertiary Sources

  1. Secondary Periodicals
  2. Bibliographies
  3. Lists of Research in Progress
  4. Reference Sources
  5. Treatises
  6. Textbooks
  7. Translations
  8. Bibliographic Databases
  9. CD-ROMs
  10. Library Catalogues
  11. Guides to Literature

4 Criteria of Evaluation

  1. Checklist of Evaluation
  2. Reference Sources
  3. Other Sources

5 Humans as Sources of Information

  1. Human Source vs. Human Resource
  2. Core Information Professionals
  3. Peripheral Information Professionals
  4. Biography of a Celebrity
  5. Events
  6. Accidents and Disasters
  7. Survey

6 Institutions as Sources of Information

  1. Government Ministries and Departments
  2. International Agencies
  3. R&D Organisations
  4. Academic Institutions
  5. Learned Societies
  6. Publishing Houses
  7. Press
  8. Broadcasting Stations
  9. Museums
  10. Archives
  11. Non-Governmental Organisations

7 Media as Sources of Information

  1. Media
  2. Mass Media
  3. Characteristics, Scope and Functions
  4. Positive Influences
  5. Negative Influences
  6. Print Media
  7. Radio Broadcasting
  8. Television
  9. Motion Films
  10. Advertisements
  11. Public Relations
  12. Indian Scenario
  13. ICT and Mass Media
  14. Media Persons as Sources of Information

8 Information Services- An Overview

  1. Information and Knowledge – Definition
  2. Need for Information
  3. Types of Information Needs
  4. Library and Information Services
  5. Responsive Information Services
  6. Anticipatory Information Services
  7. Web-Based or Internet-Based Services

9 Types of Services- Reference Service, CAS, etc.

  1. Reference Service – Meaning and Definition
  2. Reference Service – Origin, Growth and Development
  3. Information Service – Origin, Growth and Development
  4. Reference Service vs. Information Service
  5. Types of Services
  6. Responsive Information Services
  7. Anticipatory Information Services
  8. Organisation and Management of Reference and Information Service

10 Literature Search and Database Services

  1. Users, Their Information Needs, and Literature Search
  2. Literature Search – Definition
  3. Literature Search and Compilation of Subject Bibliography
  4. Search Process: Manual
  5. Search Process: Computer-based
  6. Advantages of Computer-based Searching over Manual Searching
  7. Electronic Databases
  8. Types of Databases
  9. Database Services
  10. Publishers of Secondary Periodicals
  11. Publishers of Primary Periodicals
  12. Aggregators
  13. Digital Libraries
  14. Open Access E-Journals
  15. Institutional Repositories
  16. Database Services – Emerging Trends

11 User Education and Information Literacy

  1. User Education
  2. Information Literacy
  3. Information Literacy and User Education

12 User Studies

  1. User and User Studies
  2. User Characteristics
  3. User Studies
  4. Need for User Studies
  5. Planning of a User Study
  6. Methodologies/Techniques for User Studies
  7. User Studies: Limitations and Criticisms
  8. Case Studies
  9. Efforts Made in India
  10. User Studies in the Electronic Environment

13 Information Use Studies

  1. Information Use Study
  2. Types of Information Use Study
  3. Conducting Information Use Study
  4. Non-electronic and Electronic Sources
  5. Study with a Questionnaire

14 Marketing of Information Services

  1. Need for Marketing of Information Services
  2. Defining Marketing
  3. Linking Marketing with Library and Information Services
  4. Analysing Marketing Opportunities
  5. Selecting Target Market
  6. Developing Marketing Mix
  7. Developing a User/Customer Focused Approach
  8. Implementing Marketing in Libraries